Saltburn musician Alexander Ellis, aka "Our Man in the Field", is returning to play at Saltburn Community Theatre on Friday, February 24.

He last visited the theatre in July 2022, and the previous visit in 2021 was in support of Portland musician Jerry Joseph.

“I can’t wait to play again in Saltburn," he said. "We should have a five piece band so it will be another show altogether.

“This will be our third gig in Saltburn but we haven’t really played much in the North East. So this date, along with Pocklington and Newcastle, is a good beginning to touring in the region more often.”

"Our Man in the Field" broke ground as one of the first to treat the music as a start up and raise investment as a company, rather than sign a record deal. Their music has been described as being somewhere between indie, folk, and Americana.

The actor and musician grew up in Saltburn and studied clarinet, piano, and saxophone. He remembers playing, when very young, in the jazz band of a teacher, Sid Mould, and realising the value of playing music for pleasure with people clearly enjoying themselves. He cites his early musical influences as REM, the Cranberries, The Stone Roses, Paul Weller, and a range of artists playing at Middlesbrough’s Town Hall and Arena between 1995 and 1998. Later, living in London, he absorbed a diversity of music, becoming interested in new folk towards the end of the 2000s.

His main instrument now is the guitar, along with some harmonica. “But I’m tinkling with the piano again now my son is taking piano lessons,” he adds.

In 2020 his debut album The Company of Strangers was released.

Tours in America and Europe followed. Friendships were formed with musicians from Portland, Oregon through supporting the Delines last year, and earlier, Jerry Joseph. “Maybe we just got lucky and fell in with a bunch of cool Portlandians, but I think it’s one of those places where folks are just good.” Alliances include the above artists, Tucker Martine (respected producer and composer), Jenny Drezos (the Decemberists), Luke Ydstie (the Hackles), and many more.

Asked about plans for 2023, Alex outlined songwriting sessions in March in Nashville, more touring in April (including the Ramblin’ Roots Revue in High Wycombe, April 14 to 16), various summer festivals including the Red Rooster Festival from June 1 to 3 in Suffolk, and more work in America.

Reflecting on returning to play in Saltburn, Alex said: “I have so many memories of Saltburn: my father would drag me out of bed to go for a run on the beach early on Saturday mornings. We’d have the beach to ourselves and it would be stunning. It was an amazing place to grow up.”

Tickets for Our Man in the Field on Friday, February 24 at 7.30pm at Saltburn Community Theatre are available via www.saktburnarts.co.uk or 01287 624997.