The Elective Orchestra

Life is about choices. Nick Carswell & The Elective Orchestra have chosen to make meaningful acoustic music that makes you stop and think. Stirring strings, sweeping choruses, emotive and heartfelt lyrics and insightful songwriting combine to characterize The Elective Orchestra’s unique sound. Following in the footsteps of Damien Rice and The Frames, the band inject a new lease of life to Irish indie-folk genre in the vein of Sigur Ros and Sufjan Stevens. Formed around the songs of Nick Carswell, The Elective Orchestra include Sian Murray, Deirdre and Kate Cussen, Bart Kiely and Colin Bartley. The band have been making music since late 2007 and have earned a reputation for impassioned and captivating live performances. ‎”If there is a new ‘Indie-Folk’ movement then The Elective Orchestra would be at it’s forefront.” 2uibestow Music Blog — “It’s refreshing to uncover somebody like Carswell who is prepared to think, write and play outside the box. His use of a string section brings a level of sublimity to his top-notch songwriting, and whereas too many songwriters are one-trick ponies, Carswell injects all his work with appropriate degrees of soul and passion.” HOT PRESS “Emotive songwriting and enthralling live performances.” STATE.IE “Emotive and intelligent lyrics combined with beautiful and creative musicianship.” LIMERICK EVENT GUIDE

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Post-gig Mediterranean food and the genesis of album no.2 #workingtitles #humblebeginnings

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Photos of Band Practice with Ryan McCall at the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, KS this past June. We had a fantastic weekend of music, sunshine, great food and art. I'll definitely be back next year!

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Happy Christmas from The Elective Orchestra - download and enjoy!

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A version of our album track To Never Cut Or Paste - which is a version of our song All Things To Everyone - was used by Nick in his radio play The Line, Broken. The play will be available for download this December (from nickcarswell.com) read the blurb from the MMT Grad show here.

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The Elective Orchestra on Kansas Public Radio

Bob McWilliams, a new friend and fan of The Elective Orchestra has been spinning tracks from our record in recent weeks. His Sunday show Trail Mix is an institution on Kansas Public Radio and as well as being a walking-talking-encyclopedia on folk music (not to mention jazz), he also runs some lovely gigs in and around Lawrence, KS through West Side Folk (including some very nice house gigs - right up our street!). You can listen to KPR through iTunes, we suggest you do!

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Elective Sounds make it to Austin, TX

The lovely people at Austin Town Hall recently discovered the joys of The Elective Orchestra. The plan to spread ourselves all over the US is coming on nicely! - read it here

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Watch our home-made video for Folks Like Us, which is a free download here

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