• John MacArthur Ellis

    Award winning Producer & Multi-Instrumentalist

For news and updates please visit John's studio website: MacArthur Park Productions

John Wins 2017 BCCMA

John picked up another Pedal Steel Player of the Year Award at the BCCMA's!

Nominated for CCMA!

John is pleased to announce he has been nominated for the 2016 Canadian Country Music Award for Steel Gutiar Player of the Year!

John Wins Consecutive Steel Guitar Awards


John Ellis wins another BC Country Music Award for Pedal Steel!

Karen Lee Batten Wins BCCMA


Congratularions to Karen Lee Batten for winning the 2015 BCCMA for Female Vocalist of the Year!

John becomes a father!


John would like to announce his greatest release yet!  His first child Macarthur Ellis was born!

Ridley Bent Album wins 2015 WCMA


Congratulations to Ridley Bent whose album "Wildcard" Produced by John MacArthur Ellis won the Award for Country Recording of the Year at the 2015 West Coast Music Awards!

2 New BCCMA Nominations


John has been nominated for two BC Country Music Awards: Producer of the Year and Steel Guitar!

5th CCMA Nomination for Pedal Steel


John has once again been nominated for the All Star Band Award for Steel Guitar at the 2015 Canadian Country Music Awards!

Touring Holland with Chris Ronald


For the month of April, with his dobro and guitar in tow, John is enjoying the beautiful Dutch countryside while touring Holland with 2014 Candian Folk Music Award Nominee Chris Ronald.

On the Run with Doc Walker, The Roadhammers and Blackjack Billy


John's hittin the road once again with Doc Walker as they tour with fellow chart topping Country music bands The Road Hammers and Blackjack Billy.  They're saddling in for the long haul with 19 cities in just over 3 weeks.  Find a show near you at www.bandsontherun.ca

Chris Ronald Nominated for Canadian Folk Music Award

Congratulations to Chris Ronald who has been nomated for the Canadian Folk Music Award for Songwriter of the Year with respect to his album "Timeline" produced by John Ellis.  Chris has also been selected to showcase at the Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City.

John wins BCCMA Award for Steel Guitar

John Ellis has won the award for Special Instrument - Steel Guitar.  John is well known for his signature work on pedal steel and his playing can be heard on countless recordings in the Canadian Country genre.  John was also nominated for Producer of the Year.

Producing Jen Lane


John is in session producing critically acclaimed and several time WCMA nominee Jen Lane at the beautiful Bottega Studio in Kelowna.  Surrounded by alpacas and curious wild life, inspiration is in abundance as they record a stunning collection of Jen's songs.

Two BCCMA Nominations

John Ellis has been nominated for two BC Country Music Awards: Producer of the Year and Special Instrument - Steel Guitar.  Karen Lee Batten, whose recent album was produced by Ellis, has also received 7 BCCMA nominations including Best Album and Best Single.

Ridley Bent on JR FM

Ridley Bent's highly praised latest single "The Most Beautiful Woman" produced by John Ellis is currently in heavy rotation on JRFM 93!

Karen Lee Batten wins BCCMA Spotlight


Congratularions to Karen Lee Batten who is the winner of the provincial segment of the BCCMA/CCMA Spotlight Performance Contest 2014.  Karen recently released her 2014 album 'Cause a Scene' produced by John Ellis.  Her singles "Life Worth Living" and "Cause a Scene" are being played on nationwide radio stations across Canada.

Celebrating Canada Day with Doc Walker

John is heading to Alberta with Doc Walker for the long weekend.  They'll have Bud Country Fever on Sunday June 29th at Evergreen Park in Grand Prairie, and patriotic ferver while headlining the Canada Day Celebrations at the Canadian Forces Base in Wainwright.

Maritime Countryfest

John is kickin it with Doc Walker in Fredericton, NB where they're headlining the Maritime Countryfest for Friday June 13th.  Afterward, they'll be heading to Saskatchewan where they'll raise the roof at the Grand Opening of the Horizon Credit Union Centre in Melville on June 21.

Touring with John Wort Hannam

John Ellis and Tyler Maiko (Leeroy Stagger, Gob) are currently on tour supporing award winning, critically aclaimed Canadian folk singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam.  Over the next 2 weeks the trio will find themselves all over Alberta, Northern BC and Vancouver Island.

Radio Tour with Karen Lee Batten

John is accompanying Karen Lee Batten on an Alberta radio station tour to promote her highly anticpated studio album produced by John Ellis.

Ridley Bent CD Release

When you're surrounded by a multitude of awards, accolades, and industry buzz, you don't mess with the formula.  It has arrived:  Ridley Bent's fourth studio album produced by John Ellis is being released tonight at the Fan Club.  Find the classic crew at his side: John Ellis, Pat Steward, Rob Becker, Simon Kendall, Chris Dunn with a special appearance by Kendel Carson.

In Session with Tom Jackson

Photo By: Bill BorgwardtJohn is in studio with the one and only Tom Jackson this week, putting down guitar tracks for his album being produced by Tom McKillip (One More Girl, Aaron Pritchett, Ian Tyson).

Chris Ronald CD Release

John Ellis' work with the U.K.'s very own Chris Ronald has led to the completion of a meaningful and melodic folk studio album.  Tonight at the Anza Club, Chris Ronald will debut the album on stage with John Ellis, Graham Coleman, Rob Becker, Shawn Souci, Deanna Knight and friends at his side.

Mixing Brad Darrid

John is currently in the mixing stages on Brad Darrid's album.  Release date coming soon!

Producing Jack Connolly

John is working on an album with Jack Connolly for Curve Records. Recorded at The Tragically Hip's studio, the Bath House, this dynamic rockin' roots album will be released in 2014.  Check out Jack Connolly at his website www.jackconnolly.com

Producing the winter away

John has kept extremely busy this winter producing, editing and engineering projects for several artists including: Kylee Epp, Jack Connelly, Brad Darrid and Karen Lee Batten and Ridley Bent.  Stay tuned for release dates!

Codie Prevost

In session today for Codie Prevost
Instrumentation Contribution: Steel, guitars, banjo, dobro.

Chad Brownlee

Instrumentation Contribution: Dobro, Banjo, Pedal Steel, Guitars.

Taylor James CD Release Party

Join will be rockin' it up at The Fan Club to celebrate the release of "Rewind" - a masterpiece of rockin' roll classics produced by John and lead by the wild and poweful songstress Taylor James.  Join them on Jan 25th & 26th, 2013 at 7:30 at The Fan Club, 1050 Granville, Vancouver.  Cover: $10.

4th Round for Ridley Bent

Back by popular demand, John has commenced work on a fourth studio album for Ridley Bent.  Stay tuned for more details.

John Ellis: Producer of the Year


John has once again won the award for Producer of the Year from the BC Country Music Awards!

John Ellis receives CCMA Nominations

John Ellis has received Canadian Country Music Award nominations for Record Producer of the Year (Doc Walker/16 & 1) and for Special Instrument (Ridley Bent/Session). 

Read more:

John Ellis touring with Doc Walker

John Ellis will be rippin' it up on stage touring with Doc Walker this summer, adding pedal steel and keys/organ to their bustlin' live shows!  For complete tour details, visit: www.docwalker.ca

Juno Nomination for Doc Walker!

Doc Walker's Album "16 & 1" Produced by John MacArthur Ellis has received a 2012 Juno Nomination for 'Country Album of the Year'!

John Debuts as a Singer-Songwriter!

John MacArthur Ellis recently debuted himself as a Singer-Songwriter at The Yard Cafe presented by Vancouver City Limits.  His next show is at Trees Organic Coffeehouse (Granville) on Friday March 2, 2012 at 8pm.  Also on the bill that evening is Dana-Marie Battaglia, an artist whose debut album he recently produced.

Tara Oram's "Revival" Nominated for ECMA Country Recording of the Year

Congratulations to Tara Oram for receiving a nomination for "Country Recording of the Year" from the East Coast Music Association for her album 'Revival' produced by John MacArthur Ellis.

Mixing Blake Berglund

John will be mixing Songwriter extraordinaire Blake Berglund's new record in early March with longtime mix partner Sheldon Zaharko.  Sheldon recently opened a new studio in Edmonton, Alberata.  Find out more at www.blakeberglund.com and www.sheldonzaharko.com

Wrapping up Karen Lee Batten

John is just finishing up Karen Lee Batten's new album.  Find out more at: www.karenleebatten.com

Back in the Studio

This week John is recording Karen Lee Batten's new album at Studio Downe Under in Abbotsford.  Studio Downe Under is the recent recipient of BCCMA's 2011 Studio of the Year Award.

Blake Berglund in Editing Phase

After a successful recording session at Nashcroft Manor in Ashcroft BC last Fall, John is currently editing Blake Berglund's album.

John Ellis Receives two BCCMA Nominations!

John Ellis has been nominated for two 2011 BCCMA Awards for: Producer of Year and Special Instrument (Steel Guitar)

WCMA's a Wrap

John's back from a busy weekend after accompanying Jen Lane, Aaron Pritchet and Ridley Bent at the Breakout West Festival and the Western Canadian Music Awards in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Rabbit on My Wheel wins Country Recording of the Year

Ridley Bent's album "Rabbit on My Wheel" Produced by John MacArthur Ellis just won the WCMA for 'Country Recording of the Year'!

John at the WCMA's in Whitehorse, YT

John will be playing at the WCMA's in the Yukon, Oct 20-24, 2011.  He'll be playing in numerous showcases as well as the Western Canadian Music Awards with Ridley Bent, Aaron Pritchett and Jen Lane.

Mixing with Kym Brown

John is currently mixing tracks for Kym Brown's upcoming U.K. release.

John at the 2011 CCMA's on CBC

John will be performing at the Canadian Country Music Awards to be aired live on CBC on September 12, 2011.  He'll be accompanying One More Girl and Tara Oram.  He's also set to play showcases with Ridley Bent throughout the festival.

Kirsten Nash Album Complete

John just completed Kirsten Nash's new album.  Keep your eye out for the release in 2012.

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