A powerhouse vocalist whose incredible stage presence and vocal maturity rank with the best, Elise Testone is the perfect combination of soul, rock, attitude and restraint. Equally as impressive and at ease belting James Brown style vocals over a relentless funk groove as she is resting her voice gently over a ballad, Testone’s range of influences and vocal capacity know few limits. Her first original album, In This Life, released in 2014, received rave reviews, celebrating her ability to “wail the blues, rock like a bitch and purr sexily” (Goldmine Magazine). Growing up in New Jersey with a father who collected juke boxes, Testone knew she was a singer even as a young girl. Exposed to music that ranged from Motown and the Beatles to Queen and, later, Led Zeppelin and Erykah Badu, she began studying privately at the age of 5, excelling and performing publicly at local coffeehouses through her teens. Eventually graduating from Coastal Carolina University with a Vocal Performance degree, Testone came of age as a professional performer and private educator in Charleston, SC, becoming one of the most seasoned and well respected musicians in town. At the age of 27 she was approached by a scout from television reality show American Idol and decided to use the opportunity (urged on especially by her students) as a stepping stone to propel her career, ultimately becoming top six finalist on the hit show in 2012.
In the wake of her appearance on American Idol, Testone has toured extensively and has appeared on such popular TV programs as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live with Kelly, Access Hollywood, Good Day New York, Good Morning America and others. While she enjoyed her time on Idol, Testone is excited to bring her own unique brand of music to the world, a brand that owes more to artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, James Brown and Amy Winehouse than to today’s disposable hit-makers. She has opened for B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Snoop Dogg, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds, and Dumpstaphunk, and has performed with Stevie Nicks, Bernie Worrell, Bernard Purdie, Stanton Moore, Skerik, Pink Talking Fish, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The James Brown Band, Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer, and Ghost Note; and members of Queen, The Meters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Greyboy Allstars, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Living Colour, Trey Anastasio Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, P-Funk, Galactic, Van Halen, Turquaz, D’Angelo, Pete Rock, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, Snarky Puppy, Soulive and Lettuce, to name a few.
In 2015, Testone had begun this new chapter of her career by living in Brooklyn, NY while wrapping up her sophomore album 'This Is Love' with Producer Jesse Fischer, which features drummer Daru Jones (Jack White), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight, bassist Mono Neon ( Prince), guitarist Brandon "Taz" Niederauer, guitarist Jordan Peters and more. She is constantly creating and recording new music, performing at Music Festivals such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Peach Festival, Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest, Harvest Festival in Canada and more, and venues such as The Cutting Room, The Blue Note, Rockwood Music Hall, Irving Plaza, NuBlu, Highline Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl, and many more.
She released a new single on Mother's Day in 2022 co-written with Kristi Jacques called "Mama, I Love You", celebrating the unconditional love and strentgh recieved from a mother. The most recent release of new music was a song with Alan Evans Trio called “Something That’s Real”, which Testone wrote the lyrics, melody, and vocal arrangements for.
In a world full of vocalists who seem to be acting, Elise Testone’s performance is anything but that. Her heart more exposed with every note, it’s not uncommon to find her on her knees and out of breath at the end of a hard-driving soul tune – all in service of the music.
Graham Whorley
Graham Whorley is a musician known for his soulful mastery of music and looping technology. Graham was born on the East Coast of America. where from a child he soaked up the regions gospel, country, funk, jazz, folk, rock, Go go, and hip hop, music he heard there and mixed it with his classical music training influences (Suzuki Method) to create his own musical sound. His following has grown organically from local, regional, national, and now worldwide.
An international audience was exposed to the virtuosity of Graham Whorley, via his TEDTalk and performing live. Graham has released 8 Albums and countless singles over his 30 year professional music career. www.grahamwhorley.com. Graham has shared the stage over the last several years with Tim Reynolds of Dave Matthews Band, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Lee Oskar of WAR, Members of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Brock Butler, Delbert McClinton, Keller Williams, and Dumpstaphunk, to name a few.
Elise Testones's Led Zeppelin Experience
w/ Elise & Graham Duo
Saturday, May 16th, 2026 Charleston Pour House | Main stage 8pm doors / 9pm show
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*Show is 21+. Attendees under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Attendees under 21 will be subject to a $5 surcharge. The surcharge must be paid in cash at the door on the day of the event.
Charleston Pour House - Main Stage
1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, South Carolina 29412
Sat May 16
21+ Only
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