Evan Luke Farrell
Evan was born and raised in New Jersey, and moved to Bloomington in 1995 to study guitar at Indiana University. Other than a three-year leave in the early 2000s, Evan called Bloomington home for the rest of his life.
At the time of his death, he was a partner, with his father, in the home restoration firm Farrell Restorations, and was a highly respected musician in several musical groups, both locally and nationally.
Evan’s musical talent was evident at an early age; he was performing in his first band before he was finished with high school.
When he moved to Bloomington, he fell in with the local eclectic gypsy/bluegrass/punk group Japonize Elephants. The group’s first album was one of the first records released by local record label Secretly Canadian, which has since grown into one of the most critically acclaimed record labels in the country.
The group recorded several albums together and crisscrossed the country numerous times. It was through this touring that Evan gained a reputation not only as a consummate, fiercely passionate musician, but also as one of the funniest, big-hearted, boisterous and life-loving people in the music scene.
He had a pull with people that was magnetic, and all that were drawn into his sphere couldn’t help but admire him.
Whether it was quoting from “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” or telling outlandish but true stories in his inimitable, unique way, Evan was the life of any party, while always maintaining his humility, passion, kindness and love of all things musical.
Evan was also a member of many other groups: The Hollows, Grande Rouge, Magnolia Electric Company, Kentucky Nightmare and the Oakland-based Rogue Wave were just a few of the many musical entities Evan performed in.
Evan was an instrumental savant — he could play any instrument, and play it well — but always found the inherent humanity in the music he played.
He sometimes cried on stage, so overcome by the music that it became him.
In a lot of ways, he was music personified, and he overcame the barrier between musician and audience member to envelop everyone around him in music.
Like the rest of his life, being around Evan when he was on stage transformed the entire room into a place that was magical, and even spiritual.
In the last few years of his life Evan had found a life that worked for him; he had gotten married, bought a house and fixed it up with a loving attention to detail, and had found the balance between touring and being rooted in a community that loved him.
He was a devoted husband, loving father and wildly respected friend to many. Evan loved life and was not shy in his love. He cared for his friends and loved ones in ways immeasurable, and had a deep knowledge of so many different things that a conversation with him was always enlightening.
He worked hard, both in music and in his career, and played hard, with a childlike sense of wonder and a whip-smart sense of humor. He touched countless lives in his brief time on this sphere, and will be missed and loved by all who ever came into contact with him.
Life is not measured in breaths taken, but by lives affected, and on that count, Evan Farrell lived a life most can only aspire to. He lived and loved openly, passionately and without regret, and leaves behind a massive circle of people whose lives are better simply by knowing him.
Survivors include his wife, Jill Nielsen-Farrell and sons Walker and Avery Nilan of Bloomington; father Ken Farrell and fiancee Teresa Helfrick of Bloomington; mother Deborah Foster and stepfather Bob Foster of Louisiana; brothers Liam Farrell of Vermont and Nate Farrell of Nevada; sisters Kate Farrell of Vermont and Calla Trosclair of Louisiana. Evan is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews across the country.
There will be a public memorial service for Evan Luke Farrell on Sunday, January 20th at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 3 p.m. Immediately following will be a celebration of Evan’s life and benefit show for the family of Evan Farrell at the Bluebird Nightclub, 216 N. Walnut Street. Both events are open to the public.
Online condolences can be expressed to the bereaved family.