 During the early 1900s Elwes and his wife played an important part in encouraging and organizing the provincial Music Competition Festivals in Lincolnshire (Elwes often conducting or singing), centred upon their family home, the Manor at Brigg.In 1905, at the suggestion of his friend Percy Grainger, an open competition class for folk-singers was included.As a result, many wonderful songs were collected, notably from Joseph Taylor (who made some commercial records for the Gramophone Company).