With one foot rooted in pre-war Delta blues, the other in a hotchpotch of country, swamp, jazz, rock, soul
and folk, there are more sides to Gwyn Ashton than meets the eye. Ashton's experiences are amplified by
the resonator of his well-beaten 1936 National guitar, his Weissenborn lap-slide and an array other acoustic
and electric instruments. His use of 21st century technology such as looping guitars, scratches and other
percussive noises validates him as a modern-day rogue bluesman.
Ashton collaborates and records with some of the world's most renowned musicians, his songs reflecting a wealth of
experience and a lifetime spent paying his dues. In 2010 Italian guitar maker Liutart presented him with his owndesign
Gwyn Ashton signature model guitar – his perfect electric slide-machine.
As a duo, Ashton is joined by young impassioned percussionist / drummer 'Killer' Kev Hickman, who provides the
backbeat, groove and perfect counterpoint to Ashton's guitar skills. Ashton and Hickman crash their way into the alt.
music scene and blast down the boundaries between the blues, hip-hop and indie rock with riff-laden, edgy, highoctane
songs. Drawing inspiration from the great rock and blues acts from the past, Ashton has developed his own
distinctive identity, bringing the blues firmly into the 21st century and carving a notch in a world full of predictable,
homogenized music.
With an ambitious contemporary approach to the blues, plus experimental, riff-laden, edgy, high-octane songs they crash their way into the alt. music scene and blast down the boundaries between the blues and indie rock. Drawing inspiration from the great rock and blues acts from the past, the duo has firmly established its own distinctive identity, bringing the blues into the 21st century.
Ashton leads the band with his soul-infused swampy songs, searing vocals and trademark fiery axemanship. He's in his element with a wealth of vintage guitars,
amps and analog effects that get wheeled into the gigs - the only way to achieve the 'real' sound. Fellow blues soldier Hickman is a young impassioned, maniacal
drummer who provides the perfect counterpoint to Ashton's guitar wizardry. Together they serve up a demonic brand of blues, carving a notch in a world full
of predictable, homogenized music. ------------
Ashton is no stranger to the world stage as he has spent more than 15 years touring the globe, opening for artists as diverse as BB King, Buddy Guy, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower, Vanilla Fudge, Wishbone Ash, Van Morrison, Jeff Healey, Tony Joe White, Johnny Winter, Ray Charles, Pat Travers and John Hammond. He has also been invited onstage with Mick Fleetwood, Hubert Sumlin, Marc Ford, Jon Paris, Canned Heat, Robbie Blunt and Mark Stanway. ------------
Ashton has been praised by such luminaries as Robert Plant, Johnny Winter and Eric Johnson and regulary conducts blues guitar workshops in schools. ------------
He also appears and gives tutorials in numerous guitar magazines, has two of his songs in movie soundtracks in France and Asia, conducts masterclasses in Australia and Europe (inc GIT and Guitar X, London) and performs live on radio and television worldwide. ------------
HISTORY -
Welsh-born Gwyn Ashton migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in the '60s, picked up a guitar at 12 and from the age of 16, played every bar, festival and seedy biker show imaginable. ------------
He relocated to Sydney in the '80s, playing stints with Swanee and Stevie Wright. In the 90s he moved to Melbourne, where he recorded his first two albums. He played with Jim Keays and Mick Pealing and, with his own trio, opened for Junior Wells, Rory Gallagher, Steve Morse and Albert Lee.
In '96 Ashton relocated to the UK. Promoting his album Feel The Heat, Ashton's band opened for UK rock icons Status Quo on their 15-date British arena tour in '99. This included dates at Birmingham NEC and Wembley Arena ----------
In 2000 Ashton recorded Fang It! with Rory Gallagher rhythm section: Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O'Neill. With them, he fronted Band Of Friends, replacing ex Motörhead/Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson in a tribute to Rory. Other Gallagher sidemen Lou Martin, Mark Feltham and Ted McKenna were also involved. ----------
Gwyn Ashton is endorsed by: Fender (Australia), Liutart Guitars (Italy), Vigier Guitars (France), Busker Guitars (UK), Fatboy Guitar Parts, Vintage Guitars, Jacques Stompboxes (France), National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Seymour Duncan Pickups, Hiscox Cases, Koch Guitar Electronics, Graph -Tech Industries, Award-Session and Dunlop Strings ----------
Discography -
*† Feel The Heat - '93 ----------
Beg, Borrow & Steel - '96 ----------
'99 Appears on: Classic Rock 11/12/1999 - Classic Cuts No.7 [Various Artists] ------------
* ** Fang It! - 2000 ----------
2000 Appears on: Classic Rock 21/12/2000 - A Right Earful! [Various Artists]
'03 Appears on Blues Guitar Heroes [Various Artists] - France ----------
†† Prohibition - '07
'07 Appears on: Classic Rock - Bone Rattlin' Blues [Various Artists] ROC108/08/07 ----------
'07 Appears on: Classic Rock - Hollywood Rocks [Various Artists] ----------
Two-Man Blues Army - '09 ----------
†Album of the Month Oct '98 Guitar & Bass, FR ----------
*Amazon France Top 100 albums - 2000 ----------
**Album of the Month - Sept 2000 Guitar, FR ----------
††Album of the Year 2007 - Guitar & Bass, UK ----------
Pressure Makes Diamonds - Jim Keays - '93----------
Real Australian Blues Vol. 2 - '94 ----------
Resonator - Jim Keays - '07 ----------
She's So Shy - Peter Parker - '07 - MD/lead guitar/bass guitar/backing vocals/arranger/producer
