Steve Ashley

Mike Weaver

Presented by: Armandaleg Music

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0	EVESHAM: Oat Street Chapel
P	Saturday 14th September, 2019
N	7:30pm

Event information

Steve Ashley is one of British folk’s finest singer-songwriters. His songs have been covered by a legion of folk artists, including Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, Martin Simpson, Wizz Jones, Phil Beer, Maggie Boyle, The Bushwackers, Grace Notes, The Arizonas, Sproatly Smith, The Owl Service, O'Hooley & Tidow, Phil Beer and St Agnes Fountain, among many others.

His album career began in 1974 with an award-winning debut - the ground-breaking ‘Stroll On’, which to this day, is still regarded as a folk-rock classic. In total, Steve’s released ten albums of original songs - consistently melding tradition with innovation, and delivering intelligent and inspired English poetry, amid distinctive original melodies.

He’s recorded with Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Robin Williamson, Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson and various members of Fairport Convention and also performed his songs with chamber orchestras conducted by Nick Drake’s arranger, the late Robert Kirby.

A lead singer with The Albion Country Band and his own Ragged Robin, Steve is a consummate entertainer and has what America’s Variety magazine has called ‘one of the funniest dry stage raps’.

In 2013 the prolific rock author, Dave Thompson published a musical biography of Steve’s career: Fire and Wine – An Armchair Guide to Steve Ashley with contributions from Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Colin Irwin and many others.

Steve released his eleventh solo album, Another Day, in January 2017 on Market Square Records. Like its predecessor, the highly acclaimed This Little Game (2015), it features just Steve performing solo with no added session musicians. The album - his tenth collection of original songs - contains 14 Ashley originals and was recorded in Steve's home by Martin Mitchell during the summer of 2016.

In December, prior to the album's release, the title track was chosen as Song of The Day by Folk Radio. A video was also created for this track by the Public Reading Rooms website. In the new year, the album was well-received in the media, garnering three five-star reviews. Then in May Steve was invited to do a live session and interview with Mark Radcliffe for BBC Radio Two's The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe. For this show Steve recorded three songs live: People In Love, The Months Go Round and Best Wishes.

His twelfth and 'final' album (so he claims), One More Thing, was released in September 2018 and has garnered many excellent reviews in both national and music press.

Steve will be supported at this special concert by his friend, the Worcestershire-based singer/songwriter Mike Weaver.