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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, Mick Taylor, 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.

In acoustic mode, Ashton's one-man-band show is a blend of alternative swamp blues and boogie, all played on his resonator, lap-slide, 6 & 12 string guitars, harmonica and a homemade foot stomp board.

Ashton has not only produced his latest album, "Two-Man Blues Army", but was also MD, producer, arranger and played all the bass and guitars and did all the backing vocals on Peter Parker's "She's So Shy" and "There Goes Love", although Parker has removed all information about everyone who was involved and taken credit for the entire project.

Over the years Ashton has played onstage with Mick Fleetwood, Hubert Sumlin, Marc Ford, Jon Paris, Canned Heat and has opened for Rory Gallagher, Ray Charles, Robin Trower, Vanilla Fudge, Wishbone Ash, Van Morrison, Jeff Healey, Tony Joe White, Johnny Winter, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, John Hammond and Pat Travers.

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. Aussie audiences are tough and like their rock & roll loud, hard and fast. This is where Ashton learned how to play his ass off. Entertain or be beer bottled!

He relocated to Sydney in the ‘80s, playing stints with Swanee and Stevie Wright. With his own band, he carved up stages nationwide – some in the middle of nowhere, fronted with chicken wire, sometimes driving for days through the outback to get to the next show.

In the 90s he moved to Melbourne, played with Jim Keays and Mick Pealing, recorded his first 2 albums and opened for Junior Wells, Rory Gallagher, Steve Morse and Albert Lee.

Following record company advice to base himself where the best record sales were happening for him, in ‘96 Ashton was UK bound to have a crack at the European market.

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 Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O’Neil, former Rory Gallagher rhythm section now with Nine Below Zero. He then fronted Band of Friends, replacing ex Motörhead and Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson.
This was a tribute to Rory, with Gerry, Brendan, Lou Martin, Mark Feltham and Ted McKenna who all played with Rory over the years.

Gwyn Ashton is endorsed by: Fender (Australia), 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