Steve Ashley
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A Better Day
3:31
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Lands End
4:12
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General Info
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Genre: Folk Rock / Progressive / Roots Music
Location Un
Profile Views: 31325
Last Login: 4/26/2012
Member Since 3/30/2006
Website www.steveashley.co.uk
Record Label Topic Records, Market Square, Dusk Fire
Type of Label Indie
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Bio
STEVE ASHLEY has long been regarded as one of British folk's finest singer-songwriters. His reputation for writing modern English songs informed by traditional influences was established during the early '70s and has continued to grow ever since. Steve Ashley has also played a significant role in the development of English folk-rock. He has sung with The Albion Country Band (as a founder-member), his own bands, Ragged Robin and The Steve Ashley Band, and occasionally with members of Fairport Convention. He's performed solo tours in Europe and the USA, and during the eighties, shared a long-standing partnership with Fairport's Chris Leslie. He has also recorded with Anne Briggs, Richard Thompson and Shirley and Dolly Collins. Steve's albums have all enjoyed critical acclaim, and his debut, "STROLL ON" (Gull 1974) is now widely regarded as a folk-rock classic. Produced by Austin John Marshall with orchestral arrangements by the late Robert Kirby (Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Richard and Linda Thompson) Stroll On was awarded 'Contemporary Folk Album of The Year' by Folk Review and the recommended folk album of the year in the Sunday Telegraph. This record and the follow-up, "SPEEDY RETURN" were both released under license in the USA through MOTOWN. Then came "STEVE ASHLEY'S FAMILY ALBUM" (Woodworm 1982), followed by two "DEMO TAPES" cassette albums for the Peace Movement (CND/PAC 1981 and 1985) and "MYSTERIOUS WAYS"(Line Records) – his last album prior to a break from music in 1992. An anthology of his work, "THE TEST OF TIME" (Market Square), was released in 1999 and prompted Steve's return to live performance. By August, he was back on stage to sing "FIRE AND WINE" with Fairport at CROPREDY, while "Stroll On" was reissued with extra tracks from the sessions, re-titled, "STROLL ON REVISITED" (Market Square). Following a series of rave reviews for this release, the original album received a full-page tribute in Mojo as a "Buried Treasure". In August 2003, Market Square's reissue of "SPEEDY RETURN" was also well received. His 'comeback' studio album, "EVERYDAY LIVES" (Topic Records, 2001) received a four-star review in Q and brought the following observation from Colin Irwin in fROOTS: "If British singer-songwriterdom is to enjoy a renaissance – and it's high time it did – it is right and proper that Steve Ashley should be in the forefront. He seems to have lost none of his way with a beguiling tune and a deft lyric." Steve Ashley's songs - whether focused upon family life, war and peace, love, old age, or the changing environment - are all characterised by his distinctive view of English life. Among the many folk artists to record and perform Steve's songs are Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, The Bushwackers, Dave Pegg and PJ Wright, Wizz Jones, St Agnes' Fountain, The Arizona Smoke Review, Phil Beer, Dobe Newton, Martin Simpson, Bill Zorn, Grace Notes, Maggie Boyle, and Jo Freya. Back on the road, Steve has captivated audiences with his highly individual songs and performances. Reviewing his appearance at Fairport's CROPREDY Festival in 2001, MOJO described him as "The Inspector Morse of the folk world - a gentle romantic with a flair for mystery." In March 2006 Steve celebrated his sixtieth birthday with a special concert with Fairport friends, Chris Leslie, Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg, an orchestra conducted by Robert Kirby (with ex-Fairport Maartin Allcock on bass), reformations of his previous bands, Tinderbox, Ragged Robin and The Steve Ashley Band, plus Johnny Moynihan (Planxty, De Danaan) Phil Beer (Show of Hands), Paul Downes (Joyce Gang) and Martin Brinsford (Brass Monkey). Then in November, Dusk Fire Records released a live album of the show entitled LIVE IN CONCERT. In July 2007 Topic Records released Steve's ninth solo album, TIME AND TIDE. Welcomed in The Guardian and hailed as a "modern-day masterpiece" in fROOTS, TIME AND TIDE features 15 new Ashley originals with sessions from Fairport's Leslie, Pegg and Nicol plus Robin Williamson and Dik Cadbury among others. TIME AND TIDE also includes three new string arrangements by Robert Kirby. A month later at CROPREDY - as part of Fairport Convention's 40-year-anniversary celebration - Steve joined Fairport on stage to sing on both encores: his own 'BEST WISHES' and Richard Thompson's 'Meet on the Ledge'. February 2009 saw Steve marking 40 years of recording and writing with a headline concert on the first night of CHELTENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL with Robert Kirby conducting a chamber orchestra in a selection of his string arrangements for Steve's albums. In its concert review The Gloucestershire Echo stated: "Steve Ashley has created a rich canon of timeless songs that observe the world around him with a gentle, thoughtful, clear-eyed wisdom. Maybe it was an unconventional start to the festival but it will scarcely be bettered." On October 3, 2010, the first anniversary of Robert Kirby's death, Steve took part in a Memorial Concert for Robert at London's Cecil Sharp House. Performing on stage for the first time with Danny Thompson and with strings conducted by Harvey Brough, Steve sang the apple orchard song 'Say Goodbye' and 'Lands End', both showcasing Robert's arrangements. Other artists taking part were, Paul Weller, Teddy Thompson, Vashti Bunyan, Ben and Jason, Luke Jackson, Harvey Brough, Clara Sanabras and Fab Cab. In May 2011, Steve's song 'Spirit of Christmas' was included in Dave Thompson's paperback '1000 Songs That rock your world'. For more biographical information, discography and albums visit Steve's website: www.steveashley.co.uk -
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3 Songs | Sep 21, 2008
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Bio:
STEVE ASHLEY has long been regarded as one of British folk’s finest singer-songwriters. His reputation for writing modern English songs informed by traditional influences was established during the early ‘70s and has continued to grow ever since. Steve Ashley has also played a significant role in the development of English folk-rock. He has sung with The Albion Country Band (as a founder-member), his own bands, Ragged Robin and The Steve Ashley Band, and occasionally with members of Fairport Convention. He’s performed solo tours in Europe and the USA, and during the eighties, shared a long-standing partnership with Fairport’s Chris Leslie. He has also recorded with Anne Briggs, Richard Thompson and Shirley and Dolly Collins. Steve’s albums have all enjoyed critical acclaim, and his debut, “STROLL ON” (Gull 1974) is now widely regarded as a folk-rock classic. Produced by Austin John Marshall with orchestral arrangements by the late Robert Kirby (Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Richard and Linda Thompson) Stroll On was awarded ‘Contemporary Folk Album of The Year’ by Folk Review and the recommended folk album of the year in the Sunday Telegraph. This record and the follow-up, “SPEEDY RETURN” were both released under license in the USA through MOTOWN. Then came "STEVE ASHLEY'S FAMILY ALBUM” (Woodworm 1982), followed by two “DEMO TAPES” cassette albums for the Peace Movement (CND/PAC 1981 and 1985) and “MYSTERIOUS WAYS”(Line Records) – his last album prior to a break from music in 1992. An anthology of his work, “THE TEST OF TIME” (Market Square), was released in 1999 and prompted Steve’s return to live performance. By August, he was back on stage to sing “FIRE AND WINE” with Fairport at CROPREDY, while “Stroll On” was reissued with extra tracks from the sessions, re-titled, “STROLL ON REVISITED” (Market Square). Following a series of rave reviews for this release, the original album received a full-page tribute in Mojo as a “Buried Treasure”. In August 2003, Market Square’s reissue of “SPEEDY RETURN” was also well received. His 'comeback' studio album, “EVERYDAY LIVES” (Topic Records, 2001) received a four-star review in Q and brought the following observation from Colin Irwin in fROOTS: “If British singer-songwriterdom is to enjoy a renaissance – and it’s high time it did – it is right and proper that Steve Ashley should be in the forefront. He seems to have lost none of his way with a beguiling tune and a deft lyric.” Steve Ashley’s songs - whether focused upon family life, war and peace, love, old age, or the changing environment - are all characterised by his distinctive view of English life. Among the many folk artists to record and perform Steve's songs are Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, The Bushwackers, Dave Pegg and PJ Wright, Wizz Jones, St Agnes' Fountain, The Arizona Smoke Review, Phil Beer, Dobe Newton, Martin Simpson, Bill Zorn, Grace Notes, Maggie Boyle, and Jo Freya. Back on the road, Steve has captivated audiences with his highly individual songs and performances. Reviewing his appearance at Fairport’s CROPREDY Festival in 2001, MOJO described him as “The Inspector Morse of the folk world - a gentle romantic with a flair for mystery.” In March 2006 Steve celebrated his sixtieth birthday with a special concert with Fairport friends, Chris Leslie, Simon Nicol and Dave Pegg, an orchestra conducted by Robert Kirby (with ex-Fairport Maartin Allcock on bass), reformations of his previous bands, Tinderbox, Ragged Robin and The Steve Ashley Band, plus Johnny Moynihan (Planxty, De Danaan) Phil Beer (Show of Hands), Paul Downes (Joyce Gang) and Martin Brinsford (Brass Monkey). Then in November, Dusk Fire Records released a live album of the show entitled LIVE IN CONCERT. In July 2007 Topic Records released Steve's ninth solo album, TIME AND TIDE. Welcomed in The Guardian and hailed as a "modern-day masterpiece" in fROOTS, TIME AND TIDE features 15 new Ashley originals with sessions from Fairport's Leslie, Pegg and Nicol plus Robin Williamson and Dik Cadbury among others. TIME AND TIDE also includes three new string arrangements by Robert Kirby. A month later at CROPREDY - as part of Fairport Convention's 40-year-anniversary celebration - Steve joined Fairport on stage to sing on both encores: his own 'BEST WISHES' and Richard Thompson's 'Meet on the Ledge'. February 2009 saw Steve marking 40 years of recording and writing with a headline concert on the first night of CHELTENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL with Robert Kirby conducting a chamber orchestra in a selection of his string arrangements for Steve's albums. In its concert review The Gloucestershire Echo stated: "Steve Ashley has created a rich canon of timeless songs that observe the world around him with a gentle, thoughtful, clear-eyed wisdom. Maybe it was an unconventional start to the festival but it will scarcely be bettered." On October 3, 2010, the first anniversary of Robert Kirby's death, Steve took part in a Memorial Concert for Robert at London's Cecil Sharp House. Performing on stage for the first time with Danny Thompson and with strings conducted by Harvey Brough, Steve sang the apple orchard song 'Say Goodbye' and 'Lands End', both showcasing Robert's arrangements. Other artists taking part were, Paul Weller, Teddy Thompson, Vashti Bunyan, Ben and Jason, Luke Jackson, Harvey Brough, Clara Sanabras and Fab Cab. For more biographical information, discography and albums visit Steve's website: www.steveashley.co.ukMember Since:
March 30, 2006Record Label:
Topic Records, Market Square, Dusk FireShows & Events
4 upcoming shows/events
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May 28
Roses Theatre
Tewkesbury, Glos, UNITED KINGDOM
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Jun 12
Hambledon Folk Club
Hambledon, Hants, UNITED KINGDOM
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Sep 20
The Fo'c'sle Folk Club, The Richmond Inn
Southampton, Hampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
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Sep 26
Cheltenham Town Hall
Cheltenham, Gloucester, gb
Top Friends (36)
- Market Square
- Danny Thompson
- Robin Williamson tribut…
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- Harvey Brough
- Clara Sanabras
- Something Happened
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- Tim Moon
- Dave Thompson
- Derry
- Oz Hardwick
- Sue Draheim
- Sixpenny Wayke
- Adam Leonard
- Paul Weir
- BACCApipes Folk Club, K…
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- Frost at Midnight
- Lyn and Dave Fischer
- Chuck
- Jeff Gillett & Ron Tayl…
- Malc
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- dave maclean




































Malte Bengt-Åke 2 months ago
Hexenscheit Manufactory 11 months ago
Steve Ashley 8 months ago
The Big Fibbers 2 years ago
Sandwitch 3 years ago
Oz Hardwick 3 years ago
The Okee Dokee Band 3 years ago
Paul Maury 4 years ago
Edward Collier 4 years ago
Wayne Gillespie 4 years ago
Colin Bodiam 4 years ago
10 of 31MoreHi Steve,
We are 2 guys who suffer from multiple disabilities and need help with most things. We humbly wonder if we could have one signed photo of yours, each. Possible? We adore you + your sound, lots!!
Greets,
/Mal & Ben.
great musc, used to own "stroll on" as Lp, now of course on cd. Keep on the good work!
Nice to hear from you. Best wishes
Hi, so glad I've found u again - Used to see u at the winter gardens in banbury - a long long time ago!
Thank you very much for the friendship, Steve ! We really enjoyed listening to your songs and "A better day" is a favourite already !
xxxxx
Love and wishes from
Andrea and Buddy .
Hi steve. I've just been watching the Cheltenham clips on Youtube - absolutely excellent!
All the best,
Oz.
Many thanks Steve.
Great to be a friend of such an emminent songwriter.
Very best wishes,
Okee Dokee.
Dear Steve,
I would like to thank you for your very kind comment, I am so honoured. On top to be a very wonderful musician you are a very nice person and I am very touched. Your music occupies a big part of my life and constantly being filled with wonder by its breathtaking beauty and its emotional aspects.
With all my admiration and my respect,
paul
Hi Steve
Great gig at the Town Hall - really enjoyed it (which I don't often say about the Town Hall)
Love
Edward
Hi Steve,
Stroll on was a great inspiration to me starting out in NZ -lucky to get to see you play in UK in 1980!
Glad your releasing new stuff now.
Best
Wayne G
thank you! we're in a with a chance!