Gwyn Ashton's one-man-band solo 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.

Gwyn Ashton's Two-Man Blues Army is taking the blues to an entirely new perspective, dumping it right in the middle of today's alternative scene. This explosive power-duo takes no prisoners as it blows away the boundaries between blues and indie, crossing over somewhere between Seasick Steve, The White Stripes and Jimi Hendrix. This blend of great hooky songs and killer playing is hot stuff!

Inspired by the likes of Hendrix, Ben Harper, Little Feat and AC/DC, Ashton blends lap-steel, bottleneck, 12-string acoustic slide and full-on battle-mode electric rock with powerhouse drummer "Killer" Kev Hickman nailing the grooves to the floor.

These guys are Lo-Fi, analogue, wild and dangerous, as witnessed in Berlin at Popkomm '08, broadcast across Europe by ZDF Television in '08 and '09.

From opening for blues legends such as BB King and Buddy Guy to sharing the stage and recording with members of Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake, Ashton is one of the few musicians today who can hold their own in either capacity and is responsible for turning a lot of younger people onto the blues. He has been praised by such luminaries as Robert Plant, Johnny Winter and Eric Johnson.

Ashton has not only produced his last 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.

From supercharged four-on-the-floor rockers to gritty blues, Ashton's playing, songwriting and singing are in top form. This is in full evidence on his last release, Prohibition, whose guests include Chris Glen, Ted McKenna (Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Michael Schenker Group, Ian Gillan rhythm section) and Deep Purple keys man, Don Airey.

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!

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

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
* ** Fang It! - 2000
?? Prohibition - '07

?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
Classic Rock coverdisc - Dec. 2000
Blues Guitar Heroes - '03
Resonator - Jim Keays - '07
Bone Rattlin' Blues - '07
Hollywood Rocks - '07
She's So Shy - Peter Parker - '07

• Blues