Press Release / Press Release

Fresh from their highly successful eight-week 2011 European tour opening for rock legends Magnum, Gwyn Ashton’s duo, promoting their latest album Two-Man Blues Army, devastated audiences with their power and virtuosity. UK-based Aussie blues-rock axeman Ashton and impassioned ex-punk rock drummer ‘Killer’ Kev Hickman are set to dominate stages for quite some time if the positive forum posts on Magnum’s website are anything to go by.

Armed with his trademark vintage Stratocaster and new Liutart Gwyn Ashton signature guitar, Ashton takes the audience on a musical trip from trad and hard rockin’ blues, through to the subtleties and dynamics of eastern trance music on his dropped C modal-tuned 12-string acoustic guitar and lap steel. A recent reviewer described him as a combination of Jimi Hendrix, John Butler, Rory Gallagher and Led Zeppelin but also stressed that Gwyn Ashton is a leading guitarist in his own right with a unique sound and style, having found his own voice in the blues-rock field.

The duo’s retro, lo-fi alternative blues is a hit on the live European scene, regularly playing on the rock, blues, jazz and even acoustic folk festival and venue circuits. Highlights this year have been mainstage at The Great British Rock & Blues Festival and as special guests with Magnum through Sweden, Czechia, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK. Other 2011 dates include Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands, France and the international stage at The Great British R&B Festival.
Ashton will also be making a special solo appearance on the main stage at the Upton Blues Festival, UK.

Ashton has previously toured with BB King, Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, Mick Taylor, Rory Gallagher, Peter Green, Junior Wells, Johnny Winter, Canned Heat, Robin Trower, Jeff Healey, Dan Baird and many others. He has also recorded with Chris Glen, Ted McKenna (SAHB, MSG), Don Airey (Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne) and Gerry McAvoy and Brendan O’Neill (Rory Gallagher).

“Ashton breathes a vibrant new life into bluesy rock with a bang-up-to-date vicious sting in the tail”.
- Metal Hammer

“Superb technique and an array of high-energy tunes. Think Rory Gallagher jamming with The White Stripes”.
- Classic Rock

“Two-Man Blues Army is a master class in rocking garage blues, a feast of big riffs, killer guitar tones and searing vocals”.
- Guitar Buyer