Studio, Music, Buzz Buzz Buzz

Buzz Buzz Buzz presents Steve Ashley

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,  Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones, Show of Hands, Martin Simpson, Phil Beer, O’Hooley & Tidow and St Agnes Fountain.

His album career began in 1974 with an award-winning debut – the ground-breaking Stroll On, which is still regarded as a folk-rock classic. Since then, Steve has released twelve critically acclaimed albums of original songs. Support for his work has come from a diverse mix of record companies, from the UK’s Decca to the USA’s Motown, and from Fairport’s Woodworm to the premier folk label, Topic. 

For nearly half a century, he has consistently melded tradition with innovation, delivering intelligent and inspired English poetry amid distinctive original melodies. His songs are in celebration of our lives, with love for our natural environment – although some songs are in protest against the threats posed to both by capitalist greed.

His latest solo album, One More Thing has received three five-star reviews and a place in the American magazine, Goldmine’s Best Albums of 2018, while his album, This Little Game was in two UK lists of The Best Folk Albums of 2015 in The Telegraph and Folk Radio.

With over fifty album credits to his name, Steve has recorded with the best. He’s sung with Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins and Linda Thompson, and he’s played with Richard Thompson, John Williams, Danny Thompson, Robin Williamson and Fairport Convention. 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 many of his peers.

As a live performer, he’s a consummate entertainer and has what America’s Variety magazine has called ‘one of the funniest dry stage raps’.  He’s toured throughout the UK, Europe and the USA and appeared on the main stage at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and many times at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. He’s performed his songs with chamber orchestras conducted by Nick Drake’s arranger, the late Robert Kirby, and also as a lead singer with The Albion Country Band, and his own bands Ragged Robin and The Steve Ashley Band.

In 1991, with many radio and TV appearances already under his belt, Steve colloborated with the celebrated writer and close friend, the late Roger Deakin (Waterlog), creating music for two of Roger’s television films, first, The Ballad of the Ten Rod Plot (1991) and then Stable Lads (1995).

In 2001, on release of a new Ashley album, Roger interviewed Steve for Australia’s ABC radio show, National Books and Writing. Then, sadly, in 2006 Roger died from a brain tumour, and a year later, Steve commemorated his life in the song, Friend of The Rivers on his album, Time and Tide.

In 2017, Steve recorded a live session for The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2). And his performance of his Best Wishes was repeated at the end of the year in the show,The Best of The Sessions.

In 2021 his ‘Family Album’ - originally recorded with members of Fairport Convention in 1979 - was reissued with extra tracks. Then last year,The Scotsman published a chart of the 10 best recent reissues, with Steve’s ‘Family Album Revisited’ at No 1! The classic songs therein are bringing Steve to a whole new generation of folk-rock fans and his reputation for creating and performing material of timeless contemporary relevance continues to grow.  

If you like beautiful songs that are edgy, challenging and compassionate – and some times very funny – then don’t miss this performance.

“One of the finest singer-songwriters in Britain, if not the entire English-speaking world,”

Melody Maker

“He has an extraordinary gift for creating material of true folk quality.”

The Daily Telegraph

“Steve Ashley is a thoughtful and elegant singer-songwriter.”

The Guardian

“Folk-rock Maestro”

Morning Star

“Throughout his long career his sense of social injustice has barely wavered.”

Mojo

“The Phil Ochs of the Momentum age.”

Uncut

“He’s one of the British folk scene’s finest singer-songwriters.”

Mike Harding