As you may know I’ll be welcoming my baby boy very soon! He’ll be here by the beginning of June. I’ll be taking the Summer off from shows and will devote my time to him alongside my husband.

Then what?
August 30th will be my first show back. I’ll be at the lovely Visible Voice Books in Tremont, Ohio on their wonderful courtyard.

At the end of Summer will also be the start of recording my second full length album. I’ll be playing shows throughout the Fall and Winter around the midwest.Baby and husband in tow on several weekend nights.

I’m also planning another campaign for the fall to help raise money like I did successfully with Sweetheart back in 2011. You’ll be able to pre-order the album, get other goodies from me and be a pertinent part of my album. Hope you’re excited.

I’m looking at a Winter release date. More details as the time gets closer.

Happy Friday and weekend to you all!
Best,
ABT

Baby boy has been moving, kicking, fists up in the air, (what feels like) somersaults, hiccup-ing a good deal these days. He’s so real. I can’t wait to meet him and love him. He already makes me proud moving around in my belly and (still be my friend) I’m crying typing this. I can’t imagine how much my love will flourish once he’s here.

Five weeks and four days till my due date.

I’ve been singing and playing guitar to him daily. I feel like I need to keep him entertained. He puts his fist up, I assume to give me a high five/good job, Mom.

Hope you’re doing well and enjoying this lovely Spring.

Sincerely,
Ashley

P.S.- I assure you there is a belly there and it is not small.

Like everyday I wonder what to do next, what this year will hold.
I’m taking it slowly, not planning too far ahead due to the little babe coming this Summer.
Currently my next show is March 27th, a daytime event at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, here in Cleveland). I assure you, me becoming a Mother doesn’t mean I’ll be playing well before 7pm from now on. I’m still hip to the late shows. This should be a good time though and it’s free.

I’ll be playing as much as I possibly can till June, and as long as I can safely place my guitar on my belly.
Look for more shows to be added throughout the Spring.

Hope you’re doing well.
Best,
Ashley

PS: I had such a wonderful time at Brite Winter festival a few weekends ago. If you’re a new friend/fan because of my set, thank you nice to meet you. Hope to see you again sometime soon!

I wanted to share one of my favorite love songs,dedicated to the one I love.

Sincerely,
Ashley
♥♥♥♥

If you haven’t heard the news, I’m going to be a Mama come June. I’m pregnant with a baby boy.
This new chapter brings me so much joy. I’ve always, always wanted to be a Mother. I can’t believe it’s really happening.
This has perhaps caused my questions about my life, what I’m doing. I want to be a good example. I want my boy to know his Mama loves music and has made her life around it. I want him to appreciate music, maybe singing too. I of course want to sing to him (and have started).

Cheers to sing more.
Love,
Ashley

Tickets are still available.

Would love to see you.
Best,
Ashley

This was the best job I have ever had.

Jim is a legend, known and admired by many around the world. It was quite fun being his side kick for two years. I met some fine musicians, attended many a fantastic show and was privileged to attend the FOLK ALLIANCE conference in Austin, Texas in 2006. I feigned a sort of eliteness being by Jim and the rest of Folkalley/WKSU’s side. I met Judy Collins and she gave me candy!!!

Jim’s show aired on the weekends. It was such an exciting, stressful event helping to put together these broadcasts. I feared the sound of Garrison Keillor’s voice from having to fade in and out of A Prairie Home Companion program on Saturday nights. I loaded playlists into the system. I listened to tons and tons of music..

When I joined in the summer of my junior year, I had a mild appreciation for folk music, but when I left, folk music had become my comfort.

Through Jim, I learned who I should be listening to – Patty Griffin for starters (putting me on a decent path). I learned what makes a song mediocre, good, incredible, and from this I matured as a writer. I learned to be more serious in what exactly I wanted to say with my own songs and to never give away too much.

Several months into working for Jim, I very sheepishly gave him a cd containing a few rough recordings I had made of Eva Cassidy covering her covers (I have gotten much cooler, myself in my old age and don’t try and replicate anyone..ha..embarrassing) and a few originals (my first ever).

The next day I came to work and it seemed as though the whole station had heard my cd and were so kind and welcoming to my music. Thank you, Jim for encouraging me to keep going. He played my first song I ever wrote “Wallflower” on the radio!!! Ahhh!!! It was so exciting!! He has since played several songs off All Songs in English and Sweetheart. It means so much to me.

Jim got me eating healthier – always offering fresh apples from Chardon, veggie burgers, “gorp”… He can always make me and others smile and laugh with his silly and child-like nature but can offer such great advice in his seriousness too.

It is so nice reflecting on what an impact Jim has had on my life. I know I’ll miss hearing his voice on the radio.

I wish you lots of happiness in retirement.

Love your pal,
Ashley

A

I’m also offering 15% off of Sweetheart till the end of December. use “christmastree” in the code box at checkout. I feel like Santa Claus, spreading all this cheer.

Hope you’re having a lovely day.
Sincerely,
ABT

Two days early. I am extremely thankful for many things in my life. One being right here, my life of music, my life that I’ve made of sharing and meeting some wonderful people along the way. Thank you for your support. Thank you for listening, buying, coming to shows, sharing with friends. Thank you for allowing to sing my songs.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with people you love and lots of good food.

Lots of love,

Ashley