John TC Ashdown

About John TC Ashdown

"JOHN TC ASHDOWNS BITTERSWEET VENEERS" is a soon to be released, complete new album.
Lyrically the album is largely fueled by childhood memories of South London and past and present railway history. It also briefly touches on the dark side of human nature in relationships, boorish behavior and "Under a Lockdown Sky" states the obvious.
Musically the album offers a cross between progressive and folk styles, late sixties beat and marks a personal comeback from a hand injury sustained from last year.
Release date to follow shortly.

ABOUT JOHN TC ASHDOWN:
Having the first, second, third and forth of many final cracks of getting my sounds out into the world. May go for a fifth too.. Well you never know!

Always loved music, started off on keyboards before discovering the beautiful classical(and sometime electric)guitar sounds of John Williams at 15 years old.
Songwriting followed at 18, 21 was the first live performance.

Had my first proper original band at the age of 23, in which we wrote songs with strong melodies. I like to think that has stayed with me to this day, the years of listening to Squeeze, Beautiful South, Dire Straits, Joe Jackson, David Bowie etc. Paying off in some way.

The ensuing years after has mostly been that of a bread-and-butter musician, from playing other people’s music in lots of different settings, with lots of highs and lows-some of the highlights were backing the Drifters when they toured over here, to playing cabaret shows backing winners from Stars-in-their-eyes and Cabaret shows with Brian Conley.

But now here we are again with the original stuff, this time as a DIAY man (do it ALL yourself????)Oh and check out Stone Park Avenue here too, my last originals band I was in. Big highlight there was playing a rock festival in 2016-held in the middle of a prestigious wine estate in Northern Italy!

I hope you like what you hear here (lol????) please spread the word or a hundred.

John TC xx

Guitars:
Fender rosewood D28 acoustic electro guitar
Bryce resonator acoustic slide guitar
Suzuki D28 acoustic slide guitar
Gibson Les Paul future electric guitar
Gibson Les Paul lite electric guitar
Vintage P90 loaded stratocaster guitar

Strings:
D'Addario Nickel Wounds, Dean Markley Blue Steel and Martin Phosphor Bronze

Amplifiers:
Fender M80 combo
Ashdown Peacemaker

Effects:
Donner Compressor, Chorus and Delays
Green Mile Tube Screamer
TC Electronic Looper