
Ashley Davis is an international recording artist and songwriter whose unique style and blending of genres has drawn acclaim throughout the music world. She has performed on NBC’s Today Show and prominent venues and festivals throughout the U. S. and abroad. As both writer and performer she has collaborated with traditional music greats such as Paddy Moloney, Cathy Jordan, Sara Watkins, John Doyle, Eileen Ivers and Moya Brennan. Her fourth album “Night Travels” was recently released in the spring of 2014.
In 2010, Ashley was named one of the top most influential Irish-Americans under the age of 40. Her music is rooted in the Celtic tradition, but Ashley, a Kansas native, also weaves bluegrass and folk influences into her music. The result is a sound that has delighted audiences, resulting in album sales throughout the United States and internationally. In keeping with the rich traditions of the Celtic and folk genres, Ashley has mastered the art of storytelling. Her live shows are now as well known for their consummate blend of traditional Celtic and original songs and her often hilarious tales of her own travels, observations, encounters and heartbreaks.
After discovering the rich worlds of Celtic music and culture, Ashley pursued a graduate degree from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance (then known as the “World Music Centre”) at the University of Limerick. Ashley earned her Master’s degree under the direction of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, specializing in DADGAD guitar. Ashley also worked with the great John Spillane during her time in Limerick.
The next adventure for Ashley was a one-year stint in Las Vegas. There, she was chosen as the soloist for the Las Vegas premier of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, at the Venetian Hotel. Since then, Ashley has bounced around from New York City; to her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas; to various other national and international destinations for performances or learning experiences. Of particular note was her 2006 journey to the Isle of Man (Scotland), where she was an Artist in Residence. She captured and recorded the native Manx language, as well as the melodies and stories of the island and has since presented lectures on Manx.
With her sixth album, the Kansas singer-songwriter sheds the acoustic sounds that made her a household name within the Celtic music world. Instead, “Burning Down” embraces the electronic compositions of her rebellious youth.
Instructor – Singing
2015