Raised between two potato fields onPrince Edward Island, Ashley Condon is the grandchild of Bill Leblanc, a Canadian country pioneer who once spent the night in jail with Hank Snow. Like pecan pie – sweet and nutty – Ashley has won audiences over with her larger-than-life stage presence and down-to-earth charm. Growing up on everything from old-time country to folk, blues and southern rock, her music resonates. Her folk-country sound has been likened to artists Anne Murray and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
The success of her 2007 EP I've Got This Feeling garnered the attention of Ontario native and ECMA-nominated producer and musician Joel Hunt (Teresa Ennis, Old Man Leudecke). The two joined creative forces for Ashley's debut, full-length album Come In From The Cold, released on June 15, 2010. The record features award-winning instrumentalist Dale Murray (Cuff The Duke) on pedal steel and electric guitar and Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies) on mandolin, bass and harmonica. Since its release in 2010, Come In From The Cold has been nominated for a 2011 Canadian Folk Music Award, a 2011 East Coast Music Award and has earned the rising star two 2012 Music PEI Awards for “New Artist Of The Year” and the “Lynn Grishko Memorial Bursary”.
With over fifteen years of stage experience, and a degree in Theatre Studies from the joint Theatre Studies program at U of T and Sheridan College, she has honed her natural ability to take a piece of music and bring it alive. Her songs and humorous stories make for a live show that appeals to all. It’s not uncommon for her to have a whole room full of people singing and laughing along with her performance; a testament to her strength as both a songwriter and entertainer.
Ashley recently returned home to her PEI roots after almost a decade away. She has shared stages with folk icons Lennie Gallant, Tannis Slimmon, David Francey, Dave Bidini, James Gordon, Jude Vadala (The Bird Sisters), Katherine Wheatley, Del Barber, Rose Cousins, Meaghan Blanchard, John Connolly, Chas Guay, Kim Wempe, Charlie A'Court, Ryan MacGrath, Ria Mae, Ian Sherwood, Old Man Leudecke, and Kev Corbett. This past summer, Ashley played over 50 shows at theMackTheatreinPEIas a featured artist in the 2011 Charlottetown Festival’s hit show “Come All Ye”. Work on her highly anticipated sophomore album is in the works with an expected release date of winter 2013.
“The title of Ashley Condon’s debut recording ‘Come In From The Cold’ couldn’t be more apt. Rich earthy tones wrapped lovingly around a voice as fresh and pure as a forest stream cannot help but melt the coldest heart.”
– Glenn Meisner, CBC Atlantic Airwaves
“Ashley Condon brings to the music industry a sweet down-to-earth tone that truly captivates the listener and brings to light a joyfulness of acoustic singer-songwriter styles”
– Maverick Magazine UK
“She is like a Jann Arden kind of performer who can have you laughing one moment and weeping the next.”
– Laurence F., Director/Actor/Producer