Whether playing unplugged acoustic, an electrifying one-manpower blues band or with a trio, Ashton lights up the stage with his showmanship, charismatic wit, audience rapport and dextrous guitar playing, that started in the ’80s when he was part of Stevie Wright’s and Swanee’s bands in Sydney, then with Jim Keays in Melbourne in the 90s and Band of Friends (Rory Gallagher’s backing band) in the 2000s.