After performing on the Marquee Stage in 2025, international blues legend Gwyn Ashton is returning by popular demand to rock another sizzling summer line-up at the Agnes Water Blues Roots and Rock Festival next February. He will showcase his latest album ‘Grease Bucket’ among his astounding music catalogue and host an up close and personal guitar masterclass workshop at this stellar live music event.
Gwyn Ashton joins the list of the new wave of modern blues rock artists, spearheaded by and often compared to the likes of The Black Keys, Jack White, Harry Manx, Seasick Steve and more. His one-man band show sees him as an authentic lo-fi bluesman for the 21st century, eclectically blending in his “guit-arsenal” of swampy resonator guitars, lap slide and old pawn shop low-tuned electric fuzz guitars with huge drum beats that he plays on Bill Ward’s old Black Sabbath drum kit, which Ward played on the Paranoid album.
Ashton’s 2026 single ‘Sugar Rush’, in collaboration with 8 Ball Aitken and Ross Wilson, is currently on the ABC Country charts in Australia. His latest environmental song ‘Stop The Chop’, shared by politicians in SA, has been nominated for play at Oz Day Fest in the UK, whilst his latest album ‘Grease Bucket’, recorded with Icehouse drummer Paul Wheeler, has been on the Australian Roots & Blues Chart for six months, receiving top international press from leading rock magazines.
Gwyn Ashton is now featured in an Apple TV documentary titled: Gwyn Ashton – The Thrill Ain’t Never Gone.
Formerly with Virgin Records in France, legendary Welsh-Australian bluesman Gwyn Ashton was lead guitarist in Europe with Band of Friends (Rory Gallagher’s band) and in Australia with Stevie Wright (Easybeats) and Jim Keays (Master’s Apprentices). He has shared stages with BB King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Peter Green, Van Morrison, Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf), Mick Taylor, Status Quo, The Yardbirds, Slade, Robin Trower, Steve Hackett, Wishbone Ash, The Troggs and more. He has also been invited on stage with Mick Fleetwood, Canned Heat, Walter Trout, Elliot Randall (Steely Dan) and many others.
Ashton has had multiple Tracks of The Week featured in the UK’s prestigious Classic Rock Magazine from 10 of his commercially released albums, on which he’s collaborated with Don Airery (Deep Purple), Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses), Neil Murray, (Whitesnake), Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant) and Rory Gallagher’s band.
Robert Plant cites Ashton as ‘the king of feel’, Johnny Winter ‘a true bluesman’, and David Crosby ‘a real player’. With such accolades and every recording garnishing numerous Albums of The Week/Month/Year kudos from UK and European guitar and rock press, Ashton’s incredible live show just keeps growing stronger with every performance.
“One of the best blues guitarists since Stevie Ray Vaughan” – Krusher Joule BBC/Kerrang
Don’t miss the legendary Gwyn Ashton rocking out the #AgnesBluesFest Marquee Stage on Saturday 20 February 2027, and join his guitar masterclass workshop on Sunday 21 February 2027. Not one, but TWO unmissable opportunities to be blown away by the incredible talents of one of the true modern day blues legends.
Limited discount #AgnesBluesFest 2027 tickets are on sale at $179pp until Sunday 1 November 2026, a saving of $70 on the full ticket price of $249. Book now via www.agnesbluesandroots.com.au/tickets
The Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. #AgnesBluesFest is also proudly supported in 2027 by the Gladstone Regional Council’s Community Celebration Fund.
Rocking out since 2008, the Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival is a 3 Day Annual Event held in the Great Barrier Reef’s Sensational Deep South.
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Each and every year, the #AgnesBluesFest is not only focused on delivering a fantastic live show for ticket holders, it also ensures a positive impact on the local community and environment. In 2027, profits will once again go directly to local community groups, and the annual community event established in 1992, the 1770 Festival.
