Hi friends,

A couple of days ago I got asked to sing for Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart!! They are two wonderful musicians that I first heard a little over four years ago at Folk Alliance in Austin, Texas. I was so enthalled with them at the conference and have stayed a fan through the years. I’m honored to open for them at Wilbert’s in Cleveland next Thursday September 9th at 8pm.

Please, please come out!!!! Tell your friends!!
$10 donation. fun night of music.

I’ll be playing with Flora on violin to kick off the show.

*Thanks to all who came to the Beachland. It was a great time!

Best,
Ashley

Hi friends,

Tonight is the Beachland Ballroom show (in the tavern side). I’ll be introducing two new members to the band. Spencer Martin on piano (nice, old timey, lovely) and Matt Kurtz on drums (just the right touch! so great). We’ll be one of the openers, amongst Good Morning Valentine before Jill Andrews.

Doors: 8pm
Show: 830pm
Tickets: $7

Please come out!!! Would love to see you!!

Ashley

Hi friends and friendly (hopefully) strangers…

This Saturday the band and I will be playing at the Beachland Ballroom (Tavern side). We’ll be playing an opening set before Jill Andrews of the National band, the Everybody Fields.

I’ve been looking forward to this show since I booked it earlier this Summer. I love playing at the Beachland…especially when paired nicely with a great act. Check out Jill’s music. It’s really lovely.

The show is a mere $7. I would be so happy to see you there!!!!!!!

*In other news too, I’m feeling good about the sound of the band these days. We’re finding our sound and really having a lot of fun. We’ll also be adding some new musicians….and….I would like to start recording my first full length in the coming months. more…to come…

thanks for your support. thanks for buying a cd. for wearing my buttons. for supporting music in all facets. sometimes I forget how lucky I am that I have this outlet..that people listen..that people come back for more. I hope I’m nowhere near the end.

photo by Marissa McCellan

Best,
Ashley Brooke Toussant

Hi friends,

I realized tonight that it’s been too long since I’ve written and said hello…

Last night I played a wonderful show in Tremont (a fun and cute neighborhood in Cleveland) at Visible Voice Books. If you haven’t been here, get on over and check out their amazing selection of progressive and interesting books. They also have a wine bar and a super nice staff.

The band (Flora, Chris and I) played in their adjoining courtyard. It was such a pretty set up and such a nice atmosphere to play my songs. Thank you to the friends old and new who came out to support! I love you!

Next up is University Park Art Fair in Akron, Ohio at Grace Park. I played this fair last year and it was so much fun. I’m looking forward to seeing the new, local art this time around and meeting more friendly faces. We’ll be playing 130pm to 330pm.

Next Friday August 20th, I’ll be playing outside of my friend Lauren Ward’s store, NOTO in downtown Akron. She is having a huge sale. I can’t wait!! It’s her end of Summer sale, so come catch some fantastic bargains on some awesome clothes!!

Then on Saturday August 28th, I’ll be both at the Geauga Fresh Farmers Market in South Russell, Ohio at 930am to 1130am and in the Tavern side at the Beachland Ballroom at 830pm, opening up for Jill Andrews.

August has been and will thankfully continue to be an exciting month!! Lots of good stuff happening in the Fall and Winter too…

See you soon!!

Ashley

* Editor’s note: holding off on ‘announcement’..not huge..but will be exciting, when the time is right!

Hi friends,

Hope you’re well and cooled down in some way..or happy and hot:) I’m writing to you sitting in a well air conditioned place (Scribbles Coffee in Kent). I am taking some what of a break on shows. I’ve been doing Farmer’s Markets for the past three weeks. Tomorrow morning I’ll be back at South Russell’s Market. They are a lot of fun and I’ve met tons of nice folks.
Next Friday at 640pm, I’ll be playing the ARM festival in downtown Kent at the Vineyard Church. I’ll be one of the first acts playing. Hopefully there will be a great big crowd..Hope you can make it:) The lovely poster was made by my good friend Christian Woltman

.

I’ll be back in Shaker Square on Saturday (the 31st) for their market then and on Tuesday afternoon August 3rd I’ll be in my hometown Canton, singing for their Brown Bag Series (encouraging LIVE music) in downtown.

Then I’ll start a good month of shows in Akron and Cleveland…
August 12th- Visible Books
August 14th-University Park Art Fair
August 28th-Beachland Ballroom

…and more

I’ll be telling you big and exciting news in my next blog..stay tuned:)

ABT

Hi friends,
Saturday was so fun! Thanks to all those who made it out on the scorcher of a day at the Heritage Festival. It was my first show back in Ohio since our last show on the tour (in NYC). It felt good. I’m excited to be with Flora and Chris. Though I miss/will miss Abram and Logan, I’m looking forward to the future with this semi-new sound.

Next up begins the start of a good number of Farmer’s Market gigs. I’ll be at Geauga’s Fresh Market this Saturday at 930am to 12pm. Next weekend is Kent, on the 31st I’ll be back in Shaker Square.

Also this Saturday after the Market I’ll be driving up to Livonia, Michigan to play at show at Trinity House Theatre with some friends from Chicago, Rachele Eve and the Shams band.

Then on Sunday we’ll be playing a Whiskey Social at the Lockview in Akron with Hey Mavis. Show starts at 7pm.

Fun weekend ahead.

See you soon!

Ashley

Hi friends,

Happy 4th of July weekend! Hope to see you tomorrow in downtown Kent the annual Heritage Festival. I’ll be playing with Flora and Chris on the North Water Street Stage at 3pm. Last year was wonderful, hoping to have a good time this year as well!!

last year's festival

Best,
ABT

Hi friends,
Since I got back from the tour, I have had many thoughts of “what’s next”? The answer I am accepting right now is just keep at it. What else can I do? Do I still like doing this? I don’t know why my feelings seem so empty. I had a great time on this tour and hope to travel on a consistent level sooner than later. I guess I’ve been thinking about anything and everything about my age, my life, everything..

so singing..playing..shows..I hope that’s always what’s next. I hope the shows get better. I hope my fans tell friends..and so on and so on..

and on a more concrete (less vague) side. a new record is next…hopefully Fall/Winter.

shows in the near future:
Cedars Lounge (Youngstown, Ohio) 9pm-JULY 2nd
Heritage Festival (Kent, Ohio-downtown) North Water St Stage-3pm- JULY 3rd
Liberty House Theatre (Livonia,Michigan) 8pm- JULY 11th
Lockview (Akron, Ohio) 7pm-JULY 11th
…farmers markets in Kent, South Russell and Cleveland throughout July-September

newest announcements:
Beachland Ballroom (Cleveland, Ohio) opening for Jill Andrews of the Everybody Fields 730pm (doors)-AUGUST 28th
Art in the Park (Kent, Ohio) Backwoods stage- 11am-September 12th

Hope to see you soon!

hanging in Kent

ABT

Hi all,
Life on the road was exciting, tiring, but mostly a wonderful time! We put 4400 miles on the car, played 12 different venues/10 cities in 18 days. We had some really great nights, spent with new friends, new fans and just good people/listeners. There were of course a good list of things I would have hoped to have happened differently but it adds to the first story, I suppose. My first tour is done and I feel good. Hoping the next time out will be even better!

Here is some video from the road..On Saturday May 22nd we visited Georgetown University in Washington DC. We picked one of the best times to go…Graduation!!! It was pretty insane. Geoff dropped Flora and I off (parking was impossible) and our new friend Igor picked met up with us on his bicycle. It was a fun half hour (or so) interview. Here is a clip…

Hi friends,

About a month ago, I was sitting in my apartment with friends and my neighbors stopped over with friends they had over that night. I looked at their friend and thought hmm..she looks familiar. Then I realized I READ HER BLOG!! I am referring to Amanda Johnson. She has this awesome blog. I have it marked as a favorite. Her home was featured on the website ApartmentTherapy.com one day. It stuck out to me because one it’s a really cool home but also I remember being stunned she lived in North Canton, Ohio!

Long story short, Mandi and I are becoming friends. She came to see me last month when I played Professor’s Pub in downtown Kent. She was nice enough to blog about me on her site!

Check it out and become a fan. She is starting her own online vintage store too! Can’t wait!

Thanks again, Mandi!

ABT
ps: tour video and more pictures soon!!!!
planning some upcoming shows too..