Ashleigh Chevalier
Ashleigh Chevalier has been singing and performing since the early age of six and has always had a love and passion for music. Classically trained in vocal performance, Ashleigh has performed everything from Gilbert & Sullivan to Mozart and Henry Purcell. She chooses to share her soul on stage belting rockin’ blues.
She has to date joined and shared the stage with musical greats such as Rockabilly/Blues guitar player Billy Hancock, Dave Elliot, Claude Arthur, Steve Jarrell & The Sons of the Beach, and Sandra Bears of James Brown’s fabulous Jewels and the band The Bruthers, legendary blues guitarist Linwood Taylor, Devon Allman at the State Theater in Falls Church, VA, legendary tenor sax player Ron Holloway, D.C. WAMMIE Winner Ted Garber, D.C. WAMMIE Winner Tony Fazio, NBC Idol Winner Anthony Campbell, and Modern Yesterday’s Andrew Hellier. She has performed in night clubs, at private events, and festivals for thousands, including the 2010 and 2011 Chili Cook-off, where she opened for the legendary rock band, Kansas, The Virginia State Fair, the historic Fredericksburg Downtown Dog Fair (2009-2011), and many more. She has also had the honor of opening for Devon Allman’s Honeytribe several times regionally, and joining the line up for Salvation Army Benefit Army of Stars performance with Steve Jarrell, Anthony Campbell, Jon Carroll, Debra Silver, and more.
Ashleigh is currently performing with international guitar legend and eleven time WAMMIE nominee Bruce Middle. This diverse guitarist works masterfully with Ashleigh’s extensive range and influence to deliver a strong combination original and traditional tunes that will keep you groovin’ and free your heart at the same time. This dynamic team presents a show like none other that will seduce and intrigue.
Ashleigh’s original material is making its way through the radio waves, and she has been covered and reviewed by the regional media. She was a performance judge with major radio networks 99.3The Vibe with their ‘Burg Idol 2011 & 2012 and 93.3WFLS Country Idol 2012 Competition/. Ashleigh also writes for several regional publications and interviews local artists for Comcast's Rhythm & Muse - a local access show dedicated to covering the arts and music in the Fredricksburg, VA Region. Learn more about Ashleigh's local involvement at the Fredericksburg, VA Local link on this site.
Early on Ashleigh was inspired by the sounds of female folk and country music legends, like Patsy Cline and Gillian Welch, and enjoyed singing in the school chorus and local musical theater. She was always pulled to the front to sing solos and perform leading roles. As Ashleigh grew, so did her skills, understanding, appreciation for music and the list of musicians and vocalists whose work have continued to inspire her. As she studies and listens, Ashleigh has developed her four octave range with lows and highs that will carry you through a musical journey and experience. She delivers a naturally raw, down and dirty sound when she covers songs from her collective inspirations which include soft jazzy pieces from the roaring 20’s, 30’s, and 40s, by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and the rockin’ and rollin’ traditional blues tunes of Koko Taylor, Etta James, and Janis Joplin. Her hard blues rocker influences include Hendrix, Clapton, Led Zeppelin, , and more contemporary rockin’ blues ladies like Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Tracy Chapman, and Susan Tedeschi. It is often said “Ashleigh has the range of DC’s own Eva Cassidy, the passion of Janis Joplin, the grit of Bonnie Raitt, and the classic soul of Etta James.” Her edgy and gripping voice and prominent stage presence simply pierces the soul. This self- started young performer has performed as a blues and solo artist all over the Mid-Atlantic Region and is making her mark in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. music scene.
She is currently supporting the recent release of her debut album, From the Soles - produced by Grammy Winner Jon Carroll - with special guests Ron Holloway and Hunter Wolfe.