The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Hartman, Ashton set for Guitartown show Wednesday
Part of acoustic series in Hamden
HAMDEN — Best Video Film and Cultural Center and independent producer Chris Wuerth of GuitartownCT continue their run of great acoustic acts on Wednesday with Courtney Hartman — formerly of all-women string band Della Mae — and Taylor Ashton.
Wuerth has proven himself over the years to be a consistent enough judge of talent that, even if you’ve never heard of Hartman and Ashton, you can pretty much count on a quality show.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $20 at guitartownct.com. Best Video is at 1842 Whitney Ave.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Hartman started playing guitar at 8 years old after spending several years sharpening her chops on fiddle and mandolin. A native of Colorado who now lives in Brooklyn, her influences run from Norman Blake to Tony Rice to Bill Frisell, but her style is all her own.
“She is one of the greatest guitarists of our generation,” says no less an authority than jazz guitarist Julian Lage. “She doesn’t play anything that isn’t rooted in her love for the music.”
On his website, Ashton bills himself as “songwriter, singer, banjo player, guitarist, illustrator, graphic designer, Canadian.” He has been writing songs and performing since 2006, mostly with friends in the band Fish & Bird. He was born in Calgary, Canada, has lived in Canada and Brooklyn, and “sometimes lives in a tour van.”
Like many of today’s great, young acoustic musicians, Hartman studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was guitarist and songwriter for eight years with Della Mae, the Grammy-nominated, all-female string band.
Over the years, she has collaborated with a number of other great musicians, including Bryan Sutton (of Hot Rize, among others), Jim Lauderdale, Buffy St. Marie and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty’s band.
She was nominated by the Americana Music Association for 2017 Instrumentalist of the Year.
Hartman and Taylor’s new album, “Been on Your Side,” was released Aug. 31 on FreeDirt Records.
GuitartownCT recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with an all-star bluegrass show at Hamden’s Unitarian Society.
“I want to thank the bluegrass community, especially in Hamden, for their support over the years,” said Wuerth. “The bands love doing shows at Guitartown; they all say the audience is amazing!”
GuitartownCT started its concert series in May 2008. This will be GuitartownCT’s 82nd show. A schedule of upcoming shows, along with information and ticket links, is available at guitartownct.com.