Par Lounge Favorite Ashley E. Norton Returns from European Tour

If you missed seeing and hearing Ashley in August, that’s because she was touring in Europe, bringing her unique voice, infectious smile, and original Americana tunes to an audience that hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing her in person since her 2019 tour with former band Whitherward.

This year, when one of the venues in Germany asked Ashley if she’d be willing to come back and perform, it was the catalyst for a new European tour with three concerts in Germany, two in the UK, and additional time built in for sightseeing, relaxation, and visiting with family overseas.

“Even though I was gone for a long time, it was a small tour,” she says. “But you know, sometimes things just happen the way they’re supposed to happen.” As it turns out, her tour coincided with the release of her new album, “Call of The Void,” resulting in what Ashley calls a “happy accident.”

Just before she hit the road, Ashley heard from her European promoter that she had been listed as one of the Euro Americana Chart “Artists to Watch,” an impressive indication that her popularity is not simply a local Ramona phenomenon. While Ashley traveled through Europe, performing, and reconnecting with old fans and meeting new ones, local DJs were spinning her tunes, and critics were praising her latest album. Then, mere days after returning home and unpacking her bags, she got exciting news--“Call Of The Void” had hit the #20 spot on the September 2024 Euro Americana Chart.

“So, I’m just getting notification after notification that all these FM radio stations across Europe are playing my music,” she says with a humility and disbelief that belies her talent. “It almost doesn’t feel real, but it is, and it’s really incredible.”

She continues, “This tour was kind of me dipping my toes back in the European market, and it clearly went very well. And now that I’m getting all this radio play, I think you can expect some more tours to Europe from me.” As if anticipating my next question, she quickly adds, “But don’t worry—I'm not moving there!”

A relative newcomer to the area, Ashley is a well-known and respected contributor to the local music scene. Among other things, she is the producer of the popular all-female songwriter showcase, “Songbirds.” She co-founded Ramona Music Alliance with Ramona Music Center owner John Hasz, and earlier this year, the two of them were recognized as Citizens of the Year by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce. She’s made Ramona her home, and her affection for the town is apparent. “I’ve only been here for four years, but I absolutely love it. I love how quiet it is and the community. It’s just an incredible place to be.”

Ashley’s European tour was full of too many great moments for her to pick a single highlight, but as I listened to her share a few stories, one stuck with me. While attending an Americana showcase in the Netherlands, she was captivated by a Nashville performer named Emily Nenni. “I saw her, and I loved her, and I got her CD and everything,” Ashley explained. When she heard a couple of days later about a Dublin radio DJ who had been playing Ashley’s music, she visited him in the studio and saw a stack of CDs that included both her and Nenni’s latest albums. “Going to see this artist and then being played on the same exact radio station” is what Ashley describes as her “favorite kind of kismet.”

It might be hard to believe that a rising star like Ashley, with a growing fan base both across the country and overseas, is so sure about staying in Ramona, but her sincerity is obvious. And when people say they’re worried about losing her to the big city and the fast life, her answer is always the same: “No, Ramona is my home.”

And we sure are lucky to have her. You can catch Ashley regularly in venues throughout Ramona, performing with her bands Lady Psychiatrist’s Booth, Ash and the Mondays, and, of course, performing her original music and creative covers of popular tunes every Wednesday at Par Lounge and Deck. She even takes requests!

Ashley’s new album, Call Of The Void, is available to download from all streaming services, including Spotify and Bandcamp.