Sean Ashby is coming back to the Blue Dog Cafe.

“It’s the smallest venue I play, but I love it,” said Ashby, who will be at the popular Cochrane restaurant Nov. 19 for one night only.

Sean Ashby is at the Blue Dog Cafe Nov. 19. (Photo courtesy Sean Ashby)

He’ll be bringing with him his lap steel guitar and a Hawaiian predecessor of the pedal steel guitar, which he uses in over half of his songs.

Just one stop of 224 shows this year for Toronto-based Ashby, who has been touring all year in promotion of his CD Brass and Gold.

You may or may not know Sean Ashby by name, depending on how musical you are,  but you likely won’t listen to the radio for long without hearing his guitar riffs.

He has played and recorded with many well-known artists and bands over the years: Delerium, Wild Strawberries, Ginger (former Grapes of Wrath), Lee Aaron, and Swollen Members, among many others.

Most notably, Ashby was Sarah McLachlan’s guitar player since 1996, with whom he has received four platinum American discs and one diamond Canadian disc for studio and live CDs.

The two also appeared on Just Like You (Cats in the Cradle) for D’s (from Run DMC) solo CD.

A hard-earned career backing up some of Canada’s main stage talent has taken Ashby down new avenues in recent years, and has led him to a solo career as a guitar player/singer/songwriter.

And he’s loving every minute of it.

“My solo career is going so well,” answers Ashby in regards to his future playing with McLachlan — who has been taking time off in recent years from her travels on the road and work in the studio.

“I don’t know what the future holds. It might be a time in my life to do my own thing,”

Although Ashby feels like his singing and songwriting has reached its maturity, this aspect of being a musician didn’t come as naturally to him as playing the guitar did.

It’s taken Ashby a lot of work to find his own groove within his music, which he defines as a “rootsy, Americana-style of music.”

Brass and Gold, which was produced under Ashby’s label, Black Sparrow Records, is the first solo CD under Ashby’s own name, but his third album in total. He produced the first two under the project name Jack Tripper.

Ashby puts a strong focus on the message that his songs carry, inspired by his travels overseas.

He also dips into his personal struggles — his own dark side — and other meaningful topics and events that Ashby has made his own. He has translated them into his lyrical style that reaches out to his listeners.

His work as a guitar player has appeared on other artists’ CDs, totaling more than ten million copies worldwide.

His goals for his solo sales aren’t quite as high.

Although, Ashby is pleased with the numbers to date, he is dedicated to building an audience for his music by hitting the road hard and playing at all types of venues.

“I love playing my music for people and the journey it takes me on,” said Ashby.

And he’s already back in the studio working on his upcoming CD, which will be released in the spring of 2010, but may be available on iTunes as early as January.

If he had to do it all over again — life on the road, monster hours in the studio and never being able to say enough is enough — would he?

He says absolutely.

“I never had a question about being a musician. It’s like a calling,” Ashby simply answers.

Tickets for his show in Cochrane are $10. To find out more information or book reservations call 403-932-4282.

To find out more about Sean Ashby, or to get your hands on a copy of Brass and Gold check out his website www.seanashby.com.

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