Ashley Naylor has announced a Wednesday August 13 exclusive preview listening party at Odeon Richmond for his new album Alexandria Sunset. The event will include a track-by-track preview of the new album and a Q&A session with Ash hosted by Jeff Jenkins, one of Australia’s leading music journalists.
Fans will be able to experience the first public airing of several new songs, played directly off the vinyl test pressings, ahead of the official release on Friday 5 September.
The night will also feature:
* A slide show of professional and fan photographs
* Merch giveaways
* A pop-up store featuring a variety of collectible items.
Entry is free with a $0 ticket booking. There is an OPTION to add a donation to Support Act when you book your free entry ticket. Alternatively, you may wish to book your free entry ticket and offer the donation on the night.
CAPACITY IS LIMITED, so reserve your place here for what is sure to be an unforgettable evening.
Melbourne musician Ashley Naylor plays guitar in The Church, The Stems, Paul Kelly, the RocKwiz Orkestra and for a host of other artists. He is the beloved guitarist, songwriter and singer of ’90s Triple J faves Even, leader of instrumental outfit Ashley Naylor Spaceship and co-conspirator in a number of other acts including The Grapes and The Ronson Hangup. He is set to break substantial ground in a new phase in his career with the September 6 release of his new solo vocal album Alexandria Sunset and the release of the new track “As Good As Gold”.
PURCHASE OR STREAM HERE – As Good As Gold | Ashley Naylor
The new solo vocal material follows Naylor’s acclaimed instrumental solo guitar album Soundtracks Vol. 2 and the birth of his new solo band Spaceship and is Naylor’s first vocal solo recording in over a decade. Primarily song focused rather than a vehicle for Naylor’s guitar playing, Alexandria Sunset is the first solo album on which Naylor himself plays and sings every note himself since 2004’s Four Track Mind and it’s a much more evolved record than that was. It digs deep into the classic stylings of the late ’60s and ’70s that Naylor has always loved. As the artist himself says, “I’m an indie artist hung up on classic rock”.
“I’ve been working on three separate albums in recent years,” continues Naylor. “This one finished itself first once I committed to the idea that it would consist of songs I recorded all the parts for on my own. Much of what I do is in a collaborative environment; this album is a deliberate move into a very singular musical world I’ve created. These songs were recorded in spare quiet moments which informed the intimacy of much of the material”
“As Good As Gold” follows two album previews released last year. “Donovan Dreams”, an ode to the legendary ’60s Scottish psychedelic folkster Donovan (“Mellow Yellow”, “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, “Sunshine Superman” etc.) continued in the heady tradition of Naylor’s sublime work on Even’s massively-acclaimed double album Reverse Light Years, while “A Blue Sky” was more plaintive, highlighting Naylor’s superb 12-string guitar and way with melody. “As Good As Gold” is both trippy and plaintive.
The three songs together reveal just part of what is a varied and rich work from an artist whose abilities continue to grow and whose wide-ranging work with some of today’s finest artists – in addition to his ever-expansive listening habits and his inability to let his guitar leave his hands – continues to enlarge his pallet. Naylor adds, “This album is an unfettered foray into my own rock fantasy, where guitar solos are long, songs take detours, and the audience would just sit and listen to the music. I believe the true essence of this album will reveal itself over time”
Currently not on tour with The Church, Paul Kelly, The Stems or Rockwiz – although dates with all are on the horizon – Naylor has the next little while to focus on his own music. A wildly received recent performance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s classic debut at Melbourne’s Cherry Bar allowed Naylor to drop in to see what condition his condition is in (it’s fine, thank you very much) and he’s raring to explore it deeply while he has the chance. Pre-order Alexandria Sunset now and keep your eye out for live performances to be announced soon.
ASHLEY NAYLOR’s ALEXANDRIA SUNSET IS OUT SEPTEMBER 6, 2025 ON EL RENO MUSIC.
PRE-ORDER CD OR DIGITAL RELEASE, OR “FOLLOW” FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE LIMITED-EDITION VINYL RELEASE, HERE
MORE ABOUT ASHLEY NAYLOR
Ashley Naylor is one of Australia’s most in-demand and beloved musicians. Guitarist for The Church, Paul Kelly, The Stems, & the RocKwiz Orkestra, singer/songwriter/guitarist with beloved Melbourne band Even, leader of Ashley Naylor Spaceship, co-conspirator in The Grapes, The Ronson Hangup and Monterey Honey, and a musician who has worked with Vika & Linda, Tim Finn, both Stephen Cummings and The Sports, Fanny Lumsden, the Countdown Spectacular house band, the Allman Betts Family Revival and more. Ashley Naylor is also an acclaimed solo artist who has released solo singer/songwriter and guitar instrumental albums.
From his Beatles-inspired work with Even, through to the Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Hazel and David Axelrod inspired music he has made on solo albums ‘Soundtracks Vol 1’ and ‘Soundtracks Vol 2’ and with his new 4-piece band Ashley Naylor Spaceship, Naylor is a consummate musician and a genuine seeker; someone who is always looking to expand his horizons and improve his abilities.
Naylor’s previous album is ‘Soundtracks Volume 2’ was released late in 2023. It enjoyed a top 5 position on the AIR charts upon release and has had a stellar response in the music press, and it followed Even’s 2021 double magnum opus, ‘Reverse Light Years’ which went Top 20 in the ARIA Album chart on the back of the best press of the band’s career.
Ashley Naylor was the Australian Musician Musician of the Month for October 2023. Check out the interview HERE
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