Ashley & Simpson
Comprised of Jennifer Ashley and Joel Simpson, Ashley & Simpson are quickly becoming folk scene favorites. This folk duo blends traditional songs and instrumentation along with beautiful vocal harmonies reminiscent of famous duos such as Ian & Silvia and The Everly Brothers. With their sophomore release “Off To Here Land,” they have pushed the art of folk to a new sound with an all traditional track list that will delight fans new and old. Both bringing a classical perspective to their duo, Jennifer Ashley & Joel Simpson have reached a new level with incorporating elements of jazz, popular music and other modern styles in their arrangements.
Joel Simpson is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and educator with more than 25 years of experience in performance and music instruction. Raised in a musical family, he began exploring guitar, vocals, and songwriting at an early age, laying the foundation for a lifelong career rooted in both performance and education. In addition to guitar, Joel performs on mandolin, dobro, banjo, and bass.
A graduate of Elmhurst University with a degree in music business, Joel has worked in both the creative and business sides of the music industry, including positions in A&R with Columbia Records and music product manufacturing with Peterson Strobe Tuners. Since becoming a full-time self-employed musician in 2001, he has built a dynamic career blending private instruction, production work, and live performance.
As a member of Lee Murdock’s Blue Horizon band, Joel performed on Rich Warren’s Folkstage, appeared as a 2016 Folk Alliance Official Showcase artist, and contributed to Lee Murdock’s final two recordings. He is also a member of The Chancey Brothers, a Chicago’s favorite Irish band, and released his solo album Irish Boy’s Dream in 2018.
Today, Joel is a partner of Randomosity Records, a multifaceted company that includes an independent record label, music publishing, lesson studios, and audio/video production and distribution services. He currently serves as co-director of Two Way Street Coffee House, where he plays an active role in curating and supporting a thriving acoustic music community.
Jennifer Ashley began studying piano as a young child. She studied finance and law at Loyola University Chicago and started a family. In 2016, she partnered with Joel Simpson and his company Randomosity Records and became a full-time musician, splitting her time between private instruction, production, and performing.
They announced their arrival to the folk scene in October 2017 with the release of their debut album, “Winnie,” an epic love story unfolding song by song, chronicling the journey of two kids in love from Smalltown, USA. Since forming in 2016, Ashley & Simpson have played some great stages, including:
- Acoustic Renaissance Concerts (Hinsdale, Illinois)
- Concerts on The Creek (Rockford, Illinois
- Folk Alliance Region Midwest “DJ Showcase” (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival (Geneva, Illinois)
- Folk Festival with Lilla Kuzma on WDCB 90.9 Public Radio (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
- Fitzgerald’s Sidebar (Berwyn, IL)
- Maple Street Concerts (Lombard, IL)
- Sugar Island Fest (Sault Ste. Marie, MI)
- Two Way Street Coffee House (Downers Grove, Illinois)
- Woodstock Folk Festival (Woodstock, Illinois)
On February 1, 2019, “Off To Here Land” was released and Jennifer and Joel had the honor to have their release show at the legendary Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove, Illinois. In its debut month, “Off To Here Land” was #7 TOP ALBUM on the Folk Radio Charts, and Ashley & Simpson earned the distinction of #9 TOP ARTIST for the month.
Ashley & Simpson’s third album, “Hello, Mrs. Sun,” will feature all original songs and is in the final stages of production. In addition to Ashley & Simpson, the partners operate an independent record label called Randomosity Records located in Downers Grove, IL where they record, produce and teach. Joel and Jennifer were named Directors of the Two Way Street Coffee House in September 2020. The pair also enjoy volunteering at local folk festivals.
