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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien.
When two world-class musicians with distinct yet complementary voices come together, something truly special happens. Ariel Posen, the Canadian slide guitar virtuoso and singer-songwriter known for his soulful tone and genre-bending style, joins forces with Ash Soan, the legendary UK drummer whose grooves have shaped hits across generations and genres.
Together, they form a dynamic duo blending cinematic textures, raw musicianship, and infectious rhythm. What began as a remote collaboration evolved into a powerful creative partnership—melding Ariel’s melodic sensibilities and songwriting chops with Ash’s iconic drum feel and rhythmic innovation.
Ash is an award-winning UK session drummer known for versatility across many genres. He has contributed to multiple pop, rock, prog, fusion, reggae and indie recordings for artists including Adele, Rod Stewart, Cher, Celine Dion, Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Alicia Keys, Seal, Dua Lipa, Bob Marley & The Chineke Orchestra, Julian Lennon, Paloma Faith, Take That, Snow Patrol, Tori Amos, Tate McRae, Robbie Williams, Rumer/Dionne Warwick and Billy Idol.
For Ariel Posen, songwriting and guitar playing have always gone hand-in-hand. He’s spent a decade building a bridge between those two worlds, balancing his work as a hotshot instrumentalist — including collaborations with everyone from John Mayer to Tom Jones — with solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling. The result is a career that’s every bit as diverse as his music. With performances at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, his own Fender Stratocaster signature model, and a powerful voice that matches his fretwork, Posen explores uncharted territory, blurring the lines between genre and generation along the way.
Raised by musical parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Posen played guitar for hometown friends The Bros. Landreth — and won a Juno Award for the band’s first release, Let It Lie — before launching his solo career in 2019. Multiple solo records followed, showcasing an ever-evolving mix of rock & roll, R&B, Americana, and electrified roots music. Some albums were filled with tightly constructed, vocally-driven songs. Others were collections of improvised guitar instrumentals. Together, they highlight a musician who continues to push ahead, chasing down new sounds while still honouring his roots.
Their self-titled debut lives up to the hype, delivering a fresh, dynamic blend of groove and grit that’s both exactly what you’d expect and something you’ve never heard.
NICOLE ROCHEFORT