Originally from Austin and now based in Sheffield, the guitarist recorded parts of Chicken Wire in both cities, using various friends and acquaintances from the local music scenes.
Following on from 2014's Once I Got Burned, the album was mixed by Grammy-nominated Austin producer Chris 'Frenchie' Smith (Young Heart Attack, Meat Puppets, Datsuns, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead), and is packaged in a sleeve designed by renowned Sheffield poster artist Martin Bedford.
Speaking about the recording, Gray says, "The album represents a nice bridge that's been developing between Sheffield and Austin in the three years that I've called Sheffield home. I met so many amazing musicians in Sheffield and have tightened connections with old and new acquaintances in Austin since I began working on these recordings and I was interested in trying to include everyone that I'd been playing with."
First coming to prominence in the UK at the end of the 90s with punkgrass outfit THE HIGH-CLASS FAMILY BUTCHERS, Gray returned to Austin where he fronted glamsters STUNGUN, before relocating to New York City to play guitar with legendary biker band CYCLE SLUTS FROM HELL and form his own psych outfit ASH GRAY & THE GIRLS.
Gray plays a series of dates across Germany and The Netherlands in early February, before returning to play an official album launch in Sheffield. Full dates are....
2 Feb - Geyger Gallery, Berlin (D)
4 Feb - Barnaby's Blues Bar, Brunswick (D)
5 Feb - Hoppla, Cologne (D)
8 Feb - Elo Bar, Bremen (D)
9 Feb - O'Ceallaigh Irish Pub, Groningen (NL)
10 Feb - Janja's Musik Bar, Cuxhaven (D)
11 Feb - Künstlerhaus Faktor, Hamburg (D)
16 Feb - Toolmakers, Sheffield ALBUM LAUNCH - tickets
Chicken Wire is set for release on 26 January on gatefold vinyl, CD and download through Labelship.
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