ASHELIN is a band of five sisters - Cassy, Joesie, Kaliyan, Shaelin, and Thea from Newfoundland. The sisters began singing and dancing to Newfoundland and Irish music as far back as they can remember while learning to play a stunning variety of instruments. Although they never expected this childhood passion for all things musical to be anything but family focused, they were soon embarking on a musical journey that is winning them attention and fans around the world.

Known for their sparkling vocals and intricate harmonies, ASHELIN’s brand of folk roots and pop shines through their original songwriting and novel interpretations of traditional tunes. Since their first public performance in 1997, they have entertained thousands at such high profile events as the World Podium Influential Leaders series with guest speaker Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and a visit to Qatar for an audience with Queen Sheikah Mozah. ASHELIN have showcased for Contact East, the JUNOs, and the ECMAs, and received numerous standing ovations at folk festivals across the Maritimes including the Stan Rogers Folk Festival.

ASHELIN was chosen to showcase Newfoundland culture through the eyes of an artist in a recent documentary film of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The film, by Compass Films of Germany, centers around the expedition of world famous explorer Arved Fuchs’ North Atlantic Tour 2010, on the path of the Vikings. It will be broadcast in Germany and France to an audience of over 12 million people.

The band’s original song “Song for Mariana” was a winner from over 600 contenders for David Suzuki’s “Playlist for the Planet,” a soon-to-be-released CD which brings them together with some of Canada’s finest songwriters and performers. Other winners for this prestigious release include Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene, k-os, Randy Bachman (with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Yanofsky), Joel Plaskett, Great Big Sea, Johnny Reid, and RUSH.

ASHELIN’s 2010 release “The Road Not Taken” was produced by Grammy Award winning producer/engineer George Massenburg and ECMA award winning producer/engineer Al Strickland, and features performances by the crème de la crème of East Coast talent including bassist Jamie Gatti, multi-instrumentalist J.P. Cormier, and bluesman John Campbell John among others.

“ASHELIN are tremendous performers and one of the most professional groups with whom I’ve worked.” says Ian Fraser, Director, Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo.

These five fresh talents, who can cast a spell over their audiences, are ready to take their place among the greatest talent Canada has produced.