Ashley Reaks is a English singer/songwriter, self-taught artist and punk poet. After years of playing bass in local bands he joined It Bites frontman Francis Dunnery on tour in 1994, playing acoustic guitar and performing his poetry to bemused audiences across the world, culminating in a live album 'One Night in Sauchiehall Street'. In 1999 he mutated into Joe Northern, formed Younger Younger 28s, released the dark-pop masterpiece 'Soap' on V2 Records, appeared on lots of children's TV shows, played the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival and promptly disappeared back into obscurity. 2000 saw Ashley recording and touring a collection of his punk poetry, comic songs and primal noises, ominously called 'Itchy Circus Odour'. At this time he was often found performing on various stages in the UK wearing a sheeps mask and making moaning noises. In an attempt to re-capture the innocence of childhood he got together with some old musician friends in 2003 to record 'Children Rule!', an album of melodic and melancholy pop songs. On its release it received airplay in the US and the UK as well as favourable reviews in the music press. Presently Ashley is exhibiting his raw and childlike art in the UK, USA and Spain as well as continuing to perform his music and his poetry.

Nick Cave, Prefab Sprout, The Cure, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, The Ramones