Three Clevedon School students who once sat in a Sports Science lesson daydreaming about music have officially set their sights on the legendary stages of the Glastonbury Festival.
Jamie Taylor, 18, Seb Kirk, 17, and Giovani Bianchi, 17, first discovered their shared musical chemistry after watching a school production. Inspired by the energy of the performance, they made a pact to pick up their instruments and collaborate.
‘We loved it so much that we decided to form a band,’ Jamie recalled. That spark led to the creation of Ashes, a dynamic teenage power trio featuring Jamie on lead vocals and guitar, Seb anchoring the rhythm on bass, and Gio keeping the beat on drums.
While the band has spent the last year perfecting a high energy set of rock and pop covers, they have quietly been channeling their creativity into writing original material. Taking a bold leap forward, the trio recently packaged a professional video demo and sent it straight to Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, aiming for a slot on one of the festival’s grassroots stages when the event returns after its fallow year in 2027.
The demo was a true homegrown collaboration, brought to life with the help of a close friend studying film at Boom Satsuma in Bristol. ‘We know we are fresh and new,’ Jamie said, ‘but we hope Michael Eavis gets to watch it and see our potential. It would be amazing to actually get to perform at Glastonbury, the biggest and best music festival in the world.’
Before they can conquer Worthy Farm, however, Ashes is focused on making waves on the local circuit. The trio has already become a staple at the popular monthly under-18s open mic sessions at The Riff Corner, where their raw talent and infectious stage presence regularly draw enthusiastic crowds.
Having already proved their mettle through those well established youth sessions, Ashes is now taking a major step up. In line with the venue’s ongoing commitment to championing young talent, the trio has been chosen to graduate to the main weekly lineup, securing their very first full evening headline gig to showcase exactly what they can do.
The upcoming milestone is a poignant, full circle moment for Jamie. Years ago, he took his first-ever guitar lessons from the venue’s co-owner and established local musician, Steve Treble.
‘As a young, new band, you don’t get many opportunities to play to a live crowd,’ Jamie explained. ‘The Riff Corner has been central to what we are doing. Not only has it given us an opportunity to perform with other young artists at the under 18 open mic, it is now providing a vital platform for us and other young musicians and bands.’
The headline gig comes at a pivotal turning point for the band’s front man. This autumn, Jamie will take a major step toward a professional career by studying music performance and production at the prestigious British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in Bristol, a move that promises to inject even more technical skill and ambition into the trio’s evolving sound.
For Steve Treble, who started his own musical journey as a teenager, supporting the trio was an easy decision. ‘We have always been a venue which is keen to showcase the musical talent of the next generation,’ Treble said. ‘Our under-18s open mic sessions have been a huge success, and we look forward to celebrating the stars of the future, knowing they took their place on the stage at The Riff Corner.‘
Music lovers can catch this exciting local milestone and support Clevedon’s homegrown talent when Ashes takes the stage at The Riff Corner on Thursday, 9th July at 8.00 p.m. Entry is free, but arriving early is highly recommended to secure a spot.