Born and bred in the East Midlands, queer folk artist Emily Ashberry is singer-songwriter-come-balladeer with an innate feeling for crafting meaningful stories through her music. ​
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After training as an actor, her final year of study and burgeoning stage career was quickly knocked back by a global pandemic. Stuck in her childhood bedroom with no job to go to, Emily began to write soft folk tracks influenced by the traditional music she'd grown up with. Over time, two lockdowns, and six-month jaunt around the US and Canada, Emily's songwriting style developed into something more personal, contemporary, and introspective.​
With the help of Lincolnshire organisation Acoustic Nations, she was able to release her debut EP Roots in 2023, showcasing her traditional background and queer storytelling prowess. This EP gave Emily her first taste of musical success, receiving attention and multiple plays on BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Lincolnshire. The same year, her second EP A Pleasure to Teach allowed her to fully embrace her ability to weave intricate stories and personal experiences that resonate with her listeners, with queer love songs and music for 'gifted kids who grew into anxious adults'.
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In 2023 and 2024, Emily performed at the highly-acclaimed Gate to Southwell Festival, as well as Nottingham's Beat the Streets in 2025, and over the course of her career has supported well-known folk and Americana artists including Beans on Toast and Angelica Rockne.
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As her music moves across Roots genres, with her current project exploring American folk and bluegrass, her Appalachian heritage, and Southern culture, Emily's work is always entrenched in the same thing; the power of storytelling and communities joining together in song