"On their debut Old Numbers , the Ashtray Hearts have created a somber, inviting album that reflects those lonely, hopeless wintry days in a city full of broken hearts, dead dreams and bittersweet memories." —No Depression

The Ashtray Hearts is a six-piece ensemble from Minneapolis that borrows elements of Americana and alt-country and adds eclectic instrumentation (horns, organs, accordions) to create a unique lonely, broken-hearted sound. The band's debut, Old Numbers—a collection of twelve songs—is a quiet, but evocative, introduction to the Ashtray Hearts,

After their first U.S. tour and modest press exposure from No Depression in 2002, the band caught the attention of legendary BBC DJ Bob Harris. He invited the Ashtray Hearts to be on the Bob Harris Presents Vol. 4 compilation (released March 2003). The compilation features a dozen of Bob's favorite new artists including Rosie Thomas, Laura Cantrell, and Thad Cockrell.

The summer of 2003 saw the Ashtray Hearts tour England and Scotland. Their visit included a session for Bob Harris (BBC2) with stops in Brighton, London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Swindon, Leicester, Hartlipool, Edinburgh, Ullapool, Manchester, and Newcastle.