Rock legends Ash return to where it all began with their new album Ad Astra, live at the Ulster Hall, Belfast on 13 December 2025.
There is absolutely classic Ash power-pop-rocking action with the blistering purity of ‘Hallion’, the crunchy chuggings of ‘Keep Dreaming’, the furious sonic lunges of ‘Dehumansied’. But you can’t fail to succumb to the glorious swooping jangles on ‘Which One Do You Want?’ - a whirl from Marr’s canon, for sure; ‘My Favourite Ghost’ is all acoustic elegance, floating on strings of desire; and ‘Fun People’ (feat Graham Coxon) is quite simply one of the maddest, punchiest songs they have ever recorded.
As if creating this lovingly optimistic opus wasn’t enough to be cracking on with, they’ve kept themselves busy elsewhere. Since [2023 album] ‘Race The Night’ raced out they’ve run riot at SXSW in Austin, played Belfast for Steve Lamacq at Independent Venue Week, toured Down Under, headlined the 100 Club for BRITs Week, and played a rammed Other Stage tent at Latitude.
Already in 2025 they’ve amassed the masses at Glastonbury for the eighth time - equalling the multi-performance record of Van Morrison - and toured the UK with The Darkness. In short, three decades into a career peppered with timeless indie-punk nuggets and wildly inventive gigging and releasing concepts, the thunderous threesome show no sign of slowing down. To infinity and beyond indeed
Praise for the new album
"With ‘Ad Astra’, Ash are reflective yet revitalised, offering a colourful, charismatic, and cosmic offering that’s truly out of this world." - Clash ★★★★
"the catchy 'Hallion' and the anthemic title track would have been huge in the Free All Angels era." - Classic Pop
"And so with Ad Astra Ash are reborn again: older, wiser, but sounding not a wrinkle of it." - Classic Rock ★★★★
"they evolved to become one of the most energetic and creative bands of the past few decades." - Loaded ★★★★★
"It's good fun just like the good old days." - London Standard
"It's an artfully constructed collection that gives full rein to their varied influences and makes for an enthralling listen." - Louder Than War ★★★★½
"'Ad Astra' is a delight." - Record Collector ★★★★
"Tim Wheeler's flair for crashing power-chord melodies and happy-sad lyrics remains undimmed on vintage Ash heart-tuggers." - Uncut
