Northern Irish rock veterans Ash are back with a bang, officially announcing the arrival of their ninth studio album, Ad Astra, which lands on October 3. Alongside the album drop, the band will hit the road across the UK and Ireland, with headline gigs planned well into 2025 and 2026.
The upcoming release sees Ash deliver a new single, "Give Me Back My World," now available to stream. Frontman Tim Wheeler explained the song’s roots, noting its emotional weight and relevance, even five years on from when it was written.
“If I told you this song dates back to 2020, you’d hardly need a degree from the school of Marple, Holmes and Poirot to figure out what it’s getting at,” Wheeler said.
“And although those sentiments may be just a memory from the standpoint of 2025, the song’s heart still feels relevant. In a time of chaos, disruption and angst, there’s still a beautiful world out there and it’s worth fighting for. Have you ever had one of those moments where you feel the rug has been pulled from under you? Everything you took for granted goes up in smoke and you are no longer in control, and you can only look back in hindsight at a life that’s no longer yours? I think we’ve all had those moments.
I think you can all relate to this song. But luckily for you it a) rails against this loss of control and b) is a total banger. So, fire it up and rage with us against the dying of the light.”
Adding to the excitement, Ad Astra includes two guest appearances by Blur and The Waeve’s Graham Coxon, who lends his talents to the track “Fun People” and the album’s climactic closer, “Ad Astra.” The collaboration marks a rare team-up between two iconic figures from the Britpop era and has fans buzzing with anticipation.
Ad Astra – Full Tracklist:
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Zarathustra
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Which One Do You Want?
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Fun People (featuring Graham Coxon)
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Give Me Back My World
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Hallion
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Deadly Love
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My Favourite Ghost
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Jump In The Line
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Keep Dreaming
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Dehumanised
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Ghosting
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Ad Astra (featuring Graham Coxon)
In addition to the new music, Ash have mapped out a sprawling tour schedule beginning with support dates for Manic Street Preachers and Richard Ashcroft in August 2025, followed by their own headline shows across major UK cities, as well as international festival appearances and a stretch through Japan in October.
Key Tour Dates – 2025:
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Aug 2 – Audley End House, Essex (w/ Manic Street Preachers)
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Aug 7 – Sonorama, Aranda del Duero
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Aug 9 – Custom House Square, Belfast (w/ The Darkness)
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Aug 22 – Victorious Festival
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Aug 23 – Live at Scorrier House, Redruth (w/ Richard Ashcroft)
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Sep 9 & 10 – Scala, London
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Sep 26 – Visor Festival, Valencia
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Oct 14–21 – Various cities in Japan (Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, Sendai, Yokohama)
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Nov 14 – Shiiine On Weekender, Minehead
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Nov 16–25 – Swansea, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Blackpool, Sheffield, Oxford
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Dec 5–13 – Irish leg: Listowel, Dundalk, Galway, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Belfast
The band won’t be slowing down once the new year hits either. A run of dates has been revealed for February 2026, hitting intimate venues and fan-favourite stops across England.
Confirmed Tour Dates – February 2026:
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Feb 6 – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
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Feb 7 – Junction, Cambridge
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Feb 8 – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
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Feb 10 – Phoenix, Exeter
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Feb 11 – The Trinity Centre, Bristol
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Feb 13 – Grand Central Dome, Liverpool
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Feb 14 – The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
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Feb 15 – The Welly, Hull
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Feb 17 – Epic Studios, Norwich
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Feb 19 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
With new material, high-profile collaborations, and a tour that spans two years and several countries, Ash are making a serious case that they’re not just back — they’re galactic. Ad Astra promises to be one of their boldest offerings yet.