As he prepares for a big summer touring the UK and Ireland as very special guest on the highly-anticipated Oasis reunion tour, Richard Ashcroft today shares the new single ‘Lover’. The track has just received its airplay premiere courtesy of Vernon Kay on Radio 2. The track represents his first new material since his 2018 album ‘Natural Rebel’ debuted at #4 on the UK Official Album Chart. Since then, Richard also released the career-spanning ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol 1’ set, which hit #2 and became his highest charting record in fifteen years. The song was written by Richard and, for the first time since his recording of ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, incorporates elements of one of Richard’s favourite works: ‘Love and Affection’, written by Joan Armatrading. Joan was approached before recording and loved the arrangement. The track was produced by Richard and Emre Ramazanoglu. ‘Lover’ is the first new music to emerge from Richard as he continues work on his new studio album – expect more to follow soon. Bio A two-time Ivor Novello Award winner (Songwriter of the Year and Outstanding Contribution To British Music), Richard Ashcroft has become one of the most accomplished and influential songwriters around over the course of a career which spans three decades. His first chapter with The Verve reached a remarkable peak with ‘Urban Hymns’, a hit-laden set (‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’, ‘Lucky Man’, ‘Sonnet’) which is one of the biggest selling albums in UK history with 11 x Platinum certifications. The band achieved a second #1 album with ‘Forth’ and won three BRIT Awards. His solo career continued that acclaim with his debut ‘Alone With Everybody’ shooting to #1 and all five subsequent studio albums landing between #2 and #5. Between The Verve and his solo work he has achieved three UK #1 albums and another five Top 10 records, plus a #1 single and five Top 10 hits. News of Richard’s special guest set on the upcoming Oasis tour continues a long-term mutual admiration between the two. The Verve and Oasis played shows together both before Oasis’s breakthrough and at their absolute peak, leading to a continuing friendship between Richard and the Gallagher brothers. Noel dedicated ‘Cast No Shadow’ from ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ to Richard, before Richard provided backing vocals on ‘All Around The World’ from 1997’s ‘Be Here Now’. In 2021 Liam featured on a reworked version of Richard’s C’mon People (We’re Making It Now)’. Live Richard Ashcroft will play the following shows as special guest to Oasis. The line-up is completed by Cast.
