Tim Wheeler at The Open University degree ceremony
Tim Wheeler has been honoured by The Open University, the Ash frontman joined 277 Open University students for a degree ceremony in Belfast.
Tim was awarded the honorary Doctor of the University at the Waterfront Hall in recognition of his “exceptional contribution to education and culture”.
The Open University makes honorary awards in line with its mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas, and the promotion of social justice through the development of knowledge and skills.
Tim said he was “incredibly grateful and proud”.
“I’ve very fond memories of the Waterfront Hall when Ash played the Good Friday referendum concert with U2. Returning to the stage to receive this honour will be another very special moment in my life.”
To coincide with the 20th Anniversary of their debut number one album 1977, Ash will release a live album titled “Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997” on December 2nd.
This live album was recorded over five unprecedented consecutive nights at the London Astoria from the 28th February to the 4th March 1997. The album captures the band at the height of their rapid rise. The album will be released as a limited edition, numbered, red coloured vinyl in gatefold sleeve, CD and download.
The track listing for “Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997” is as follows:
Ash are to be recognised for their contribution to music at a special awards ceremony in Belfast in the autumn. The three-piece will be presented with the ‘Oh Yeah’ legend award at Mandela Hall on November 11.
Charlotte Dryden, the chief executive of the city’s Oh Yeah Music Centre, said:
“Ash have played a major part in the story of Northern Irish music, and in the story of Oh Yeah too. Our centre is named after the very song that features on their debut album, 1977. How brilliant to honour and celebrate the band with an Oh Yeah Legend Award. It’s going to be a momentous evening.”
After being given the award, Ash will perform their 1977 album in full at the centre.
Previous recipients of the Oh Yeah Legend Award include Neil Hannon’s Divine Comedy, Therapy, Stiff Little Fingers and The Undertones.
Ash have announced details of the 20th anniversary tour of their debut album 1977. The shows will see the band play the album in full at shows in the UK, Europe, US and Canada. Tickets are on sale now, the full list of dates are as follows:
Update: August 1st, 2016 - Ash have added a show in Belfast on November 11th and two shows in Scotland on December 14th & 15th. See below for more details.
September
21.09.16 - Roxy, Los Angeles, CA
22.09.16 - Independent, San Francisco, CA
23.09.16 - Soda Bar, San Diego, CA
24.09.16 - Rips, Phoenix, AZ
26.09.16 - Stubb’s Jr, Austin, TX
28.09.16 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
30.09.16 - Shelter, Detroit, MI
October
01.10.16 - Mod Club, Toronto, Ont
03.10.16 - The Middle East, Boston, MA
04.10.16 - Rock n Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
05.10.16 - Foundry, Philadelphia, PA
06.10.16 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York, NY
November
10.11.16 - Olympia, Dublin
11.11.16 - Mandela Hall, Belfast
December
03.12.16 - MOD, Hasselt, Belgium
04.12.16 - Luxor, Cologne, Germany
05.12.16 - Knust, Hamburg, Germany
07.12.16 - Lido, Berlin, Germany
08.12.16 - Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam, Netherlands
10.12.16 - Roundhouse, London
11.12.16 - Ritz, Manchester
12.12.16 - Rock City, Nottingham
14.12.16 - The Garage, Aberdeen
15.12.16 - The Garage, Glasgow
See the shows section for ticket details and a full list of all upcoming dates and festival appearances.
Ash have announced details of their first festival appearances of 2016. The band will appear at Kendal Calling on July 28th alongside their buddies We Are Scientists. Rudimental, The Charlatans, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headline. The band will also play the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on August 28th, Manic Street Preachers and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headline.
The band kick of their tour of Australia and Japan next month. See shows for full details.
To conincide with their Kablammo! fall UK tour which begins tomorrow, Ash have today released a new video for the Kablammo! single, “Cocoon”. The video was directed by Eric Feigenbaum
and produced by Jessie English.
Ash have released a new video for their third Kablammo! single, “Machinery”, it was filmed whilst on tour in Tokyo, Japan in July 2015. The video has frontman Tim Wheeler going out for a night on the town, ending up at a karaoke party.
In addition the band have added two shows to their upcoming North America tour at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA on September 22nd and at The Music Box in San Diego, CA on October 10th. See the shows section for full details.
Ash will release the free Kablammo! Acoustic EP one track at a time over the next five weeks. The first free download from the EP will be current single “Free”, followed next week by “Shutdown”. Here’s what the band say about the release:
“Due to the amazing response Kablammo! has had we thought it would be fun to record acoustic versions of a few of the songs and give them away as free downloads! We’ve recorded a five track acoustic EP and we’ll be giving away one song each week over the coming weeks leading us up to start of our US tour dates and the release of our next single Machinery.”
Ash have released a new video for the Kablammo! instrumental track, “Evel Knievel”. The clip shows footage from the 1971 film, Evel Knievel, starring George Hamilton and directed by Marvin Chomsky.
