Rick McMurray on Ash’s 30-Year Journey and the Rocket-Fuel of “Ad Astra” | XS Noize Podcast #248

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Rick McMurray looks back on 30 years of Ash and the rocket-fuel energy behind their new album Ad Astra. From teenage beginnings in Downpatrick to global stages, Rick reflects on friendship, longevity, wild studio stories, and why Ash are still “lifers, not part-timers.”

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“Ad Astra slowly revealed itself to us — happy accidents along the way shaped it into one of our most coherent records.”
— Rick McMurray, Ash

In Episode #248, Rick shares the making of Ad Astra — from the chaos of “Fun People” with Graham Coxon to the defiance and hope at the heart of “Give Me Back My World.” He reveals why the “Jump in the Line” cover made perfect sense, how reflective songs like “My Favourite Ghost” and “Keep Dreaming” bring balance, and why Ash are still thriving three decades in.

“After 33 years together, Tim’s songwriting can still move me to tears. ‘Ad Astra’ gave me that feeling.”
— Rick McMurray, Ash

To celebrate the release of Ad Astra, Ash embark on a huge touring schedule from this autumn and into the early part of next year as follows:

To celebrate the release of Ad Astra, Ash embark on a huge touring schedule from this autumn and into the early part of next year as follows:

OCTOBER

Fri 03 BRIGHTON Resident Records (Instore)

Sat 04 LONDON Rough Trade East Records (Instore)

Sun 05 LEICESTER 2 Funky Café (Truck Records Outstore)

Tue 07 NOTTINGHAM Rough Trade Records (Instore)

Wed 08 KINGSTON Circuit (Banquet Records Outstore)

Thu 09 LIVERPOOL Baltic Jacaranda Records (Instore)

Fri 10 EDINBURGH Liquid Rooms (Assai Records Outstore)

NOVEMBER

Fri 14 MINEHEAD Shiiine On Weekender Festival

Sat 15 PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms

Sun 16 SWANSEA Sin City

Tue 18 NEWCASTLE Boiler Shop

Wed 19 MANCHESTER New Century Hall

Thu 20 GLASGOW SWG3 Galvanizers

Sat 22 BLACKPOOL Bootleg Social

Sun 23 SHEFFIELD The Foundry

Tue 25 OXFORD O2 Academy

DECEMBER

Fri 05 LISTOWELL Mike The Pies

Sat 06 DUNDALK Spirit Store

Sun 07 GALWAY Roisin Dubh

Tue 09 CORK Cyprus Avenue

Wed 10 LIMERICK Dolans Warehouse

Thu 11 DUBLIN The Academy

Sat 13 BELFAST Ulster Hall

FEBRUARY

Tue 03 LONDON Scala

Wed 04 YORK Crescent

Fri 06 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Forum

Sat 07 CAMBRIDGE Junction

Sun 08 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms

Tue 10 EXETER Phoenix

Wed 11 BRISTOL The Trinity Centre

Fri 13 LIVERPOOL Grand Central Dome

Sat 14 STOKE ON TRENT Sugarmill

Sun 15 HULL The Welly

Tue 17 NORWICH Epic Studios

Wed 18 SOUTHEND Chinnery’s

Thu 19 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy

Tickets: https://ash-official.com/pages/shows

XS Noize Podcast Guests
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