Rock legends Ash return to where it all began, live at the Ulster Hall, Belfast on 13 December 2025.
Ash have been together for 30 years, but it was two years apart during the pandemic that inspired their brilliant new album.
Forced into their longest ever break, the Downpatrick trio reunited in 2021 to rehearse for a livestream – and instantly recaptured their spark. That energy carried over into plans for a new album, with frontman Tim Wheeler arriving armed with hard-rocking anthems written during lockdown.
“I played a s**t-tonne of guitar in the pandemic,” Wheeler laughs. “There are some quite outstanding guitar solos on this record!”
The result is Race The Night, their eighth studio album – a self-produced, riff-packed collection recorded at Belfast’s Oh Yeah studio. Combining the power of Meltdown with the melodic hooks of Free All Angels, it's a record made for fans of big, guitar-driven rock.
Opening with the explosive title track, the album fizzes with barnstormers like Crashed Out Wasted, Double Dare, and Peanut Brain – their shortest, punchiest song yet. Emotional depth comes in ballads like Oslo and the poignant Usual Places, reflecting on time, change, and memory.
Returning to their roots on Fierce Panda Records, Ash continue to evolve while staying true to their spirit. As Wheeler puts it: “Making new music and being excited about it keeps us going… we got the formula right early on.”
Race The Night proves Ash are as vital as ever – not just survivors, but lifers.
