Richard Ashcroft announces huge career news just days before Oasis reunion tour

Richard Ashcroft isn't slowing down anytime soon as he prepares to tour with Oasis. The Verve icon will be opening up for brothers Liam and Noel Gallagheron their mammoth stadium tour which kicks off in just a matter of days.

But while most people would be throwing themselves into rehearsals, Richard, 53, has been working on his first album in four years, following the release of his 2021 record, Acoustic Hymns, Vol. 1. Fans who are flooding to the likes of Cardiff's Principality Stadium, Manchester's Heaton Park and Wembley Stadium will no doubt hear Richard perform some of his biggest hits.

Amidst the preparations for the most anticipated tour in music history, the northern legend has been working on Lovin' You, which is slated for release on October 3. The new record opens with its first single, Lover, which is currently being played across the nation today.

READ MORE: Oasis have released new tickets for UK tour - how to buy yours if you missed out

The song fits into Joan Armatrading's mega hit, Love And Affection, and has even been praised by the songwriter herself, who said: "I love how he's sued my song and I love his song."

But the huge track sets the bar for Richard, who is currently at the peak of his game. His forthcoming record will set the tone of his sound, from his acoustic ballads and euphoric indie-rock, while flashing through Americana, soul and electronic beats. But the album is inspired by intimate and personal themes, focusing heavily on love, romance and affecting messages of support for those who are currently battling challenging aspects of their lives.

In true Richard style, every song on his upcoming release has been written by him. He also co-produced the record with Chris Potter and Emre Ramazanoglu. One track, I'm A Rebel, has been co-written and produced by Mirwais, who is best known for working with Madonna, after first meeting the Queen of Pop in the late Ninties.

Richard, who found fame as the founding member of The Verve, produced hits including Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work, has amassed huge success as a solo artist, with all five of his solo albums landing in the Top 5 spots. Later this week, he and Oasis will take to the road, with their friendship spanning decades.

He'll perform at all of the upcoming UK shows as a special guest, as well as his own headline show next month. Ahead of the first biblical Oasis gig on Friday, the Mirror revealed just days ago that the band, which includes Liam, Noel, new drummer Joey Waronker and guitarists Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, are gearing up to ensure they sound their best on the tour.

A source told us: "With a new lineup and it being such a huge first show, the boys will do some songs inside the venue too. Some tours would start with a smaller show or take a week or two to get into the groove again."

They went on to say that the brothers want each show to be "massive". The source continued by saying: "But there is no time for that and also Liam and Noel want every night to be massive." Our insider went on to add: "This is such a huge comeback show and they are taking it very seriously. It all points to it being an incredible comeback tour."

Where to see Richard live this summer: July with Oasis

4th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium (SOLD OUT)

5th - Cardiff, Principality Stadium (SOLD OUT)

11th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

12th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

16th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

19th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

20th - Manchester, Heaton Park (SOLD OUT)

25th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

26th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

30th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

August with Oasis

2nd - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

3rd - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

8th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

9th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

12th - Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium (SOLD OUT)

16th - Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)

17th - Dublin, Croke Park (SOLD OUT)

23rd - Cornwall, Live At Scurrier House (HEADLINE SHOW)

September with Oasis

27th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

28th - London, Wembley Stadium (SOLD OUT)

'Lovin' You' is now available to pre-order here. It will be released on standard black vinyl, CD and digital formats.

How to buy Oasis tickets now

Oasis tickets are available right now from a number of online retailers. This includes both official and resale websites.

Fans will likely want to peruse Ticketmaster's wares first, as they have been touted as the original seller of the band's tour tickets. However, the online media giant has not had any tickets for some time.

And, at the time of writing, only people with allocated codes can buy tickets. Regardless, here's the link:

TICKETMASTER - Buy Oasis tickets here.

Otherwise, resale websites are where fans ought to be looking the most. Oasis have signposted Twickets as their official resale websites, however, they have not had tickets for a very long time.

As a result, fans have flocked to the likes of viagogo, Vivid Seats and StubHub instead. And, at the time of writing, some Oasis tickets are being sold for around £200 each on viagogo. Below, we have broken down all the options Oasis-lovers have to buy tickets right now. This ranges from official retailers to VIP sellers and resale websites.

viagogo and resale tickets

Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs.

Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused.

Here's the links:

VIAGOGO - Buy Oasis tickets here.

VIVID SEATS - Buy Oasis tickets here.

STUBHUB - Buy Oasis tickets here.

TWICKETS - Buy Oasis tickets here.

Finally, there are also official tickets available from VIP and hospitality-based website Seat Unique. This retailer gives fans the absolute best chance of getting involved in Oasis' tour dates this year.

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