Richard Ashcroft announces more UK shows

Richard Ashcroft has announced several UK shows. Tickets on sale from http://richardashcroft.com/live-dates.

April 17 – Newcastle, O2 Academy, United Kingdom
April 18 – Glasgow, The SSE Hydro, United Kingdom
April 20 – Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena, United Kingdom
April 22 – Leeds, First Direct Arena, United Kingdom
June 30 – Manchester, Castlefield Bowl, United Kingdom
July 01 – Brixton, London, 02 Academy, United Kingdom

Liam Gallagher is to play a solo concert with Richard Ashcroft

The former Oasis frontman is set to launch his solo career this year, and his close friend and fellow rocker has let slip that they will be performing live together at some point in 2017.

Asked whose offer he would accept if both Liam and his brother Noel Gallagher--his former bandmate who he has barely spoken to since Oasis ended in 2009--Richard said: "I would have to politely tell them both that I had something else on and stay at home.

"I played a show with Noel a few months ago and I'm playing with Liam later in the year."

Richard - who became pals with Liam when he was fronting fellow British band The Verve, with the two acts regularly touring together in the 90s - won't be giving Liam any advice on going it alone, but thinks his return to music will be welcomed as there are few people as outspoken as the 'Songbird' singer.

The 'Lucky Man' singer told Q magazine: "I wouldn't be daft enough to give Liam any advice on going solo. He can just be himself and do what he loves and people will connect to it. We miss those characters, these people with an opinion. Most people just don't [give an opinion] unless they believe they're getting some sort of PC credit. Then they're out there, appeal after appeal, holding babies and making everyone feel really guilty and miserable around Christmas."

To date, 44-year-old Liam's only announced solo show is at Bergenfest in Norway in June, but Richard, 45, is not one of the artists currently named on the bill.

Richard inspired Oasis' track 'Cast No Shadow' from their seminal 1995 album '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' but he admits he has no idea what Noel, 49, meant by the lyrics.

He said: "I think it's one of the best tunes Noel's ever written as well.

"It's a great honour to be a part of that and then when the album exploded like that it was just great. I was buzzing. I think it was almost an afterthought [for Noel] but there were so many gags at the time because I was so thin, 'Is it because he's so thin that he casts no shadow, is that what it's about?'

"I did say to him, 'Am I a vampire? What are you trying to say, man?'"

• Source: NZCity

Liam Gallagher to play gig with Richard Ashcroft in Norway

Liam Gallagher on stage with Beady Eye; Image: Jason Lock

The former Oasis singer is playing a European festival this summer

Former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher looks set to play a festival gig with The Verve's Richard Ashcroft in Norway.

Gallagher and Ashcroft have been named on the bill at Bergenfest which takes place between June 14-17.

His debut solo album is set to be released later this year, and Gallagher has also confirmed a gig in London as part of Give A Gig week in March.

Ashcroft told Q magazine: “I played a show with Noel a few months ago and I’m playing with Liam later in the year.”

“I wouldn’t be daft enough to give Liam any advice on going solo. He can just be himself and do what he loves and people will connect to it.

“We miss those characters, these people with an opinion. Most people just don’t [give an opinion] unless they believe they’re getting some sort of PC credit. Then they’re out there, appeal after appeal, holding babies and making everyone feel really guilty and miserable around Christmas.”

• Source: Manchester Evening News, by Simon Binns

Liam Gallagher To Play Solo Gig With Richard Ashcroft

Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns/Getty 

The Verve legend has revealed he's playing with the former Oasis frontman "later in the year". 

Liam Gallagher is set to play live with Richard Ashcroft.

The former Oasis frontman is set to launch his solo career this year, and his close friend and fellow rocker has let slip that they will be performing on the stage together at some point in 2017.

Asked whose offer he would accept if both Liam and his brother Noel Gallagher, Ashcroft replied to Q magazine: "I would have to politely tell them both that I had something else on and stay at home.

"I played a show with Noel a few months ago and I'm playing with Liam later in the year."

Richard - who became pals with Liam when he was fronting The Verve, with the two acts regularly touring together in the 90s - won't be giving him any advice on going it alone, but thinks his return to music will be welcomed as there are few people as outspoken as the Songbird singer.

The Lucky Man singer told Q: "I wouldn't be daft enough to give Liam any advice on going solo. He can just be himself and do what he loves and people will connect to it."

He added:"We miss those characters, these people with an opinion. Most people just don't [give an opinion] unless they believe they're getting some sort of PC credit. Then they're out there, appeal after appeal, holding babies and making everyone feel really guilty and miserable around Christmas."

To date, 44-year-old Liam's only reported date appears to be at Bergenfest in Norway in June, but he is still yet to announce his appearance on the line-up on his own Twitter account.

Ashcroft inspired Oasis' track Cast No Shadow from their seminal 1995 album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? but he admits he has no idea what Noel, 49, meant by the lyrics.

He said: "I think it's one of the best tunes Noel's ever written as well.

"It's a great honour to be a part of that and then when the album exploded like that it was just great. I was buzzing. I think it was almost an afterthought [for Noel] but there were so many gags at the time because I was so thin, 'Is it because he's so thin that he casts no shadow, is that what it's about?'

"I did say to him, 'Am I a vampire? What are you trying to say, man?'"

• Source: Radio X, Other outlets: Manchester Evening News, NME