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Sep 10, 2018 By Christopher Roberts Richard Ashcroft

Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) is releasing a new solo album, Natural Rebel, on October 19 via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. When the album was announced no music from it was shared, but now Ashcroft has revealed the album’s first single, “Surprised by the Joy,” via a video for the song. The song is uplifting and string-backed, kind of in Ashcroft’s wheelhouse. Ashcroft self-directed the video, which features him driving from London to the beach in a classic car to meet who we presume is his wife (Kate Radley, although she’s only seen from a distance). Watch it below, followed by Ashcroft’s upcoming U.K. tour dates.

Ashcroft produced Natural Rebel alongside Jon Kelly (Paul McCartney, Kate Bush) and Emre Ramazanoglu (Bobby Gillespie, Jarvis Cocker). It was mainly recorded at State of the Ark Studios in Richmond, England, with further sessions at The Bunker, Tileyard Studios, and Hoxa HQ.

Ashcroft had this to say about Natural Rebel in a previous press release: “With experience comes knowledge and for me this is my strongest set of songs to date. All my favorite sounds distilled into something that will hopefully give my fans lasting pleasure. It is for them. Music is power.”

The Verve’s first two albums, 1993’s A Storm in Heaven and 1995’s A Northern Soul, were critically acclaimed but weren’t huge chart hits. The band broke up in 1995, but reformed for 1997’s Urban Hymns, which hit #1 on the UK album charts thanks in part to the success of the iconic single “Bittersweet Symphony” (as well as the hits “The Drugs Don’t Work” and “Lucky Man”). The band split up again in 1999 before reforming in 2007 and releasing a fourth album in 2008, the fittingly named Forth. The Verve split up for the third and so far final time in 2008 and Ashcroft’s last solo album, These People, was released in 2016. Natural Rebel is his fifth solo album (sixth if you count 2010’s United Nations of Sound, credited to RPA & The United Nations of Sound).

Richard Ashcroft UK Tour Dates:

Friday October 26th - Glasgow Barrowlands - SOLD OUT
Sunday October 28th - Middlesborough Town Hall - SOLD OUT
Monday October 29th - Nottingham Rock City - SOLD OUT
Wednesday October 31st - Manchester Albert Hall - SOLD OUT
Friday November 2nd - Kentish Town Forum - SOLD OUT

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