Richard Ashcroft Rocks Dublin: Opening for Oasis This Weekend

This weekend, UK rock icon Richard Ashcroft will take the stage as the opening act for Oasis at Croke Park in Dublin, marking the band’s return to Ireland after a 16-year hiatus. The concerts on March 16 and 17, 2024, are part of Oasis’s reunion tour and promise to be a significant event for fans, as they last performed in Ireland two months before their public split in 2009.

Ashcroft, who gained fame as the lead vocalist of The Verve, will share the spotlight with fellow Britpop legends Cast. This weekend’s shows are highly anticipated, not only for the nostalgia they evoke but also for the sheer scale of the event, as over 82,000 fans are expected to attend each night.

Richard Ashcroft: A Musical Journey

Born in Wigan, Ashcroft began his musical journey at a young age. He started writing songs as a way to cope with the loss of his father when he was just eight years old. While attending Up Holland High School, he met future bandmates Simon Jones, Peter Sailsbury, and Simon Tong, along with Nick McCabe at Winstanley College. In 1990, they formed The Verve, which quickly gained traction in the music scene.

The band enjoyed significant success in their early years, with three top-five hits during their initial five-year run before disbanding in 1995. They reunited in 1997, coinciding with the release of Oasis’s third album, Be Here Now, while Ashcroft and his band released their critically acclaimed album, Urban Hymns.

Bitter Sweet Symphony: An Anthem of the 1990s

One of The Verve’s most iconic tracks, Bitter Sweet Symphony, has become synonymous with 1990s Britpop. Although it only reached number two on the charts, the song is often regarded as one of the greatest anthems of its era. The accompanying music video, featuring Ashcroft walking nonchalantly through a busy London street, is equally memorable.

The song sparked controversy due to its sampling of The Rolling Stones’ song, The Last Time. The copyright for the sample was held by Allen Klein, which led to a protracted legal battle that resulted in Klein retaining rights to the song for over 20 years. In a turn of events, the rights were returned to Ashcroft and The Verve in 2019, allowing them to reclaim their legacy fully.

Despite multiple reunions and breakups over the years, including a final split in 2009, Ashcroft’s musical journey continues. With the recent reconciliation of Oasis frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher last year, speculation about a possible reunion of The Verve has emerged among fans.

As Ashcroft prepares to perform for thousands this weekend, the anticipation builds not just for his set but for the entire experience of live music that Oasis promises to deliver. The excitement is palpable as Dublin gears up for what is expected to be a memorable weekend of rock music.