Thirty years ago, three teenagers from Northern Ireland released a debut album that became one of the defining records of the Britpop era. ‘1977’ hit number one, went platinum, and gave the world “Girl From Mars,” “Goldfinger,” “Kung Fu,” and “Oh Yeah.” Ash are marking the anniversary properly, with an expanded edition of the album and a global tour that runs from September through December 2026.
The 30th Anniversary Edition comes in three formats. The 2LP EcoRecord Green and Black ‘InkPlosion’ vinyl presents the original album on LP1, with a curated collection of B-sides on LP2, including “Day Of The Triffids,” “Luther Ingo’s Star Cruiser,” “Cantina Band,” and “T Rex.” The 2CD Digisleeve and digital edition dig even deeper.
Disc 1 carries the original 12-track album alongside four additional recordings, including the long-lost “Bittersweet Blue,” a 2026 version of “Oh Yeah,” a 2026 demo mix of “Girl From Mars,” and an acoustic 2026 mix of “Gone The Dream.” These aren’t filler additions. They add genuine dimension to a record that still sounds urgent and melodic three decades on.
Disc 2 captures a full live performance of ‘1977’ recorded at STABAL Studios in 2021, with fan favourites from the era including “Coasting,” “Sneaker,” “American Devil,” and “Silver Surfer.” It’s a document of a band that never lost the thread of what made these songs work in the first place.
The global 1977 tour kicks off in September, with dates across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe, wrapping in the UK and Ireland in December. Japanese dates are to be announced. Presale opens May 12 and general sale begins May 15.
Also already in the books, Ash performed a live acoustic streamed concert on May 6 from Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre, 30 years to the day since ‘1977’s’ original release. The evening was hosted by BBC Introducing’s Taylor Johnson, who guided the band through the stories behind the music.
The 30th Anniversary Edition of ‘1977’ is available on 2LP vinyl, 2CD Digisleeve, and digitally.
2026 Tour Dates:
September – Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia (dates TBA)
October/November – Europe (dates TBA)
December – UK and Ireland (dates TBA)
Presale: May 12
General Sale: May 15