Over the next five weeks, Mayberry will play 24 shows across North America, beginning in San Diego on January 28 and concluding in Los Angeles on March 2. She will then return to her hometown of Glasgow on March 20, followed by 6 additional shows across the UK. 

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A post shared by Lauren Mayberry (@laurenevemayberry)

Her solo career has steadily been gaining momentum, marked by her US television solo debut last month on Jimmy Kimmel where she performed ‘Something in the Air’ from her debut album ‘Vicious Creature’. 

Mayberry’s music career began as lead singer of CHVRCHES,  an alternative band formed in Glasgow in 2011. Known for their innovative synth-driven sound and introspective lyricism, CHVRCHES quickly became a standout in the indie and electronic music scenes. The band’s debut album, ‘The Bones of What You Believe’ (2013), catapulted them to international fame with hits like ‘The Mother We Share’ and ‘Recover’.

In 2023, Mayberry reflected on the transition from the band to her solo career, telling NME: “For any front person in a band, but especially a woman, as soon as you say the words ‘solo material’ people get very upset with you. I feel like every second sentence is, ‘I’m not breaking up the band, guys, however…” 

“But we’re lucky enough to have fans that care so much that they don’t want it to break up. I feel grateful, but I’m trying to be reassuring to them – just give us a couple more years guys, it’s going to be fine.”

During her set in San Diego, Mayberry delivered a powerful rendition of the iconic anthem by British rock band, The Verve, a song which has sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK. Gradually growing from her piano intro to a full band sound, her vocals soared as she belted the song’s signature “Have you ever been down?”

Performing covers is not unusual for Mayberry, who has previously taken on Nena’s ‘99 Luftballons’, Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’, The 1975’s ‘Paris’, and Spice Girls’ ‘Viva Forever’. Her ability to seamlessly transition between electronic anthems and stripped-down performances underscores her versatility as an artist.

As she embarks on this new phase of her career, Mayberry’s commitment to both her solo work and CHVRCHES ensures that fans will continue to experience her artistry in multiple forms. 

The Verve’s former frontman has also released a new music video to accompany his reworking of a 2010 single. The original track has been stripped of its heavy but steady hip-hop-influenced beats and has been given a somewhat softer side. Ashcroft’s new re-working replaces electric guitar embellishments with light acoustic lines whilst retaining the song’s core melodies and harmonies. The video itself is paired with an imaginary performance by Ashcroft filmed at Richmond Theatre and footage of the singer’s life and childhood.

The original release of “This Thing Called Life” was taken from the singer’s album United Nations of Sound and featured legendary producer and artist No I.D. The album was released on 19th July 2010 via record label Parlophone and music company Razor & Tie. The album was released under the artist’s name but was recorded with the British alternative rock group RPA & The United Nations of Sound, a musical project by Ashcroft. The 12-track release debuted at number 20 within the UK album charts and sired two singles.

The singer took to his Instagram to announce the track’s release.

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Ashcroft’s new acoustic re-mix is not the first song to be released from the singer’s next album, a re-recorded version of the 1997 mega-hit “Bittersweet Symphony” was released earlier in the month. Ashcroft began working on the revised recording in 2019 and has since gained some rights to his former band’s release. The song famously features a sample taken from the Rolling Stone’s track “The Last Time”, due to the sample’s inclusion the band were not privy to the track’s musical rights. However, since a direct appeal was sent to Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards some legalities over the track were reportedly re-visited.

Ashcroft’s sixth solo release was recorded at the iconic London Abbey Road Studios and is co-produced by Richard and Chris Potter, the former being a long-time collaborator and producer with the singer and The Verve. Potter won the 1998 Best Producer Brit Award for his work on The Verve’s third studio album Urban Hymns released in 1997. The album became the band’s most loved and best-selling album, boasting such singles as “Bitter Sweet Symphony” and the anthem “The Drugs Don’t Work”. Potter brings an instrumental influence on the new release with a live band featuring string arrangements played by Will Malone, Brass sections by Roddy Bloomfield, Acoustic guitar and backing vocals by Steve Wyreman and piano played by Chuck Leavell.

The upcoming album will feature acoustic versions of tracks from Ashcroft’s solo career as well as a collection of classics taken from The Verve’s repertory. The 12-track album will also include a collaboration with fellow 90’s music icon, Liam Gallagher, the pair’s version of “C’mon People (We’re Making it Now)” is included within the album. The original single was released in 2000 and is taken from Ashcroft’s debut solo album Alone With Everybody. A press release describes how the track became one of the duo’s favourites, stating that Ashcroft “ “originally played it to Liam on piano somewhere in Majorca in 1998”.

Ashcroft will be hitting the road next month with a series of live performances, the artist’s upcoming shows will feature acoustic versions of his best-loved tracks.

Click here to pre-order Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1

Richard Ashcroft UK Tour Dates

16/10/2021 – The London Palladium  – London
17/10 – The London Palladium – London
29/10 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool01/11 – Royal Albert Hall – London
23/07/2022 – Wollaton Park – Nottingham

Pleased to announce that Richard will be releasing the new album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1’ Oct 29th. Featuring 12 newly recorded acoustic versions of classic songs from his back catalogue spanning both his solo career and his time with The Verve. https://t.co/z9vdkdFrHy pic.twitter.com/kthcQnDqvw

— Richard Ashcroft (@richardashcroft) September 8, 2021

Ashcroft has been an active musician since 1990 and boasts an impressive discography, having released five solo albums between 2000 and 2018, four full-length albums and one E.P. with The Verve between 1992 and 2008, and one album with side project RPA & The United Nations in 2010. The Verve first tasted critical success in 1992 after the release of their E.P. Verve, which featured songs such as All In The Mind, Gravity Grave and the UK Top 75 Singles charting tune She’s A Superstar.

Acoustic Hymns Vol.1 is set to be released on October 29^th through Ashcroft’s record label RPA, via BMG, and is presently available for pre-order. Doing so will allow fans to treat their ears to the first of the twelve tracks; an acoustic rendition of The Verve’s seminal hit Bitter Sweet Symphony, a song renowned for its poignant lyrics and soaring emotional string sample from The Andrew Oldham Orchestra’s cover of The Last Time by The Rolling Stones, the latter being something that thrust the group into a lengthy legal controversy with Rolling Stones manager Allen Klein.

Former Oasis member Liam Gallagher also appears on the fourth track of the upcoming album; C’mon People (We’re Making It Now), a song originally released in 2000 ahead of Ashcroft’s first solo album, entitled Alone With Everybody.

The track list of the album is as follows:

1. Bitter Sweet Symphony
2. A Song For Lovers
3. Sonnet
4. C’mon People (We’re Making it Now)
5. Weeping Willow
6. Lucky Man
7. This Thing Called Life
8. Space & Time
9. Velvet Morning
10. Break The Night With Colour
11. One Day
12. The Drugs Don’t Work