ASH celebrate 30 years with a joy-soaked, sold-out return to Scala

Alan Bryce
3 days ago
3 min read

Scala London – 3rd February 2026

WORDS / IMAGES ALAN BRYCE

ASH celebrate 30 years with a joy-soaked, sold-out return to Scala — Alan Bryce Photo Credit

Few venues suit a band like ASH quite as perfectly as Scala, and on 3rd February 2026 the North London institution felt purpose-built for celebration. Low ceilings, tight corners and stacked balconies turned the sold-out room into a pressure cooker of anticipation — the ideal setting for a band marking three decades together without a hint of nostalgia fatigue.

This London date formed part of ASH’s ongoing Ad Astra tour, itself a continuation of the momentum they reignited throughout 2025. From the moment doors opened, the Scala buzzed with the kind of excitement that comes from a crowd who knows exactly what they’re about to get — and can’t wait to shout along.

Support came from Bag of Cans, a five-piece from Norwich who delivered a tight, upbeat seven-song set rooted in classic Britpop and indie DNA. All jangly riffs and easy hooks, they warmed the room perfectly, setting the tone for a night driven by melody, movement and zero irony.

Bag of Cans - Setlist

Favourite Shirt
Spin cycle
Hair of the dog
Milk and More
Man in the Shed
Hostage
Pub Money

When Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray finally took the stage, the response was instant and explosive. ASH tore into a set that spanned their entire catalogue, anchored firmly in the energy of the 1977 era while never feeling trapped by it. This was the Ad Astra show in full flow — confident, playful and powered by a band who know each other’s instincts inside out.

What truly set the night apart was the sheer sense of joy. Wheeler barely stopped grinning, clearly revelling in both the songs and the connection with the room. Thirty years in, ASH still feel like three best friends who started a band as teenagers and somehow never lost the thrill of it. There was no sense of routine here — no coasting, no box-ticking. Just a band choosing to have fun and inviting everyone along for the ride.

Newer material sat comfortably alongside classics, with Ad Astra tracks radiating confidence and purpose. Billed as a return to instinctive songwriting, the recent material landed with the same immediacy as the old favourites — proof that ASH’s greatest strength has always been their ability to marry sincerity with massive hooks.

Scala’s unique architecture amplified everything. Sound and movement ricocheted between balconies, staircases and terraces, turning the gig into a fully immersive experience. The crowd sang, jumped and surged in waves, feeding directly off the band’s energy. It was the kind of night where performer and audience blur into one shared momentum.

By the time the encore rolled around — packed with fan favourites and undeniable anthems — it was clear this wasn’t just another tour stop. It was a statement. ASH aren’t a band trading on history; they’re actively building on it. Thirty years deep, they remain vital, melodic and unpretentiously brilliant — and nights like this prove their story is nowhere near finished.

ASH - Setlist