NORTHERN Irish indie greats Ash played a tremendous warm-up show a day before heading to Reading and Leeds.

A lively sellout crowd saw the Downpatrick trio return to The Wedgewood Rooms on Albert Road, Portsmouth.

Their huge back catalogue of hits was welded together with songs from their brilliant new album Kablammo!

Fast-paced instrumental Evel Knievel kicked things off before the band launched into one of their latest singles Cocoon.

Then it was back to the start with a terrific version of their first ever release, Jack Names the Planets, which still sounds as good today as it did in 1994.

Lead singer-songwriter and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray were all on top form. It’s hard to believe there are only three of them creating so much.

Tim led from the front as always while Mark bounced around the stage, jumping on and off the front speakers. Rick kept things in check with some big beats and terrific backing vocals.

A Life Less Ordinary and new tune Go! Fight! Win! soon followed, but the first really big singalong was for the band’s memorising and biggest ever single Goldfinger. Like the song title, this is still a band with the Midas touch.

Things grew even wilder at the front with favourite indie anthems Kung Fu and Oh Yeah.

Tim told everyone how much the band had enjoyed returning to The Wedgewood Rooms, especially after playing so many large festivals over the summer.

“You’ve still got it” shouted back one fan. That is true. Ash are still a Northern Irish powerhouse of guitar music.

On the 20th anniversary of its release the band’s brilliant breakthrough single Girl From Mars helped close the 19-song set list.

Earlier in the evening popular Basingstoke band FlashFires played an exciting show to a big early crowd.

Before heading to the Wedgewood Rooms Ash played four songs in an intimate acoustic set at Southsea’s Pie & Vinyl record store, on Castle Road, Southsea. A full house of more than 60 fans plus many others watching from outside saw a very special show.

Ash tour across the UK and Ireland in December. Their latest album Kablammo! is out now. For more details check out For details visit www.ash-official.com.

By Richard Derbyshire