ROCK band Ash are excited to be performing in Worcester for the first time as part of their new tour.

The Northern Irish band, whose hits have included Oh Yeah and Girl From Mars, will be in the city on Thursday as part of their new A-Z tour.

The band, who shot to fame in the 90s, are currently performing throughout towns for every letter of the alphabet, from Aldershot to Zennor, and Worcester will form the ‘W’.

Lead singer Tim Wheeler said he was excited to be visiting a new city.

“We haven’t played Worcester before. I think perhaps the closest we have been is Wolverhampton and Birmingham, but we really like the Midlands and we have heard that Worcester is a lovely city.

“We always like going to a new place, and it is nice as we always get an extremely warm reception and meet fans who have been with us from the beginning, through thick and thin, and different albums.

“But what is also interesting is that we then also get some younger new fans who have just found out about us, so we have had people in the audience aged between 14 and 70 years old.”

Wheeler said they were also releasing a new single every two weeks, so fans would be able to hear a selection of music old and new.

Philip Roberts, of Worcester Students’ Union, said: “It’s a real coup for us getting such a big band to come and play at the Dive bar. We’re really excited about it.”

The gig is open to all members of the public and tickets are now on sale Mr Roberts said: “With more than 10 million album sales and 18 UK top 40 hits, this truly is a chance to see a legend of the rock scene in a more intimate venue.

As part of the university’s and Students’ Union’s effort to build closer ties with the local community, the tickets are available to non-students as well as students.

Visit the Students Union ticket office at worcsu.com/events to book your tickets, priced at £17.50.