Richard Ashcroft is contractually obligated to record another album for Parlophone. Ashcroft played a solo gig on 25 August 2008 as part of the Last Days of Summer Festival in Buckingham. The Verve broke up for a third time sometime between the last rehearsals in late 2008 and the summer of 2009. It was announced in August 2009 by a band's friend. A b-side compilation was considered a possibility, as Richard's team has asked the fans through his site about their feelings on such an album, but it's now very unlikely. In December 2009, Richard contributed the lead soundtrack song for the
Richard Ashcroft on the official website of Pulse Films, the production company. On 1 March the song "Future's Bright" was premiered on Stereogum. On the official website of the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" there is also a video created for the song by director George Nolfi. After six years' absence, Ashcroft released his comeback fifth studio album, "These People", in May 2016. The album received largely positive reviews from music critics. The album was followed by 2016 UK and Europe tour, an abbreviated North American tour, and -- for the first time in Ashcroft's career -- festival dates in Latin America. In