Editing Hawkwind (section)

===2008–2016: Atomhenge and Eastworld===
In January 2008 the band reversed its anti-taping policy – which had long been a sore point with many fans – announcing that it would allow audio recording and non-commercial distribution of such recordings, provided there was no competing official release.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawkwindmuseum.co.uk/trading%20rules.htm |title=trade rules |access-date=17 January 2008|date=16 January 2008 |publisher=Hawkwind Museum}}</ref> At the end of 2008, Atomhenge Records (a subsidiary of [[Cherry Red Records]]) commenced the re-issuing of Hawkwind's back catalogue from the years 1976 through to 1997 with the release of two triple CD anthologies ''[[Spirit of the Age Anthology|Spirit of the Age (anthology 1976–84)]]'' and ''[[Spirit of the Age Anthology|The Dream Goes On (anthology 1985–97)]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomhenge/news.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511095822/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/atomhenge/news.htm|archive-date=2011-05-11|title=Atomhenge – news|date=11 May 2011}}</ref>

On 8 September 2008 keyboard player Jason Stuart died due to a brain haemorrhage. In October 2008, [[Niall Hone]] (former Tribe of Cro) joined Hawkwind for their winter 2008 tour playing guitar, along with returning synth/theremin player Tim Blake. In this period, Hone also occasionally played bass guitar alongside Mr Dibs and used laptops for live electronic improvisation.

In 2009, the band began occasionally featuring Jon Sevink from [[The Levellers (band)|The Levellers]] as guest violinist at some shows. Later that year, Hawkwind embarked on a winter tour to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary, including two gigs on 28 and 29 August marking the anniversary of their first live performances. In 2010, Hawkwind held their annual Hawkfest at the site of the original Isle of Wight Festival, marking the 40th anniversary of their appearance there.

On 21 June 2010, Hawkwind released a studio album entitled ''[[Blood of the Earth]]'' on Eastworld Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/137843|title=Eastworld Recordings Sign HAWKWIND; Blood of the Earth Details Revealed, E-Card Available|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=16 November 2017}}</ref> During and since the ''Blood of the Earth'' support tours, Hone's primary on-stage responsibility shifted to bass, while Mr. Dibs moved to a more traditional lead singer/front man role.

In 2011, Hawkwind toured Australia for the second time.

April 2012 saw the release of a new album, ''[[Onward (album)|Onward]]'', again on Eastworld. Keyboardist Dead Fred rejoined Hawkwind for the 2012 tour in support of ''Onward'' and has since remained with the band. In November 2012, Brock, Chadwick and Hone—credited as "Hawkwind Light Orchestra"—released ''Stellar Variations'' on [[Esoteric Recordings]].

2013 marked the first Hawkeaster, a two-day festival held in Seaton, Devon during the Easter weekend. A US tour was booked for October 2013, but due to health issues, was postponed and later cancelled.

In February 2014, as part of a one-off Space Ritual performance, Hawkwind performed at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire featuring an appearance by [[Brian Blessed]] for the spoken word element of Sonic Attack; a studio recording of this performance was released as a single in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopnews.asp?type=Hawkwind%20launch%20a%20Sonic%20Attack%20on%20the%20singles%20chart%20with%20a%20little%20help%20from%20Brian%20Blessed! |title=Hawkwind launch a Sonic Attack on the singles chart with a little help from Brian Blessed! |access-date=24 December 2014 |date=3 September 2014 |publisher=Cherry Red Records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224034423/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopnews.asp?type=Hawkwind%20launch%20a%20Sonic%20Attack%20on%20the%20singles%20chart%20with%20a%20little%20help%20from%20Brian%20Blessed! |archive-date=24 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later in the year, former Soft Machine guitarist [[John Etheridge]] joined the live line-up of the band, though he had departed again prior to early 2015 dates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0RLLJ1cpU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211111/bv0RLLJ1cpU |archive-date=11 November 2021 |url-status=live |title=Hawkwind, Highrise feat. John Etheridge @ Hawkeaster 2014 |last=craig spacetoad |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=16 November 2017 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Following Hawkeaster 2015, Hawkwind made their debut visit to Japan, playing two sold-out shows in Tokyo. Hawkwind performed two Solstice Ritual shows in December 2015, with [[Steve Hillage]] guesting, and Haz Wheaton joining Hawkwind on bass guitar. Wheaton is a former member of the band's road crew who had previously appeared with Technicians of Spaceship Hawkwind, a "skeleton crew" spin off live band. Additionally, he had guested on bass for Dave Brock's solo album ''Brockworld'' released earlier in the year.