SCOTLAND SHOWS - JUNE 2025
We are excited to announce that The Waterboys will be playing the following June 2025 dates in SCOTLAND, including 2 shows in Glasgow. Tickets go on sale Friday 27 September at 10am.
JUNE
Wed 11 - ABERDEEN, Music Hall
Tickets here.
Thurs 12 - GLASGOW (show 1), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Tickets here.
Fri 13 - EDINBURGH, Usher Hall
Tickets here.
Sat 14 - GLASGOW (show 2), Barrowlands.
Tickets here.
FISHERMAN'S BLUES ON YELLOW VINYL FOR NATIONAL ALBUM DAY
In celebration of this year’s National Album Day, on Sat 19th October, Fisherman’s Blues will be issued in a limited edition on "Yellow Matter Custard" colour vinyl. The release will be available throughout the world. You can pre-order a copy from your preferred retailer beginning today- Thurs 12th September.
Discover more about this year's National Album Day celebrations here.
MIKE TO PLAY FOR THE CROZ
Mike will be joining Liam Ó Maonlai, The Staves, Kris Drever and house band for a show in honour of the great David Crosby. The musical director of the show is Kate St John who was a member of The Waterboys for the Mr Yeats shows of 2010-11. Mike will be playing some well chosen Croz songs on the night.
The show takes place Friday 11 October at Hodinott Hall in Cardiff, Wales. Tickets and additional information are available at https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/llais/2024/if-i-could-only-remember-my-name-the-music-of-david-crosby.
VILAR DE MOUROS FESTIVAL, PORTUGAL
THREE-MAN SHOWS IN FINDHORN, SEPTEMBER 16 + 17
Returning to Universal Hall for the first time since 2006, Mike Scott will present two 3 person Waterboys shows with piano player James Hallawell and organist Brother Paul on 16 and 17 September. The concerts are benefits for the Universal Hall, where the band recorded their album of that name in 2003. Universal Hall is located in Findhorn, near Forres, in Morayshire, Scotland and this is a rare opportunity to experience Waterboys music in a beautiful and unique 350 seat venue. Tickets, priced £40 (general admission), go on sale to the public from 10am Friday 19 July.
Tickets for Mon 16 Sept here.
Tickets for Tues 17 Sept here.
GLASGOW ON FRIDAY - STAGE TIMES
For those of you attending the show at Queens Park, GLASGOW this coming Friday (28 June), the stage times are as follows:
Doors Open: 4pm
Goliath: 5pm (30 mins)
Nati: 6pm (45 mins)
Admiral Fallow: 7:15pm (60 mins)
The Waterboys: 8:45pm (90 mins)
Curfew: 10:30pm
Some tickets left at https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/36006045B388322A.
FISHERMAN'S BLUES UKELELE EXTRAVAGANZA IN GALWAY
On Saturday 23rd June, during the Galway Ukelele Festival, hundreds of musicians performed a glorious Fisherman's Blues in Galway town centre. Here's a clip:
UK TOUR 2025 - FIRST DATES
We're delighted to announce the first tour dates in support of the Waterboys' long-awaited new album, which will be released in spring 2025. The first shows, in England and Wales, are listed below. Scottish and Irish dates will be announced soon. European and North American dates will also be added, and the band hopes to revisit Japan, Australia and NZ in 2025 too. Tickets go on sale Fri 7 June at 10am. Details of the album will be announced later this year.
Mike writes: "The Waterboys live for the experience of playing, of feeling our music evolve and grow with each consecutive concert. Nothing makes us happier than seeing a long list of dates like these. How will the music change? What will happen that's never happened before? How much fun and thrills can we and the audiences have?"
MAY
Thur 01 - BASINGSTOKE, Anvil
Tickets here
Fri 02 - BATH, Forum
Tickets here
Sat 03 - BEXHILL, DLWP
Tickets here
Mon 05 - BRIGHTON, Centre
Tickets here
Wed 07 - NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
Tickets here
Thur 08 - LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic
Tickets here
Fri 09 - SHEFFIELD, City Hall
Tickets here
Sat 10 - GATESHEAD, Glasshouse
Tickets here
Mon 12 - BLACKPOOL, Opera House
Tickets here
Tue 13 - MANCHESTER, Bridgewater Hall
Tickets here
Thur 15 - YORK, Barbican
Tickets here
Fri 16 - BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall
Tickets here
Sun 18 - BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion
Tickets here
Mon 19 - CARDIFF, New Theatre
Tickets here
Tue 20 - CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
Tickets here
Thur 22 - BRISTOL, Beacon
Tickets here
Fri 23 - OXFORD, New Theatre
Tickets here
Sat 24 - STOCKTON-ON-TEES, The Globe
Tickets here
Sun 25 - LLANDUDNO, Venue Cymru
Tickets here
Tue 27 - GUILDFORD, Live
Tickets here
Wed 28 - LEICESTER, DeMontford Hall
Tickets here
Sat 31 - LONDON, Roundhouse
Tickets here
IRISH RADIO SPECIAL ON THE MAKING OF THIS IS THE SEA
The wonderful conversation between Mike and Fiachna Ó Braonáin about the recent 1985 box set and how The Waterboys made This Is The Sea, which aired on RTÉ Radio over the weekend, is now available for playback here.
NORTHERN KIN FESTIVAL; NEW DATES & UPDATED LINE-UP
Northern Kin Festival has provided an updated line-up following the rescheduling of the festival to 9-11th August 2024, with more artists to be announced next week. The Waterboys will headline and the festival is held at Thornley Hall Farm in DURHAM, ENGLAND on Sat 10 August. Tickets are available now here.
MIDSUMMER SHOW IN PORTUGAL
The Waterboys will play Vale Santo in ANADIA, PORTUGAL on Fri 21 June as part of the Anadia de Paixoes Festival Vine & Wine Fair. Tickets, priced €4 for the whole fair, will be sold at the event.
SITGES FESTIVAL, SPAIN
The Waterboys are headed to this year's Sitges Festival Terramar CaixaBank, in SITGES, SPAIN (near BARCELONA) on Fri 2 Aug. Tickets are on sale now here.
KARL WALLINGER 1957-2024
We are sorry to relay the news of the passing over of Karl Wallinger, 1980s Waterboys member and long-time leader of his own band World Party, who died on Sunday March 10th. We do not yet know the cause of death, only that it was announced by a press release from Karl's team. Karl was an integral part of The Waterboys from 1983 to the end of 1985, and was one of the original touring line-up. He made many powerful contributions to the band during his membership, many of which are included and described in the recent 1985 box set and book. Among his great Waterboy moments were the synthesisers on The Whole Of The Moon, piano on This Is The Sea itself and incredible hammond organ on Rags and Beverly Penn. He also co-wrote Don't Bang The Drum and played unique synth bass on half the This Is The Sea album, and the demos he and Mike recorded at Karl's home studio, Seaview, were integral to the development of the band's sound during that era. Karl went on to lead World Party through many albums and successes and composed the smash hit She's The One, made famous by Robbie Williams. Mike Scott posted on Twitter: "Travel on well, my old friend. You are one of the finest musicians I've ever known". All of us at the Waterboys send our condolences to Karl's family.
CLAMSHELL BOX 6CD VERSION OF "1985"
The 6CD only version of The Waterboys' raved-about new box set "1985" comes in a clamshell box, without accompanying book, and at a lower price. It will be released 12th April and you can pre-order here.
ADVENTURES IN MARRAKESH
Mike and James spent last week in Marrakesh and befriended the band AMAL ASSAHA ("spirit of the place") who play every night on the town's market square, Jamaa El-Fnaa. They make Arabic music on amped banjo and hand-drums, and on the last night of their visit Mike sat in and played a Moroccan hand-drum with them while James filmed. The banjo player beside Mike is Zakariya, and the drummers are (from furthest away) Ibrahim, Ahmed, Abdessalam, Samir Alam and (standing in red pants) Mustapha. Mariam sings on the right in the video. They're playing a famous Arabic song called SINIYA. Mike has posted several more video clips on the band's Patreon page.
MIKE JOINS ALLEN GINSBERG TRIBUTE, DUBLIN, MARCH 12
Mike will be participating in a Celebration of Allen Ginsberg: Poetry & Song featuring Pat Thomas - author of Material Wealth: Mining The Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg on 12 March at The New Theatre in Temple Bar, DUBLIN. Other participants include Eamonn Carr of Horslips, poet/songwriter/scholar Catherine Ann Cullen and curator of the Ginsberg estate, Peter Hale. Tickets, priced €15, are on sale now here.
THREE SPRING DATES IN THE NETHERLANDS
FAUSKE, NORWAY 2024
The Waterboys will rock a one-off show at Fauske Idrettshall in FAUSKE, NORWAY on Sat 14 September as part of the Saltenbluesen Music Festival. Tickets are on sale now here.
BEVERLY PENN LYRIC VIDEO
MIKE JOINS ALLEN GINSBERG TRIBUTE, DUBLIN, MARCH 12
Mike will be participating in a Celebration of Allen Ginsberg: Poetry & Song featuring Pat Thomas - author of Material Wealth: Mining The Personal Archive of Allen Ginsberg on 12 March at The New Theatre in Temple Bar, DUBLIN. Other participants include Eamonn Carr of Horslips, poet/songwriter/scholar Catherine Ann Cullen and curator of the Ginsberg estate, Peter Hale.
Tickets will go fast so book early here.
RETURN TO GLASGOW
The Waterboys will be back in GLASGOW on Fri 28 June at Queens Park playing a headline show during the Summer Nights On The South Side series. Other acts performing on the night, all requested by The Waterboys, are the Scottish artists Admiral Fallow, NATI. and Goliath. Tickets, priced £49.50, go on sale Fri 9 Feb at 9am here.
THIS IS THE SEA BOX SET, FEB 23, TITLED "1985" / TWO Q&A LIVE EVENTS
1985: HOW THE WATERBOYS MADE THIS IS THE SEA AND SAW THE WHOLE OF THE MOON. Coming 23 Feb: a fantastic 6CD box set covering the making of the classic album This Is The Sea, with 95 tracks (64 previously unreleased) - demos, outtakes, live, TV & radio sessions, unheard songs PLUS an incredible photo-illustrated 220-page hardcover book by Mike Scott about the creation of the album.
To celebrate the release of HOW THE WATERBOYS MADE THIS IS THE SEA AND SAW THE WHOLE OF THE MOON, Mike Scott will participate in Q+A events at Rough Trade East London with Pete Paphides, and Tower Records Dublin with Pat Carty. Both will be followed by signing sessions for any releases pre-ordered with tickets. Details are included at the link below.
The original video for The Whole Of The Moon has been newly remastered in HD, and is on YouTube and streaming services now. You can pre-order the box set from The Waterboys' official store, watch and listen to The Whole of the Moon HD remaster and/or get a ticket to an in-store here.
More news soon.
SPAIN'S FESTIVAL NOCHES MAGICAS 2024
The Waterboys are returning to ALICANTE, SPAIN on Thurs 1 August at Jardines de Abril as part of Festival Noches Magicas. Tickets, priced 60€, are on sale now here.
BOSPOP FESTIVAL
The Waterboys are returning to the mighty Bospop Festival in WEERT, NETHERLANDS on Sun 14 July. Tickets go on sale Sat 16 Dec here.
DRANOUTER FESTIVAL
The Waterboys are coming to rock the Dranouter Festival in DRANOUTER, BELGIUM on Sat 3 August. Tickets are available here.
KALEIDOSCOPE FESTIVAL, WICKLOW, IRELAND
The Waterboys will headline the Kaleidoscope Festival on Sat 29 June at Russborough House in BLESSINGTON, CO WICKLOW. Tickets are on sale now here.
NOONDAY UNDERGROUND
Simon Dine who co-wrote several songs with Mike over the last few Waterboys albums has just released an album of new collaborations under the name Noonday Underground. The album is called Sing It From The Mountain. It doesn't include The Waterboys but it has lots of other excellent artists. Streaming now everywhere at Sing It From The Mountain.
TØNSBERG, NORWAY MAY 2024
The Waterboys will headline at Foynhagen in TØNSBERG, NORWAY on Friday 31 May. Tickets, priced 550 NOK + service, are on sale now here.
RECORD STORE DAY RELEASE & VIDEO - FAST VERSION OF THIS IS THE SEA!
The 10" THIS IS THE SEA (Fast Version) for RSD Black Friday is out now! Taken from the soon-to-be-announced boxset documenting the creation of the Waterboys' classic album This Is The Sea, this is an exclusive uptempo version of the title track featuring incredible lead guitar by the late, great Tom Verlaine of legendary New York punk band Television. To mark the release The Waterboys present an official video for the track made by Duende Visions, which illuminates its explosive energy. The 10" single is backed with the Waterboys' 1983 recording of The Passenger by another punk legend, Iggy Pop, exclusive to this RSD vinyl edition.
You can see the video here.
Access a list of participating stores here.
CORK JUNE 2024
The Waterboys will play at Musgrave Park in CORK, IRELAND on Sun 23 June on a fantastic double bill with Crowded House.
Tickets go on sale Friday 10 November at 9am local time here.
SUMMER SHOWS IN IRELAND
Photo by Paddy McPoland
Two 2024 summer Waterboys shows have been confirmed for IRELAND. They are:
Sun 18 Aug at Custom House Square (CHSQ) in BELFAST
General sale begins Fri 10 Nov at 9am local time at
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/460577/888869
and
Mon 19 Aug at Galway Summer Sessions at GALWAY Airport
General sale begins Fri 10 Nov at 9am local time at
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/199930/888869
NORTHERN KIN FESTIVAL 2024
The Waterboys will headline Northern Kin Festival at Thornley Hall Farm in DURHAM, ENGLAND on Saturday 15th June 2024. Tickets are available now here.
NEW ONLINE MERCHANDISE STORE
Today is the GRAND OPENING for the fab new Waterboys. online merchandise store via Nylon Merch, where you can find current tour T shirts, hoodies, mugs and tote bags. You can check it out here.
SIGN OF THE TIMES FESTIVAL, HERTFORDSHIRE, JULY 2024
The Waterboys will headline the Sign Of The Times Festival in HERTFORDSHIRE, UK on Fri 5th July at Church End, Little Haddam. Day tickets, priced £50, are on sale now here.
ANTO'S SOLO MUSIC NOW STREAMING
A message from original Waterboy Anthony Thistlethwaite: "I have finally got around to getting my solo albums up on Spotify, Apple Music etc. There are quite a few Waterboys on the recordings: Kev, Trev, Roddy, Sharon, Steve, Ruffy, Karl, Noel Bridgeman come to mind. And various others helping out: Eddi Reader, Kirsty MacColl, Ralph McTell, Donal Lunny. Guitar players: Mick Taylor, Sonny Landreth and Snowy White"
Anthony's Spotify page is here:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4napyUBoLeSelcnUvtACp0.
And he has made a funny video announcing it:
https://youtu.be/jNM5_NAX4N8?si=kYJumXv3gPc02D7P.
RECORD STORE DAY RELEASE FOR FAST VERSION OF THIS IS THE SEA!
As part of the Record Store Day Black Friday celebrations on 24 November, we are thrilled to announce the release of a previously unreleased mix of the fast soul stomping version of This Is The Sea, recorded in 1985 and featuring the incomparable Tom Verlaine on lead guitar, and a killer new vocal by Mike Scott. The track is from the forthcoming 6CD This Is The Sea box set (to be released early 2024) and is backed with a never before released 1983 cover of Iggy Pop's The Passenger, exclusive to this RSD release.
The format is 10" spined black vinyl.This is a great opportunity for music lovers to support indie record stores. You can access a list of participating shops here.
CARLISLE CANCELLATION
Due to RAAC structural issues, Sands Centre in CARLISLE has cancelled all October shows including The Waterboys on 1 October. We hope to reschedule in 2024 but refunds are available from point of purchase OR you may exchange your tickets for any of the following shows by emailing tickets@432presents.com.
WATERBOYS FEATURED ON SKY ARTS TONIGHT
Mike and The Waterboys will be featured on The Great Songwriters, which airs TONIGHT (Fri 11 Aug) on Sky Arts UK at 9pm. The interview was shot in Amsterdam in March and features several songs filmed during the band's soundcheck in the Paradiso Club.
OUT NOW - UNIVERSAL HALL & BOOK OF LIGHTNING REISSUES
Today, The Waterboys’ eighth and ninth studio albums are released on vinyl for the first time. Universal Hall (2003), recorded in the basement studio of the hall of the same name, a theatre in Findhorn, Scotland, and containing the band's most spiritual and minimalistic music, is available on orange vinyl and CD. Book of Lightning (2007), recorded at the former Island Studios in West London and featuring the understated country rock epic She Tried To Hold Me, the beautiful Sustain, and two songs written for but not recorded during the classic Fisherman's Blues album sessions, is available on sunrise yellow vinyl and CD. Order from the official store now here.
UPPSALA, SWEDEN
Coming right up! The Waterboys will be at Parksnäckan in UPPSALA, SWEDEN on Sun 6 August. Get your tickets here.
CORUNA, SPAIN
Come on out and see The Waterboys at Plaza Maria Pita in CORUNA, SPAIN on Tues 8 August. This is a free enterance event.
PUCA FESTIVAL, CO MEATH
The Waterboys will be at Puca Festival, which takes place across the towns of Trim and Athboy in County Meath, in IRELAND'S Ancient East, on Mon 30 October at the Puca Big Top, Trim Porchfield. Tickets go on sale Fri June 30 at 10am local time here.
LADY NADE TO GUEST WITH THE WATERBOYS AT BATH FORUM OCT 16
We're delighted to announce that the brilliant singer and songwriter Lady Nade will join us for a couple of songs when we perform at Bath Forum on our upcoming tour. She isn't playing an opening set, because The Waterboys are playing two sets with intermission, but she'll be joining the band during the evening. Mike said: "I heard Nade sing at the Americana Music Awards in February. What a voice!" You can find out more about Lady Nade here and buy tickets for the show here.
BLUES CAZORLA, SPAIN - JULY 6
The Waterboys will appear at this year's Blues Cazorla Festival at Plaza de Toros de Cazorla in CAZORLA, SPAIN. The Waterboys will play on Thursday 6th July. Tickets are on sale now here.
UNIVERSAL HALL & BOOK OF LIGHTNING VINYL RELEASE
Universal Hall (2003) was recorded in the basement studio of the titular hall, a theatre and concert venue in Findhorn, Scotland. Mike describes the album as "a record containing eleven spiritual songs that articulate - to the best of my ability - the vision that drives, challenges, sustains and transforms me”. Pre-order on seville orange vinyl and CD here.
Book of Lightning (2007) was mostly recorded at the former Island Studios in West London. Selections include the understated country rock epic She Tried To Hold Me, the beautiful Sustain, recorded with members of Canadian band Great Aunt Ida, and two songs written for but not recorded during the classic Fisherman's Blues album sessions. Pre-order on sunrise yellow vinyl and CD here.
BELFAST TICKETS
Tickets for the Belfast International Arts Festival where The Waterboys will be headlining their own show on Sat 28 Oct at Ulster Hall, BELFAST, go on sale this Mon 5 June here.
A ROCK IN THE WEARY LAND - REISSUE
The physical formats for the reissue of A ROCK IN THE WEARY LAND, which include 2CD and double vinyl, are out now. You can order here.
A Rock In The Weary Land was the The Waterboys' seventh studio album, originally released in September 2000. The recording saw the return of the band name after Mike Scott's two solo albums and featured contributions from two original Waterboys, Kevin Wilkinson and Anthony Thistlethwaite, new ones including keyboard players Thighpaulsandra and Sir Richard Naiff, and even a future Waterboy, bassist Mark Smith who was a member 2006-9. British rock weekly New Musical Express described the album as "a masterpiece".
This Cooking Vinyl release marks its first ever release on vinyl. Mike has curated this definitive version, with the sequence on the LPs and CD Disc 1 based on the 14-song 2001 US edition, which added Lucky Day/Bad Advice and My Lord, What A Morning to the original UK tracklist. The 2CD version features twelve previously unreleased tracks and the 4th side of the 2LP vinyl is a spectacular 16-minute live version of Waterboys' classic Savage Earth Heart.
Scott has also overseen a re-working of the artwork, using a different Steve Gullick photo from the original cover session on the front, while both vinyl and CD formats include many previously unseen shots. The CD package includes a 28-page booklet, and the vinyl album comes in a gatefold sleeve.
AUGUST SHOW IN HUELVA, SPAIN
The Waterboys look forward to playing at Recinto Colombino in HUELVA, SPAIN on Thurs 3 August as part of Fiestas Colombinas. This is a FREE entrance show.
SAN JAVIER, SPAIN, JULY 22ND
The Waterboys are coming to rock the Auditorio Parque Almansa in SAN JAVIER, SPAIN on Sat 22 July. Tickets, priced €35, are on sale now here.
ATHENS EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will play at the incredible Odeon Of Herodes Atticus-Herodium on the slopes of the Acropolis as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival in ATHENS, GREECE on Thursday 22 June.
Tickets are on sale now here.
ROCK ZOTTEGEM FESTIVAL, BELGIUM, JULY 2023
The Waterboys will play at the Rock Zottegem Festival in KASTANJELAAN-ZOTTEGEM, BELGIUM on Sat 8 July. Tickets are on sale now here.
BOSPOP BOUND
The Waterboys will head back to the fabulous Bospop Festival in WEERT, NETHERLANDS on Sun 9 July. Tickets are on sale now here.
BALLYCOTTON LIVE
The Waterboys live show, filmed six months ago in the intimate setting of Cork's Ballycotton Sessions will be shown on Ireland's TV station RTE 2 at 11pm this Thursday, 30 March. Tune in and join us!
ZMF FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will headline a night at Zelt-Musik-Festival, Zirkuszelt as part of the ZMF Festival in FREIBURG, GERMANY on Tues 25 July. Tickets are on sale now here.
ALBACETE, SPAIN
The Waterboys will play at Caseta De Los Jardinillos in ALBACETE, SPAIN on Sat 9 September. Tickets, priced 35€, go on sale Fri 24 March at the box office on +34 653 70 58 62 or online here.
BLUES PEER FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will play at Blues Peer Festival in PEER, BELGIUM on Sun 28th May 2023. Tickets are on sale now here.
PAIRC FESTIVAL, BIRMINGHAM, UK
IRISH SHOWS - OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
The Waterboys will tour Ireland this autumn with the following shows:
Sat 28 Oct Ulster Hall, Belfast (On sale date and ticket link TBA)
Sun 29 Oct Millennium Forum, DERRY. Tickets here.
Wed 1 Nov Spiegeltent Festival, WEXFORD. Tickets here.
Thur 2 Nov Spiegeltent Festival, WEXFORD. Tickets here.
Fri 3 Nov Leisureland, GALWAY. Tickets here.
Sat 4 Nov Knocknarea, SLIGO (On sale date and ticket link TBA)
Mon 6 Nov INEC Arena, KILLARNEY here.
NIDAROS BLUES FESTIVAL, NORWAY
The Waterboys will be at Nidaros Blues Festival in TRONDHEIM, NORWAY on Sat 15 April. Tickets are on sale now here.
CORK, IRELAND
The Waterboys will play as part of Cork's Live At The Marquee series of shows on Sun 18 June. Tickets, priced €48.20, go on sale Mon 20 February at 9am local time here.
Additional Irish dates will soon be announced.
VALENCIA, SPAIN
The Waterboys will play on Sun 23 July at Jardines de Viveros in VALENCIA, SPAIN. Tickets are on sale now here.
NOTODDEN BLUES FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will play at Notodden Blues Festival at Hovigs Hangar on Sat 5 August in NOTODDEN, NORWAY. Tickets are on sale now here.
BEAUTIFUL DAYS FESTIVAL LINE-UP
Beautiful Days Festival, which takes place 18th -20th of August in Escot Park, DEVON, UK, has announced this year's line-up with The Waterboys appearing on Sat,19 August. Adult weekend tickets are £165, with reduced prices for children, and available here.
HELP DON JACKSON
Mike's pal Don Jackson, ace musician and producer who has mastered several Waterboys albums and has also written with Mike, desperately needs to raise funds to get a liver transplant in Turkey. This needs to happen very quickly for Don, who has been told he has only months to live if he doesn't get the operation. Britain's NHS has a limit of how developed a growth can be and still operate, and that point has passed. In Turkey there is still time because they will make transplants later in the stages of disease. It will cost £80,000 for Don to go to Turkey and pay for the treatment. Don will be speaking about the challenge he is facing on BBC radio's 5 Live on Sunday evening 5 Feb at 10pm. Please help if you are able. You can donate here.
SHOW AT BATH FORUM, UK
As part of their autumn 2023 tour The Waterboys will play at Bath Forum on Mon 16 October. Tickets go on sale on Fri 3 Feb here.
REDEMPTION FOR SLYTHERIN
In protest at the disrepute into which the noble Hogwarts house of Slytherin has lately fallen, due to the debased actions of former pupil Voldemort, another old Slytherian has posted a video, naming a selection of notable past Slytherians including many familiar names of the 20th century. View said video here.
BBK MUSIC LEGENDS FESTIVAL, BILBAO, SPAIN
The Waterboys will appear on Saturday June 24th at this summer's BBK Music Legends Festival at Bilbao Arena Miribilla in BILBAO, SPAIN. Tickets are available here.
SECOND SHOW AT DUBLIN'S IVEAGH GARDENS
The Fri 14 July show at Iveagh Gardens in DUBLIN has sold-out but another show has been added for Thurs 13 July. Tickets, priced €48.20, go on sale Mon 23 January at 9am local time here.
A DATE WITH DUBLIN
The first IRISH date to be confirmed for 2023 is in DUBLIN at Iveagh Gardens on Fri 14 July. Tickets, priced €48.20, go on sale Mon 19 December at 9am local time here.
MIKE SCOTT & JAMES HALLAWELL - DUO SHOW
Following Mike's many duo shows with Steve Wickham and Brother Paul over the years, 2023 will see the debut of a new two-man show. Mike & James Hallawell will play a show at Nantwich Roots Festival, England. The performance will be at Nantwich Civic Hall on Sat 20 May. Tickets, priced £35, go on sale tomorrow morning (Thurs 8 Dec) at 10am local time from the box office on 01270 628633 or online here.
RETURN TO CAMBRIDGE
The Waterboys will return to Cambridge Corn Exchange on Wed 18 October as part of their autumn UK tour.
General ticket sale begins Friday 9 December at 10am here.
NOEL BRIDGEMAN CONCERT TICKETS
Tickets for the Noel Bridgeman tribute show, featuring a 30-minute set by the 1989 Waterboys, go on sale this morning (FRi Dec 2) at 10am here. The show will be held on Thursday 4th May 2023 at Dublin's Olympia Theatre, Ireland.
MR YEATS VINYL OUT TODAY
The 2LP edition of the remastered AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS is out TODAY! It contains the six bonus tracks that feature on the recent CD edition and is pressed on delightfully Yeatsian green vinyl.
You can order here.
SPRING SHOWS IN SWEDEN
The Waterboys will be playing the following shows in SWEDEN as part of their spring European tour:
Fri 21 April - Filadelfia Center, STOCKHOLM. Tickets here.
Sat 22 April - Conventum, OREBRO. Tickets here.
Sun 23 April - Trädgår´n, GOTHENBURG. Tickets here.
Mon 24 April - Slagthuset, MALMO. Tickets here.
Tickets for these shows, priced 495 SEK standing/595 SEK seated, go on sale Thurs 8 December at 9am local time.
HENGELO, THE NETHERLANDS
Another date has been added to The Waterboys spring tour. The band will play the Metropool in HENGELO, The Netherlands, on Tues 14 March. Tickets, priced €42.50, go on sale Mon 12 December from the box office on +31(0)74 - 243 80 00 or online here.
MR YEATS VINYL ~ NEXT WEEK
Reminder that the limited 2LP edition of the remastered AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS will be released on Fri 2 December. It contains the six bonus tracks that feature on the recent CD edition and was superbly mastered for vinyl by Mike's favourite mastering engineer, John Davis at Metropolis.
You can pre-order here.
FOLK BY THE OAK FESTIVAL, UK
The Waterboys will play at Folk By The Oak Festival at Hatfield House in HATFIELD, HERTFORDSHIRE on Sun 16 July 2023. Mike Scott says "We're delighted to play at Folk By The Oak, and will supply some Funk By The Trunk and Rock By The Hollyhock as well."
Tickets, from £46.50, are on sale now from the box office on 01432 355416 or online here and you can find out more about the festival here.
EINDHOVEN SHOW ADDED
The Waterboys will play at Muziekgebouw in EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS on Wed 15 March 2023. Tickets, priced €35, go on sale Fri 18 November here.
A ROCK IN THE WEARY LAND - REISSUE
Pre-orders for the reissue of A ROCK IN THE WEARY LAND begin today, Thurs 10 Nov. The digital release comes out today on all streaming services, and the physical release, comprising 2CD and double vinyl, will be released on 26th May 2023. You can pre-order here.
A Rock In The Weary Land was the The Waterboys' seventh studio album, originally released in September 2000. The recording saw the return of the band name after Mike Scott's two solo albums and featured contributions from two original Waterboys, Kevin Wilkinson and Anthony Thistlethwaite, new ones including keyboard players Thighpaulsandra and Sir Richard Naiff, and even a future Waterboy, bassist Mark Smith who was a member 2006-9. British rock weekly New Musical Express described the album as "a masterpiece".
This Cooking Vinyl release marks its first ever release on vinyl. Mike has curated this definitive version, with the sequence on the LPs and CD Disc 1 based on the 14-song 2001 US edition, which added Lucky Day/Bad Advice and My Lord, What A Morning to the original UK tracklist. The 2CD version features twelve previously unreleased tracks and the 4th side of the 2LP vinyl is a spectacular 16-minute live version of Waterboys' classic Savage Earth Heart.
Scott has also overseen a re-working of the artwork, using a different Steve Gullick photo from the original cover session on the front, while both vinyl and CD formats include many previously unseen shots. The CD package includes a 28-page booklet, and the vinyl album comes in a gatefold sleeve.
MORE UK SHOWS OCTOBER 2023
In addition to the shows announced yesterday The Waterboys will play:
Sun 1 Oct Sands Centre, CARLISLE
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-waterboys/sands-centre/2451302.
Sat 7 Oct NEWCASTLE City Hall
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-waterboys/o2-city-hall/2450205.
Sun 8 Oct Bonus Area, HULL
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-waterboys/bonus-arena/2450790.
Mon 9 Oct SHEFFIELD City Hall
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-waterboys/city-hall/2450786.
Tues 24 Oct The Anvil, BASINGSTOKE
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-waterboys/the-anvil/2450793.
Wed 25 Oct Hall For Cornwall, TRURO
https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/playhouse-tickets-shows/the-waterboys/about-the-show.
Thurs 26 Oct Pavillion Theatre, BOURNEMOUTH (on sale date TBA)
Tickets for all these shows, priced £42, go on sale Fri 28 Oct 2022 (tomorrow) at 10am excepting Bournemouth sale date TBA.
WATERBOYS UK TOUR 2023
The Waterboys will tour the UK and Ireland in October/November 2023. There will be a total of 20 shows in Great Britain, plus a run in Ireland immediately following. A number of dates are announced today and can be purchased from Friday 28 October (general sale). Ticket box office details are under the list of dates. Photo by Dag.
Mon 02 Oct Royal Concert Hall, GLASGOW
Tues 03 Oct Usher Hall, EDINBURGH
Thurs 05 Oct Barrowlands, GLASGOW
Wed 11 Oct Philharmonic Hall, LIVERPOOL
Thurs 12 Oct Barbican, YORK
Fri 13 Oct The Bridgewater Hall, MANCHESTER
Sun 15 Oct The Cliffs Pavilion, SOUTHEND
Tues 17 Oct De La Warr Pavilion, BEXHILL
FRI 20 Oct The Roundhouse, LONDON
Sat 21 Oct GLive, GUILDFORD
Sun 22 Oct Symphony Hall, BIRMINGHAM
General ticket sale for the shows in England begins Fri 28 Oct at 10am here.
General sale for the three shows in Scotland begins Fri 28 Octo at 10am here.
RETURN TO BERGEN
The Waterboys will return to BERGEN, NORWAY on Tues 18 April at Forum Scene. Tickets go on sale Fri 21 October at 10am local time here.
MR YEATS ~ ON VINYL
Attention vinyl collectors! The long awaited limited 2LP edition of the remastered AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS will be released on Fri 2 December. It contains the six bonus tracks that feature on the recent CD edition.
You can pre-order here.
DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION OF ALL SOULS HILL OUT TODAY
A digital deluxe edition of All Souls Hill is now available featuring the three recent mashups ((Blackberry Girl, Once Were Brothers and In My Dreams) plus a new mashup of The Liar plus the two bonus tracks originally released on the 7" vinyl single with some bundles of the album (Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Painting America White). It also includes Glastonbury Fayre, the band's recent release about the Glastonbury Festival. You can get it here.
NOVASTAR SONG CO-WRITTEN BY MIKE
Mike wrote a song with Joost Zweegers of Belgian band NOVASTAR and his fabulous version of it has just been released as a single. It's called THE CROOKED COURT OF DREAMS and you can hear it here.
RETURN TO ANTWERP
The Waterboys will play at De Roma in ANTWERP, BELGIUM on Tues 28 March. Tickets go on sale Fri 9 Sept at 10am local time here.
NETHERLANDS SHOWS
The Waterboys are delighted to return to THE NETHERLANDS for five shows this spring. Tickets go on sale Fri 2 September.
Mon 27 March - Spot, GRONINGEN. Tickets here.
Wed 29 March - TivoliVredenburg, UTRECHT. Tickets here.
Sat April 01 - Muziekgieterij, MAASTRICHT. Tickets here.
Sun 02 April - Doornroosje, NIJMEGEN. Tickets here.
Mon 03 April - Paradiso, AMSTERDAM. Tickets here.
ALL SOULS HILL VINYL IS OUT
ALL SOULS HILL has now been released on VINYL in the UK and Europe following supply chain delays. We thank everyone for their patience
Along with the standard black LP there are a limited number of blue LPs available which include a bonus 7" single featuring 2 exclusive tracks, PAINTING AMERICA WHITE and JUMPING JACK FLASH. These are available from The Waterboys official store. The store also has a last few remaining signed All Souls Hill prints available in bundles.
Pre-ordered vinyl will be shipping to UK/European fans this week. The US LP release date will be on 2nd September and Americans can still pre-order.
Order ALL SOULS HILL here.
THE WATERBOYS' QUAY SESSION
The Waterboys had a fantastic time recording four songs for Radio Scotland's The Quay Sessions. Mike Scott called it the best session ever, and three of the songs have never before been recorded and broadcast by the band. Mike was also interviewed by presenter Roddy Hart. The show went out on Wednesday 10th and playback link is below. The songs are:
RIGHT SIDE OF HEARTBREAK (WRONG SIDE OF LOVE) at 19 min
GLASGOW'S BEEN GOOD TO ME - sung in Glaswegian accent - at 36 min
ME AND PAUL (a reworking of the famous Willie Nelson song with new lyrics) at 1 hour 15 min
EASY RIDER 1970 (cover of an obscure early 70s song) at 1 hour 43 min
Playback the session here.
ONCE WERE BROTHERS MASH-UP
Released today is the Puck Fingers mashup of the great ONCE WERE BROTHERS from All Souls Hill. Take a listen here.
PODCAST ALERT
Mike's episode of The Art Of Longevity Podcast is live now. You can listen here.
IN MY DREAMS MASHUP
Released today is the second Puck Fingers mashup from All Souls Hill. This one is IN MY DREAMS and you can feast your ears on it here.
BLACKBERRY GIRL SINGLE
Today The Waterboys release the video for BLACKBERRY GIRL, many peoples' favourite track from ALL SOULS HILL and a highlight of recent live shows. The video was shot and directed by Mike himself and includes background scenes filmed on Tokyo's funky and fashionable Takashita Street. Editing was by Duende Visions who've done many Waterboys videos over the last few years. The single edit, a slightly shorter version of the album track, will also be serviced to radio in the UK and Ireland so if you want to hear your favourite DJ play it, tweet, text or email them!
Watch the video here.
Also released today is a Puck Fingers remix of the track, which is first in a series of mashups of All Souls Hill tracks.
Get the Blackberry Girl mashup here.
MARCH SHOW IN WEERT
The Waterboys will play a spring show at De Bosuil in WEERT, THE NETHERLANDS on Fri 31 March. Tickets, priced €40, go on sale Thurs 7 July from the box office on 0031-495524269 or online here.
LOVE FOR KATE BUSH
The Guardian recently published an article in which various artists speak about the great Kate Bush including Mike. You can read it here.
AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS REMASTER - IT'S OUT!
The digital & CD formats of the remixed, remastered AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS are out now.
The new version has 6 previously unreleased bonus tracks. And a bonus disc and download of 23 demos, including many previously unheard poems-to-music, is available in some bundles.
Vinyl collectors can look forward to a limited 2LP green vinyl edition which will be released on Fri 2 December.
You can order, or pre-order the vinyl here.
GLASTONBURY FAYRE - NEW SINGLE TODAY!
The Waterboys release a new single today called GLASTONBURY FAYRE, a grooving, vibing monster in which Mike's lyric weaves together the histories of the festival and the Waterboys' performances. It was produced by Mike and Brother Paul and specially rush-released for the build-up to the festival which happens next week. The Waterboys play on Saturday 25th. The photo shows the 1989 apperarance.
You can access it on various streaming platforms or on YouTube here.
MIKE & BROTHER PAUL STROUD SHOW POSTPONED
Unfortunately we must move the date for the Mike Scott & Brother Paul show at The Sub Rooms in Stroud on Thurs 16 June to Mon 27 June. Mike caught covid last week and is doing better but still testing positive so can't take the risk of travelling and infecting others. Tickets for the show on the 27th are available here.
THE HUSTLE PODCAST
Mike has done another entertaining podcast, this one with The Hustle. To access, click here.
PASSING THROUGH - MIKE'S SHORT CLIP
Mike talks about what the song PASSING THROUGH means to him and how he discovered it.
SOUTHERN MOON ILLUMINATED
Mike speaks about the atmospheric track Southern Moon from All Souls Hill.
OUT OF THE BOX INTERVIEW
While in New York last month Mike did an interview with Q104.3 Out Of The Box Radio's Jonathan Clarke.
Q104.3 has just posted an article featuring the full video of the interview here.
PORTUGAL SPRING 2023
MIKE'S BACKGROUND TO IN MY DREAMS
Mike reveals how In My Dreams was inspired by Simon Dine's instrumental and Mike's dream journals.
MIKE TALKS HOLLYWOOD BLUES
Mike describes the collaborative process between himself and members of his band that resulted in the track Hollywood Blues from new album All Souls Hill.
AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS DEMO TRACKS
A bonus disc and download of demos, containing additional Yeats poems set to song is available - individually or with the main album - from our online store when you order the reissue of AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS. CD and digital release date is Fri 17 June.
Mike writes: "The demos for the Mr Yeats stage show and album were recorded between 2005 and 2009 in Findhorn and Dublin, and I've always wanted to release them. They have their own magical sound and in many cases were recorded as I was writing the music, so they are super fresh with the imprint of the original inspiration. The demos also include a number of tracks that didn't make it to the finished show or album, but which form a greater picture of Yeats' poetry and its adaptability to music. The previously unheard poems include A Coat, The Mask, Paistin Finn, The Pilgrim, Freddie Stevenson's beautiful demo of Tread Softly (For You Tread On My Dreams), and Steve Wickham's delightful rendering of Come Gather Round Me, Parnellites. There are 23 in all."
Pre-order AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS from The Waterboys Official Store here and scroll down for bundle options.
THE LIAR - VIDEO CLIP
The third of Mike's All Souls Hill video clips is his description of that most unsavoury topic THE LIAR
MIKE & BROTHER PAUL IN DUBLIN
Photo by Savannah Lauren Photography.
Mike and Brother Paul are bringing their two-man acoustic show to Liberty Hall, DUBLIN, Ireland on Tueday 28 June. Tickets, priced €44.05, go on sale Mon 30 May at 9am local time here.
AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR YEATS - REISSUED!
An Appointment with Mr Yeats, the terrific Waterboys album of WB Yeats poems-become-songs first released in 2011, has been remixed and remastered with 6 previously unreleased bonus tracks. A bonus disc and download of demos, containing numerous additional poems, is available in some bundles. Says Mike: "I remixed the Yeats album during ther 2020 lockdown, using all the skills I picked up while making the last several Waterboys records. Then it was mastered by my colleague Don Jackson. I'm thrilled with how it's come out. Not distractingly different, but fuller and richer, more powerful."
Pre order here.
OSLO- SPRING 2023
The Waterboys will return to Sentrum Scene in OSLO, NORWAY on Mon 17 April. Tickets go on sale Fri 27 May at 10am local time here.
HERE WE GO AGAIN VIDEO CLIP
The second of Mike's video clips is his commentary on HERE WE GO AGAIN
MIKE AND PAUL ON STEVE EARLE'S HARDCORE TROUBADOUR RADIO
While in New York this last week Mike and Brother Paul recorded a segment for Steve Earle's Hardcore Troubadour show on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country Radio which will air tomorrow (Sat 21 May) at 9pm ET. Mike and Brother Paul played two songs from the new album ALL SOULS HILL and had a chat with Steve. Find it here.
ALL SOULS HILL VIDEO CLIPS
Today we publish the first in a series of short video clips. Each clip contains commentary from Mike on one track from the new album ALL SOULS HILL.
Whether you've already got the album and are curious to glean additional insights into the songs, or whether you haven't got the album yet and want a taster of the songs and what they're about, we hope you'll enjoy these.
Today's video clip is for the title track ALL SOULS HILL:
INTERVIEW PLAYBACK
Playback is now available from Mike's recent interview with Jackie Brambles on Bauer's Greatest Hits Network for UK residents. Hear it, from 1 hour and 5 min, here.
SPRING SHOWS IN GERMANY 2023
The Waterboys will play the following shows in GERMANY in March 2023:
Fri 17 March - BOCHUM at RuhrCongress
Sat 18 March - HAMBURG at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle
Sun 19 March - BERLIN at C-Club
Tues 21 March - LEIPZIG at Haus Leipzig
Fri 24 March - STUTTGART at Liederhalle
Sat 25 March - MÜNCHEN at TonHalle
Tickets are on sale now here.
ONE A DAY ON PATREON
As part of this week's 'one-a-day' series on Patreon Mike has posted a fantastic 1985 BBC radio version of Behold The Sea/This Is the Sea. In the post Mike writes:
"I spent a lot of time over the past six months working on the box set and book about the recording of This Is The Sea, to come out, we think, sometime in late 2023 or the first half of 2024. The box gathers studio and live recordings, songwriting demos and radio broadcasts, and includes a huge amount of music that hasn't been released before. Among the items is this version of This Is the Sea, with alternate lyric and retitled Behold The Sea, from a BBC radio session recorded in November 1985.
This was the last recording to feature the old line-up of The Waterboys and will be the final track on the box...or almost. This is a slightly alternative version in which I asked mixing engineer Mick Glossop to mute my vocal for the second chorus because the preceding line is "heard nothing but silence silently saying to me..." - and I had the brainwave that the vocal should then indeed be silent. It was worth a shot though in the end the mix for radio included the vocal. That's the version that will close the box, but here, and here only, is the muted version."
The subscription price on The Waterboys Patreon page has been dropped. The new rate for all members is £5 / $7.50 per month, with all old posts accessible to new subscribers including over 170 tracks, many videos, writings & photos.
You can join at https://www.patreon.com/waterboys.
FREDDIE STEVENSON TO SUPPORT IN GLASGOW
Mike's friend and occasional songwriting partner Freddie Stevenson will play support when The Waterboys perform at Glasgow Kelvingrove Park on Friday August 5.
WIN A SIGNED COPY OF ALL SOULS HILL
For a chance to win one of three vinyl test pressings signed by Mike Scott, order ALL SOULS HILL from our official store here.
If you have already bought the album (on any format) from the store, you will be automatically entered into the competition.
PATREON - LOWER SUBSCRIPTION RATE
We've dropped the subscription price on The Waterboys Patreon page. The new rate for all members is £5 / $7.50 per month, with all old posts accessible to new subscribers = over 170 tracks, many videos, writings & photos. And there is lots of fun coming up, beginning next week when we'll be starting a one-a-day upload of a dozen or so unreleased vintage tracks.
Join us at https://www.patreon.com/waterboys.
RETURN OF THE SAXMAN
Original Waterboys member, sax and mandolin man Anthony "Anto" Thistlethwaite will return this summer for a selection of festivals. He will join the band for these dates:
Sat July 9 - Cornbury Festival, England. Tickets here.
Fri July 15 - Groot Verlof Festival, Leuven, Belgium. This is a free event.
Sat July 23 - Doonhame Festival, Dumfries, Scotland. Tickets here.
Sun July 24 - Forest Festival, Emo, nr Portlaoise, Ireland. Tickets here.
Fri Aug 12 - Revival Festival, Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland. Tickets here.
ALL SOULS HILL MASHUPS
Mike has done mashups of four tracks from ALL SOULS HILL: The Liar, Blackberry Girl, Once Were Brothers and In My Dreams.
These will be released on iTunes/Spotify/Tidal over the course of the summer but are available NOW from the Official Waterboys Store as part of an exclusive download edition of ALL SOULS HILL featuring the mashups for a special limited price of just £4.99 (or £3.99 if you have already purchased a copy of the album from the Official Store).
You can get the exclusive download containing the four mashup tracks here.
For access please follow the instructions below:
From your accounts page, go to ‘Your Downloads’.
Once on the ‘Your Downloads’ page scroll down to the product called ‘Waterboys All Souls Hill Digital Download + Exclusive Mashups’.
To the right in the same row is a button that says ‘Download All’.
When you hover over the button it is highlighted – CLICK the button that says ‘Download All’.
You should then see in your downloads folder a ZIP file that contains the MP3s.
ALL SOULS HILL - OUT NOW!
The new album ALL SOULS HILL is out today on worldwide streaming & download services, with additional formats coming available over the course of the summer.
You can order ALL SOULS HILL here.
GRANADA, SPAIN, 17 SEPT
The Waterboys will perform at Teatro del Generalife in GRANADA, SPAIN on "Somebody Might Wave Back" day, Saturday September 17. Tickets, priced 45€ / 50€ / 60€, are on sale now here.
PORTLAOISE, IRELAND 24 JULY
The Waterboys will headline FOREST FEST, Portlaoise, Co Laois, Ireland, 50 miles west of Dublin, on Sunday 24th July. Other acts performing on the night are Hothouse Flowers and Paddy Casey. Further info and tickets here.
PRE-SAVE ALL SOULS HILL
The new Waterboys album ALL SOULS HILL will be released on worldwide streaming & download services next Friday, 6th May. You can pre-save the album now on various streaming platforms here.
MIKE CONTRIBUTES TO UNCUT STONES TRIBUTE
Mike is one of the contributors to Uncut magazine's tribute to The Rolling Stones landmark album Exile On Main Street in its June 2022 issue, where you can read him waxing lyrical about the track Stop Breaking Down.
LEUVEN, BELGIUM 15 JULY
The Waterboys will rock the Het Groot Verlof Festival in LEUVEN, BELGIUM on Fri 15 July. And this is a free entry event! More information here.
MIKE & PAUL IN MILTON KEYNES, UK
Mike and Brother Paul will play an acoustic show at The Stables in MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND on Mon 20 June to celebrate the release of the new album ALL SOULS HILL. Tickets are in sale now here.
ADDITIONAL ACOUSTIC SHOWS WITH MIKE AND PAUL
Mike Scott and Brother Paul will play an acoustic show on Sun 15 May at The Queen in WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, USA. Tickets go in sale Fri 15 April at 10am local time here.
Also we've just heard Mike and Brother Paul will play a few acoustic shows in the UK, the first of which has been confirmed for Thurs 16 June in STROUD, ENGLAND at The Sub Rooms. Tickets are available here.
INFO FROM COOKING VINYL REGARDING ROLLOUT OF ALL SOULS HILL
Statement from Cooking Vinyl Records:
The Waterboys album 'All Souls Hill' will be released on worldwide streaming & download services on 6th May 2022.
Unfortunately due to ongoing global vinyl supply issues the Vinyl LP will not be available on this date and has the following retail release dates based on the time it takes to ship LPs around the world:
UK & Europe: LP release date 24th June
USA: LP release date 19th August
Additionally, due to a manufacturing error CD release everywhere EXCEPT UK & Ireland will see a delayed retail release date as follows:
Europe (except UK & Ireland): 20th May
USA: 17th June
Your patience and understanding of this situation is much appreciated and we apologise for the delays.
For orders via The Official Waterboys Store:
Release date for CD and exclusive cassette remains 6th May. LP will be shipped based on UK & Europe release date of 24th June (both Colour LP with bonus 7" and Black LP).
For bundle orders including an LP format placed before today's date (Wed 13th April) CD and cassette will be shipped based on 6th May release date at no additional cost.
For bundle orders placed from today, customers will be offered the choice of shipping everything with the LP based on the UK & Europe release date of 24th June OR to have CD or cassette sent earlier for the 6th May release date.
MIKE & PAUL IN FRANKLIN, TN & WOODSTOCK, NY
In addition to the previously announced shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Mike Scott & Brother Paul will play the following acoustic shows to coincide with the release of All Souls Hill. They are:
Thurs 12 May: The Franklin Theater in FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE with special guest Anana Kaye. Tickets are on sale now here.
Sat 14 May at Levon Helm Studios in WOODSTOCK, NEW YORK with special guest Anana Kaye. Tickets go on sale Fri 15 April at 10am local time here.
THE AMERICAN ADVENTURES OF MIKE AND PAUL
Mike Scott & Brother Paul will play a short run of acoustic shows in the US in May to coincide with the release of All Souls Hill. The first two to be announced are:
Mon 16 May at Gramercy Theatre in NEW YORK, NY. Tickets go on sale at 10am Fri 1 April here.
Wed 18 May at Music Hall Of Williamsburg in BROOKLYN, NY. Tickets go on sale at 10am Fri 1 April here.
The other shows will soon be announced.
'HERE WE GO AGAIN" - NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO TODAY
The Waterboys new single HERE WE GO AGAIN goes live today with [downloads, streaming] https://twb.lnk.to/ASH and a fabulous new psychedelic video. Mike wrote Here We Go Again with co-producer Simon Dine and says:
“It's the idea we’re living through a communal Groundhog Day. We’re all looking at the news but nobody seems to learn the lessons. As a culture we keep making the same mistakes. It’s a wry look at humans not being so smart – and yet I have good fun being one."
The video was filmed by Mike and edited by Duende Visions of Nashville. Backing vocals are by brilliant new UK singer Barny Fletcher. Here We Go Again is the third track to go live from the forthcoming album ALL SOULS HILL which drops May 6th.
You can purchase Here We Go again for download here.
GLASGOW SHOW - TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW
The Waterboys will return to play the Kelvingrove Bandstand in GLASGOW on Fri 5 August. Tickets, priced £37.50, go on sale Fri 25 March (TOMORROW) at 9am local time here.
STEVE STEPS BACK
It's with a heavy heart we announce that our great friend and musical hero Steve Wickham is retiring from Waterboys touring after an almost unbroken period of twenty-one years (not forgetting 5 more years in the 1980s). Steve will return for projects in the future but won't be part of the regular Waterboys touring line-up anymore. He's made the decision so he can concentrate on his own work. We wish him every success and look forward to when future Waterboys projects bring him back for more adventures. We'll keep you posted on what he gets up to. Steve has explained to us his reasons and Mike and Brother Paul have commented too:
Steve: "The downtime during covid changed my life and priorities. It reconnected me with my creativity, and I need to go deeper with this. In the recent years I'd become more of a legacy musician within the Waterboys, playing a big part in the older music onstage but less in the new music and recent albums. So I've decided to retire from Waterboys touring to concentrate on my own work and interests, which include my Sligo-based band No Crows, my art studies, solo music, theatre composing and things yet to come into focus. I still consider myself part of the Waterboys family and will return from time to time as projects require. My time as fiddler with The Waterboys, and specifically with Mike, has been a life defining and soulful experience and I've loved every moment of it. Mike is a great musician and writer and it's been a privilege and joy to work and share that space of high inspiration with him for so long."
Mike: "Steve's been part of the heart and soul of The Waterboys for so long it's gonna be strange working without him. But I know we're not finished yet; there'll be more at some stage, and it will be great. I always enjoy his extra-curricular activities so I'm looking forward to seeing how they develop. Most of all I want to thank him for his continued brotherhood, for enhancing my songs with his unique magic and for twenty-six years of great playing in the band."
Paul: "There are so many things I'll miss about being in a band with Steve. Among the top is his genuine kindness, his never-dimming crazy-beautiful infectious energy on stage, and the glowing energy we've shared on the stage night after night. I will continue channeling his Spirit through each and every performance of my own. And, while I join Mike and the rest of you all in wishing him an AMAZING new life and musical journey, I will still always look forward to new adventures in some way, place, and time! Thank you and epic love and best wishes from here Stevo~~~~!!"
We've put together a pdf of photos from Steve's long lifetime with The Waterboys, which you can download here. Photos were taken by Colm Henry, Philippe Herriau, Frank Miller, Cindy Palmano, Steve Gullick, Paul Mac Manus, Gavin Kelly, Howard Rankin and other Waterboys.
MIDDLEWICH FOLK N BOAT FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will headline Middlewich Folk N Boat Festival in MIDDLEWICH, CHESHIRE, ENGLAND on Fri 17 June. Tickets go on sale Mon 14 Feb at 9am local time here.
NEW DATE FOR NORTH END MUSIC FEST IN PORTUGAL
North End Music Festival in PORTO, PORTUGAL, formerly scheduled for 2021, has been rescheduled for 28th May 2022. Tickets purchased for 2021 will be honoured. Tickets, priced 50€, are on sale now from the box office on +351 253 034 541 or online here.
MIKE'S GUIDE TO THE WATERBOYS ON TIDAL
Mike has curated a 20-song Waterboys playlist on TIDAL called Mike Scott's Guide To The Waterboys. He says, "It'll work as an introduction if you know someone you think will dig us, or will work as a jam for you. Play it loud!" You can access it here.
NEW SONG & VIDEO: ALL SOULS HILL
Today The Waterboys drop the video for ALL SOULS HILL, the title track to their new album, out 6th May on Cooking Vinyl. The video is yet another great collaboration with Duende Visions out of Nashville.
Mike Scott says, "ALL SOULS HILL is a fast-forward blast through human history, from mythical beginnings to coruscating present."
The video features classical imagery from the New York Public Library's archive, each painting illustrating a couplet from the incredible lyric of this string-led upbeat masterpiece. You can watch it here.
SPRING SHOW AT THE HAGUE
The Waterboys will play an outdoor show at the Zuiderparktheater- THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS on Wed 25 May as part of ZUIDERPARK LIVE. Tickets go on sale Fri 4 February at 11AM local time here.
PANDORA NEW CLASSICS PLAYLIST
Pandora has added the title track of the forthcoming Waterboys album ALL SOULS HILL to the #6 spot on its New Classics Playlist. You can hear it here.
Pandora has also created a new playlist called The Waterboys A to Z here.
ALL SOULS HILL will be released on Fri 6 May (delayed from April due to covid supply chain issues) and can be pre-ordered here.
NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE OF MAGNIFICENT SEVEN DELAYED
Due to the delays caused by covid and sea freight, the date for the North America release of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN has unfortunately been moved to 21st January. We apologies for the disappointment this will cause to Waterboys fans in the US and Canada; the situation is out of our hands. We hope the box set and book will be worth the extra wait. Release everywhere else will be December 3 as previously announced.
CORNBURY FESTIVAL 2022
The Waterboys will be at the fabulous CORNBURY FESTIVAL at Great Tew Park in OXFORDSHIRE, UK on Sat 9 July.
You can get your tickets here.
NEW ALBUM + SONG VIDEO - ALL SOULS HILL & THE LIAR
The Waterboys will release their 15th studio album entitled ALL SOULS HILL on 22 April 2022 via Cooking Vinyl Records.
The first track & video available for preview is THE LIAR, a creeping groove-laden masterpiece, taking a powerful, descriptive swipe at Trump and the lies and deceit that infest those in power. The video, featuring a haunting image by satirical collagist Cold War Steve, amplifies its subject matter in dark eerie fashion. Mike Scott says, "THE LIAR is a comment on recent and still-current events, and both song and video speak for themselves. We are proud to work on this video with the brilliant Cold War Steve ". You can access THE LIAR here.
All Souls Hill is nine tracks of Waterboys brilliance, mixed by Scott himself. All Souls Hill is current, on the money social commentary, but with an air of hope.
"All Souls Hill is mysterious, otherworldly, tune-banging and emotional,” comments Mike. “I made it with Waterboys old and new and my co-producer, brilliant sonic guru Simon Dine. Its nine songs tell stories, explore dreamscapes, and cast a cold but hopeful eye on the human drama."
You can pre-order ALL SOULS HILL here.
WICKHAM FESTIVAL 2022
The Waterboys will headline at WICKHAM FESTIVAL in WICKHAM, near FAREHAM HAMPSHIRE, UK on Sun 7 August. Tickets, priced £75 (day), £150 (weekend), are on sale now here.
VISOR FEST DATE CORRECTION
The dates for VISOR FESTIVAL 2022 in MURCIA, SPAIN, where The Waterboys will appear, are 16-17 Sept, rather than 17-18 Sept as previously announced. Additional information, line up and tickets are available here.
VISOR FESTIVAL, SPAIN 2022
The Waterboys will play at VISOR FESTIVAL in MURCIA, SPAIN which takes place 17-18 September 2022 (day breakdown to follow when available). Additional information, line up and tickets are available here.
COLIN'S MUSIC
Room To Roam era Waterboy Colin Blakey's current band ORCHESTRA MACAROON will release a new album HONG KONG TO SLIGO on 8 November. HONG KONG TO SLIGO is up on Bandcamp for pre-release CD & download orders here.
Steve Wickham, Sharon Shannon and Trevor Hutchinson all contribute to the album.
Previous Orchestra Macaroon album BREAKFAST IN BALQUHIDDER is available for listening here.
And THE ROKE, which Colin was recording/producing around the time of ‘Fishermans Blues', is available for listening here.
THREE FABULOUS FICTIONAL WATERBOYS ALBUMS
Last week Mike wrote on The Waterboys Patreon page about what might have happened if Fisherman's Blues had been released as three separate albums in 1986, 87 & 88. He created fictional covers, tracklists and commentary for each of the three, and Patreon subscriber Ian Rose turned them into Spotify playlists. The three albums are:
FISHERMAN'S BLUES
HIGHER IN TIME
SPIDDAL HOUSE
click on the titles to access the playlists.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5hvTT7aYdG7ANVKJJ3wujP?si=HkDagE0gS_2ZQrVhnnl9uQ&dl_branch=1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7JSKbnTX2cnP0fzAsm2tHh?si=Fn7KDpfwQxmJHMkhCMEhQw&dl_branch=1
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6fPTlEkmpmSSeYYxubHHoK?si=CdX8BoxfQb-OmrIpSk90aQ&dl_branch=1&nd=1
You can become a Waterboys Patreon here.
SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWS 2022
The two show dates scheduled for 2021 in CAPE TOWN and JOHANNESBURG have been pushed forward to November 2022. The new dates are:
Fri 25 Nov at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, CAPE TOWN. Tickets, priced R595, are on sale now at the box office on 086 1999 710 or online here.
Sun 27 Nov at Casalinga Organic Farm, JOHANNESBURG. Tickets, priced R495, are on sale now from the box office on 086 1234 695 or online here.
PHOTOS FROM MOSELEY PARK, 3 SEPT
Photographer Jolyon Holroyd was at hand to take some photos at the Moseley Park Festival where The Waterboys played on 3 September. 4 of them are self-explanatory and the fifth is a shot of keyboard player James Hallawell and his musician son, Luke, backstage.
PRE-ORDER YOUR MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BOX SET & BOOK NOW!
Attention Waterboys aficionados! On 3 December 2021 Chrysalis will release ‘The Magnificent Seven: The Waterboys' Fisherman’s Blues/Room To Roam Band, 1989-1990’ - a 5CD + 1DVD box set chronicling the incredibly creative 15-month period for the band; the days of the legendary seven-piece line-up that included Sharon Shannon, Colin Blakey and Noel Bridgeman. Published simultaneously is an incredible 240 page book of the same name, in large size hardback format, written by Mike Scott including contributions from all the band members and a vast collection of photos, lore and artefacts.
The Magnificent Seven is available in the following editions:
CD/DVD/Hardback Book Super Deluxe Edition
CDs + DVD Clamshell Box Edition
2LP half-speed master of the original album.
The five CDs include 86 rare and previously unreleased tracks, 27 of them live, many studio outtakes, demos and informal sessions. This amazingly rich anthology of a fascinating and unique period in Waterboys history is not be missed and makes the perfect holiday gift for any collector or fan. You can pre-order it now here.
HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU STREAMING
As some of you already know, The Waterboys released a newly remixed version of their classic How Long Will I Love You this year for record store day . Mike says, "I resang and remixed this Waterboys oldie till it rang to the heavens." The new version is now available for streaming here.
DAUWPOP FESTIVAL CANCELLATION
HELLENDOORN’S DAUWPOP FESTIVAL in THE NETHERLANDS, where The Waterboys were scheduled to perform on 4 Sept, has been cancelled. No decision has yet been made about rescheduling in 2022 but we will let folks know if it happens. You can keep abreast of any further developments at the festival website here.
FOMHAIR FESTIVAL , DONEGAL
The Waterboys will play at the Big Top, FOMHAIR FESTIVAL in Gweedore, DONEGAL, Ireland on Sun 31 October. Tickets, priced €44.90, are on sale now here.
BROTHER PAUL AND THE INSTRUMENTAL ALPHABET
Need some groovy children's tunes for your kids or grandkids? Look no further! Brother Paul has struck again, this time recording an album especially for kids in collaboration with LA artist Vivien Cooper.
"Bringing to life the characters in the rhyming, rhythmic alphabet adventure created by L.A. poet-lyricist/voice artist, Vivien Cooper, Bro Paul creates an unforgettable musical journey. Weaving soul, jazz and blues into a tapestry of groovy sounds and storytelling..."
You can read and watch more here where you may hear a voice you recognise introducing the project.
DAWES VERSION OF FISHERMAN'S BLUES
Los Angeles band DAWES has re-released their gorgeous version of Fisherman’s Blues as their latest single. Mike Scott says, "Love, love love this version of Fisherman's Blues." Proceeds will go to benefit Nothing But Nets, fighting to end malaria, which you can read about here.
You can read more about the single itself as well as hear the single here.
The single can be bought here.
BLACK DEER FESTIVAL 2022
HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU 2021 - RECORD STORE DAY RELEASE
The Waterboys release a newly remixed version of their classic How Long Will I Love You as a vinyl 12" for record store day today (Sat 17 July). Mike says, "I resang and remixed this Waterboys oldie till it rang to the heavens. Tomorrow you can hear it plus its 3 strange 'b' sides, available nowhere else, one of which is the rare occurrence of me singing a Captain Beefheart song."
You can access the details here.
You can search for your nearest independent record store here.
You can visit the official Record Store Day website here.
#recordstoreday #TheWaterboys
THE WATERBOYS APPEARANCE AT WICKHAM FESTIVAL POSTPONED
Due to the current uncertainty of international travel, with one band member required to travel from the US, The Waterboys have postponed their 8 Aug 2021 appearance at England's WICKHAM FESTIVAL until 2022. The festival itself is still on and you can get tickets plus additional information here.
The following shows will go forward as planned:
Sat 14 Aug - Audley End Stately Home, SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX UK with Van Morrison.
Tickets available here.
Fri 3 Sept - Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, Moseley Park, BIRMINGHAM UK
Tickets available here.
Sat 4 Sept- Dauwpop Festival, HELLENDOORN THE NETHERLANDS.
Tickets available here.
REVIVAL FESTIVAL, IRELAND, RESCHEDULED
Revival Festival in Listowel, Ireland, which was to take place this August, has been rescheduled for next year. It will take place Fri 12 & Sat 13 August 2022 in Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland, with The Waterboys headlining Fri 12 Aug. All tickets purchased for Revival 2020 & 2021 will be honoured in 2022. Tickets are on sale now here.
(IN REFERENCE TO) THE GIRL IN THE SWING
Indie band SILVERLODE from Leeds, UK have recorded a song called (IN REFERENCE TO) THE GIRL IN THE SWING which, not surprisingly, is in reference to The Girl In The Swing which appeared on the first Waterboys album, from which it also quotes. You can hear the song as well as read the lyrics here.
You can hear the original Waterboys song here and read the original lyrics by scrolling down on the right side of your screen here.
Find out more about Silverlode here.
DAUWPOP FESTIVAL, NETHERLANDS
MIKE'S TOP 100
Looking for a solid playlist? Recently Mike Scott’s pal David Bates asked Mike to compile a list of his 100 favourite records of all time. David then turned it into a playlist on Spotify, which you can access here. The 100 records aren't in order of preference; Mike submitted a list and David did the track order.
You can also check out the other people Dave has done fave 100 records playlists for here.
SHOW ADDED IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
The Waterboys will return to Aberdeen's Music Hall on Thurs 28 Oct. Tickets, priced £38.50, go on sale Fri 28 May from the box office on 0844 844 0444 or online here.
SHOW ADDED IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
The Waterboys will return to Aberdeen's Music Hall on Thurs 28 Oct. Tickets, priced £38.50, go on sale Fri 28 May from the box office on 0844 844 0444 or online here.
RETURN TO GLASGOW BARROWLAND
We are very delighted to announce The Waterboys will return to Scotland for two shows at Barrowland Ballroom in GLASGOW on Fri 29 & Sat 30 Oct. Tickets, priced £38.50, go on sale Fri 28 May from the box office on 0844 844 0444 or online here.
Hope to see you there!
BROTHER PAUL'S PURPLE RAIN & ONLY LOVE VIDEOS
As we move ever closer to the end of the live music drought Brother Paul has been keeping busy and is thrilled to announce not one, but TWO video premieres this weekend!
The first video, which will premiere Sat 22 May at 12pm CST (3pm EST/6pm GMT), features The Waterboys performing a stunning 8 plus minute version of Prince’s Purple Rain at no other venue than First Avenue in Minneapolis. The video was shot around the same time that Prince was performing The Whole Of The Moon live at his shows and The Waterboys wished to repay the compliment. It features legendary Swamper David Hood on bass, who prior to touring with The Waterboys had not toured since 1975 with Traffic. The video will go live here.
This should get you all warmed up for the second video, which will premiere Sun 23 May at 12pm CST (3pm EST/6pm GMT). This is Brother Paul’s second video for Musicares entitled Only Love. Musicares provides preventative recovery and emergency assistance to safeguard the well-being of music people in need. As you can imagine access to support is vital during this period when so many people in the music industry have been impacted by Covid19. You can check out their website here.
Only Love will go live here.
OR you can use the convenient end card on the Purple Rain video to click straight through once Only Love goes live. Brother Paul has also graciously added an end card that allows you to hear Prince’s live version of The Whole Of The Moon for anyone who is interested in checking it out.
HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU 2021 - RECORD STORE DAY
The Waterboys will release a newly remixed version of their classic How Long Will I Love You as a vinyl 12" for record store day on Sat 17 July. "I re-sang it, restored Trevor's bass which wasn't used on the original, and generally vibed it up. It sounds fabulous," says Mike Scott. How Long Will I Love You 2021 is taken from the forthcoming Room To Roam box set, of which we will have full details soon. The 12" single also includes 3 exclusive tracks from the Room To Roam period that won't be on the box. You can access the details here.
You can search for your nearest independent record store here.
You can visit the official Record Store Day website here.
#recordstoreday #TheWaterboys
THE WATERBOY BY YOU AM I
Australian band You Am I have released THE WATERBOY, the first single from their forthcoming album The Lives Of Others, a song about Mike Scott, his band, his music, and how it impacts the narrator of the song, sitting in his car listening to I Can See Elvis. You can watch the video and hear the track here.
The Lives Of Others drops 14 May and you can pre-order it now here.
TOM JONES COVERS THIS IS THE SEA
FIONA APPLE'S LIVE WHOLE OF THE MOON VIDEO
As some of you may recall, Fiona Apple brilliantly covered The Whole Of The Moon for the 2019 finale of TV series The Affair. Her cover is fantastic. You can witness her recording it live in the studio here.
DATE CHANGE FOR SHOW IN PORTO, PORTUGAL
The Waterboys show for North Music Festival in PORTO, PORTUGAL has been moved from Sat 22 May to Sat 2 Oct. Tickets, priced 50€, are on sale now from the box office on +351 253 034 541 or online here.
SWINDON, ENGLAND
All things being well The Waterboys will play at Mecca in Swindon UK on Wed 13th Oct 2021 as part of their UK tour. Tickets, priced £26.50 / £31.50 / £35.50, go on sale Mon 15th March at 9:30am here.
THE WATERBOYS AT WICKHAM FESTIVAL 2021
The Waterboys were originally scheduled to appear at the WICKHAM FESTIVAL, held in Wickham, Hampshire, UK in 2020. This event has now been rescheduled for 2021 and all things being well given the current pandemic, will headline Sun 8 August. Tickets and additional information are available here.
DECEMBER'S UPLOADS ON PATREON
Santa has been busy delivering Waterboys goodies on Patreon this month which already include:
This Is The Sea (live in Toronto 1989)
The Wyndy Wyndy Road (live 2004 with Sharon Shannon)
Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (1987 rehearsal)
This Land Is Your Land (live in Galway, 1989)
A Man Is In Love (songwriting demo, 1989)
Full 10-minute encore with Scottish Fiddlers Of Los Angeles, LA, 1989
Meet Me At The Station (1989 studio version)
- each with accompanying text by Mike Scott
For a universal monthly fee of £12 a month subscribers receive exclusive and behind the scenes material including at least 4 unreleased tracks each month plus videos, stories, texts and photos - both current and from the band's huge archive. To join the fun subscribe here.
VISOR FEST, SEPTEMBER 2021
The Waterboys will play at Auditori Julio Iglesias in BENIDORM, SPAIN on Fri 17 Sept 2021 as part of VISOR FEST. Tickets priced 55€ (early bird tickets) and 75€ (general sales) are on sale now here.
WORLD CAFE PLAYBACK
Mike's appearance on National Public Radio's World Cafe has been archived. It includes unique home studio recordings of DENNIS HOPPER, THE WHOLE OF THE MOON, BLEEKER BOB'S- a new song about New York's legendary record store- as well as a performance of POSTCARD FROM THE CELTIC DREAMTIME not included in the original broadcast, all specially recorded for World Cafe. You can replay it here.
MIKE'S SPECIAL RECORDING FOR NPR'S WORLD CAFE
Mike Scott has recorded an interview and exclusive songs for National Public Radio's WORLD CAFE which will air at 10pm GMT / 5pm ET/ / 2pm PT on Wed 16 Dec. Included are unique home studio recordings of DENNIS HOPPER, THE WHOLE OF THE MOON and a new song titled BLEEKER BOB'S, about the legendary New York record store, all specially made for World Cafe.
The archived segment for the web, available from time of broadcast here, will include all the above plus a specially recorded performance of POSTCARD FROM THE CELTIC DREAMTIME.
PLEASE NOTE that World Cafe will not air the session on Philadelphia's WXPN on 16 Dec due to their 2020 Countdown. The Waterboys episode will air as scheduled on all other affiliate stations.
I LOVE LIVE CROWDFUNDER & MEMORABILIA PRIZE DRAW
Love and miss live music? Yep, us too. As those of you who frequent shows realise, it takes many hands and a lot of hard work to make live music possible. We see the performers on stage giving it their all, but behind the scenes the crew and technicians are working every bit as hard to make the magic happen. During these trying times, these unsung heroes who have lost incomes due to coronavirus need our support to keep them going until live shows get off the ground once more.
The I LOVE LIVE memorabilia prize draw, arranged through Crowdfunder and Stagehand Charity, is your chance to contribute. For a donation of £5 you can show your support as well as be entered to win a copy of a set of lyrics to THE WHOLE OF THE MOON, FISHERMAN'S BLUES and HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU each handwritten and signed by Mike Scott. The drawing for the prize will take place on Thurs 17 Dec at 6pm GMT and you can enter here.
ROOM TO ROAM LISTENING PARTY REPLAY
Mike and Steve joined in Tim's Twitter Listening Party with host Tim Burgess on Sunday for a communal listen and live-tweet session to the great Waterboys album ROOM TO ROAM. If you missed it you can replay it by listening to the album while following all the tweets here.
TICKET SALES FOR MOSELEY FOLK & ARTS FESTIVAL
As previously announced The Moseley Folk & Arts Festival in Moseley Park, BIRMINGHAM, UK, originally slated to run Fri 4 Sept-Sun 6 Sept 2020, has been postponed and will now take place, all being well, from Fri 3 Sept-Sun 5 Sept 2021. The Waterboys will headline on Fri 3 Sept. This is a magical small festival with a lot of character. All tickets purchased for 2020 will be honoured in 2021. Tickets for 2021 are on sale now here.
UK TOUR DATES FOR OCTOBER 2021
All being well, The Waterboys will tour England and Wales next October, dates below. Scottish and Irish dates will be announced shortly.
Fri 8 OCT IPSWICH Regent Theatre
01473 433 100 ipswichregent.com.
Sat 9 OCT YORK Barbican
0203 356 5441 yorkbarbican.co.uk
Sun 10 OCT SHEFFIELD City Hall
0114 278 9789 sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
Tue 12 OCT STOCKTON Globe
0843 904 0071 stocktonglobe.co.uk
Thur 14 OCT BEXHILL De La Warr Pavilion
01424 229 111 dlwp.com
Sat 16 OCT BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion Theatre
0300 500 0595 bhlivetickets.co.uk
Sun 17 OCT CARDIFF St David's Hall
02920 878 444 stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
Tue 19 OCT MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
0161 907 9000 bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Thur 21 OCT GUILDFORD G Live
01483 369 350 glive.co.uk
Rescheduled from 17 Oct 2020 – all tickets remain valid
Fri 22 OCT BATH Forum
0844 888 9991 bathforum.co.uk
Sat 23 OCT LONDON Roundhouse
0300 6789 222 roundhouse.org.uk
Mon 25 OCT LIVERPOOL Philharmonic
0151 709 3789 liverpoolphil.com
Wed 27 OCT GATESHEAD Sage
0191 443 4661 sagegateshead.com
General sales for tickets, priced £39.50, £36 (except for Guildford & Bexhill £39,50, London £45 & £42.50) begin Fri 23 Oct at 10am here.
SOUTH AFRICAN SHOWS POSTPONED TO 2021
In the interest of health and safety two show dates originally scheduled for 2020 in CAPE TOWN and JOHANNESBURG have been pushed forward to November 2021. The new dates are:
Fri 26 Nov at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, CAPE TOWN. Tickets, priced R595, are on sale now at the box office on 086 1999 710 or online here.
Sun 28 Nov at Casalinga Organic Farm, JOHANNESBURG. Tickets, priced R495, are on sale now from the box office on 086 1234 695 or online here.
WHY SHOULD I LOVE YOU VIDEO RELEASE
The last in a gorgeous run of videos from Good Luck, Seeker is released today! It is for WHY SHOULD I LOVE YOU, the fantastic Kate Bush cover. It's been rocked-up in Waterboys style, and illuminated by a romantic video.
Mike Scott explains, "The video was produced by Dutch film-maker Robert Jan Westdijk from photos of my wife Megumi Igarashi during our courtship in Japan. Through the lockdown Megumi has been in Tokyo and we're having a very socially-distanced relationship right now. We're OK but of course we miss each other. Knowing we were apart, Robert made the video as a gift for us."
Watch it here.
If you haven’t already, you can check out all the videos from Good Luck, Seeker on the official Waterboys YouTube channel here.
You can order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER here.
ROOM TO ROAM 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON PATREON
ROOM TO ROAM turned 30 on 2nd October. To mark this, Mike has been posting a large number of tracks and other related items to The Waterboys Patreon account. These include alternate takes, rough mixes, unreleased songs, jam sessions, photos, stories, tune manuscripts and several videos including a 20-minute compilation of Mike's home movies made during the recording of the album at Spiddal House.
You can subscribe here.
TIM'S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY FOR ROOM TO ROAM
After recent listening parties for Fisherman's Blues, This Is The Sea, A Pagan Place and Good Luck, Seeker a date has been announced for a ROOM TO ROAM listening party on Sun 15 November at 9pm GMT (4pm EST, 1pm PST).
Follow Mike Scott here and host Tim Burgess on Twitter here.
Stream or play ROOM TO ROAM starting at 9pm when the first tweet goes out (Mike or Tim will post it) so that everyone is listening at the same time. Then follow the tweets in real time and tweet your own comments as well, using the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty. This is an opportunity to share memories, ask questions and learn about the history of the music on ROOM TO ROAM.
We are hoping that Steve Wickham and Anto Thistlethwaite will also be along for the ride. Follow Steve here and Anto here.
BLACK DEER FESTIVAL UPDATE
If all is well, The Waterboys will appear at next summer’s Black Deer Festival on Sat 19 June 2021. The festival will be held at Eridge Park, KENT, UK and runs from 18th to 20th of June 2021. Additional artists have recently been announced with more to come. Get your tickets here.
All tickets purchased for 2020's cancelled festival will be honoured in 2021.
(YOU'VE GOT TO) KISS A FROG OR TWO - VIDEO GOES LIVE TODAY
Today The Waterboys release another ace video, this time for (YOU'VE GOT TO) KISS A FROG OR TWO from the album Good Luck, Seeker.
The video stars Zeenie Summers, some gentleman Frogs, a wizard and a handsome prince. Mike Scott directed the video and it was beautifully edited by Anana Kaye and Irakli Gabriel of Duende Visions of Nashville
Mike says, "(You've Got To) Kiss A Frog Or Two is influenced by the great early 70s, that sexy 'midnight soul' sound. Issac Hayes, Sly Stone and Marvin are all in there. Our keyboard man, Brother Paul, who produced the instrumental track, worked in Memphis and played with Issac Hayes and legends like Ann Peebles and Wilson Pickett, so he knows what he's doing. We're blessed to have him for what he brings to our sound."
Watch it here.
PATREON - STREAMS OF THIS IS THE SEA RARITIES
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of This Is The Sea, Mike has been uploading previously unheard tracks from the album sessions to our Patreon page. The uploads so far include a studio version of Dylan's "Death Is Not The End", an alternate mix of "This Is The Sea", a rehearsal of "The Pan Within", a comedic spoof of Old MacDonald and a pdf of hi resolution images from Mike's famous songwriting Black Books. All of these, plus around three dozen already uploaded tracks, films and items, can be accessed by ALL subscribers to the Patreon page. There is one tier for everyone, and it costs £10 + vat per month. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! To subscribe click here.
NEW VIDEO: THE GOLDEN WORK
For the second Monday in our ‘Video Mondays’ series, today The Waterboys release their video for THE GOLDEN WORK from the new album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER. The film is a stately-yet-funky montage of buildings and sky scenes shot by Mike during a car ride in Tokyo last year and edited and mashed by Anana Kaye of Duenda Visions. You can view it here.
We’ll be back with another new video next Monday. Meanwhile if you don’t have it yet, order your copy of GOOD LUCK, SEEKER here.
Also Mike has been posting unreleased tracks and background stories that deepen the experience of the new album every day for the last week on Patreon. You can join us on Patreon for £10 plus VAT each month at https://t.co/1PMzup9WG6.
GOOD LUCK, SEEKER LISTENING PARTY REPLAY
Mike, Steve, Brother Paul, Ralph and James Hallawell all joined Tim's Twitter Listening Party last night with host Tim Burgess for a communal listen and live-tweet session to the new Waterboys album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER. If you missed it you can replay it by listening to the album while following all the tweets here.
TIM'S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY FOR GOOD LUCK, SEEKER TONIGHT
This is your friendly reminder that Tim's Twitter Listening Party for the new Waterboys album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER happens TONIGHT, Thurs 27 Aug at 9pm BST (4pm EST, 1pm PST).
If you haven't participated in Tim’s Twitter Listening Party, it is a collective fan community listening experience. Here is how it works:
Follow Mike Scott here and host Tim Burgess on Twitter here.
Stream or play GOOD LUCK, SEEKER starting at 9pm when the first tweet goes out (Mike or Tim will post it) so that everyone is listening at the same time. Then follow the tweets in real time and tweet your own comments as well, using the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty.
Steve Wickham, Brother Paul and Ralph Salmins will also join in the fun and discovery.
VIDEO MONDAYS - FREAK STREET
The Waterboys will be releasing videos for tracks from GOOD LUCK, SEEKER for the next 3 Mondays beginning today with FREAK STREET.
The video was made by Mike and his friends at Duende Visions. The cat in the cap is Irakli Gabriel who's voice can be heard speaking at certain points in the song. The track features bass by David Hood from Muscle Shoals (and a Waterboy 2014-16). Ralph plays drums, Steve plays police siren on his fiddle and Brother Paul plays the outro synth. The video scenes featuring Mike were filmed in his studio, Puck Towers, in Dublin.
View it here.
This marks the 6th video release from the new album so far to go along with
My Wanderings In The Weary Land here.
The Soul Singer here.
Low Down In The Broom here.
Postcard From The Celtic Dreamtime here.
Dennis Hopper here.
Also on Patreon for the next 2 weeks, Mike will be posting the stories of the tracks on Good Luck, Seeker with music - instrumentals, alt versions, demos and oddities - to illuminate the background of each song. You can subscribe here.
GOOD LUCK, SEEKER & DENNIS HOPPER
GOOD LUCK, SEEKER is out today! If you haven't pre-ordered you can find it here.
It features My Wanderings In The Weary Land, The Soul Singer, Low Down In The Broom, Postcard From The Celtic Dreamtime and 10 more sensational tracks. And to celebrate the album's arrival, today the band also release the video for track 4, DENNIS HOPPER, a psychedelic tribute to the legendary actor, rebel and artist of that name, which you can view here.
The video stars Mike Scott and is edited by Duende Visions of Nashville. The Waterboys will be issuing 3 more videos on the next three "Video Mondays", starting with FREAK STREET on August 24th. We'll email you a reminder!
Meanwhile at our Patreon, Mike will be uploading some special Good Luck, Seeker-related material, including music, over the weekend. To subscribe visit here.
TIM'S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY FOR GOOD LUCK, SEEKER
After the recent Listening Parties for Fisherman's Blues, This Is The Sea and A Pagan place, we are excited to announce a Listening Party for new Waterboys album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER on Thursday 27 Aug at 9pm BST (4pm EST, 1pm PST), 6 days after the album’s release this Friday, 21 Aug.
For those of you who've not participated in Tim’s Twitter Listening Party, it is a community listening experience. Here is how it works:
Follow Mike Scott here and host Tim Burgess on Twitter here. For full transmission, follow @stevewickham @ralphsalmins and @paulbrownap63 as well - they will also participate.
Stream or play GOOD LUCK, SEEKER starting at 9pm when the first tweet goes out (Mike or Tim will post it) so that everyone is listening at the same time. Then follow the tweets in real time and tweet your comments as well, using the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty.
Mike, Steve, Ralph and Brother Paul will discuss, lend insight & information, answer your questions and share in the discovery and fun of GOOD LUCK, SEEKER, which you can pre-order here.
SIGNED CDS
Signed copies of the new Waterboys album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER are now available for pre-order from Newbury Comics here.
Good Luck, Seeker comes out 21 Aug.
THE WATERBOYS ON PATREON
This week subscribers to The WATERBOYS PATREON PAGE accessed:
3 behind the scenes videos including Too Close To Heaven (8-minute soundcheck version), 12 unreleased tracks totalling 57 minutes, 3 stories and an intimate photographic tour of Mike's studio.
You can join for £10 plus VAT each month here.
WATERBOYS PATREON PAGE
We're thrilled to announce that The Waterboys launch their Patreon page today - an exciting new way to interact with the band. For a universal monthly fee of £10 a month subscribers will receive exclusive and behind the scenes material including at least 4 unreleased tracks each month plus videos, stories, texts and photos - both current and from the band's huge archive . New subscribers will immediately access a start-off "motherlode" of 11 fabulous unreleased tracks, a photo exploration of Mike's home studio, two exclusive videos and two stories - one in text form, the other as audio. New material will be getting posted weekly. Says Mike: "Patreon is a way for us to share with fans the music that might not make it onto the records: jams, demos, strange songs, experiments. We also have a lot of great live recordings that have never been made public. We'll be posting these too. I also have ideas for video content and other stuff. It's gonna be a lot of fun." To subscribe click here.
And Mike has posted a short and entertaining video inviting fans to join.
NEW VIDEO TODAY - POSTCARD FROM THE CELTIC DREAMTIME
The fourth track from Good Luck, Seeker drops today and it's the magnificent spoken word piece POSTCARD FROM THE CELTIC DREAMTIME, Mike Scott's lyrical evocation of his long-ago days in the west of Ireland, set to a shifting soundtrack of grooves and vibes that conjure the elemental landscape of that part of the world. The video is a beautiful aerial film, shot by Steve Wickham and edited with his son Tom, showing the Aran Islands in all their wild glory. View it here. Good Luck, Seeker itself drops on 21st August.
A PAGAN PLACE - LISTENING PARTY REPLAY
Mike Scott, Anto Thistlethwaite and many Waterpeople joined Tim's Twitter Listening Party on Sunday with host Tim Burgess for a communal listen and live-tweet session to the A PAGAN PLACE album. If you missed it you can replay it by listening to the album while following all the tweets here.
TIM'S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY FOR A PAGAN PLACE
After recent Listening Parties for Fisherman's Blues and This Is The Sea, we are delighted to announce a Listening Party for A PAGAN PLACE on Sun 2 Aug at 9pm BST (4pm EST, 1pm PST).
For those of you who've not participated in Tim’s Twitter Listening Party here is how it works:
Follow Mike Scott here and host Tim Burgess on Twitter here. You can also follow Anto Thistlethwaite, who will be attending here.
Stream or play A PAGAN PLACE starting at 9pm when the first tweet goes out (Mike or Tim will post it) so that everyone is listening at the same time. Then follow the tweets in real time and tweet your own comments as well, using the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty.
LOW DOWN IN THE BROOM - VIDEO PREMIERE TODAY
Today The Waterboys release the video for the gorgeous LOW DOWN IN THE BROOM, third track from the forthcoming album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER.
The song is an old British folk tune, retooled, rewritten and primped-up by Mike Scott. The video was filmed in Nashville by Mike's friends Anana and Irakli of Duende Visions. View the video here.
LOW DOWN IN THE BROOM follows the epic manifesto MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND, which you can access here and horn-driven stomping single THE SOUL SINGER, available here.
Pre-order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER, to be released 21 Aug here and receive all three tracks straight away.
THIS IS THE SEA - TWITTER LISTENING PARTY REPLAY
Mike joined Tim's Twitter Listening Party on Sunday with host Tim Burgess for a communal listen and live-tweet to the THIS IS THE SEA album. Mike shared stories, influences, photos, lyric sheets and much more. If you missed it you can replay the experience by listening to the album while following all the tweets here.
Mike live-tweets the start of the album so you'll know when to press "play" :-)
NEW VIDEO 'THE SOUL SINGER' - LIVE NOW
The video for the ace new Waterboys single THE SOUL SINGER is live here.
If you missed THE SOUL SINGER premiere and chat with Mike on BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball Breakfast show Tuesday morning you can listen back from 2hrs 9 mins here.
THE SOUL SINGER is available to stream and download NOW. Receive it, as well as the first track release from the new album, MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND instantly when you pre-order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER, out 21 Aug, from the The Waterboys Official Store, iTunes or Amazon Digital here.
#TheWaterboys #GoodLuckSeeker
THE SOUL SINGER ON BBC RADIO 2'S ZOE BALL BREAKFAST SHOW
BBC Radio 2 will be premiering the new Waterboys single THE SOUL SINGER from the forthcoming album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER on the Zoe Ball Breakfast show tomorrow morning, Tues 14 July, after 8am BST. The broadcast will also include a chat with Mike about the song and album. Tune in here.
THE SOUL SINGER video, described by Mike as ‘an amazing psychedelic video mash-up’, will go live on YouTube Wed 15 July at 9am BST here.
Simply click the reminder bell symbol on YouTube to be alerted when the video is about to go live.
THE SOUL SINGER will be available to stream and download from Wed 15 July. Receive it, as well as the first track release from the new album, MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND when you pre-order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER, out 21 Aug, from the The Waterboys Official Store, iTunes or Amazon Digital here.
NEW SINGLE "THE SOUL SINGER" VIDEO PREMIERE
GET READY! The Waterboys will release their new single THE SOUL SINGER from the forthcoming album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER next week! The song's video, described by Mike as "an amazing psychedelic video mash-up" will go live here on Wed 15 July at 9am BST. Simply click the reminder bell symbol on YouTube to be alerted when the video is about to go live.
The Soul Singer follows the first track, MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND, which premiered last month and is still available for listening here.
You can pre-order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER, to be released 21 Aug here.
'WATERBOYS MASHUP TRACK ON NEW SPACEBOMB COMPILATION
Mike Scott has concocted a fantastic new instrumental mash-up of Love Walks In from 2017's Waterboys album Out Of All This Blue. Titled AND THEN YOU WALKED IN THE ROOM, it is included on a new compilation of rarities titled A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME: SPACEBOMB FAMILY RARITIES, out today, Friday 3rd July, on American indie label Spacebomb. The track features strings arranged by Spacebomb musical director and house band member Trey Pollard, and this will be its only release. Other artists on the 20-track album include Matthew E White, Charlie Fink, Angelica Garcia and the Spacebomb House Band. It can be purchased here.
'GOOD LUCK, SEEKER' POSTER BY BC NOWLIN
The cover of new Waterboys album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER is a painting called Taosena Sky by the great American southwestern artist BC Nowlin - a print of which has hung on the wall of Mike Scott's various music rooms for almost 30 years. We're delighted to announce that BC has now created a beautiful print poster of Taosena Sky, measuring 24x36 inches, each signed personally by BC, for Waterboys fans who wish to own it, and it can be purchased for the special price of $50 here.
FISHERMAN'S BLUES - TWITTER LISTENING PARTY REPLAY
The first day of Fisherman's Blues sessions - 23 Jan 1986 at Windmill Lane. Photo by Colm Henry.
Mike Scott and Steve Wickham joined TIM’S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY last Sunday with host Tim Burgess for a collective listen and live-tweet to the whole FISHERMAN’S BLUES album. Hundreds of fans joined in and great fun was had! If you missed it you can follow all the tweets here - and we recommend playing the album as you read through. Mike tweeted the start of each song with the title in block capitals.
Fisherman's Blues era Steve Wickham & Anto Thistlethwaite.
MOSELEY FESTIVAL RESCHEDULED FOR 2021
The Moseley Folk & Arts Festival in Moseley Park, BIRMINGHAM, UK, originally slated to run Fri 4 Sept-Sun 6 Sept 2020, has been postponed and will now take place Fri 3 Sept-Sun 5 Sept 2021. The Waterboys will headline on Fri 3 Sept. All tickets purchased for 2020 will be honoured in 2021. Ticket sales for 2021 will resume later this summer. You can view the festival''s statement regarding the change here.
MIKE'S "HOW-TO" WATERBOYS PIANO VIDEOS
Mike has uploaded a series of four short "how-to" videos showing how he played the piano on famous Waterboys songs like A Girl Called Johnny and The Whole Of The Moon. You can view them below.
STIRRING PERFORMANCE OF THE WHOLE OF THE MOON
If your heart is in need of a lift we invite you to enjoy this inspiring 2017 video of St Joseph's Senior Orchestra performing The Whole Of The Moon at the Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent UK. View it here.
MIKE'S BEATLE-FUN ON TIKTOK
Mike has uploaded 3 very funny clips featuring Beatle figurines with Scottish accents. Each is fifteen seconds long and the titles are "How To Reform The Beatles in 15 Seconds", "Five Minutes After The Beatles Reform" and "The End Of The Reunion". They can be viewed here.
FISHERMAN'S BLUES ON TIM'S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY
Mike Scott and Steve Wickham will join in for TIM’S TWITTER LISTENING PARTY on Sun 28 June at 9pm GMT.
For those of you who have never participated in Tim’s Twitter Listening Party this is how it works:
Follow our host Tim Burgess on Twitter here.
Simply stream or play Fisherman’s Blues beginning at 9pm so you are listening at the same time as other listening party participants (this will include a short break mid-way for those who prefer vinyl to flip), then follow the tweets of fellow listeners on Tim’s feed in real time and add your own as well. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions or share memories using the hash tag #timstwitterlisteningparty
Mike and Steve will be on hand to answer questions and share in the joy and fun of a collective listening experience online.
Hope to see many of you there.
NEW TRACK LIVE TODAY AND NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT!
The Waterboys return this summer with their 14th studio album GOOD LUCK, SEEKER. The first track to go live, today, is the seven-minute mash-up manifesto MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND. Comprising dramatic spoken-word delivery over wild genre-busting music, ‘My Wanderings In The Weary Land’ might just be the greatest rock’n’roll record ever made – and one that is darkly appropriate for our weird, wired times. Is it psychedelic soul? Is it trance? Is it punk? Is it poetry? Whatever it is, it’s the first taste of Good Luck, Seeker, which will be released on August 21 via Cooking Vinyl.
Listen to MY WANDERINGS IN THE WEARY LAND here.
Pre-order GOOD LUCK, SEEKER here.
Pre-order deluxe editions of GOOD LUCK, SEEKER with signed lyric sheets or artwork here.
MIKE ON TIK TOK
Mike has begun posting short video clips on TIK TOK including music/art commentary, rock & roll fashion, trying out his kids' musical instruments and lots more besides. Once tour life resumes we may even see some cool Waterboys footage from the road! Join the fun here.
FISHERMAN'S BLUES TRIPLE ALBUM PLAYLIST
Twitter fan @Jonnysbc asked Mike what he would choose for a Fisherman’s Blues double album if he could go back in time. Mike told him it would have to be a triple album and listed his track selection in a tweet. Jonny then made a Spotify playlist of it! You can check it out here. Thanks Jonny!
REVIVAL FESTIVAL RESCHEDULED
Revival Festival in Listowel, Ireland, originally slated to take place this August, has been rescheduled for next year. It will take place Fri 13 & Sat 14 August 2021 in Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland, with The Waterboys headlining Fri 13 Aug. All tickets purchased for Revival 2020 will be honoured in 2021. Tickets are on sale now here.
We look forward to seeing some of you there!
BLACK DEER FESTIVAL 2021
Black Deer Festival 2020 has been cancelled in the interest of health and safety but do not despair! The Waterboys will appear at the festival, along with many other esteemed artists, in 2021. The festival will be held 18-20 June 2021 (schedule yet to be announced) at Eridge Park, KENT UK. All tickets purchased for 2020’s festival will be honoured in 2021. Tickets are available here.
You can keep updated with festival news here.
RESCHEDULED DATES
AUDLEY END, UK
The Waterboys show with Van Morrison at Audley End Stately Home, SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX UK, originally scheduled for 15 Aug 2020, has been rescheduled and will take place on Sat 14 August 2021. All tickets purchased for 2020 will remain valid for the rescheduled date. Tickets are available here.
NORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Waterboys date at North Music Festival in PORTO, PORTUGAL, originally scheduled for 23 May 2020 has now been moved to Sat 22 May 2021. Tickets already purchased will remain valid for the new date. Ticket sales are currently suspended but will again come available within the next few days here.
We appreciate your patience and will keep our website updated as additional information on cancelled or rescheduled shows comes through.
MATTHEW SELIGMAN (1955-2020)
British musician and sometime Waterboys bassist Matthew Seligman has died from complications arising from Coronavirus. Matthew came into the early Waterboys orbit after playing with Anthony Thistlethwaite in The Soft Boys. On Anthony's recommendation, Matthew was asked to join Mike Scott's pre-Waterboys band The Red And The Black for whom he made five live appearances around London in 1982. Matthew was later recalled to play bass on Be My Enemy on the album This Is The Sea and also gave Mike the title The Crash Of Angel Wings which finally turned into a song on 2007's Book Of Lightning. Matthew's best known work was with Thomas Dolby and he also played with David Bowie at Live Aid and with many other acts and bands. Mike tweeted that Matthew was a "true gentleman" and added: "The last time I saw him, strangely enough, was at Mark Smith's funeral in 2009 - another Waterboys bass player passing on. We sat together and talked about old days. I'll always remember Matthew as a very kind man, and as a brilliant, fluid bass player - easily the best bassist I'd ever played with when I first met him. He cut a dash too in his elongated paisley jacket, like a long louche cat onstage. Later he became a barrister and human rights lawyer - so he was also a cat who could excel in different worlds."
MIKE'S NEW TWITTER VIDEOS
PUCK TOWERS MARK 2
Just before lockdown Mike moved into his new studio in Dublin. Today he filmed a 49-second tour and shared it on Twitter. You can check it out here.
LEGOBOYS
Seattle station KEXP’s Morning Show received a song request from 8 year-old Liam via his father Bill. Bill explained that Liam had created a LEGO Waterboys concert during lockdown. In response Mike made a video of himself performing a wee tune in Liam’s honour, LEGOBOYS! You can join in the fun and see it here.
PLUS Mike also filmed a quick video to thank Waterboys fans everywhere. View it here.
MIKE TALKS SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
Mike spoke with Rolling Stone Magazine about life in lockdown and how he spends his days. Read it here.
2020 SHOW CHANGES & POSTPONEMENTS
Due to the coronavirus situation, many of our previously announced shows and festivals have been postponed or cancelled. Because so much is in flux we are unable to provide specific information on all of them, but will update our website accordingly as information emerges. Please also check with festival websites. Many of you have already received, or will receive, direct contact regarding refunds or date changes from show and festival organisers. Sending love and light to Waterpeople and all people the world over. And we will see you soon.
WORD & SONG
MIKE READS C.S. LEWIS
The second installment of MICK PUCK’S LOCKDOWN STORYTIME is now live. It is:
THE WITHERING LETTER FROM C.S. LEWIS - a two minute diversion. See it here.
SAILING AT BARROWLAND BALLROOM
Last September The Waterboys performed Rod Stewart's classic SAILING at Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom as a tribute to the late Jimmy Johnson who played guitar on Rod's version at Muscle Shoals in 1975. This is the only time The Waterboys have ever played this gem. Check it out here.
MIKE READS SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
In the midst of our current situation many artists have provided online entertainments for people to enjoy and Mike Scott is now one among them. PRESENTING…MICK PUCK’S LOCKDOWN STORYTIME!
Episode One: A lesser known tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - How Watson Learned The Trick; a three minute diversion. Tune in here with more to come!
BIRMINGHAM BOUND
The Waterboys will appear at this year’s Moseley Folk & Arts Festival in Moseley Park, BIRMINGHAM UK on Fri 4 September. Tickets, ranging from £50 for a day ticket to £115 for the weekend, go on sale on Thurs 5 March here.
A SPECIAL THREE MAN WATERBOYS SHOW IN TOKYO
Mike Scott, Steve Wickham and Brother Paul will perform a special one-off show as a trio at Shibuya Club Quattro in TOKYO on Thurs 16 April. Tickets will be on sale Sat 14 March here.
All other shows this year will be band performances.
TWO SUMMER SHOWS ADDED
LEUVEN, BELGIUM
The Waterboys will play this year’s Het Groot Verlof Festival in LEUVEN, BELGIUM on Fri 17 July. This is a free entrance festival. More info:
https://www.facebook.com/hetgrootverlof/.
AUDLEY END, UK
The Waterboys are playing at Audley End Stately Home, SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX UK on Sat 15 August. Van Morrison will headline. Tickets priced £59 go on sale Fri 28 Feb from 0844 844 0444 or online here.
SOUTH AFRICA HERE WE COME!
The Waterboys will play their first-ever shows in South Africa this spring:
Fri 3 April at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, CAPE TOWN. Tickets, priced R595, are on sale now at the box office on 086 1999 710 or online here.
Sun 5 April at Casalinga, JOHANNESBURG. Tickets, priced R495, are on sale now from the box office on 086 1234 695 or online here.
RETURN TO CORNBURY FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will return to rock the Cornbury Festival at Great Tew Park in GREAT TEW, OXFORDSHIRE UK on Sat 11 July. Tickets are available now on the festival ticket line at 0844 249 1000 or online here.
NORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL PORTUGAL
The Waterboys will play this year’s North Music Festival in PORTO, PORTUGAL on Sat 23 May. Tickets are on sale now here.
WICKHAM FESTIVAL UK
And The Waterboys featuring as always legendary electric fiddler Steve WICKHAM will appear at WICKHAM Festival in WICKHAM, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND on Sun 9 August. Tickets are available now here.
REVIVAL FESTIVAL IRELAND
The Waterboys will be reviving the spirit of Pan when they headline this year's Revival Festival, held in The Town Square, LISTOWEL, Co Kerry, Ireland on Friday 14 August. Tickets, priced €40, will go on sale Tuesday 18th February here.
GUILDFORD & GREECE
ONE-OFF SHOW IN GUILDFORD, APRIL 8
The Waterboys will play a one-off UK show at G Live, GUILDFORD, UK on Wednesday 8 April. Tickets, priced £43.50, go on sale Friday 31st January here.
FESTIVAL IN PYDNA, GREECE, JULY 18
The Waterboys will play at Terra Republic, PYDNA, GREECE on Saturday 18 July as part of the Long Beach Festival. Tickets, priced 31.90€, are on sale now here.
MOJO MAGAZINE'S WHITE WINTER HYMNALS
The Waterboys are included alongside many other great artists on the CD 'White Winter Hymnals', which comes free with the current issue of Mojo Magazine, out now. The Waterboys' song Winter Blows was written in 1985 for This Is The Sea, recorded in 2002 and has only been released previously on the limited fan-only Waterboys collection, Cloud Of Sound. This is an updated 2019 mix, especially done for Mojo by Mike Scott. You can head out to your local news stand OR have a copy sent directly to your home by ordering here.
WHERE THE ACTION IS ON "LITTLE STEVEN'S UNDERGROUND GARAGE"
Where The Action Is, the title track of the latest Waterboys album, is “The Coolest Song In The World” this week on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Steven Van Zandt’s outstanding radio station dedicated to presenting notable rock and roll and garage rock performances to its listeners worldwide. You can access the station online here.
You can also vote for Where The Action Is in the Coolest Song In The World competition which is currently running here.
All songs that have enjoyed the Coolest Song In The World title in 2019 are eligible.
LIVE WATERBOYS TV PERFORMANCES FROM BARCELONA
During their summer travels last July The Waterboys filmed an electrifying set of songs for the TV show La Hora Musa in Barcelona. Three videos from the performance have been uploaded to YouTube which we invite you to enjoy!
The Whole Of The Moon: https://youtu.be/7UrXRbMYzD8
A Girl Called Johnny: https://youtu.be/tI0okrhHXKA
Ladbroke Grove Symphony: https://youtu.be/cUIPS_3grIA
NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST - THE WHOLE OF THE WATERBOYS
With the recent inclusion of The Whole Of The Moon in both "The Affair" and "Let It Snow", and Fiona Apple's remarkable cover version, a lot of interest has been generated in the song, its writer and The Waterboys. So we've created an introductory playlist on Spotify called THE WHOLE OF THE WATERBOYS for people who wish to check out where The Whole Of The Moon comes from. Please share with friends, interested parties, newbies and enjoy it yourselves!
You can also read a recent Rolling Stone piece on the renewed popularity of The Whole Of The Moon with quotes from Mike Scott here.
THE WINKLES TAPES - SHARON SHANNON'S FIRST RECORDINGS
Mike Scott was present when Sharon Shannon's first recordings were made in the west of Ireland back in 1989. The sessions featured Sharon's accordion and fiddle, Donal Lunny and Eoin O'Neill on bouzouki, Mike on bodhran and many other great musicians playing together in a relaxed but wild atmosphere - and all captured in beautiful sound. The recording weren't released at the time because Sharon joined the Waterboys and toured for a year. By then her music had changed. The "Winkles Tapes" remained in a dusty box for 30 years until six months ago Mike went through them and assembled an album of the best performances. "It is some of the best Irish trad music ever made" he told us, "a charismatic performer at the early peak of her powers, backed by some of the all-time greats including the old master Donal Lunny. It was an incredible scene to witness and be a small part of, and I'm happy to help bring it to you now". Mike himself features, playing bodhran on the track Bonnie Kate. The album is available to buy, download or stream here and below is Mike's longer description of the sessions, extracted from his book Adventures Of A Waterboy.
WINKLES '89
The Waterboys had released Fisherman's Blues six months before. We were deep in our Irish/Scottish/Celtic adventure, and word had reached us of a remarkable young button accordion musician called Sharon Shannon. Our soundman, John Dunford, was working with her and invited Wickham and I to her first recording session in the village of Kinvara, a funky hamlet on the west coast of Ireland. The venue was Winkles, a long dark bar with décor from the 1950s or ‘60s. At the front end a circle of musicians was gathered, led by the twenty-year-old Sharon, who hurtled through set after set of exquisitely played tunes, notes scattering from her fingers like machine gun fire, an impossibly fast but exquisitely articulated stream of music. I’d never considered the idea that an accordion player could be a star, yet here was the reality. She sat on a low chair, bobbing her head as if to say “Hello, isn’t this fun!”, welcoming all to her music with a magnetic smile, while functioning as the dynamo in the centre of an ever-changing group of musical backers: Donal Lunny strumming his bouzouki as always like a happy clockwork toy; the kindly giant Eoin O’Neill on his; guitar picker Gerry O'Beirne. The topline accompanists - whistlers, fiddlers, flute players - revolved as well, each taking their turn to partner Sharon. Even U2’s Adam Clayton, entering the scene with an air of genial bemusement, added some bass to a set. Sharon's younger sister, Mary, a freckled, banjo-playing sprite, was there too, and when Sharon switched to fiddle, the two led the ensemble in a series of rattling, shattering reels that seemed never to end, each tune leaping higher then the last in a music as wild and promethean as any rock and roll.
FIONA APPLE COVERS THE WHOLE OF THE MOON
Fiona Apple has recorded a great new cover of The Whole Of The Moon, which was aired on the series finale of Showtime’s series The Affair. The episode opened with The Waterboys version of the song and concluded with Fiona’s. Listen here.
DAVE MATTACKS
During their recent North American tour The Waterboys were delighted to welcome great English drummer Dave Mattacks, best known for his work with Fairport Convention, to join them on stage at their September show in Boston for both The Whole Of The Moon and Purple Rain. Dave has played with many greats and legends through the years and it was a memorable honour to have him play with The Waterboys.
BLACK DEER FEST - KENT UK
The Waterboys will play at 2020's Black Deer Festival at Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK. Black Deer Festival takes place between 19-21 June. The Waterboys will play on Saturday 20th. The full festival schedule will be announced at a later date. Weekend tickets are available now, with single day tickets coming available soon here.
SECOND SHOW IN ATHENS
A second show has been added in ATHENS GREECE next month. Along with the previously announced show on Thursday 21 November, The Waterboys will also play on Friday 22 November. Both shows will take place at Piraeus 117 Academy. Tickets are on sale now here.
#FEMALEPLEASURE - MOVIE FEATURING MEGUMI AND MIKE
The film #femalepleasure tells the story of 5 female activists, including Mike's wife Megumi Igarashi, also known as Rokudenashiko. Megumi was jailed for her art in Japan under patriarchal obscenity laws, and when the story was reported worldwide Mike read about her which led to their meeting and marrying in 2016. Her story is retold by director Barbara Miller in #femalepleasure along with those of Dr Leyla Hussein, Deborah Feldman, Doris Wagner and Vithika Yadav. All their stories are inspiring and the movie is highly recommended. There are also a few short appearances by Mike, including a clip of him singing the song Rokudenashiko. The film is currently showing at East Village Film Center, New York and will be playing at arthouse cinemas in many countries - so watch your neighbourhood cinema notices.
WATERBOYS COMPLETE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
A note from Mike Scott:
Thank you to everyone who came to see us on what was our 11th North American tour. We played to great audiences and were thrilled to make music for you. We also want to thank Neil Mahony and Jeff Adams who stepped in when our bassist Aongus Ralston was recalled to Dublin. Aongus' brother, our great friend and colleague Gavin died of cancer on September 22nd. Tragedy also touched Brother Paul whose brother Pete died in Memphis on 10th October. Both Aongus and Paul were able to get home to be with their brothers before they died, and we're grateful for that. Logistics and great tour management by Keith Anderson made both possible. I'd also like to thank our show crew - Production Managers Neil and Stu, lighting man Donal, onstage sound cat Doug, stageside tech Aaron and our fab merchandising lady Annie. What a pleasure to roam the new world with them all. Thanks also to our great management Gold Village, who oversaw everything with their usual care and dedication. Lastly thanks to our guests - the great Earl Slick who played lead guitar on Whole Of The Moon and Dead Flowers in New York, my songwriting partner James Maddock who sang and strummed on Novemeber Tale and Nearest Thing To Hip also in NY, and Irakli Gabriel and Anana Kaye who played and sang on Rosalind and Purple Rain at the second show in Chicago. Anana also filmed the version of In My Time On Earth that you can view here or on the link below:
You can read some show reviews from various cities by visiting the links below:
Santa Ana:
https://rockwrite.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-waterboys-bring-magic-and-firepower.html?m=1
Toronto:
https://thepopbreak.com/2019/10/17/mike-scott-and-the-waterboys-deliver-classics-covers-in-toronto/
LA:
https://buzzbands.la/2019/10/16/the-waterboys-share-the-love-at-first-l-a-show-in-four-years/
Minneapolis:
https://twincitiesmedia.net/blog/waterboys-storm-the-varsity-like-a-hurtlin-fevered-train/
BYRON BAY BLUESFEST
The Waterboys will return to play Australia's great Byron Bay Bluesfest this spring, 5 years after their last visit, and will perform on both Sunday 12 April and Monday 13 April. These will be the band's only shows in Australia (or New Zealand) on this trip.
Tickets for a 5 day pass OR for a 3 day pass are available now, with single day tickets coming available soon here.
GAVIN P. RALSTON 1970-2019
The Waterboys extend their condolences to the family of Gavin Ralston, their great friend, colleague and brother of Waterboys bassist Aongus. Gavin died last week after a long and spirited battle against cancer. Gavin played in Mike's 1997 "Still Burning" band and worked on Steve Wickham's solo music, as well as contributing to recordings with Sharon Shannon, Mundy, Picturehouse and many other Irish artists. As recently as April he played with The Waterboys at the Gig For Gav, held in his honour and to raise funds for his health coverage. Some photos from the show are above. Said Mike Scott: "Gavin was an amazing man: talented, funny, positive, a cool dresser and wonderful friend. We will all miss him."
BACK TO BILBAO
The Waterboys will play at Sala Santana, Bilbao, Spain on Sunday 24 November. Tickets, priced 30€ + ticketing fees, are on sale now from the box office on +34 944 59 86 17 or online here.
ANTWERP IN AUTUMN
The Waterboys will play at Koningin Elisabethzaal in ANTWERP, BELGIUM on Tuesday 12 November. Tickets, priced 55 € / 48 € / 40 €, are on sale now from the box office on 070/79.00.13 or online here.
NEW EP - OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE
Following the release of Where The Action Is, The Waterboys release the Out Of All This Blue EP today.
Written for a friend who's been to a dark place, Out Of All This Blue is a compassionate song of reassurance; a Waterboys classic in the making.
You can hear the original 2015 demo version of the title track from the EP here.
The EP also features the studio recording of Out Of All This Blue from Where The Action Is, the 2015 demo and two live tracks, London Mick and The Whole Of The Moon (featuring Blaine Harrison from Mystery Jets), recorded on the Chris Evans Virgin Radio Breakfast Show and capturing the band's rock ‘n’ roll edge.
Out Of All The Blue EP tracklist:
1. Out Of All This Blue
2. Out Of All This Blue (Original demo)
3. London Mick (Chris Evans Virgin Radio Session – Live)
4. Whole Of The Moon (Chris Evans Virgin Radio Session – Live featuring Blaine Harrison)
Out Of All This Blue will be available on all digital platforms.
You can download and stream the EP here.
You can order the album WHERE THE ACTION IS, on which Out Of All this Blue also appears here.
A CELEBRATION OF STEVE WICKHAM ON SPOTIFY
Mike has compiled a new Waterboys Spotify playlist in honour of STEVE WICKHAM, which runs chronologically from 1985-2019. It contains many of Steve's greatest solos, accompaniments and moments.
Few bands are blessed with a creative soloist as fine as Steve Wickham. His fiddle has darted and danced through the sound of The Waterboys for thirty-five years in a variety of wonderful guises- wild, gentle, fuzzed, rustic, orchestral, psychedelic and straight down the line rock and roll. Sometimes it blends with Steve’s own harmonica, as on “Nobody ‘Cept You”, sometimes with Anthony Thistlethwaite’s sax or mandolin, sometimes with Mike Scott’s lead guitar or Brother Paul’s keyboards. This is a collection of 20 of Steve’s greatest moments, brilliant solos and most fabulous accompaniments over the years.
You can hear it here.
BRIAN JONES TRIBUTE SHOW THIS SATURDAY
The Waterboys will play a short set THIS SATURDAY, 17 AUGUST honouring the great Rolling Stones founder and multi-instrumentalist BRIAN JONES as part of an all-star line-up celebrating Brian's life and music.
The show, titled THE GOLDEN STONE YEARS, is at @HurtwoodParkPoloClub in Surrey, England, and will raisemoney for the @DavidLynchFoundation and @TheRacehorseSanctuary. Other artists include Donovan, Bill Wyman, Steve Harley, The Stranglers, Glen Matlock & Earl Slick and legendary mod drummer Kenney Jones, formerly of Small Faces, The Faces and The Who, at whose estate the show is being held. The Waterboys will play a set of all Rolling Stones numbers from the Brian Jones era. Show starts at 4pm.
Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rock-n-horsepower-tickets-58358681387.
NORTHAMPTON DATE CHANGE
The Waterboys show at The Calvin Theatre, Northampton, has been changed from Friday 20th September to Thursday 19th September. All tickets already purchased for the 20th will of course be valid for the 19th. The reason is to accommodate a radio broadcast concert on New York station WFUV on the 24th. Moving the Northampton date means the band will now play 6 shows in a row, not 7. Mike Scott says "I can't sing 7 nights in a row without losing some of my voice, so we've moved The Calvin by a day which makes a big difference. We need this broadcast because wide radio promotion isn't something we often get offered in North America. I'm really sorry that this means everyone who bought tickets to The Calvin has to bring their night out forward by a day, especially as the original date was a Friday. We will pull out all the stops to make it up to you and will make The Calvin a super special show". Contact Northampton Box Office at 413-586-8686 during normal business hours (10-6 Mon-Sat & 12-5 Sun) with any questions or to buy tickets for the show if you haven't already.
BARCELONA BOUND
As part of their European tour, The Waterboys will play BARCELONA on Monday 25 November at Razzmatazz. Tickets are on sale now from the box office on (+34) 933 208 200 or online here.
More shows will be announced soon. For a complete list of Autumn shows confirmed so far, visit our shows section of the site.
NOVEMBER GERMAN SHOWS
The Waterboys will play 4 dates in Germany as part of their European tour:
Sun 10 November - Metropol Theater, BREMEN
Wed 13 November - Rhein-Main Theater, NIEDERNHAUSEN
Fri 15 November - Huxley’s Neue Welt, BERLIN
Tues 19 November - E-Werk, COLOGNE
Tickets, priced € 40 - € 70, are on sale now here.
MIKE MEETS THE ROCKERS UPTOWN
On the Sunday after playing Fujirock with The Waterboys, Mike Scott went to Harajuku to meet and hang out with the STRANGERS, the rock and roll club who are featured dancing on the recent video for London Mick. He told us: "When I made the film of the Strangers dancing back in February I didn't know them and they didn't know me, but yesterday when I arrived they gave me a wonderfully warm welcome and I had the honour of being introduced to every member of the club by their leader Kazuyo Inui. Then the club founder, Mr Jess Yamanaka, arrived with great charisma. I could feel the true spirit of rock and roll radiating from them. They presented me a club T shirt and rocker's comb and we all posed for photos together. That's Yamanaka san beside me with the pale hat and Kazuyo Inui on my other side, with collar up."
If you haven't seen the video for London Mick yet, you can watch it here.
FUNKING IN SAN FRANCISCO
The Waterboys will be performing two shows this autumn as part of San Francisco’s HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS.
The band will play the outdoor portion of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a free event in Golden Gate Park from October 4-6. The full Festival schedule, including Waterboys date and time, will be released soon.
In addition The Waterboys return to legendary venue the Fillmore West on Friday, October 11 as part of Hardly Strictly Out of the Park. Tickets for this show are on sale now here.
You can find out more information about the festival here.
Find Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival on social media at:
https://www.facebook.com/hardlystrictlybluegrass/
https://twitter.com/HSBFest
FUJI ROCK LIVE STREAM
A live stream of The Waterboys' set at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan today, Friday 26 July, will be available here.
The Waterboys will play The Field Of Heaven stage from 19:20-20:30 Japanese time (11.20-12.30 BST / 6.20-7.30 EST / 3.20-4.30 PST).
RETURN TO ATHENS
The Waterboys will play at Piraeus 117 Academy in ATHENS, GREECE on Thursday, 21st November.
Tickets are on sale now from the box office on +30 210 3608366 or online here.
VIDEO PREMIERE - LONDON MICK
You can check out the fantastically groovy new video for LONDON MICK from WHERE THE ACTION IS now!
The video was shot by Mike in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park, where a group of rockabilly fans known as The Harajuku Strangersdance each Sunday to their favourite vintage rock-and-roll records.
You can read Mike’s article about The Harajuku Strangers and the making of the video, as well as watch the video here.
BRIAN JONES TRIBUTE / NEWFOUNDLAND DATE
BRIAN JONES TRIBUTE CONCERT, 17 AUGUST, UK
The Waterboys will play a short set honouring the great Rolling Stones founder and multi-instrumentalist BRIAN JONES as part of an all-star concert celebrating Brian's life and music. The show, titled THE GOLDEN STONE YEARS is at @HurtwoodParkPoloClub in Surrey, England at 4pm on August 17th, raising money for @DavidLynchFoundation and @TheRacehorseSanctuary. Other artists include Donovan, original Stones bassman Bill Wyman, Steve Harley, The Stranglers, Glen Matlock and legendary mod drummer Kenney Jones, formerly of Small Faces, The Faces and The Who, at whose estate the show is being held. The Waterboys will play a set of all Rolling Stones numbers from the Brian Jones era of 1962-69.
Tickets are available here.
NEWFOUNDLAND CANADA
The Waterboys will perform at the Iceberg Performance Tent Festival in ST JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA on Sunday 15 September.
Tickets are priced $59 for general admission and $120 for Sky Bar tickets, which you can read about here.
Tickets go on sale Friday 19 July at noon local time here.
SHOW ADDED IN THE HAGUE
In addition to our recently announced Dutch shows in NIJMEGEN (17 Nov) and TILBURG (18 Nov), The Waterboys will appear at Paard in DEN HAAG on Thursday 14 November as part of their European tour this autumn.
Tickets, priced €37, go on sale Friday 12 July at 10am from the box office on 0031 70 7503434 or online here.
You can find a full list of dates confirmed so far in our shows section here.
Stay tuned for more autumn show announcements to come.
BLAINE AND THE WATERBOYS
The Waterboys were joined by Mystery Jets vocalist Blaine Harrison during last Friday’s radio session on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, performing backing vocals for The Whole Of The Moon. Mike asked Blaine to come and sing because "I loved The Mystery Jets version of The Whole Of The Moon and Blaine has a great voice. I thought it would sound good with mine, and it did!"
You can listen to the Mystery Jets version of The Whole Of The Moon here.
If you missed The Waterboys session for Chris Evans you can listen again here. Blaine sings backup on The Whole Of The Moon and both versions of Jumping Jack Flash.
The Waterboys segment begins roughly 90 minutes in.
(And a mystery - where was Brother Paul? Brother Paul was at home in Nashville, celebrating his birthday)
SPANISH TV & MORE EUROPEAN DATES
TV AUDIENCE, BARCELONA
Barcelona friends, if you would like to be in the audience when The Waterboys perform live for a TV show on the evening of July 11th send an email to: publicolavinia@lavinia.tc.
NETHERLANDS DATES
Two dates have been confirmed in THE NETHERLANDS as part of The Waterboys European tour this autumn. They are:
Sun 17 November - Doornroosje, NIJMEGEN
Tickets go on sale Fri 12 July at 10am here.
Mon 18 November - 013, TILBURG
Tickets go on sale Fri 12 July at 10am here.
LANUZA - 12TH JULY
The Waterboys will play at Auditorio de Lanuza on Friday 12th July in LANUZA (HUESCA), SPAIN. Tickets, priced 30€, are on sale now at https://www.ticketmaster.es/event/17275.
This is right around the corner. Get your tickets today!
FIRST TIME EVER IN EUGENE, OREGON
As part of their upcoming North American tour The Waterboys have confirmed Wed 9 October in EUGENE, OREGON at The Soreng Theater - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Presale tickets are available now here.
Password: ACTION
General ticket sale begins Fri 28 June at 12 noon.
MORE EUROPEAN SHOWS IN NOVEMBER
A full European tour is being booked for November, and the next two shows (in addition to Oslo on 1st Nov) have just been announced. They are:
Sat 02 November- Forum Scene, BERGEN, Norway
Tickets, priced 490 NOK + service fee, go on sale Thurs 27 June at 9am from the box office on +4781533133 or online here.
Sun 03 November- Konserthus- Fartein Valen, STAVANGER, Norway
Tickets, priced 550/ 450 NOK + service fee, go on sale Thurs 27 June at 10am from the box office on
+47 51 53 70 00 or online here.
MIKE'S TRIBUTE TO BORIS JOHNSON AND THE BULLINGDON CLUB.
The Bullingdon Club - a tribute #bullingdonclub #BorisJohnson #davidcameron pic.twitter.com/OniVM7LAF4
— Mike Scott (@MickPuck) June 23, 2019
LOVE FOR LISBON
The Waterboys will play at Campo Pequeno in LISBON, PORTUGAL on Wed 27 November. Tickets, priced 35€ standing & 39€ seated (bench), are on sale now from the box office on 707 234 234 or online here.
JAPANESE BONUS TRACKS & FESTIVAL
The Japanese version of WHERE THE ACTION IS includes two bonus tracks exclusive to Japan, both recorded specially: IN YOYOGI PARK is an acoustic number with guitar, vocal and the sound of crows recorded by Mike Scott in the park itself and SHIMOKITA GA SUKI DESU (I Like Shimokitazawa) is a funky tribute to Mike's favourite part of Tokyo.
It can be purchased from Amazon Japan here.
And The Waterboys will play at this year’s FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL in Japan on Friday 26 July. They will play on the Field Of Heaven stage.
Tickets are available here.
You can find out more about the festival, including an amazing line up here.
GLASTONBURY '86 ON BBC
EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION AND LIMITED TIME ALBUM OFFER
To celebrate the release of the critically acclaimed new album ‘Where The Action Is’ from The Waterboys, Townsend Music are running an exclusive competition to win a personalised UK Tour set list signed by the whole band. To enter simply order a copy of the new album from only £5 through their official store before midnight 30th of May. To order your copy click here.
(anyone who has already purchased a copy of the new album from the Official Store will be automatically entered into the competition).
Offer ends midnight Thursday 30th May
WHERE THE ACTION IS - OUT NOW
Today The Waterboys release their long awaited new album 'Where The Action Is', including title track 'Where The Action Is', 'Ladbroke Grove Symphony' and 'Right Side of Heartbreak (Wrong Side of Love)'.
"A rock and soul masterclass."
**** Adrian Thrills, Daily Mail
"Spine-tingling beauty and imagination."
**** Daily Mirror
" Joyous...audacious"
**** Mojo
You can order / stream it here: https://TWB.lnk.to/WTAI.
NEW VIDEO FOR LADBROKE GROVE SYMPHONY OUT NOW
Today The Waterboys release the video to their newest release 'Ladbroke Grove Symphony'.
'Ladbroke Grove Symphony' is a tribute to the former Bohemian heart of West London, where Mike Scott lived during the early Waterboys years.
The montage video captures the magic of the Grove in all its weird and wonderful counterculture, and features new film and vintage photography of Scott as he tells the story of the song.
'Where The Action Is' the new album by The Waterboys is out this Friday, May 24th! Pre-order it now and receive title track 'Where The Action Is', 'Right Side of Heartbreak (Wrong Side of Love)' & ‘Ladbroke Grove Symphony’. https://TWB.lnk.to/WTAI
There will be several album signings across England starting this week. Pick up a copy of the CD &/or vinyl to have it signed!
There will also be a signing at Tower Records in Dublin, the details of which are below:
Tower Records
Friday 31st May at 12:45pm
7 Dawson Street, Dublin, D02 X668
https://www.towerrecords.ie/
LADBROKE GROVE SYMPHONY
Today The Waterboys release the third track LADBROKE GROVE SYMPHONY from their upcoming album WHERE THE ACTION IS (out May 24th).
Mike Scott: "Ladbroke Grove is a bohemian area of London where I lived in the 80s while making the early Waterboys records, and again in the 90s. The song tells the story of those times, and the atmospheres of those times." You can hear it here.
Pre-add/pre-order the album now and receive LADBROKE GROVE SYMPHONY, the title track WHERE THE ACTION IS & RIGHT SIDE OF HEARTBREAK (WRONG SIDE OF LOVE) instantly.
Also you will also receive Waterboys comic AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN, signed by Mike Scott and Steve Wickham, telling the story of how vocalists Jess and Zeenie joined the band, when you pre-order any bundle offer or Marble LP format of WHERE THE ACTION IS.
Pre-order here.
In addition, in celebration of the new release, we have added a new Waterboys playlist, THROUGH THE YEARS, on Spotify. You can hear it here.
LANDERNEAU FESTIVAL, FRANCE
The Waterboys will headline the Landerneau Festival in LANDERNEAU, FRANCE on Saturday 10 August.
Tickets and information are available here.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2019
The Waterboys will return to North America this autumn in support of their brilliant new album WHERE THE ACTION IS, already described by influential UK music mag MOJO as "joyous..audacious..miraculous". Dates as follows, with a few more to be announced soon. Tickets go on sale this Friday 17 May at noon local time.
Tues 17 Sept - Count Basie Theatre, RED BANK, NJ.
Tickets here.
Wed 18 Sept - The Wilbur, BOSTON, MA.
Tickets here.
Fri 20 Sept - Calvin Theatre, NORTHAMPTON, MA.
Tickets here.
Sat 21 Sept - World Café Live, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Tickets here.
Sun 22 Sept - Lincoln Theatre, WASHINGTON, DC.
Tickets here.
Mon 23 Sept - Webster Hall, NY, NY.
Tickets here.
Wed 25 Sept - Danforth Music Hall, TORONTO, ONTARIO.
Tickets here.
Thurs 26 Sept - Majestic Theatre, DETROIT, MI.
Tickets here.
Sat 28 Sept - Varsity Theater, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
Tickets here.
Sun 29 Sept - Old Town School Of Folk Music, CHICAGO, IL.
Tickets here.
Tues 01 Oct - Gothic Theatre, ENGLEWOOD, CO.
Tickets here.
Wed 02 Oct - The Depot, SALT LAKE CITY, UT.
Tickets here.
Sun 06 Oct - Commodore Ballroom, VANCOUVER, BC.
Tickets here.
Mon 07 Oct - Wonder Ballroom, PORTLAND, OR.
Tickets here.
Tues 08 Oct - The Neptune, SEATTLE, WA
Tickets here.
Sat 12 Oct - The Observatory North Park, SAN DIEGO, CA.
Tickets here.
Sun 13 Oct - The Observatory, SANTA ANA, CA.
Tickets here.
Tues 15 Oct - Belasco Theater, LOS ANGELES, CA.
Tickets here.
OSLO, NOVEMBER 1ST
The Waterboys will return to play at Sentrum Scene in OSLO, NORWAY on Friday 1 November.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, 10 May at 9am here.
Stay tuned for additional European dates this autumn!
RETURN TO MURCIA
The Waterboys will play at Auditorio Municial Parque Almansa in San Javier, MURCIA, SPAIN on Friday 28 June.
Tickets, priced 40€, are on sale now here.
MIKE SCOTT'S DJ SET
Sometimes, when the mood is on him, Waterboys leader Mike Scott will play DJ on Twitter, posting a series of links to favourite songs and tracks. The selections are always unusual, personal and inspirational. We've copied a recent set here for you. Dig these!
Access the Spotify playlist here.
MIKE SCOTT'S DJ SET
David Kitt - What I Ask
Bruce Springsteen - Backstreets (studio version)
Heads, Hands And Feet - Song For Suzie (studio version)
James Yorkston And The Big Eyes Family Players - Little Musgrave
Nina Simone - Take Me To The Water
Prince - Slow Love
King Curtis - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Solange - F.U.B.U.
Alisdair Fraser - The Scolding Wives Of Abertarff/I'll Break Your Head For You
John Trudell And Jesse Ed Davis - Tina Smiled
Van Morrison - Haunts Of Ancient Peace
North Mississippi Allstars - Long Haired Doney
Luis Bacalov - Django (instrumental version)
Dawes - When My Time Comes
Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends (live version from the Mad Dogs and Englishmen album)
Thomas Whitfield Company - Soon As I Get Home.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON FESTIVAL, AMSTERDAM
NEW ALBUM TITLE TRACK 'WHERE THE ACTION IS' OUT NOW
‘Where The Action Is’, the title track from the new Waterboys album, is OUT NOW! Pre-order the album and receive this & 'Right Side of Heartbreak (Wrong Side of Love)' instantly.
Where The Action Is will be released 24 May 2019 through Cooking Vinyl Records and will be available on CD, Limited Deluxe 2CD (including a bonus disc, Where The Action Is...Mashed, featuring 11 alternative mixes), Black 180g Gatefold LP, Limited Marble 180g Gatefold LP, as well as digital download and streaming services. Mojo Magazine has just given the album its first glowing 4 star review! Receive 'And Then There Were Seven' a 12×12 B&W comic strip written by Mike Scott, illustrated by Steve Wickham and signed by both when you pre-order any bundle offer or the Marble LP format through our official store.
Pre-order link:
RIGHT SIDE OF HEARTBREAK LYRIC VIDEO
The lyric video for Right Side Of Heartbreak, the beautiful, funky, sexy, compassionate first public track from WHERE THE ACTION IS, out May 24, can be viewed here.
WHERE THE ACTION IS - MAY 24TH
We are excited to announce the release of the Waterboys fantastic new album Where The Action Is on 24 May 2019 through Cooking Vinyl Records. Where The Action Is will be available on CD, Deluxe 2CD, LP, digital download and streaming services with exclusive bundles also available from the Official Store.
Pre-order here and hear the first public track from the album Right Side Of Heartbreak.
Read about the album here.
A track listing of each format is included below.
'Where The Action Is' - Single CD (10 Tracks)
1. Where The Action Is
2. London Mick
3. Out Of All This Blue
4. Right Side Of Heartbreak (Wrong Side of Love)
5. In My Time On Earth
6. Ladbroke Grove Symphony
7. Take Me There I Will Follow You
8. And There's Love
9. Then She Made The Lasses-O
10. Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
'Where The Action Is' - Limited Edition Double CD (21 Tracks)
CD #1 as above
CD #2 - Where The Action Is - Mashed:
1. Where The Action Is (Mash)
2. London Mick (Jess'n'Zeenie Mix)
3. Out Of All This Blue (Soul Choir)
4. Right Side Of Heartbreak (Box & Vox)
5. In My Time On Earth (Scott & Wickham Mix)
6. Ladbroke Grove Coda
7. I Will Follow You Take Me There
8. And There's Love (Mashtrumental)
9. Then She Made The Lasses (Mash)
10. Where The Action Is (Reprise)
11. Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (Instrumental)
Black Vinyl LP & Marble Vinyl LP
Side A
1. Where The Action Is
2. London Mick
3. Out Of All This Blue
4. Right Side Of Heartbreak (Wrong Side of Love)
5. In My Time On Earth
Side B
6. Ladbroke Grove Symphony
7. Take Me There I Will Follow You
8. And There's Love
9. Then She Made The Lasses-O
10. Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
SUMMER SHOW IN MADRID
The Waterboys will play at Noches del Botánico in MADRID, SPAIN on Sunday 30 June.
Tickets, priced 40€-50€, are on sale now from the box office on +34 902 488 488 or online here.
THE GIG FOR GAV - A NIGHT TO SUPPORT GAVIN RALSTON
The Waterboys will headline The Gig For Gav at Vicar Street in DUBLIN, Ireland on Mon 1 April to benefit Dublin producer and guitarist Galvin Ralston, who was Mike Scott’s lead guitarist in the late 90s and has worked with many Irish artists.
Gavin was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and recently his chemo sessions have kept him from work. His musical friends will come together to play The Gig For Gav as a benefit for Gavin and his family during this challenging time.
Acts are The Waterboys, Sharon Shannon, Picturehouse, Mundy, Paul Harrington, Mary Black, Seamus Begley, Beaginish and Cormac Begley.
Tickets priced €35 are on sale now here.
SHOWS ADDED IN DERRY & BELFAST
The Waterboys have added two shows to their run of May dates:
Sun 19 May - Millennium Forum, DERRY
Tickets, priced £34.00, go on sale Fri 15 February from the box office on 02871 264455 or online here.
AND
Mon 20 May - Ulster Hall, BELFAST
Tickets, priced £37.00, go on sale Thurs 21 February from the box office on 028 90 334455 or online here.
GALWAY FEVER!
The Waterboys return to one of their favourite cities to headline the Fever Pitch Festival, GALWAY, IRELAND on Sat 1 June. Tickets, priced €54.50 for one day or €99.50 for the weekend are on sale now here.
SCOTTISH SEPTEMBER
The Waterboys will return to Scotland in September to play 3 shows:
Thurs 5 Sept - Skye Live Festival, PORTREE, SKYE
Fri 6 Sept - Music Hall, ABERDEEN
Sat 7 Sept - Barrowland, GLASGOW
Tickets, priced £32.50- £37.50, go on sale Fri 9 February at 9 am from the box office on 0844 844 0444 or online here.
VIVA VALENCIA
The Waterboys will play at Auditori de Burjassot in Burjassot, VALENCIA, SPAIN, on Thurs 27 June. Tickets, priced 35€, go on sale Wed 6 Feb here.
HOORAY FOR HAY FESTIVAL
ANOTHER UK SHOW ADDED
The Waterboys will play at The Forum in BATH, ENGLAND on Wed 22 May. Tickets go on sale Thurs 17 January here.
HOLA SPAIN! JUNE 2019
The Waterboys will be joining Rod Stewart at Plataforma de Gredos in ÁVILA 29th of June. Tickets, priced €71.50, are on sale now here.
UK DATES IN MAY
The Waterboys will play the following dates in May 2019.
Fri 24 May - Roundhouse, LONDON
0300 6789 222
Sat 25 May - Symphony Hall, BIRMINGHAM
0121 780 3333
Mon 27 May - Philharmonic Hall, LIVERPOOL
0151 709 3789
Tue 28 May - Bridgewater Hall, MANCHESTER
0161 907 9000
Wed 29 May - Sage, GATESHEAD
0191 443 4661
Pre-sale tickets, priced £35- £39.50, except for London, priced £40-£45, are onsale from the box office (numbers listed above) or online here.
Regular sales begin tomorrow, Thurs 20 Dec at 10am here.
WATERBOYS FOR CROPREDY 2019
The Waterboys will return to Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival, held annually in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, England, this coming August. The Waterboys last played Cropredy in 2014 and this year they will headline the first night, Thurs 8 August. Headliners on Friday and Saturday are Richard Thompson (Fri) and Fairport Convention (Sat).
Tickets, priced £140 for the entire festival, 8 Aug - 10 Aug, are on sale now from the box office on 0844 581 1396 or online here.
One day tickets for Thursday are not available.
Ticket prices will increase by £5 on 1 June and again on 1 Aug. Additional festival information is available here.
RARE VINYL SIGHTING
Mike's pal, record producer Simon Dine, spotted this rare Zimbabwe Music Corporation version of The Waterboys album Fisherman's Blues in a Cambodian restaurant this past week.
You can see more rarities and items of interest in the 'memorabilia' section of James Nolan's Waterboys fan site at https://waterboys.co.nf/mem.html.
WATERBOYS CHRISTMAS TOUR OF IRELAND - SLIGO
As part of their upcoming Christmas tour of Ireland The Waterboys will play Saturday 8th December at Knocknarea Arena in SLIGO. Tickets, priced €36.50 - €42.50 + €2 fee, are on sale now here.
WATERBOYS CHRISTMAS TOUR OF IRELAND - DUBLIN & WEXFORD
As part of their upcoming Christmas tour of Ireland The Waterboys will play the following three dates:
Mon 3 Dec - Vicar Street, DUBLIN
AND
Tues 4 Dec - Vicar Street, DUBLIN
Tickets, priced €44, go on sale Thurs 27 Sept at 9am from the box office on 0818 719 300 (Ireland)/ 0844 227 4455 (UK) or online here.
Wed 5 Dec - National Opera House, WEXFORD
Tickets, priced €44, go on sale Thurs 27 Sept at 9am from the box office on 1850 4 OPERA (Ireland only) or +353 53 912 2144 or online here.
LOOE MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED
We are sorry to announce that the LOOE MUSIC FESTIVAL in CORNWALL, where The Waterboys were scheduled to play on Saturday 22 of September, has been cancelled. No additional information as to why has been provided to us. Ticket holders should contact the festival organisers.
AUGUST DATE IN GALICIA
The Waterboys will play at Plaza de España in Ferrol (A Coruña), GALICIA on Saturday 25 August. This will be a free entrance show, come one, come all!
CHRISTMAS TOUR OF IRELAND - DROGHEDA
The next date to be announced for our upcoming Christmas tour of Ireland is DROGHEDA. The Waterboys will play The Crescent Concert Hall on 30th November. Tickets, priced €36.30 + booking fee, are on sale now here.
IRISH CHRISTMAS TOUR - GALWAY
As part of their upcoming Christmas tour of Ireland The Waterboys will play at Leisureland in GALWAY on Saturday 1 December. Tickets, priced €48.50, will go on sale this Friday 17 August from the box office on 091 586540 or online here.
IRISH CHRISTMAS TOUR - LIMERICK SHOW ANNOUNCED
The second show to be announced for The Waterboys Christmas tour of Ireland this winter will take place on Friday 7 December at University Concert Hall in LIMERICK. Tickets, priced €40 are on sale now here or from the box office on +353 61 331549.
CANTANHEDE, PORTUGAL 31 JULY
The Waterboys will play at EXPOFACIC MUSIC FESTIVAL in CANTANHEDE, PORTUGAL on Tues 31 July. Tickets are on sale now here.
CHRISTMAS TOUR IN IRELAND
THE WATERBOYS will revive an old band tradition this December when they embark on a Christmas tour of Ireland. This ran in 1988, 89 and 90 and many fans remember the wild celebratory shows of that time. This year the first show to be announced and to go on sale is CORK OPERA HOUSE on Monday 10th December. We will be announcing further shows in 7 or 8 other cities as soon as we have full details.
Tickets for CORK, priced €45, are available now from 021 4270022 or online here.
JULY DATE IN SANTANDER SPAIN
The Waterboys will play at Campa de la Magdalena in Santander, CANTABRIA, SPAIN on Tuesday, 24 July. Tickets are on sale now here.
SUMMER DATE IN VALENCIA
The Waterboys will play at Jardines de Viveros in VALENCIA, SPAIN on Monday 23rd July. Tickets, priced between 35€ & 40€, are on sale now from the box office on +34-962084304 or online here. Mike Scott says: "I still have the Valencia football shirt a friend gave me when we played there in 2001 and I have told all the new Waterboys that Valencia is one of the great Waterboys cities of the world. Looking forward to seeing you there!"
SUMMER DATE IN BARCELONA
The Waterboys will play Teatre-Auditori Sant Cugat in BARCELONA, SPAIN on Wednesday 11th July. Tickets, priced between 34€ & 68€, are on sale now from the box office on +34 935891268 or online here.
WATERBOYS TO ROCK CORNWALL
The Waterboys will headline the Looe Music Festival in CORNWALL, ENGLAND on Sat 22 September. Tickets, priced £99 for the whole 3 day festival, are available from the box office on 01503 263 770 or online here.
Single day tickets will be released at a later date to be decided by the festival organisers.
You can read more about the festival here.
WATERBOYS TO WALK ON WATER
DOUBLE HEADER IN AMSTERDAM
A DAY AT THE RACES! THE WATERBOYS AT LEOPARDSTOWN RACECOURSE
The Waterboys will play at Leopardstown Racecourse on Thurs 16 August in DUBLIN, IRELAND. Tickets, priced €20, are available now here.
LOOK OUT POLAND, HERE WE COME!
The Waterboys will join The Alan Parsons Project for a night of music at Charlotta Valley Amphitheater in Strzelinko, STUPSK, POLAND on Sat 4 August. Tickets, priced 250 PLN, 200 PLN, 150 PLN, are on sale now from the box office on +48598474372 or online here.
RETURN TO KRISTIANSAND
The Waterboys will play an open air show at Ravnedalen Nature Park, KRISTIANSAND, NORWAY on Sat 21 July. Tickets, priced 785 NOK + 40 NOK service fee, are on sale now on +47 815 33 133 or online here.
MORE SUMMER SHOWS!
WATERBOYS WITH VAN MORRISON & HOTHOUSE FLOWERS
The Waterboys will join Van Morrison and Hothouse Flowers at Wrest Park in SILSOE, BEDFORDSHIRE England on Fri 31st August. The Waterboys will play after HHF and before VM. Tickets, priced £59 plus booking fee, go on sale Fri 23rd February at 9am here.
You can also purchase tickets by phone on 0844 888 9991.
VIKEDAL ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will headline at the Vikedal Roots Music Festival in VIKEDAL, Norway on Fri 13th July.
Day tickets are priced at 690 NOK + 30 NOK booking fee (345 NOK + 25 NOK booking fee for children under 15) and can be purchased here.
Tickets for the entire festival, July 12-15, are priced at 990 NOK + 40 NOK booking fee (495 NOK + 30 NOK booking fee for children under 15) and can be purchased here.
You can find additional information about the festival, including the line-up here.
WATERBOYS WITH COSTELLO AND LOWE AT BLENHEIM PALACE
SWEDISH DATES AHOY!
MIKE'S DJ SHOW ON IRISH RADIO
Mike played DJ for a two hour show on Boxing Day, broadcast on RTE Radio 1. He played a wide selection of songs and instrumentals by many artists, and told a few anecdotes. You can stream it here.
NORWAY IN JULY
OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL, BANGOR, N. IRELAND IN AUGUST
The Waterboys will appear as part of the Open House Festival at the Bangor seafront in Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland on Friday 3 August. Tickets, priced £32.50, are on sale now from the box office on 028 9147 1780 or online here.
BURG HERZBERG FESTIVAL 2018
The Waterboys will appear at the Burg Herzberg Festival in Breitenbach am Herzberg, Germany on Saturday 28th July. Tickets, priced €120 for the entire festival, 26-29 July inclusive, are on sale now. For additional information about the festival, including the line-up, or to purchase tickets visit the festival website here or call the box office on +49 661 25055525.
MISTER CHARISMA VIDEO
Waterboys friend, film director Marion Black, has worked with Mike Scott to create a video for MISTER CHARISMA from Out Of All This Blue. The track, says Mike, "is a tribute to Lord Keef of The Rolling Stones whose handsome mug is displayed across the video. We love Keith very much." View the video here.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW SHOWS
The Waterboys have added dates in EDINBURGH and GLASGOW to their 2018 spring tour. They are:
Fri 29 June - The Playhouse, EDINBURGH, UK and Sat 30 June - The Barrowlands, GLASGOW, UK.
Tickets, priced £37.50/£35.00/£32.50, go on sale Fri 17th November from the box office on 0844 844 0444 or online here
SOPHIE MORGAN OPENING FOR THE WATERBOYS
The Waterboys are delighted to announce that Liverpool singer SOPHIE MORGAN will play support on their European tour.
Twenty-year-old Sophie is a singer-songwriter raised in Cheshire, north-west England. She has released two singles over the last year, and her debut EP 'Annie' has just followed, with leading single 'Hey Annie'. The EP also features a cover of The Waterboys 'The Whole of the Moon' which Mike Scott loved and which led to her being invited to tour with the band this autumn.
You can watch the video for “Hey Annie” here.
You can purchase Sophie’s new EP, which includes her gorgeous cover of The Whole Of The Moon here.
You can find Sophie online at:
www.facebook.com/sophiemorganmusic
https://twitter.com/SophieMorgan96
SPRING SHOWS IN NORWAY
MORE UK SHOWS ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL AND MAY 2018MORE UK SHOWS ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL AND MAY 2018
The Waterboys have announced the following dates for the UK in April and May 2018.
General ticket sales begin Fri 6 October at 10am.
Thu 26 April BOURNEMOUTH Pavilion. Tickets from 0844 576 3000 or online here.
Sun 29 April CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange. Tickets from 01223 357 851 or online here.
Mon 30 April WATFORD Colosseum. Tickets from 01923 571 102 or online here.
Tue 1 May CARDIFF St. David’s Hall. Tickets from 02920 878 444 or online here.
Wed 2 May GUILDFORD G Live. Tickets from 01483 292 795 or online here.
Fri 4 May NOTTINGHAM Royal Concert Hall, Tickets from 0115 989 5555 or online here.
Sat 5 May YORK Barbican. Tickets from 0844 854 2757 or online here.
Sun 6 May OXFORD New Theatre. Tickets from 0844 871 3020 or online here.
Tue 8 May LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall. Tickets from 0151 709 3789 or online here.
Wed 9 May HALIFAX Victoria Theatre. Tickets from 01422 351158 or online here.
Thurs 10 May HULL City Hall. Tickets from 01482 300306 or online here.
Sat 12 May LEICESTER de Montfort Hall. Tickets from 0116 233 3111 or online here.
Sun 13 May COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre. Tickets from 024 7652 4524 or online here.
A Scottish date will be added shortly.
NIDAROS BLUES FESTIVAL TRONDHEIM
The Waterboys will appear at the Nidaros Blues Festival at the Royal Garden Hotel in Trondheim, Norway on Fri 20 April. Tickets, priced 600 Nok for a Super Friday Day Pass, which grants access to 4 venues and 13 different concerts on Fri 20 April, go on sale Fri 29 Sept here
or from the box office on 0047 815 33 1 33.
Additional information about the festival is available here.
OSLO SPRING DATE
MIKE'S ALBUM RELEASE TWITTER VIDEO
OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE IS OUT NOW!
We are thrilled to announce the release of the new and highly anticipated Waterboys double album OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE on BMG Records.
Mike Scott says, "Out Of All This Blue always wanted to be a double album, even before I wrote the songs. So I took a leap into the dark and the songs came, first a few then a flood, in colours of pop, funk, soul even a little country and French chanson. And when I selected from them for the album there was only one standard - each song had to be good enough to make it onto a top class single Waterboys album. Listen loud and listen long, and I hope you love it."
You can order OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE here.
MIKE INTERVIEW TODAY
In conjunction with the album release Mike will be doing a live interview today on Little Water Radio’s Atlantic Tunnel Show at 10.30am Eastern Standard Time (3.30pm UK time). You can tune in here.
MIKE LIVE TWITTER Q&A TODAY
Mike will do a live Q&A on Twitter today from 2.30-3pm Eastern Standard Time (7.30-8pm UK time) here.
WATERBOYS RETURN TO LONDON PALLADIUM IN APRIL
Having sold out their October 21 London Palladium concert, the band has added a second show at the same venue on FRI 27 APRIL. General sale begins Fri 8 Sept at 10am here.
Tickets priced £49.00, £44.00 & £40.00 will also be available from hotline 0844 249 2222.
LATE LATE SHOW
PAYO PAYO CHIN - VIDEO
Director Yoni Weisberg has made a prequel video using the same actors - Clive Russell and Sharon Elder - as If The Answer Is Yeah. This time it's a lovely, sensuous three-minute film for PAYO PAYO CHIN. View it here.
THE CONNEMARA FOX
Latest song to be previewed from Out Of All This Blue is the rocker, The Connemara Fox. Mike Scott says: "The Connemara Fox is an outlaw, a rogue, a scarlet pimpernel of the west. This song is his sound, his groove, his clarion call..." To hear it click here.
IF THE ANSWER IS YEAH - VIDEO
Director Yoni Weisberg has made a fabulous video for If The Answer Is Yeah strarring actors Clive Russell And Sharon Elder. To view it click here.
IN STORE SIGNINGS
Mike Scott will be signing copies of the new double Waterboys album OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE on the following dates:
Mon 11th September- HMV, BELFAST at 17.30
Wed 13th September- FOPP, EDINBURGH at 13.00
Wed 13th September- FOPP, GLASGOW at 17.30
Thurs 14th September- HMV, LIVERPOOL at 17:30
View these dates on our events page here.
FOURTH TRACK FROM THE NEW ALBUM: MISTER CHARISMA
THIRD TRACK FROM THE NEW ALBUM: DO WE CHOOSE WHO WE LOVE
The 3rd track to be previewed from the forthcoming double album Out Of All This Blue is DO WE CHOOSE WHO WE LOVE. The track was co-written by Mike Scott and Freddie Stevenson. Mike says, "This one features Brother Paul, the Dublin Soul Choir and a Northern Soul bass groove by Muscle Shoals funkman David Hood. The lyrics are story, biography, fiction, philosophy. The melodies are pop from the tousled head of my co-writer Fred". You can hear the song here.
Receive an instant download of DO WE CHOOSE WHO WE LOVE when you pre-order Out Of All This Blue from our official store or iTunes click here.
ADVENTURES OF A WATERBOY - REPUBLICATION WITH NEW MATERIAL
Mike Scott's memoir ADVENTURES OF A WATERBOY will be republished by Jawbone Press on 4 November. It contains a new ending, bringing the book up to 2002 and covering Steve Wickham's return to the band, plus 20 pages of additional episodes not included in the original edition. "Think of them as extra scenes on a Director's cut DVD reissue" says Mike. The book also contains many new photos and has a splendid new cover. Pre-order here.
SECOND TRACK FROM THE NEW ALBUM: PAYO PAYO CHIN
WATERBOYS VERSION OF LIKE A ROLLING STONE VIDEO
The Waterboys played Bob Dylan's classic Like A Rolling Stone on BBC's Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Friday. View it here and play loud!
WATERBOYS LIVE ON CHRIS EVANS BREAKFAST SHOW THIS FRIDAY
The Waterboys will play 4 songs live on this Friday's Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2. They'll be playing something new, a few beloved oldies and something borrowed too - a mystery cover version the band has never played before. Last time they guested on Chris's show they did Still A Freak, Fisherman's Blues and what has since become a famous version of Purple Rain. Tune in between 6.30 and 9.30 Friday to see what they deliver this time. The programme cane be streamed live here.
NEW 9-PIECE BIG BAND LINE-UP
The Waterboys will expand to a spectacular 9-piece band this autumn for their tour of the UK, Ireland and Europe. Joing the core line-up of Mike Scott, Steve Wickham, Ralph Salmins, Brother Paul and new bassist Aongus Ralston will be hot Nashville guitarist Bart Walker, formerly of The Royal Southern Brotherhood, second drummer Jon Green and Dublin-based vocalist Jess Kav and Zennie Summers, both of whom sing on the new album Out Of All This Blue. "It's gonna be something like Joe Cocker's 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen ensemble" said Mike Scott, "with two killer drummers, soulful singers and a big band. We're excited!"
JAMES MADDOCK'S NEW ALBUM, FEATURING
MIKE'S PLAYLIST FOR LOVERS
Mike Scott and Tidal have got together to share a playlist of songs for lovers. Streaming here.
NEW SINGLE 'IF THE ANSWER IS YEAH'
'If The Answer Is Yeah', a fantastically funky psychedelic pop song, is the first single from the forthcoming double album, 'Out of All This Blue', and you can listen to it now.
You will receive an instant download of the single when you pre-order 'Out Of All This Blue' from our official store or iTunes here
DIGITAL FORMAT PRE-ORDERS FOR NEW WATERBOYS ALBUM 'OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE' NOW OPEN PLUS SINGLE
Pre-order for the fantastic new Waterboys double album 'Out Of All This Blue', out 8 September, are now open.
Receive an instant download of the first single from the album 'If The Answer Is Yeah' when you pre-order from our official store or iTunes
Additionally you can pre-order physical formats, including exclusive signed offers here.
PRE-ORDER 'OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE'
Pre-order is now open for all physical formats of the forthcoming double album, Out Of All This Blue, to be released 8 September 2017:
- Deluxe 3CD with 16 page booklet, bonus disc of 11 additional tracks and signed photo-print of Mike Scott
- Deluxe 3LP in gatefold sleeve including bonus disc plus a printed lyric folio with words to 10 of the songs
- Standard 2CD with 12 page booklet
- Standard 2LP in gatefold sleeve
Place your pre-orders here
Pre-orders for digital formats will open in mid-July.
OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE, NEW DOUBLE ALBUM, SEPT 8 ON BMG RECORDS.
The Waterboys will release their brand-new studio double album Out Of All This Blue on September 8 2017; their first for BMG Records, with whom they recently signed.
Produced by Mike Scott and recorded in Dublin and Tokyo, Out Of All This Blue will be available on Double CD and Double Vinyl, pluse Deluxe Triple CD (including Bonus Tracks) and Deluxe Triple Vinyl (including Bonus Tracks) and Digital.
Out Of All This Blue is The Waterboys most exploratory recording yet, comprising 23 songs with Mike Scott's trademark sharp lyrics set to pop music with echoes of classic R&B, country, soul and funk and underpinned by modern hiphop production values and rhythms. String & brass sections were arranged and conducted by Trey Pollard of The Spacebomb Collective. Mike Scott says of the record: "Out Of All This Blue is 2/3 love and romance, 1/3 stories and observations. I knew from the beginning I wanted to make a double album, and lucky for me - and I hope the listener - the songs just kept coming, and in pop colours."
The Waterboys - Out Of All This Blue Track Listing:
1 Do We Choose Who We Love
2 If I Was Your Boyfriend:
3 Santa Fe
4 If the Answer Is Yeah
5 Love Walks In
6 New York I Love You
7 The Connemara Fox
8 The Girl in the Window Chair
9 Morning Came Too Soon
10 Hiphopstrumental 4 (Scatman)
11 The Hammerhead Bar
12 Mister Charisma
13 Nashville, Tennessee
14 Man, What a Woman
15 Girl in a Kayak
16 Monument
17 Kinky's History Lesson
18 Skyclad Lady
19 Rokudenashiko
20 Didn't We Walk on Water
21 The Elegant Companion
22 Yamaben
23 Payo Payo Chin
Deluxe Editions 3rd CD/3rd Disc:
1 The Memphis Fox
2 If the Answer Is Yeah (Alternate Version)
3 If I Was You Boyfriend (Zeenie Mix)
4 Epiphany on Mott Street
5 Didn't We Walk on Water (JessKav Mix)
6 Santa Fe (Instrumental)
7 Payo Payo Chin (Tokyo Hotel)
8 Return To Roppongi Hills
9 Nashville, Tennessee (Live)
10 Mister Charisma (Alternate Version)
11 So in Love With You
MIKE TO GUEST AT SPACEBOMB REVUE IN LONDON
Mike Scott will appear as a guest when the Spacebomb Collective, funk and soul record-makers extraordinaire of Richmond, Virginia, brings its House Band to London for this one-night-only revue, hosted by singer and producer Matthew E White on Friday 6 October. Mike is a big fan of Spacebomb's productions and asked Spacebomb member Trey Pollard to do string & brass arrangments for the new Waterboys album. "His work was incredible" said Mike "and will blow everyone away."
For the Revue the Spacebomb House Band will be joined by a horn section and strings to back artists with whom they've worked with in the last 12 months including Mike, Natalie Prass, Slow Club, Bedouine, Cocoon, Georgie, Foxygen, Charlie Fink of Noah and the Whale and Howard Ivans of The Rosebuds.
Tickets for this very special event are on sale now here.
WATERMUSICFESTIVAL, IRELAND, JULY 16
The Waterboys will play at the Carrick Water Music Festival in the Landmark Hotel in CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, CO. LEITRIM, IRELAND on Sunday 16th July. Early bird tickets, €38.50 are available until Monday 12th June, €42.50 thereafter, and are on sale now form the box office on +353 71 96 50828 or online here.
WRIGHTGAARDEN FESTIVAL, NORWAY, JULY 14
The Waterboys will play the Wrightgaarden Festival in Langesund, Norway on Friday 14th July. Tickets, priced 630.00 NOK (including 35 NOK fee), are on sale now here.
MURCIA, SPAIN ADDED TO AUTUMN TOUR
The Waterboys will play at Murcia Auditoria in MURCIA, SPAIN on Saturday, 18th November. Information and tickets are available here.
GERMANY ADDED TO AUTUMN TOUR
The Waterboys have confirmed two German dates for November 2017. They are:
Thurs 9 November- Laeiszhalle, HAMBURG
AND
Tues 14 November- Theater am Marientor, DUISBURG
Tickets, priced €40-€70, are on sale now from the box office on 0234 9471940 or online here
UK, IRELAND AND EUROPE SHOWS ANNOUNCED FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2017
The Waterboys have announced dates for the UK, Ireland and Europe in October and November 2017.
Wed 18th October - Colston Hall, Bristol, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
Thur 19th October - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
Sat 21st October - Palladium, London, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
Sun 22nd October - Opera House, Manchester, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
Mon 23rd October - The Sage, Gateshead, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
Tues 24th October - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, SCOTLAND. Tickets here.
Thurs 26th October - 3Arena, Dublin, IRELAND. Tickets here.
Sat 11th November - Munchenbryggriet, Stockholm, SWEDEN. Tickets here.
Sun 12th November - Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway. Tickets here.
Wed 15th November - AFAS Live, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS. Tickets here.
BEAUTIFUL DAYS 18TH AUGUST 2017
The Waterboys will play Beautiful Days on the 18th August 2017. Tickets can be bought here.
TYSNESFEST, NORWAY, 13TH JULY 2017
STEINKJERFESTIVALEN 2017 24TH JUNE 2017
The Waterboys are playing in Rismelen Park on the main stage at Steinkjerfestivalen on Saturday 24th of June. To buy tickets call +47 81533 122 or click here. Tickets cost 890 NOK for a day pass and 1335 NOK for a festival pass. Day passes will be available within 2 weeks, while festival passes are available for purchase now.
THE OVER OSLO FESTIVAL 23RD JUNE 2017
The Waterboys are playing the Over Oslo Festival on the 23rd of June. To buy tickets call +47 81533133 or click here.
MANCHESTER CASTLEFIELD BOWL 2017 PROMO VIDEO
The Waterboys are playing the Manchester Castfield Bowl on the 2nd July. Watch the promo video for the Castlefield series of shows here.
HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL 22ND JULY 2017
The Waterboys will play at The Hebridean Celtic Festival on the 22nd July 2017. Tickets are on sale now here
A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT 2ND JULY 2017
The Waterboys are co-headlining with the Levellers A Beautiful Day Out at the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester on the 2nd July 2017 as part of Sound Of The City. Tickets cost £35 plus booking fee and are available from 9:30am on Friday 2nd December by clicking here or by calling 0844 811 0051.
PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL 27 AUGUST
The Waterboys will play at Vilar De Mouros Festival in Caminha, Portugal on Sat 27 August. Tickets, priced €25, are on sale now here
SUMMER SHOWS 2016
The band is looking forward to a music-filled summer! Below is a complete list, so far, of 2016 Waterboys summer shows.
Sat 28 May - Tunes In The Dunes, CORNWALL, ENGLAND. Tickets here
Fri 3 June - Wychwood Festival, CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND. Tickets here
Sat 4 June - Retropop Festival, EMMEN, THE NETHERLANDS. Tickets here
Mon 6 June - Progresja Music Zone, WARSAW, POLAND. Tickets here
Sat 9 July - Bospop Festival, WEERT, THE NETHERLANDS. Tickets here
Sun 10 July - Killarney Folkfest, INEC in KILLARNEY, IRELAND. Tickets here
Thurs 28 July - Trollrock, Ski Stadium, BEITOSTOLEN, NORWAY. Tickets here
Sat 30 July - Mundaka Festival, Peninsula de Santa Katalina, MUNDAKA, BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN. Tickets here
Thurs 4 Aug - Notodden Blues Festival, Hovigs Hangar, NOTODDEN, NORWAY. Tickets here
Sat 6 Aug - Botaniska Backstage, UPPSALA, SWEDEN. Tickets here
Mon 8 Aug - Kelvingrove Bandstand, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. Tickets here
DAVID HOOD LOOKING GOOD
Waterboys bassman David Hood was photographed recently outside Muscle Shoals Sound Recording Studio, which he helped make famous in the 1970s.
PRINCE'S VERSION OF WHOLE OF THE MOON
Audio of one of Prince's two live performances of The Whole Of The Moon has been uploaded on youtube, along with many other of his videos, in the weeks following his sudden death. This is his funk rendering of the song, and you can find it here. The other performance was a solo piano/vocal version performed at Ronnie Scott's, London, in 2014.
MIKE SCOTT'S ENGAGEMENT
As many of you will already have seen on facebook and twitter, Mike has become engaged to Japanes artist Megumi Igarashi. We'd like to wish them every happiness together.
WATERBOYS AT BOSPOP FESTIVAL
THE WATERBOYS AT KILLARNEY FOLKFEST & TROLLROCK FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will headline Killarney Folkfest at INEC Killarney on Sunday 10 July. Early Bird Weekend tickets, priced €79, as well as Early Bird Sunday-only tickets, priced €39, are on sale now. Early Bird prices apply until January 31st and there are a limited number of early bird tickets
available. You can purchase tickets from the box office by phone at 00353 64 6671555, or online here.
Learn more about Killarney Folkfest here.
The Waterboys will headline Trollrock Festival at Beitostølen Ski Stadium in Beitostølen, Norway on Thursday 28 July. Tickets, priced NOK 1495 for a 3-day festival pass and NOK 795 for a day pass, are on sale now from the box office by phone at 81533133 or online here.
For more information about Trollrock Festival click here.
SUMMER SHOW IN BASQUE COUNTRY
The Waterboys will headline Mundaka Festival, Peninsula de Santa Katalina. The festival will take place Thursday 28 July through Saturday 30 July. The exact date and time that The Waterboys will appear will be announced soon. Tickets, priced €55 - €70 are on sale now here.
More information about the festival here.
MIKE'S SONG IN SUPPORT OF MEGUMI IGARASHI
Mike Scott has written a song called ROK ROK ROKUDENASHIKO in support of Megumi Igarashi, the Japanese visual artist, also known as "Rokudenashiko", who is currently on trial in Japan on obscenity charges. Says Mike: "Rokudenashiko is a brave artist, and her work, which celebrates the vagina in a playful way, isn't obscene at all. She's fighting a form of state censorship, and doing it on her own without any corporate or company backing. As a fellow artist, I support her. She's also great fun and that inspired me to write a mischievous slice of psychedelic funk in her honour". To hear the track click here. For further information on Rokudenashiko's case, click here.
You can see Mike recording the song at a recent soundcheck with two Waterboys crew members, Jon Green (drums) and Neil Mahony (bass) here. Filmed by Stu Condron.
COPENHAGEN DATE ADDED
The Waterboys will return to the Pumpehuset in Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday, October 13th.
Tickets from +45 70 15 65 65 and online here.
BROTHER PAUL AND AGRELIA'S CASTLE
Waterboys' keyboard player Brother Paul has recorded a CD of new age music with his wife April. They recorded it under the name AGRELIA'S CASTLE and the CD is titled ELDERS AND ANCESTORS, set for release on 1st September. April's Native American-style flute and vocals are blended with Brother Paul's soundscapes. We asked Mike Scott if he'd heard it and he emailed: "Yeah. That's the music Brother Paul played in his car every day when we were making Modern Blues. He'd pick me up at the hotel and when I got in the car it was like stepping into a parallel world of this gorgeous hypnotic healing music, totally different from Paul's rock and roll but still beautiful. And April sings like an earth angel." You can stream a track and order ELDERS AND ANCESTORS here.
SUPPORT ACTS ON AUTUMN WATERBOYS TOURS
On their tours this Autumn the Waterboys will be supported by three acts, all personally chosen by the band:
Well-known Waterboys friend and troubadour FREDDIE STEVENSON will open all European shows from Barcelona on 21 Sept to Oslo on 18th Oct, plus the Dublin show on 4th Nov. Freddie's fourth album, The Darkening / The Brightening, co-produced by Mike Scott, will be released by Cadiz Records on 18th Sept. Freddie will be performing with a three piece line-up including Waterboys alumnus Joe Chester.
Experimental Irish instrumental band THE JIMMY CAKE, particular favourites of Mike Scott, will open all Irish shows, from Sligo on 24th Oct to the final Dublin show on 7th Nov, with the exception of Dublin 4th Nov. Their new album Master has just been released.
Cool Texan songwriter and stylish hat-wearer JARROD DICKENSON and his band will open all shows on the UK tour which runs from November 9th to December 6th. Jarrod's new album will be released in 2016.
TWO IRISH DATES ADDED
BRUSSELS AND ANTWERP ADDED TO AUTUMN TOUR
AUTUMN DATES ADDED: CORK & ALBACETE
MODERN BLUES RADIO SPECIAL
Mike recently talked MODERN BLUES with program director Tom Gilding at WBSD-FM radio in Burlington, WI. The feature will air in two parts:
Part 1 of the feature will air on Sunday, June 28 at 2PM CST and again on Monday, June 29 at 9PM CST.
Part 2 will air on Sunday, July 5 at 2PM CST and again on Monday, July 6 at 9PM CST.
WBSD-FM is at 89.1 on the dial in the Milwaukee area, or you can listen worldwide, in real time, here.
GLASTONURY PERFORMANCE STREAM
Viewers in the UK can watch the BBC stream of The Waterboys' fantastic performance at Glastonbury 2015 here. The set included Medicine Bow, A Girl Called Johnny, Long Strange Golden Road, Fisherman's Blues and several others. The stream isn't available for viewers in other countries, we're sorry to say, but a clip of the band playing The Whole Of The Moon is universally accessible here.
OURENSE SHOW CANCELLED
Due to a change in local government, the Ourense show on 23rd June has been cancelled on short notice. The cancellation was out of the band's hands. We hope to play for the people of Santiage De Compostelo at our earliest opportunity.
GLASTONBURY LIVE STREAM
Thanks to all of the fans who signed the petition and sent emails asking the BBC to include the Waterboys in their televised coverage of Glastonbury Festival.
The BBC has now confirmed that they will film the band’s set for online streaming and that The Waterboys will kick off Saturday’s live stream coverage of Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage June 27th at 1:30 PM GMT.
For those inside the UK, the band’s performance can be watched online, or accessed afterward on BBC’s iPlayer. For those outside the UK, an audio-only stream will also be available. You will be able to access all of this, and find further information on the BBC's website here.
Fans are still collecting signatures for the petition requesting that the BBC include The Waterboys in their television coverage. It can be signed here until Monday, June 22nd.
MIKE SCOTT'S TRACKS OF MY YEARS
Mike was featured this week on BBC Radio Two's Ken Bruce Show. He selected ten favourite records - two a day - for Ken's Tracks Of My Years feature and talked about them, and their place in his life. The fifth and last segment Mike did for the show is on from 9.30 to noon GMT tomorrow, and can be streamed live here. You can also replay any of this week’s episodes that you might have missed here.
ADDITIONAL OSLO SHOW
The band's Oslo show on 17 October is sold out, and a second show at Sentrum Scene has been added on 18th October. Tickets are available now here.
FAN PETITION FOR GLASTONBURY BROADCAST
Waterboys fans have begun a petition asking the BBC to televise the band's upcoming performance at Glastonbury. You can view and sign the petition here.
MORE SUMMER EUROPEAN DATES ANNOUNCED
IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE ON SIRIUS/XM SATELLITE RADIO
The Waterboys stopped into SIRIUS/XM's studio in Washington, D.C. in April for a short live set which is available to Sirius/XM subscribers in North America. Currently in rotation on The Loft and Spectrum channels, the next scheduled broadcasts of the set are Saturday, June 13, at 12:00PM EDT, and Monday, June 15th, 12:00PM EDT on The Loft.
SECOND STOCKHOLM SHOW
The Waterboys have added a show at Nalen in STOCKHOLM on Fri 9th October in addition to the sold out show on the 10th. Tickets, priced SEK 410, are on sale now from +46 (0) 771 47 70 70 or online here.
THE WATERBOYS ON DAVID LETTERMAN
The Waterboys will make their North American national television debut on David Letterman tonight. Check your local listings.
THIS WEEK'S SPOTIFY PLAYLIST - BROTHER PAUL
Selected by Waterboys keyboard player Brother Paul, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, this killer playlist comprises some of Paul's favourite tracks from his home town. To listen click here.
RALPH'S JAZZ HOUR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Like many great rock drummersbefore him, including Charlie Watts and Mitch Mitchell, Waterboy Ralph Salmins is also a gifted jazz player. He's recorded or performed with The Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Georgie Fame, Art Farmer, Johnny Dankworth and many others. He selected an hour of his favourite jazz music for this week's Spotify playlist. To listen click here.
SAN DIEGO TICKETS NOW ON SALE
The Waterboys return to beautiful San Diego to play Humphrey's By The Bay on May 15th.Tickets are $40.00 and are available now here.
STEVE'S SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Steve Wickham, born and raised in Dublin, has been playing Irish traditional tunes since he was a boy. Over the years they've become woven into Waterboys music and the fabric of Steve's life. This is a selection of what Steve considers the major tunes in the Irish trad canon. He titles this playlst "Steve Wickham's Essential Irish Tunes". To listen click here.
EXCLUSIVE NORTH AMERICAN FULL ALBUM STREAM OF MODERN BLUES
For those in North America, The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy Blog is hosting a long-awaited exclusive full album stream of MODERN BLUES leading up to the North American release date on April 7th. Listen here.
PUCK'S BLUES EP FOR RECORD STORE DAY
The Waterboys release a limited edition 10" vinyl EP on Record Store Day, Saturday 18 April. It is titled PUCK'S BLUES and features Mike Scott's home demos of I Can See Elvis, Destinies Entwined, November Tale and - featuring an entirely different tune - The Girl Who Slept For Scotland. The sleeve is a beautiful sliding container and the back cover includes a sleevenote by Mike. Copies will be available at participating stores worldwide.
THIS WEEK'S SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Waterboys lead guitarist Zach Ernst has compiled a fabulous playlist titled ZACH'S GUIDE TO GREAT SOUL GUITAR. Says Zach: "There are so many great guitarists in Austin, Texas, you can drive yourself crazy trying to keep up. I’ve found the best survival strategy is to find a specialty and drill it down. For me the most irresistible and inexhaustible style is R&B rhythm guitar. This playlist features some of my favorite guitarists at their soulful, twangy and—most of all—funky best." To listen click here.
WATERBOYS PLAY EDINBURGH BANDSTAND
The Waterboys will headline the Ross Bandstand, in the shade of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland on Friday 28th August, as part of the city's Summer Nights series of shows. "I always wanted to play on that bandstand, ever since I was a 5-year-old kid passing it on my way home from skool each day," said Mike Scott. Come and see his dream come true! Tickets, price £35 plus booking fee, are available now from +44 844 844 0444 and online here.
THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST: DAVID HOOD
This week's Waterboys playlist on Spotify was created by bassman David Hood and is entitled "Great Lesser-Known Recordings I Played On". As David has played on some of the best records ever made, you better believe this is gonna be a great playlist. Artists include Don Nix, JJ Cale, Traffic, James Brown, Willie Nelson and Steve Cropper. Access it here.
NORTH AMERICAN OPENERS
Opening acts on the North American tour, all selected and invited by The Waterboys, will be
The Bluebonnets (Austin, NY, Wilmington, Ridgefield, Boston, Milwaukee, Chicago & Minneapolis)
The New Breed Brass Band (New Orleans)
Paul Burch (Nashville)
Connor Kennedy (Atlanta, Alexandria, Pittsburgh, Glenside PA, all Canadian & West Coast dates + Arvada)
SECOND BOSTON SHOW
A second show at Boston's Wilbur Theatre has been added for 29th April. Tickets are available here.
WEEKLY SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS
The Waterboys have created a selection of playlists on Spotify and these will go live, each Friday, for the next 6 weeks, starting today with Mike's "Now That's What I Call Good Lyrics", available for streaming now. Next week will be a playlist by another band member, and so on.
WHAT HAVE THE WATERBOYS BEEN DOING SINCE THE LAST SHOWS?
We asked and this is what we found out:
DAVID played bass with Mavis Staples at the concert at Renaissance Hotel, Montgomery, Alabama to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma civil rights march, in Montogomery, Alabama. Photo of David and Mavis backstage by Judy Hood.
ZACH'S adventures at home in Austin, Texas included completing the 2nd album by vintage gospel band The Relatives, which he produced; playing with Texas soul legends Bobby Patterson & Barbara Lynn at music club C-Boy's Heart & Soul; and logging time at his 'day job' booking acts into the Paramount Theatre, including Allen Toussaint, Mavis Staples, Smokey Robinson, Dr. John and...The Waterboys.
RALPH played a show with the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrating Billie Holliday and featuring veteran soul singer Madeline Bell. He recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra featuring solo violinist Anne Akiko Meyers; and did sessions for British singer Robbie Williams. Between times he's been teaching at The Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London.
STEVE played a show in Manorhamilton, Ireland with the Sligo Baroque Orchestra & Congolese group Tropicana Musica. He did a solo Concert in Rosselare, Belgium (fiddle tunes and a few songs), plus concerts with his "other band" NoCrows in Flanders and Sligo. And a duet performance with German saxophonist Norbert Vollath at the Model Art Centre, Sligo.
BROTHER PAUL completed a New Age album, Elders And Ancestors, with his wife April, who plays flute in the Native American style and sings. They call themselves Agrelia's Castle and the album is out in September. The photo shows April and Paul. Paul's been mixing sound for a DVD of the commemoration concert for US rock guitar legend Dick Wagner, at which he also played. He's been writing and recording with roots rocker Mike Farris, and making an album with his namesake, LA-based jazz guitarist Paul Brown, for their band The Brothers Brown.
MIKE has been doing interviews to publicise Modern Blues and his latest, with Phil Gallo of Billboard, was #98 for the album so far.
NORWAY IN OCTOBER
Three shows in Norway have been added as part of The Waterboys 2015 European tour. More European dates will be announced as they are confirmed. The Norwegian dates are:
Thurs 15 October Grieghallen, BERGEN
Tickets, priced NOK 400/450/350 + fee, go on sale Sat 7 March here, or by phone at +4755216150.
Fri 16 October Konserthus - Kuppelhallen, STAVANGER
Tickets, priced NOK 425 + fee, are on sale now here, or by phone at +47 51 53 70 00.
Sat 17 October Sentrum Scene, OSLO
Tickets, priced NOK 460 + service charge, go on sale Sat 7 March here, or by phone at +47 815 33 133.
BEHIND THE CASTLE FESTIVAL, DORSET
The Waterboys will headline this festival in Sherborne Castle, Dorset, England on Saturday 13th June. Tickets are available now here, or by phone from +44 23 8071 1818. Other acts featured include Show Of Hands, Nizlopi and Emily Barker.
AUGUST SHOW IN HAARLEM, HOLLAND
The Waterboys will play at the beautiful Openluchttheater, Caprera, Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Holland on Saturday 8th August. Tickets are available now here, or by phone from +31 235 175 858
WATERBOYS COLLABORATION ON NEW THEA GILMORE ALBUM
The band are featured on the song Glistening Bay on Thea Gilmore's new album Ghost & Graffitti, which will be released on April 27th. The track was produced by Mike Scott. Thea and Mike share lead vocals, Ralph Salmins bashes the drums, Brother Paul plays piano, Steve Wickham fiddles and the band is completed by ace UK guitar man Robbie Mackintosh and Thea's musical partner and occasional bassist Nigel Stonier. When Mike was asked to contribute to the album he suggested Glistening Bay. "I heard this song on Thea's album of Sandy denny's lyrics-turned-into-new-songs, and fell in love with it. Getting to record a new version was magical." Other contributors to Ghost & Graffitti include Joan As Policewoman, Billy Bragg, John Cooper Clarke, Joan Baez, John Bramwell of I Am Kloot and Scottish songster King Creosote.
SUMMER FESTIVALS
The Waterboys' first summer festival confirmations have come through. They are:
Sun 28 June The Marquee, CORK, IRELAND. Tickets here or by phone +353 818 719 300 / +44 844 277 4455.
Fri 24 July WICKERMAN Festival, Dundrennan, SW SCOTLAND. Tickets here.
Sat 25 July LAURUS NOBILIS Festival, Louro, PORTUGAL. Tickets here.
Sat 5 Sept WEYFEST, Farnham, Surrey, ENGLAND. Tickets here.
FIRST SHOW OF EUROPEAN TOUR ANNOUNCED
The first show of the band's Autumn 2015 European tour to be announced is:
Sun 27 Sept Kaufleuten, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. Tickets here or by phone from +41 900 800 800.
THE WATERBOYS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES ON SALE NOW
The Waterboys will be embarking on a 27-date tour in North America during April/May 2015. Tickets for most dates are on sale to the public today. See below for further details.
Thurs., April 16th, AUSTIN, TX - The Paramount Theatre. $34.50. Purchase online here.
Fri., April 17th, NEW ORLEANS, LA - Tipitina’s. $30.00. Purchase online here.
Sat., April 18th, NASHVILLE, TN - 3rd and Lindsley $29.50. Purchase online here.
Sun., April 19th, ATLANTA, GA - Variety Playhouse. $35.00. Purchase online here. Tickets are also available by phone at 800-745-3000.
Tues., April 21st, ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Birchmere. $35.00. Purchase online here. Tickets are also available by phone at 800-745-3000.
Wed., April 22nd, PITTSBURGH, PA - Mr. Small’s Theatre. $35.00. Purchase online here.
Thurs., April 23rd, GLENSIDE, PA - The Keswick Theatre $32.00/$37.00/$47.00 Purchase online here: Tickets are also available at the Keswick Theatre box office, Monday-Saturday, Noon-5PM and via phone at 215-572-7650.
Sat., April 25th, NEW YORK, NY - Irving Plaza. $35.00. Purchase online here.
Sun., April 26th, WILMINGTON, DE - The Grand Opera House, $37.00/$33.00/$30.00. Purchase online here.
Mon., April 27th, RIDGEFIELD, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse. $50.00 Purchase online here.
Tues., April 28th, BOSTON, MA - Wilbur Theatre $30.00/$40.00/$50.00 Purchase online here.
Fri., May 1st, MONTREAL, CANADA - Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre $39.25 CAD. Purchase online here.
Sat., May 2nd, TORONTO, CANADA - Winter Garden Theatre $56.50 CAD. Purchase online here.
Sun., May 3rd, OTTAWA, CANADA - Bronson Centre Theatre. $39.50 CAD. Purchase online here.
Tues., May 5th, MILWAUKEE, WI - Turner Hall Ballrooom $29.50. Purchase online here.
Wed., May 6th, CHICAGO, IL - House of Blues $35.00. Purchase online here.
Thurs., May 7th, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - First Avenue $30.00. Purchase online here.
Wed., May 13th, LOS ANGELES, CA - The Fonda $27.50. Purchase online here.
Fri., May 15th, TBA
Sat., May 16th, VENTURA, CA - Ventura Majestic Theatre $25.00 - $40.00 Purchase online here.
Sun., May 17th, SACRAMENTO, CA – Ace of Spades. $35.00 Purchase online here.
Mon., May 18th, SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Fillmore. $29.50. Purchase online here.
Wed. May 20th, VICTORIA, BC – University of Victoria, Farquhar Auditorium. $58/$62/$68 CAD. Purchase online here.
Thurs., May 21st, SEATTLE, WA – Showbox SODO Purchase online here.
Fri., May 22nd, PORTLAND, OR – Aladdin Theatre. $35.00. Purchase online here.
Sun., May 24th, ARVADA, CO – Arvada Center Ampitheatre. $27.00-$52.00. Purchase online here.
HAMMERSMITH APOLLO ADDED TO UK TOUR
MIKE'S FRENCH INTERVIEW
Mike was interviewed for French TV's Telerama. The interviewer placed folded post-it notes on a table, each with a topic, and asked Mike to pick them up one at a time and discuss each topic. View the results here.
MODERN BLUES REVIEW
View British newspaper The DailyTelegraph's 5-star review of Modern Blues here.
PURPLE RAIN ON CHRIS EVANS SHOW
The band played their version of Prince's Purple Rain live on yesterday's Chris Evans radio show. See it here.
WATERBOYS AUSTRALIAN & NZ DATES - ON SALE
Tickets for the Waterboys tour of Australia and New Zealand go on sale to the general public on Friday Jan 30th, but will be on sale to Waterboys news subscribers from Thursday 29th. Date and booking details as follows:
Wed 25 March: Astor Theatre, PERTH. Box office +61 8 9370 1777 and online here.
Fri 27 March: MELBOURNE Recital Centre. Box office +61 3 9699 3333 and online here.
Tues 31 March, ASB Theatre, AUCKLAND. Box office +64 800 111 999 and online here.
Thurs 2 April, SYDNEY Opera House. Box office +61 2 9250 7111 and online here.
WATERBOYS TO PLAY LIVE SESSION ON CHRIS EVANS SHOW, UK
The band will play a four-song live session on Chris Evans' morning show, this Friday, between 8.35-9.30am. Stream it here.
LIMERICK SHOW ADDED TO AUTUMN TOUR
The Waterboys will return to Limerick, Ireland for a show on Friday 30 October at The Big Top on Market Square. Tickets price €40 are available now from the box office, +353 61 314483 and online here.
LIVE VIDEO OF NOVEMBER TALE
When playing in Amsterdam last month, The Waterboys filmed a live version of November Tale for a new video. The video was directed by Robert Jan Westdijk, who also filmed the band's two Amsterdam shows for inclusion in his next movie.
ADVANCE ALBUM STREAM OF MODERN BLUES
The new Waterboys album Modern Blues is streaming live now on the websites of Rolling Stone, Mojo and other major music publications in UK, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Japan, and Australia. Access the streaming here. Access is only available to users in those countries. Other countries will follow later and we will keep you posted.
WATERBOYS TO PLAY BYRON BAY BLUES FESTIVAL
The Waterboys will play at Australia's Byron Bay Blues Festival on Saturday April 4. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here in several formats, including weekend and one day. This show will form part of an Australia/NZ Waterboys tour, details to be announced shortly.
SHOW IN TOKYO, 6 APRIL
The Waterboys will play Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo on April 6th. This will be the band's only Japanese show during this spring, Tickets are available by phone at +81(0)3 3444 6751 Further info here.
NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE OF MODERN BLUES
The North American release of Modern Blues has been put back to 7th April to coincide with the Waterboys' upcoming tour of the US and Canada, which will be announced shortly and will run from mid-April to late May. North American purchasers who pre-order downloads of the album can download three of the songs, Destinies Entwined, November Tale and Beautiful Now at time of purchase. An advance stream of the album will be announced in March. The first North American single will be Beautiful Now, and a new video for the song, filmed in December at an amusement park in Ventura, California, will be issued in February. The video features Mike Scott and Brother Paul driving bumper cars while singing the song. A photo from the shoot can be seen above.
VIDEO FOR #JESUISCHARLIE
Waterboys fan Peter Lennie compiled a video of images from the Je Suis Charlie rally in Paris last weekend, accompanied by the Waterboys' song Let The Earth Bear Witness. Lyrics by WB Yeats.
NEW YEAR SHOW - WHAT HAPPENED
The Waterboys' New Year's Eve show at Stirling Castle was cancelled because of high winds. Undeterred, the band played a short set in a bar in town, thanks to local band Gillie's Hillbillies who lent them amplification.
MIKE SCOTT'S PIANO/VOCAL SESSION AT KCSN LOS ANGELES
Mike Scott's solo piano performances of Destinies Entwined and Custer's Blues plus short interview on KCSN in Los Angeles are archived here.
CARTOON BAND
Waterboys' fan Erwin Rademaker drew this fabulous cartoon of the band's current line-up.
THREE BLOKES, A TAXI, AND THE WHOLE OF THE MOON
Twitter user @GrandmasterSub posted this wonderful video of three blokes singing along with The Whole Of The Moon in a Yorkshire taxi cab.
BEAUTIFUL NOW - 3RD TRACK FROM MODERN BLUES
The third track to be unveiled from Modern Blues is the gorgeous love song Beautiful Now, which will be the American single from the album. Co-written by Mike Scott and New York-based songsmith James Maddock, the song features the keyboards of Brother Paul, bass playing by David Hood, and lead guitar courtesy of 2013 American Waterboy Jay Barclay. Access it here.
SHOW ADDED IN DERRY
A show at Derry's Millenium Forum has been added to the Autumn 2015 tour of Ireland and the UK. The show is on Monday 26 October, and tickets priced £29.50, £27 and £19.50 are available now from +44 287 126 4455 and online here.
RALPH AMONG WORLD'S BEST DRUMMERS - OFFICIAL!
We've known it all along, but Waterboys drummer Ralph Salmins has been acknowledged as one of the world's finest drummers, placing in the top 16 of Rhythm Magazine's 2014 readers' poll. Read all about it here.
WHAT HAPPENED - AMSTERDAM
The Waterboys' two sell-out shows at Amsterdam Paradiso in early December were a great success. The new band came, saw and conquered and footage was shot for Robert Jan Westdijk's forthcoming movie "Waterboys". The set featured half a dozen songs from the new album Modern Blues, including sngle November Tale and show closer Long Strange Golden Road which marked Steve Wickham's debut as a top-hatted lap steel player. Souped-up versions of Fisherman's Blues, A Girl Called Johnny, Lonesome Old Wind and other older favourites were played too. The photos above were shot by Waterboys fans Hans Kopples and Scarlett Hutchison.
HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU AT ROYAL VARIETY SHOW
Unlikely as it seems, the Waterboys made it to Britain's Royal Variety Show. This middle of the road showbiz event has been running since 1912 and is the show during which John Lennon once famously invited the people in the expensive seats to "rattle your jewellery". In the 2014 version, televised two weeks ago, Ellie Goulding sang the Waterboys' 1990 song How Long Will I Love You. View it here.
MODERN BLUES BAND PLAYED FIRST GIG
The new Modern Blues line-up of The Waterboys played their first show on Wed Dec 3 under a big top at the Milk Market in Limerick, Ireland. The explosive set included half a dozen songs from the forthcoming album plus a selection of favourites, and featured the live debuts of bassist David Hood and lead guitarist Zach Ernst. The set closed with an eleven-minute full electric version of Long Strange Golden Road. Above is a photo of the band at the end of their rehearsals earlier this week, L-R David Hood, Steve Wickham, Zach Ernst, Ralph Salmins, Mike Scott, Brother Paul,
WATERBOYS TO PLAY SLIGO LIVE FESTIVAL 2015
The Waterboys will headline next year's Sligo Live festival on 24th October. The show is at Knocknarea Arena, and tickets go onsale next Friday, 12 Dec, price €40.50 (standing) / €47.95 (seated), from +353 71 916 1518 or online here.
NEW SINGLE NOVEMBER TALE
The first single from Modern Blues is the song November Tale, a beautiful soul-influenced rocker. It features electric piano and string arrangement by Brother Paul, and lead guitar by the band's ace new guitarslinger Zach Ernst, plus Muscle Shoals great David Hood on bass. You can listen to it here, and pre-order the album for download here. The single is immediately available upon album pre-order, but it is also available as a separate download, in digital format only. Photo by Dara Munnis.
UK 2015 TOUR
The Waterboys will tour the UK and Ireland in Autumn 2015. Private pre-sale begins 4 Dec, 9am for all of the dates listed below, except where noted. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, 5 Dec. More to be announced soon.
27 Oct, Tues BELFAST Ulster Hall £33.00 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 028 90 334455.
13 Nov, Fri YORK Barbican £32.50 / £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
14 Nov, Sat PORTSMOUTH Guildhall £32.50 / £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
15 Nov, Sun PLYMOUTH Pavilions £32.50 / £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
16 Nov, Mon BEXHILL De La Warr Pavilion £28.00 / £26.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 01424 229 111.
18 Nov, Wed CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre £32 / £27.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 01227 787 787.
19 Nov, Thurs MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall £37.50 / £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 01227 787 787.
21 Nov, Sat GATESHEAD The Sage £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
22 Nov, Sun LIVERPOOL Empire £32.50 / £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
23 Nov, Mon SHEFFIELD City Hall £32.50, £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
25 Nov, Wed CARDIFF St. David's Hall £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
26 Nov, Thurs CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
27 Nov, Fri LEICESTER de Montford Hall £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
29 Nov, Sun LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru £32.50, £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
30 Nov, Mon BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall £32.50 / £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
01 Dec, Tues GUILFORD GLive £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
3 Dec, Thurs BRISTOL Colston Hall £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
4 Dec, Fri SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion £32.50, £28.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
05 Dec, Sat WATFORD Colosseum £32.50 Tickets are available online here, or by phone from 0844 338 0000.
WATERBOYS 2015 SCOTTISH DATES
Tickets for the Scottish leg of the Waterboys' Modern Blues tour go on sale this Friday, 28th Nov, at 9am. Dates are:
9 Nov, Mon ABERDEEN Music Hall £27.50
10 Nov, Tues GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall £27.50 / £25
11 Nov, Wed GLASGOW Barrowland Ballroom £27.50
Tickets are available online here, or by phone from +44 844 844 0444. Aberdeen is standing and seated, Glasgow Concert Hall is all seated and Barrowland is all standing.
MODERN BLUES LAUNCH SHOW IN GERMANY
The Waterboys will play at Essigfabrik, Cologne, Germany, on Wed 4th Feb 2015. Tickets, priced €40 incl fees, are available now from +49 234 9471940 or online here. More German shows will follow later in the year.
VIDEO OF THREE DAY MAN: MIKE & NOVASTAR
Mike Scott guested onstage with top Belgian band Novastar in Antwerp last Thursday, 20th Nov, and sang four songs. You can view The Three Day Man here. Other songs played were Bring 'Em All In, When Ye Go Away and November Tale (from the new album Modern Blues). Mike has co-written in the past with Novastar singer Joost Zweegers, and this concert was broadcast by Belgian Radio 1. Photo by Thomas Nolf.
ALL THE BOYS LOVE CARRIE PLAYED IN EDINBURGH
Mike Scott's first-ever record was performed live on 19th November at an Edinburgh concert held as a tribute to music fan and supporter Donald Tiso. Donald was an old friend of Mike's who died earlier this year in a mountaineering accident. Mike was unable to attend the show, being on interview tour in Europe. But his early song All The Boys Love Carrie was played by a 4-piece band including Mike's old bandmate Steve Fraser (Another Pretty Face, The Red & The Black), bassist Trash of Edinburgh girl punk band The Ettes, and noted drumslinger Ali Wilson. Photo by Roy Henderson.
WATERBOYS RETURN TO GALWAY SEAPOINT - TICKETS
The Waterboys will play at Galway's Seapoint Ballroom, scene of legendary shows in 1986 and 1988, on Thursday 29th October 2015, as part of their Modern Blues tour. Tickets go on sale this Friday, price €44.05 incl booking fee, by telephone +353 91 586540 and online here.
DAVID HOOD HONOURED WITH STATUE IN MUSCLE SHOALS
David Hood, who plays bass on the new Waterboys album and will soon be touring with the band, was honoured in his hometown of Muscle Shoals with a statue commemorating his contribution to the city's music. David is famous as one of The Swampers, the legendary Muscle Shoals rhythm section who played on classic records by Aretha Franklin, James Brown and countless other artists. For a local article on the statue click here and for more info about David and The Swampers see the recent documentary Muscle Shoals.
STEVE AND ANTO GUEST WITH LUNA VELVET
Steve Wickham and Anto Thistlethwaite play on the new EP by UK band Luna velvet, masterminded by Don Jackson and featuring vocalist Carrie Skipper. Sharp-eyed Waterboys fans will remember Don as the ace remixer of Trumpets, included on archive Waterboys album "In A Special Place" back in 2011. Luna Velvet's EP is called Closed Book, and all the tracks will be featured on their forthcoming album, Songs Of Love And Hurt, due for release in 2015. Steve features on Closed Book and Holding On, while Anto plays on Home. Videos for each track can be viewed here and the EP can be purchased on Luna Velvet's website.
MIKE SCOTT AND ARTIST JOE BOSKE
Mike is pictured and quoted in a new book about the work of the great Irish-based artist, German-born Joe Boske. The book is titled Joe Boske: The Works. and is published by Artisan House. Joe is well-known for his Galway and Connemara arts festival posters, and has been documenting west of Ireland life in fabulously surreal ways since 1969. Mike is quoted on the back of the book, saying "Joe is a master and a true original. It is to his great credit that he maintains a genial roguery in the face of his genius." There is a photo of Joe and Mike inside, and more importantly 100 pages of Joe's artwork. The book can be purchased here.
BOYZONE'S WHOLE OF THE MOON
Irish singing group Boyzone have covered the Waterboys classic The Whole Of The Moon. It is their contribution to the album Sounds Of The 80s released by the BBC and featuring many other hit artists. Mike liked their version and tweeted "What's not to love? It grooves, it's sung with feeling, and the original arrangement has been lovingly recreated." You can hear it here and the album is available now.
WATERBOYS SONGS FEATURED IN
The Waterboys songs Fisherman's Blues and You In The Sky are featured in the current hit movie What We Did On Our Holiday starring David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly.
SCOTT AND CURTIS AT CHELTENHAM
Mike appeared onstage with film-maker and scriptwriter Richard Curtis at the Cheltenham Book Festival on October 4th. The pair were interviewed by BBC radio presenter John Wilson, and talked about their writing craft and friendship. Mike sang several songs, including November Tale from the forthcoming Modern Blues album, along with a rare rendering, at Richard's request, of What Do You Want Me To Do. Mike also sang How Long Will I Love You, which featured in Richard's most recent film, About Time. Photograph by John Wilson.
4 NIGHTS AT VICAR STREET, DUBLIN, NOV 2015
The Waterboys will play a run of shows at Vicar Street in DUBLIN, IRELAND on 4,5,6,& 7 November 2015. Tickets, priced €44 go on sale Thursday 20 November and can be purchased from the Vicar Street box office at 0818 719 300 (Ireland) / 0844 277 4455 (UK) or online here.
These dates are the first to be announced of the 2015 Modern Blues European tour. More dates will be announced over the coming months.
HOGMANAY IN STIRLING
Come celebrate New Year’s Eve with The Waterboys, who will headline a show at The Esplanade in Stirling Castle in STIRLING, SCOTLAND on Wed 31 December. Also playing are Model Aeroplanes, JJ Gilmour and Skerryvore. Doors open at 8:30pm. Tickets, priced £27.50 for adults & £10 for age 15 & under, are on sale now by phone at 01786 274000 or online here
NEW WATERBOYS ALBUM: MODERN BLUES
The Waterboys' long-awaited new album Modern Blues will be released on January 19th. The album was recorded in Nashville, produced by Mike Scott and mixed by the great Bob Clearmountain. Modern Blues is an electric, soulful, bold, freewheeling rock'n'roll record with a skinful of killer new songs, some of which have been premiered live over the past few years. Ralph Salmins, a mainstay on drums for the past four years, appears alongside the talismanic Steve Wickham, who weaves a dizzying fuzz fiddle spell on several tracks. Fresh to the ranks are Memphis keyboard player “Brother” Paul Brown and David Hood, legendary bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Additional lead guitars are played by 2013 US Waterboy Jay Barclay and Austin soul guitarist Zach Ernst. Guest backing vocalists include southern soul legend Don Bryant. The album cover is a green man photograph titled The King Of Weeds, by New York artists Kahn and Selesnick. Modern Blues will be accompanied by a worldwide tour and details will be announced soon.
Track listing:
1. Destinies Entwined 5.45
2. November Tale 5.18
3. Still A Freak 3.59
4. I Can See Elvis 5.47
5. The Girl Who Slept For Scotland 4.56
6. Rosalind (You Married The Wrong Guy) 5.09
7. Beautiful Now 3.58
8. Nearest Thing To Hip 5.42
9. Long Strange Golden Road 10.23
The vinyl version of Modern Blues is a 2-LP set and includes a bonus track, the acoustic demo of Long Strange Golden Road which occupies all of side four.
An exclusive print of the album cover, signed by Mike, will be available with both CD & vinyl versions for a limited time.
Click links below for further details:
CD with Exclusive Signed Print Offer £11.99
2-LP with Exclusive Signed Print Offer £21.99
View the lyric video for the album's opening track DESTINIES ENTWINED
MODERN BLUES SHOWS IN FEBRUARY
The Waterboys will play two UK shows to launch Modern Blues. These will be the first UK performances by the new live line-up of Mike Scott, Steve Wickham, Ralph Salmins, Brother Paul, David Hood (bass) & Zach Ernst (lead guitar). Tickets are available for pre-sale Thursday 9th October, and on sale to the general public Friday 10th October.
Feb 2 Warwick Arts Centre, box office 0247 652 4524 or online here
Feb 3 London Roundhouse, box office 0844 338 0000 or online here
(Agency & credit card bookings subject to booking fee)
LIMERICK, IRELAND SHOW ADDED IN DECEMBER
The first show with the band's new line-up will be at The Big Top, Dolans, Limerick, Ireland, part of a series of circus tent shows by different artists celebrating the anniversary of Dolan's roadhouse, a popular Irish venue. The show is on December 3 and tickets, price €38, are available now by phone from the box office +353 61 314483 or online from here
TWO SPECIAL SHOWS IN AMSTERDAM THIS DECEMBER
The Waterboys will play two concerts on the 5th and 6th of December at Paradiso in Amsterdam, which will be filmed for inclusion in the upcoming Robert Jan Westdijk film “Waterboys”.
During these shows, concert footage of the band and the audience will be made for the film which will be released next year. These will be very special shows in a smaller, more intimate venue than the band would normally play.
Director Robert Jan Westdijk is proud and amazed: "It all started with an e-mail in which I wrote that I've been a fan since the 80s and that I was about to make a road movie about a father and son who come closer together through the music of The Waterboys. Not much later I was in Dublin facing my musical hero Mike Scott. He responded enthusiastically and two months later, it was agreed." Westdijk emphasises that the experience of the concert will not be affected by the film recordings: "I want to record the concerts in the way a fan experiences the concert, so I trust the participation of the real Waterboys fans."
Support for these shows will be provided by Freddie Stevenson. Doors open at 19:00 and support begins at 19:30.
Sales to the general public begin on Sat 6 Sept at 10am and will be available for 5 Dec here andfor the 6th here
A CONVERSATION WITH MIKE SCOTT & RICHARD CURTIS AT CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Mike and noted film director, and writer of such popular films as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually, Richard Curtis, are scheduled to appear together at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sat 4 October. They will be discussing how song/screenwriting attempt to get to the heart of the matter and Mike will also have his guitar in tow for a few songs. You can read more about the event here.
Tickets, priced £12, go on sale to Cheltenham Festival members on Tues 26 August and to the general public on Mon 1 September. You can access booking information here.
General information about the festival is available here
PHILADELPHIA CONCERT FILM ONLINE
Enjoy this taster of the band performing Still A Freak from PBS station WHYY’s On Canvas concert film of The Waterboys shot in Philadelphia during their 2013 tour.
You can now view the entire concert film online here
MIKE'S INTERVIEW WITH 'THE ONE YOU FEED' PODCAST
Mike was recently interviewed by The One You Feed, a podcast based on the Native American parable of The Two Wolves examining how leaders, authors and artists feed the good wolf inside them. You can hear the interview here
ELLIE GOULDING'S SUCCESS WITH HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU
We are proud to announce Ellie Goulding's Children In Need charity single of Mike Scott's song 'How Long Will I Love You' has hit number 3 on the UK singles chart. Watch her performance at BBC's Children In Need telethon here
And if you'd like to hear the writer singing it, you can view Mike Scott on last year's Waterboys tour, accompanied by James Hallawell here
Film by Dave Furneaux.