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The Waterboys  

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The Waterboys were founded by Mike Scott in 1983 in Edinburgh and have developed their sound throughout their career, crossing genres including folk, rock and alternative.

The Waterboys are a rock band originating from Edinburgh, Scotland and were formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The line up, location and style of the band has changed over their long career yet there has been a consistent mixture of celtic rock with traditional rock & roll. They worked together as a band for seven years before disbanding in 1990 as Scott pursued a solo career before reforming in 2000 due to popular demand.

The band's sound in it's origins was considered 'Big Music' and received very well by critics, they followed this by a period where they branched into folk music and put an emphasis on touring with a very large number of musicians which many described as a 'raggle taggle band'. They moved onto a more mainstream rock and roll sound for the Dream Harder release before they dissolved the band, when they reformed in 2000 they seemed to take influences from all aspects of their early musical styles.

Mike Scott is the original founder of The Waterboys and the only constant member. In 1983 he was singed to Ensign Records after recording solo demos and working with a number of bands and musicians, the label were expecting the first release from Scott to be a solo effort yet instead he chose to found his new band which is named after a line in the Lou Reed song 'The Kids'. The band didn't achieve commercial success until their 1985 album 'This Is The Sea' broke the UK top 40 in the Albums Chart, however the debut and follow up established The Waterboys as a new force in music and their effortless touring schedule won them fans across the world, the third LP did particularly well in New Zealand, charting within the top 10 of their album chart.

Their next album 'Fisherman's Blues' which was releasd in 1988 during the folk heavy 'raggle taggle' phase charted at 13 in the UK charts and also broke the top 100 in the US due to their tireless touring worldwide, it has now been certified as a gold selling record in the UK. It included a heavier Irish influence which came from the decision to record in Spiddal and feature many guest musicians who the band had played with in Dublin and the surrounding areas. Disputes within the band followed this, as Scott was adamant about the direction of The Waterboys' sound, he recorded the 1993 album 'Dream Harder' as a solo member of the band with the accompaniment of session musicians. However after he failed to establish a new touring line up, he abandoned the project and pursued solo work. However in 2000, to fans surprise and delight The Waterboys returned with a new sonic rock sound inspired by contemporaries such as Beck & Radiohead. The band have continued to release new solo material and tour since then.

Live reviews

I've been a Waterboys-Mike Scott fan for a very long time and I've seen them in concert at least 5 or 6 times over the decades starting with A Pagan Place back in 1984. Regretfully though I have to pan last nights show at The Fillmore in San Francisco. I had heard that the show was going to be an evening with, so no opening band and a longer setlist going back to their earliest albums. Full disclosure, I still consider their first 4 LPs, from the self-titled through Fisherman's Blues their finest and Mike Scott at his most brilliant. Of the first three LPs they played only 3 songs and nothing from what I feel is Scott's most brilliant work, A Pagan Place. When you include Fisherman's Blues (3 songs), that leaves the entire remaining setlist spread out over their last 3 LPs, which I feel have taken the band so far afield of their original "sound", whether The Big Music or the Fisherman's Blues style modern celtic-folk-rock. Basically the band has devolved into a kitchy pop-country style with really lame lyrical content, Disagree? Listen to the lyric of London Mick or Nearest Thing To Hip, two of the worst songs Mike Scott has ever written. Mick Jones was spinning in his grave last night I'm sure as The Waterboys performed a song in his name that represented everything in Rock music that The Clash despised. Were there some high points? Of course there were. A Girl Called Johnny, Medicine Bow, and the show stealer and high point of the evening was We Will Not Be Lovers. Unfortunate that they dropped Old England from the set-list. And the closing encore of Whole of the Moon was energetic and a crowd pleaser but replacing the original horns with the electric violin just ruined the song. Of the material from the last 3 LPs which made up the rest of the show (I'll get to the Rolling Stones cover in a second), the highlights were Morning Came Too Soon, November Tale and Ladbrooke Grove Symphony. I understand the band does not want to live in the past, but they have so much good material from other LPs that were left off the setlist in favor of promoting songs from the last three LPs, which are not full of great songs to say the least. And the songs selected from the last three LPs were not the best from those records. Thank God he did not play the Hip-Hop song from Out Of All This Blue. But let's be positive, here's some tips on a better show for your fans. 1. Why on earth, with your tremendous back catalogue would you play a cover of an obscure country western song by the Rolling Stones 4 songs into your set? Have you lost you freaking mind? Did you not notice the deflated energy in the crowd? 2. If you cannot remember the lyrics to even the songs you have been playing for over 25 years (Fisherman's Blues) you should consider retiring from live performances. With the exception of the older songs he performed at the keyboards, Mike read the lyrics from a teleprompter on the floor the entire set. No eye contact with the audience while performing, and with some songs dense with lyrics, particularly from the recent LPs, the performance was lack luster and seemed staged and stilted, he was reading the lyrics not performing from his gut. 3. Fire your lighting director. I was standing dead center about ten people deep from the stage and the super bright spot light on Mike center stage every time he came to the microphone washed the entire front section in harsh light and reflected off of the kick drum right back into the audience. Furthermore it was way too bright. I could see every grey hair on Mike's head and every wrinkle on his face. And it just made the lyric reading more obvious. Subtle songs that required a quieter mood were ruined by the obnoxious spot light. 4. Stop the yammering and just play for God's sake. Too many long ridiculas banter sessions that were just down right embarrassing to watch. 5. Fire the keyboard player from Memphis. What the hell was that keyboard around his neck stunt, just pure lameness. 6.Limit the jam sessions please. If I wanted to see a jam band I'd go see Wilco. There is no need to take a perfectly good 4-5 minute song and stretch it out to 10 minutes long or more with repeated false endings, again, it came across lame and gimmicky. 7. And finally, pick a song people know for your closing number. My Time On Earth, which closed the second set (before the encore) was not only unfamiliar to most of the fans but recalled the worst of Mike's habit of preaching Christian dogma in his lyrics. I have no problem with the spirituality that has always underscored The Waterboys (Think Whole of the Moon, A Pagan Place, Savage Earth Heart, etc), but ever since Mike found God in the 1990s his has occasionally allowed his syrupy Born Again Christian blather to seep into and take control over some of his musical output and that is a shame, and it was clearly on display last night, especially when he threatened a fan in the front row who "blew pot smoke" at him (probably unintentionally). It was just one lame, awkward moment during a night full of them.

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The Waterboys have the knack for blending in Celtic music with rock music, and making it sound like their own unique brand of music.

Mike Scott is the driving force behind the Waterboys’ music. He has the enthusiasm and tenacity of Bruce Springsteen and the literary diction of C.S. Lewis. The Waterboys deliver a highly energetic performance. Mike Scott aggressively strums his electric guitar, playing loud, distorted bar-chords and shredding it up on his intricate guitar solos. They also incorporate interesting instruments into their sound such as the fiddle and keyboards. The fiddle playing adds a strong Celtic sound to the music. Sometimes the band will break into strongly influenced Celtic music with a strong emphasis on the fiddle as well as accompaniment by the flute. During these songs Mike Scott will break into a Celtic dance that you might see portrayed in one of the Lord of the Rings’ movies. The keyboards are also a major part of the sound that creates an angular rhythm and creates a larger sound when the organ is used.

The Waterboys are very energetic on stage, pouring all their enthusiasm into rocking out on their instruments. Their stage theatrics are also quite epic with smoke filling the stage and bright, colorful lights flashing all over. The band members also sometimes wear Celtic type attire including ornate, decorative jackets with unique colors and designs incorporated into the jackets. They also have interesting, mythological artwork and displays presented on stage. The Waterboys music has been very influential amongst the rock and roll scene having influenced many talented musicians such as Eddie Vedder, The Decemberists, and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead.

The Waterboys’ setlist is sure to impress all their fans. They play hit songs spanning their whole career as well as throwing in some fun Celtic traditional music into their setlist. If given the chance to see these guys live, you definitely should seize the opportunity and witness their unique and inspirational performance.

Folk rock outfit The Waterboys are something of an iconic band in the modern day due to their music and sound having influenced so many modern contemporaries who have gone on to enjoy glittering careers of their own. Having formed over three decades ago, all the musicians onstage are incredibly well practised and have real ability with their instruments.

Fans old and new cheer in unison at the arrival of the band as they step out onto a sparse stage, there are no visuals or decoration to distract from the music tonight and it is exactly how performer and patron would have it. When you have songs as momentous as 'The Whole of the Moon' and 'Fisherman's Song' you really do not need much else to add to the overall emotional gravity of the situation. The band pays homage to their many appearances at the UK's most prolific festival with 'Glastonbury Song' before re-imagining 'Purple Rain' by Prince, perhaps an unlikely cover on the surface but it well and truly works. The whole room is applauding rapturously by the finale to 'How Long Will I Love You?' as this legendary band have really cemented their reputation this evening.

This was the second ‘Out of all this Blue’ tour and the newer tracks are fitting in well to The Waterboys set list. With no support and two sets, there was the opportunity to fit in more early songs as well as a good representation of the last two albums. The first set opened with Medicine Bow,

All The Things She Gave Me, If the Answer Is Yeah, A Girl Called Johnny, We Will Not Be Lovers, Nashville Tennessee, Still a Freak, Man What a Woman, and finished with an epic version of Morning Came Too Soon. The second set up opened with the less played The Christ in You, before When Ye Go Away / Dunford's Fancy, Nearest Thing to Hip, Santa Fe, Too Close to Heaven, The Raggle Taggle Gypsy, Don't Bang the Drum, Long Strange Golden Road. The encore brought out the big favourites of, The Whole of the Moon, How Long Will I Love You?, and Fisherman's Blues.

They are the best most fantastic band, ever. I saw the Beatles when I was thirteen in Baltimore, Maryland, the

stones in Virginia on their Steel wheels tour, but the Waterboys in Philly were out of this world!

I also lived in wonderful Scotland and spent time in Findhorn, where I understand Mike is a regular. The music that these young men produce is just magical and has enriched my life. My husband and I are going to see them in September in Chicago and I can't wait. The Whole of the Moon is the most amazing. I was making harps in Beauley, Scotland in 1985 and could not get enough of that song

More power to you lads. Oh I also lived in Spiddal and hung at Hugh's where you played in sessions. Thanks so much for it all. Love you,

Cait Gilles

The band is so great live and what a show at such an historic place. The crowd was not very large and the energy was intimate and positive.

The song list at the forefront was supporting the new record Modern Blues which was fantastic live. I saw them at the Civic in New Orleans not that long ago and maybe 3 to 4 songs were duplicated. It was cool to see such a different show and dynamic from the band. Not only were the shows different but the band's vibe.

THE BEST LIVE CONCERT I have seen this year. The opening act THE BLUEBONNETS were fantastic. Bluesy guitar rifts with a jumping bass and back beat. The Waterboys new material was upbeat and engaging..and PURPLE RAIN during the encore was brilliant. I had shivers the entire evening feeling like I was a part of a musical event that will be referenced for a long time. Love it!

A terrific performance,truly brilliant.The amazing reworking of "Don't bang the drum" was awe inspiring. If you get the chance to see them live, do it. The mix of old and new was beautifully done and the finale song,"Purple Rain", obviously one of Mike's favorites was teriffic, better than Prince.

היתה הופעה גרועה ביותר .

סדר השירים השאיר אותנו די משועומממים ואת רוב הקהל .

גם שסוף סוף נהגנו משהוא מוכר זה היה בסוף.

האולם היה נהדר סאונד מצוין .

Excellent sold out show especially as it was an extended set with the band performing as their own support.

Great mix of songs both old and new, Whole of the Moon and Fishermans Blues brought the house down to finish the set.

Can't wait till they are back in town again!

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Past concerts

Gleneagle INEC Arena

Knocknarea Arena

Leisureland

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The Waterboys tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see The Waterboys in concert? Find information on all of The Waterboys’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

The Waterboys is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 8 concerts across 4 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

Next 3 concerts:

• The Hague, Netherlands
• Arnhem, Netherlands
• Amsterdam, Netherlands

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• London (78)
• Dublin (51)
• Glasgow (48)
• Liverpool (26)

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The Waterboys Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• Jun 23 2024 Virgin Media Park Cork, Ireland  –  Find tickets Add time  –  Scheduled: 5:00 PM Tickets Add time Add times 5:00 PM
• Jul 05 2024 Sign of the Times 2024 Little Hadham, England Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 14 2024 Bospop 2024 Weert, Netherlands  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 03 2024 Folkfestival Dranouter 2024 Dranouter, Belgium Add time Add time Add times

The Waterboys at Leisureland, Galway, Ireland

• Where the Action Is
• Glastonbury Song
• How Long Will I Love You?
• Ladbroke Grove Symphony
• A Girl Called Johnny
• This Is the Sea
• The Lake Isle of Innisfree
• All Souls Hill
• Medicine Bow
• Because the Night / The Pan Within
• My Wanderings in the Weary Land
• Fisherman's Blues
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The Waterboys at Trim, County Meath, Ireland

• And a Bang on the Ear
• When Ye Go Away
• Be My Enemy

The Waterboys at Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland

• The Pan Within
• It Was Over

The Waterboys at Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, England

The waterboys at hall for cornwall, truro, england, the waterboys at the anvil, basingstoke, england, the waterboys at symphony hall, birmingham, england, the waterboys at g live, guildford, england, the waterboys at roundhouse, london, england, the waterboys at cambridge corn exchange, cambridge, england.

• Blackberry Girl
• The Pan Within / Because the Night

The Waterboys

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Most played songs

• Fisherman's Blues ( 688 )
• The Whole of the Moon ( 648 )
• Medicine Bow ( 531 )
• A Girl Called Johnny ( 420 )
• Glastonbury Song ( 373 )

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41prospect Acoustic Junction Berg! Berg! Bang!!! Brent Best Brady Blade Bleachers Luka Bloom BLØF Blue Rose Code THE BOBBY LEES Jon Boden Brogue Wave Cali Kirin J Callinan Cesare Carugi Celtas Cortos Celtic Woman Brian Cummins Dawes Paul Dempsey Kevin Devine Jeff Elbel + Ping emmet swimming Flopa Reed Foehl The Frames Frightened Rabbit Fruit of Diversity Thea Gilmore Ben Glover Golden Smog Ellie Goulding Hawktail Terri Hendrix Steve Hogarth InDieRect Iolar Brian Jarvis Joe Russo's Almost Dead Joolz Jones Tom Jones Jerry Joseph The Killdares The Killers Jess Klein Greg Klyma Steve Knightley Davy Knowles Jamie Lawson Ted Leo

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[traditional] Louis Armstrong The Beatles Chuck Berry Solomon Burke Robert Burns Roy Clark Danny & the Juniors Dion Bob Dylan Fiddler’s Dram D.K. Gavan Marvin Gaye Gogi Grant Woody Guthrie George Harrison Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill Kris Kristofferson John Lennon William MacEwan Joe & Rose Lee Maphis Francis McPeake Johnny Mercer Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber Van Morrison Mungo Jerry Willie Nelson Leon Payne Carl Perkins Plastic Ono Band Elvis Presley Prince Robbie Robertson The Rolling Stones Mike Scott Pete Seeger Patti Smith Patti Smith Group Eric Spear Bruce Springsteen Andy Stewart The Sutherland Brothers Band Richard & Linda Thompson Big Mama Thornton The Velvet Underground Gillian Welch The Who Steve Wickham Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys William Butler Yeats

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Gigs seen live by

2,099 people have seen The Waterboys live.

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Waterboys at Iveagh Gardens: Stage times, set list, ticket information, how to get there and more

Everything you need to know about the band’s gigs on thursday, july 13th and friday, july 14th.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys performing on stage at the Cornbury Festival in Oxford, England. Photograph: C Brandon/Redferns

Rocking since 1981, British-Irish folk rock band The Waterboys are showing no signs of stopping and are back in Dublin for two gigs at the Iveagh Gardens .

Having had more than 70 members in its lifetime, the current iteration of the band is led by original member Mike Scott and includes Memphis keyboard player “Brother” Paul Brown, pianist James Holliwell, drummer Eamon Ferris and bassist Aongus Ralston.

The band performed at Live at the Marquee in Cork in June where they played all their hits, from Whole of the Moon and How Long Will I Love You?, to Fisherman’s Blues and When Ye Go Away. So, what can we expect from their Dublin concerts this weekend?

When do they play?

The concerts are at Iveagh Gardens, off Dublin’s Harcourt Street, on Thursday, July 13th and Friday, July 14th.

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What time should I arrive?

Entry to the event will be via the Clonmel Street gate, which will open at 6.30pm. Early queuing is not permitted and concertgoers have been asked to respect the property and privacy of residents in the area.

Who is the support act?

Warming up the stage for The Waterboys is Dublin-born musician David Kitt, also known by his electronic alter-ego New Jackson. Kitt is lined up for the Iveagh Gardens gigs after recently releasing Idiot Check , his ninth studio album.

Stage times

On Thursday and Friday, David Kitt is set to take to the stage at 7.30pm, with The Waterboys down to take over an hour later at 8.30pm. However, times are subject to change so keep an eye on the promoter’s website for updates.

How do I get there – and home again?

There is no car parking available at the event, however, there are car parks dotted around the city centre. The closest is Q-Park at Stephens Green Shopping Centre. Pre-booking is available at q-park.ie .

Luas, bus and rail transport options can all bring you within a short walk of the venue. Plan your journey online from anywhere in Ireland via the journey planner at transportforireland.ie .

What will The Waterboys play?

The Waterboys’ set from a concert in late June in Greece featured a full roster of hits from their back catalogue:

• Don’t Bang The Drum
• Where the Action Is
• Glastonbury Song
• How Long Will I Love You
• Ladbroke Grove Symphony
• A Girl Called Johnny
• This Is The Sea
• Blackberry Girl
• When Ye Go Away
• Fisherman’s Blues
• The Return of Pan
• The Pan Within
• My Wanderings in the Weary Land
• Medicine Bow
• Be My Enemy
• In My Time On Earth
• Encore: And A Bang On The Ear; The Whole Of The Moon

Are there any tickets left?

Unfortunately tickets are sold out. However, the band are scheduled to play in Kerry, Sligo and Meath later this year, so grab tickets while they are still available.

What’s the story with security?

All under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. Only bags under A4 size will be permitted in to the venue and bags will be subject to a search.

Items not permitted include: Any article that may be used as a weapon, bottles, cans, flasks, frisbees, illegal substances, scooters, skateboards, flag poles, selfie sticks, flares, laser devices, prams/push chairs, inflatable and folding chairs, large suitcases/rucksacks, laptops, illegal merchandise items, umbrellas, hampers, cold boxes, air horns, alcohol, drinks, food and animals (except service dogs and guide dogs).

There will be food and drink available to purchase on site but fans should note it is a cashless venue and there is no ATM on site, so make sure to bring card payment or keep your phone charged for electronic cards.

Any person deemed to be offensive or abusive, or who may compromise public safety, will not be admitted and may be reported to gardaí. There will be a first aid post at the venue staffed by trained medics.

Can I take photographs at the concert?

Yes, but not with a professional camera including those with a detachable lens.

What’s the weather forecast?

Met Éireann is forecasting rain on Thursday with highs of 15 degrees. It will be a wet one on Friday too, but slightly warmer with temperatures of up to 17 degrees. Make sure to bring a raincoat, it is The Waterboys after all.

Conor Capplis

Conor Capplis is a journalist with the Irish Times Group

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H ello Everybody! This page is dedicated to bringing you any news items related to The Waterboys.

Any new tour dates, or announcements will appear here first, before being added to the relevant page or pages.

☄ New Album - April 2022 ☄

New Album All Souls Hill coming on 22nd April 2022. Click on Header.

☀ Vintage Merchandise Page: ☀

☀ past giveaways page: ☀, the waterboys - mike q&a and signing.

Mike will be making two appearances to launch the new This Is the Sea box set and clear vinyl LP release. He will be appearing in London at Rough Trade, Brick Lane on February 23rd and in Tower Records, Dawson St, Dublin on February 28th.

All Box Set / Album / Signing details here... Click Here! - The Waterboys - Box Set / Album / Mike Q&A and Signing

THE WATERBOYS - This Is The Sea Box Set - Clear Vinyl LP

The This Is The Sea box set and clear vinyl LP will be released on February 23rd 2024. The Deluxe box set which is titled: How The Waterboys Made This Is The Sea And Saw The Whole Of The Moon consists of 6 CDs and a hard cover book written by Mike.

It is a Limited Edition of 3,000 Units Worldwide.

The Music takes the listener through 95 tracks over Six CDs, including 64 previously unreleased recordings of home recordings, early demos, alternate versions, outtakes, live recordings, and tv/radio sessions covering the recording process of the album including the remastered version of the This Is The Sea album.

The book is a 220-page hard cover containing a first-hand account of the creation of the album with deep recording details, background, cultural context, photographs (many previously unseen), songwriting pages, lyrics and previously unseen writings. Text by Waterboys’ singer and songwriter Mike Scott with additional sections by Anthony Thistlethwaite and Max Edie.

There are also tie-in T-shirts and tote bags with different bundle options available from the official store.

All Box Set / Clear Vinyl Album and related bundle merchandise here... Click Here! - The Waterboys - Box Set / Clear Vinyl Album and related bundle Merchandise

☄ This Is the Sea 10-Inch Vinyl ☄

Only 1,500 copies pressed.

From Waterboys HQ: 'As part of the Record Store Day UK 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.'

A vital purchase!

THE WATERBOYS - MERCH STORE

The band launched their new Merchandise Store on October 27th 2023.

For current Tour t-shirts, hoodies and a lot more please Click Here! - The Waterboys Merch Store

THE WATERBOYS UK/IRELAND TOUR AUTUMN 2023

The band are currently on an extensive UK & Ireland Tour throughout October and early November 2023. Go see a show!

For all the latest Tour dates and Ticket Information please Click Here!

February 12th 2023

THE AUCTION HAS ENDED! THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

The waterboys signed memorabilia auction for don jackson.

AUCTION UPDATE: The Auction raised a grand total of £1,574.00 for Don Jackson.

All of the funds have been sent to Don and he is delighted. Mike is very pleased too.

A HUGE Thank You to all who bid, read or shared this post.

THIS AUCTION HAS ENDED! THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

As many of you know, Don Jackson, who is a great friend of the band, needs to raise a lot of money for a lifesaving operation in Turkey.

Mike has kindly donated a number of signed Waterboys items including his test pressings of recent albums to auction in order to help raise much-needed funds for the cause.

AUCTION ITEMS:

• ZIMBABWE FISHERMAN'S BLUES LP.
• OPEN TO SPIRIT Strictly Promotional CD.
• LOVE ANYWAY/KING OF STARS Cassette Single with rare song.
• ROOM TO ROAM 1/2 speed remaster double vinyl.
• MR YEATS double vinyl.
• ALL SOULS HILL vinyl.
• FISHERMAN'S BOX CD.
• MR YEATS double vinyl test pressing.
• A ROCK IN THE WEARY LAND double vinyl test pressing.
• ALL SOULS HILL test pressing - 1st copy.
• ALL SOULS HILL test pressing - 2nd copy.
• WHERE THE ACTION IS Japanese CD Sample Promo edition.
• OUT OF ALL THIS BLUE double CD.
• MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BOOK & CD set.

Bids by Personal Message only.

Bidders can revise their bids if the bidding exceeds their original offer.

Leading bids for each item will posted regularly in the comments section of the Facebook post.

Auction closed at 8pm Irish Time on Sunday Feb 12th 2023.

Winning bidders will be notified by PM at auction close.

Immediate Payment + Postage required as we need to get the raised funds to Don as swiftly as possible.

THIS AUCTION HAS ENDED!

On behalf of Don, Mike and myself: A sincere Thank You to all who bid, read or shared the post.

HELP SAVE A LIFE

Mike's pal Don Jackson, ace musician and producer (and an absolute gentleman), 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 devastatingly let down by the UK's NHS.

Don and his wife Carrie are also friends of Steve Wickham and Anto Thistlethwaite. Their band Luna Velvet has recorded with both. Please help if you are able.

You can donate here...No amount is too small...Thank You. To Help Don Jackson - Please Click Here

Coming in May 2023....

A rock in the weary land (expanded edition), on 2cd + blue double vinyl.

This classic album is being released as a double blue vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with extras and as an expanded double CD version, both of which contain extra rare and unreleased tracks.

There is also a Digital Download available NOW! (November 10th 2022).

You can order both formats, and a bundle, of the expanded album here... *The Waterboys - 'A Rock In The Weary Land' - Click Here To Order*

'A Rock In The Weary Land' was The Waterboys' seventh studio album, originally released on September 25th 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, and some brilliant new ones including keyboard players Thighpaulsandra and Sir Richard Naiff. NME described the album as "a masterpiece" and Mojo called it "brazen, unapologetic, vital".

This Cooking Vinyl release marks the first time the album has been reissued, and its first ever release on vinyl. Mike Scott 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 version. The 2CD version features twelve previously unreleased tracks, chosen by Mike, and the 4th side of the 2LP vinyl version is taken up with a spectacular 16-minute live version of Waterboys' classic Savage Earth Heart.

Mike has also overseen a re-working of the artwork, using a different Steve Gullick photo from the original album cover sessions 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.

'A Rock In The Weary Land' - Double Expanded CD (34 Tracks!)

• Expanded Double CD Tracklisting:
• 01. Let It Happen
• 02. The Charlatan's Lament
• 03. Is She Conscious?
• 04. We Are Jonah
• 05. It's All Gone
• 06. My Love Is My Rock In The Weary Land
• 07. Lucky Day / Bad Advice
• 08. His Word Is Not His Bond
• 09. Malediction
• 10. Dumbing Down The World
• 11. The Wind In The Wires
• 12. Night Falls On London
• 14. My Lord, What A Morning
• 01. Fanfare by Thighpaulsandra*
• 02. Sad Procession
• 03. Is She Conscious? (Acoustic Demo)
• 04. Dumbing Down The World (Live At Glastonbury 2000)
• 05. Trouble Down Yonder
• 06. In The Long Low Weary Land*
• 07. Wintermind
• 08. Never Been Out Of Love*
• 09. Somewhere In The Bleak Mid-Distance* Something Beautiful Is Born
• 10. Anatomy Of A Love Affair
• 11. Is She Conscious (Funky Thumbs)*
• 12. Martin Decent
• 13. Time, Space And The Bride's Bed
• 14. Oh Yeah / I'll Be Satisfied*
• 15. Carolan's Weird Welcome*
• 16. Since The Fire Started Burning In My Soul*
• 17. The Height Of His Head*
• 18. My Love Is My Rock (Instrumental With Choir)*
• 19. It Bends Towards Justice*
• 20. The Last Rock Freak Out*
• *Denotes previously unreleased tracks.

'A Rock In The Weary Land' - Double Blue Vinyl

• Double Vinyl Tracklisting:
• A1. Let It Happen
• A2. The Charlatan's Lament
• A3. Is She Conscious?
• A4. We Are Jonah
• B1. It's All Gone
• B2. My Love Is My Rock In The Weary Land
• B3. Lucky Day / Bad Advice
• B4. His Word Is Not His Bond
• B5. Malediction
• C1. Dumbing Down The World
• C2. The Wind In The Wires
• C3. Night Falls On London
• C5. My Lord, What A Morning
• D1. Savage Earth Heart (Live)*
• D2. The Forever Music*

☄ Mike: Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 ☄

Mike has been chosen to receive a Lifetime Achievemnet Award by Americana Music Association UK. The award will be presented at a ceremony in London at the end of January 2023 where Mike will also perform live.

Mike: "I'm surprised and very happy to be honoured by the Americana Music Association UK. I've played music of American inspiration: roots, rock and roll, folk and blues since I was a kid and country, soul and gospel since expanding my horizons in the 1980s - without ever considering myself or The Waterboys as an Americana act. Yet Americana has fuelled, inspired and informed everything we've ever done. It is like a landmass I've been standing on the whole time, and I'm proud and honoured to consider our music part of it. Thankyou AMA-UK."

So, a heartfelt congratulations to Mike, who continues to write and give us new music, play fabulous live shows and who continues to plough his own furrow.

☄ The Waterboys On Tour 2023 ☄

The band have announced a huge number of shows happening in 2023. A European Tour in March/April and an extensive UK tour announced for October with an Irish Tour to follow.

*All confirmed new dates will be added to the Tour Page as soon as they are announced.

Tickets are on sale now and full booking details are on the Tour Page....

--> Please Click Here for Ticket Information.

☄ Steve & Joe Chester: UK July /August 2022 ☄

* Rescheduled July/August dates which Joe has dubbed the 'Summertime in England' tour. All tickets bought are valid for new dates. *

Steve writes:

"More dates in for the tour of England with Joe Chester. I'm looking forward to this. I'll be sharing songs and tunes with Joe. We have a lot of history together on each others records and of course, fellow band mates for the WB Yeats shows with the Waterboys.

We'll be looking for the magic.... Our tour will bring us from North to South, East and West. Come along."

Tickets are on sale for all dates in August now!

☄ The Waterboys Acoustic: USA / UK / Ireland 2022 ☄

Mike and Brother Paul are playing a short acoustic US tour in May with five dates already confirmed from May 12th to 18th in: The Franklin Theatre, Nashville Tennessee, Woodstock NY, Brooklyn NY, Wilmington Delaware and the Gramercy Theatre, New York City.

An acoustic show in the Sub Rooms, Stroud, England on June 16th has also been announced!

* A new acoustic show date in Liberty Hall, Dublin Ireland announced for June 28th! [See you there!]

Tickets are on sale now and full booking details are on the Tour page....

Click Here for Ticket Info!

☄ Info 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.

☄ Lucia: Bloomsday, Dublin June 16th 2022 ☄

Announcing a very special world premiere performance for Bloomsday 2022 in Axis Ballymun in Dublin of...

Lucia: A Suite for Guitar and Strings.

A brand new work by Joe Chester, inspired by the life of Lucia Joyce.

This premiere will be performed by The Sound Of Bells quartet which includes: Joe Chester, Trevor Hutchinson, Vyvienne Long and Steve Wickham.

Tickets for this special event are on sale now!....

☄ The Waterboys - New Album - May 2022! ☄

☄ the waterboys - 'all souls hill' - various formats ☄.

The album will be released on CD and on two different vinyl LP editions, on Black vinyl and with a very special Blue vinyl wax version available.

There will also be an exclusive 7-inch single with two bonus tracks only available with some bundles.

The album will also be available on Cassette tape .

You can order all of the various formats and special bundles of the new album here... - Click Here To Pre- Order*

☄ PRE-ORDER THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN BOX SET & BOOK: ☄

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 the late 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 with a vast collection of photos, lore and artefacts.

• The Magnificent Seven is available in the following editions:
• 5CDs + 1DVD + Hardback Book - Super Deluxe Edition.
• 5CDs + 1DVD + 54 page booklet of track-by-track notes - Clamshell Box Edition.
• The Magnificent Seven - Hardback Book.
• 2LP - Room To Roam 2021 half-speed master of the original album.

You can pre-order all of the various formats of the new box set here... *The Waterboys - 'The Magnificent Seven: The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues/Room To Roam Band, 1989-1990' - Click Here To Pre-Order*

☄ 'How Long Will I Love You 2021 - Room To Roam Sessions EP' ☄

A special Record Store Day release on July 17th 2021. This 12-inch, limited to 3000 copies worldwide, contains a new 2021 recording of How Long Will I Love You and three exclusive tracks that do NOT appear on the Room To Roam box set.

• Tracklisting:
• 01. How Long Will I Love You (2021 Remix)
• 02. * Something That Is Gone (Backing Track)
• 03. * A Life Of Sundays (Early Take)
• 04. * Bluejeans & Moonbeams (Portugese Hotel Room)

* These tracks are exclusive to this release and do not appear elsewhere.

☄ The Waterboys - 'Good Luck, Seeker' - Album Art ☄

The new album 'Good Luck, Seeker' will be released on August 21st!

The album will be a single CD with a Limited Edition Double CD version available only with the initial release.

The album will also be released in two different vinyl LP editions, in Black and a very special Blue Splatter vinyl wax version available.

There will also be a very limited numbered and signed test-press vinyl available. (only 50 copies).

The album will also be available on Cassette tape , the first official cassette tape release in 20 years!

Lastly, there will also be two different Digital Downloads available.

You can order all of the various formats and special bundles of the new album here... *The Waterboys - 'Good Luck, Seeker' - Click Here To Order*

☄ 'Good Luck, Seeker' Formats ☄

'good luck, seeker' - standard cd (14 tracks).

• Single CD Tracklisting:
• 01. The Soul Singer
• 02. (You've Got To) Kiss A Frog Or Two
• 03. Low Down In The Broom
• 04. Dennis Hopper
• 05. Freak Street
• 06. Sticky Fingers
• 07. Why Should I Love You?
• 08. The Golden Work
• 09. My Wanderings In The Weary Land
• 10. Postcard From The Celtic Dreamtime
• 11. Good Luck, Seeker
• 12. Beauty In Repetition
• 13. Everchanging
• 14. The Land Of Sunset

'Good Luck, Seeker' - Limited Edition Double Deluxe CD (24 Tracks)

• Double Deluxe CD Tracklisting:
• Bonus Disc #2 (Alt. Versions):
• 01. The Soul Singer (inst)
• 02. (You've Got To) Kiss A Frog Or Two (inst)
• 03. Low Down In The Broom (gtr/vocal)
• 04. Dennis Hopper (Demo)
• 05. Why Should I Love You? (inst)
• 06. My Wanderings In The Weary Land (vocal)
• 07. Postcard From The Celtic Dreamtime (inst)
• 08. Beauty In Repetition (inst)
• 09. The Soul Singer (demo)
• 10. The Land Of Sunset (inst)

'Good Luck, Seeker' Vinyl Tracklisting:

• Black Vinyl LP (14 Tracks)
• Blue Splatter Vinyl LP (14 Tracks)

'Good Luck, Seeker' Cassette Tracklisting:

• * First official Cassette release in 20 years!*

• There will also be two different Digital Downloads available.

☄ Instagram Message from Mike: ☄

Mike posted a rather special message on instagram on Sunday April 12th 2020.

To view it please hit the link below.

Special message from Mike - Click Here!

☄ South Africa 2022 ☄

The band are set to play their FIRST-EVER shows in South Africa with shows (now rescheduled for November 2022), in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Full details and ticket information are now on the Tour page.

☀ 'London Mick' - Video Premiere: ☀

The Waterboys new video for London Mick was premiered on July 23rd 2019.

To read what Mike has to say about it please click below... Mike Scott and The Waterboys Official

☄ USA and Canada Tour 2019 ☄

The long-awaited return of the band to North America has been announced.

☄ The Waterboys - 'Where The Action Is' - Album Art ☄

The new album 'Where The Action Is' will be released on May 24th!

The album will be a single CD and will also be released in two different vinyl LP editions, with a Black and Marble vinyl wax version available, in a gatefold sleeve.

There will also be a Limited Edition Double CD version available only with the initial release. The album also be available as a digital download.

You can order various formats and special bundles of the new album here... * The Waterboys - 'Where The Action Is' - Click Here To Order*

☄ 'Where The Action Is' Formats ☄

• '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)
• Double CD Tracklisting:
• 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 (10 Tracks)
• Marble Vinyl LP (10 Tracks)
• 'Where The Action Is' Vinyl Tracklisting:
• There will also be a Digital Download available.

☄ A Very Special One-Off Show Announced ☄

A special one-off show for Gavin 'Fingers' Ralston has been announced for the 1st of April 2019 in Vicar St, Dublin.

The Gig For Gav show will feature The Waterboys and a host of special guests including Sharon Shannon, Picture House, Mary Black, Mundy, the Begleys with many more to be announced.

This is bound to be a very unique and memorable show so don't you dare miss it!

This gig is now completely SOLD OUT!

☄ Scottish Shows for September 2019 Announced ☄

The Band have announced a trio of new dates for Scotland with concerts in Portree on the Isle of Skye, Aberdeen and a return to the Barrowland, Glasgow.

See the Tour Page for Ticket links... Here!

☄ New Date in Wales Announced ☄

The Band have announced a new show in Wales at the Hay-on-Wye Festival on 23rd May.

☄ A Joyful and Peaceful Christmas 2018 to Everyone ☄

Thank you to everyone for visiting this Fan Site.

☄ The Band and Crew December 2018 ☄

"Thank you to everyone who came out to see The Waterboys in 2018."

Thank you Zeenie Summers.

☄ More UK and Spanish Shows Announced ☄

The Band have announced several UK dates for May and a Spanish date in late June.

☄ First 2019 Show Announced ☄

The Waterboys will headline the Fairport Convention Cropredy Festival on Thursday the 8th of August 2019.

Three Day Tickets are available... Here!

☄ The Waterboys on Dublin City FM ☄

THE WATERBOYS were played extensively throughout the week of the 20th -24th August on the 'Morning Live Drive' show on Dublin City FM after winning the listeners vote.

Thank you Pam Duggan and Paul Murnock.

The Waterboys Playlist 20th -24th August 2018:

• - Do We Choose Who We Love
• - A Man Is In Love
• - A Girl Called Johnny
• - Sweet Thing
• - Fisherman's Blues
• - The Pan Within
• - The Whole Of The Moon
• - We Will Not Be Lovers
• - Glastonbury Song
• - All The Things She Gave Me
• - And a Bang on the Ear

☄ Irish Christmas Tour 2018 Announced ☄

The Waterboys will revive an old band tradition this December when they embark on a Christmas Tour of Ireland.

This ran in 1988, 1989 and 1990 and many fans remember the wild celebratory shows of that time.

Full details and ticket links can be found on the Tour Page.. Here!

☄ Spanish Summer 2018 Tour Dates Announced ☄

A number of Spanish summer shows have been announced and tickets are on sale. Check out the Tour Page for more information.. Here!

☄ Important Spring Tour Information ☄

Mike writes: 'All shows on THE WATERBOYS spring tour will be in two halves with intermission. No opening act. Band onstage at 8pm sharp.'

So be sure to get to each venue early folks!

☄ Many More Summer Tour Dates Added ☄

Many Summer Tour dates have been added. Check out the Tour Page for more information.. Here!

For full booking details see the Tour Page.

☄ Arena Radio Show Farewell October 27th ☄

A phenomenal performance in front of a very small audience on the 'Arena' radio show with Sean Rocks in the RTE Radio 1 studios (Irish National Broadcaster) in Donnybrook, County Dublin on October 27th with a seven song set, including a specially 'Funked Up' version of 'How Long Will I Love You'.

Full details on the Set Lists Page.

☄ Live Radio Interview and Full Band Performance October 27th ☄

For anyone traveling to the Dublin October 26th show:

There will be a Live Interview and Full Band Performance on the 'Arena' radio show with Sean Rocks in the RTE Radio 1 studios (Irish National Broadcaster) in Donnybrook, County Dublin on...

Friday October 27th at 7 pm. (audience to be seated by 6.30 pm.)

This one-off event will take place in front of an invited audience.

[email protected]

☄ Mike & The Wbs Facebook Group Page Giveaway 30th Sept. 2017 ☄

In a first time Competition EXCLUSIVE for the 'Mike Scott and The Waterboys' Facebook Group, Mike and Steve very kindly signed and uniquely decorated 10 copies of the 'Out Of All This Blue' Album to be given away by this Fan Site via the Facebook Group Page by answering a very simple request.

The request was this: "TO WIN ONE OF THESE TREASURES JUST BE ONE OF THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE TO COPY & PASTE A LINK TO ANY OF THE PAGES ON THE 'www.waterboys.org.uk' FAN SITE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW."

* HUGE THANKS to Paige O'Neill for listening to this idea with a warm heart and to Mike and Steve who were beyond happy and very keen to make this happen. *

ALL Ten of these unique treasures were safely dispatched to the 10 lucky recipients on 2nd October.

Photos of each of the recipients and their prize have been added below...

Thank you to all who took part.

To view this Facebook Post please... Click Here

*Update* - Almost seven months ago the 10 specially signed albums were posted off to the 10 competition winners, some as far away as Canada and Australia. And all reached their new homes but one. Unfortunately this one got lost in transit to Italy so the mission now was to try and replace it.

The replacement album was signed by three Waterboys and it was only missing Mike's signature. This album for Donato is extremely well traveled, it has been to shows in England, Scotland and Belgium and to two Dublin shows.

So, enlisting the help of a great friend, the album was sent to Norway where the last signature of the man himself was obtained in Oslo.(Thank you Dag Reinert Johansen and Thank you Mike). And after receiving it by return post, it was sent on to Italy by registered mail.

Donato received his personalised signed album on 24th May 2018. (See photo below).

Thank you to all who entered or have read this piece.

☄ Signed Albums Recipients Gallery ☄

Congratulations to the following Water People: Sven-Erik Andersen, Andy Pritchatt, Tony Thompson, David Lappin, Evelyn Keyser, Michael Macken, Ali Wilson, Donato Morganella, Kevin O'Reilly and Roz Monger.

☄ The Album Plaudits Roll In...And Rightly So! ☄

☄ First New Date of 2018 Announced ☄

Due to phenomenal demand and as a result of the October show in the London Palladium selling out, a second concert in the same venue has been confirmed for Friday 27th April 2018.

To book tickets for this new show please Click Here

☄ Mike: Meet & Greet and new Album Signings ☄

Mike will doing a meet and greet and signing copies of the new album at the following loctations:

• HMV Belfast - September 11th at 5.30 pm.
• FOPP Edinburgh - 13th September at 1:00pm.
• FOPP Glasgow Union - 13th September at 5:30pm.
• HMV Liverpool - 14th September at 5:30pm.

Thank you Mandy MacLeod.

☄ 'Remastered' Autobiography - November 4th ☄

A new revised and updated version of the Autobiography 'Adventures Of A Waterboy' will be released this Autumn by Jawbone Press.

The book includes many more stories from Mike which brings it up to 2002 and also features a plethora of new and rare photographs.

This 'Remastered' Edition hits the shelves on November 4th.

☄ First Steve and The Beekeepers show of 2018 confirmed ☄

Steve will play a solo show with the mighty Beekeepers as part of the always excellent Temple Bar Tradfest 2018 in St Michan's Church, Church St. Dublin on Friday January 26th 2018.

Buy Tickets!

☄ Chris Evans Show BBC R2 4th Aug 2017 ☄

Before flying out to Spain to play a free show on the same day ( 'Like A Rolling Stone' was added to the set in Cambados that evening and played!), the band appeared on the Chris Evans breakfast show on BBC R2 where they played the following songs: 'The Whole of The Moon', followed by a live debut of 'If The Answer is Yeah' , 'How Long Will I Love You' and then they closed the show with the first public performance in many a long year of the Bob Dylan classic 'Like a Rolling Stone!'

You can watch the performance of Like a Rolling Stone ...Here! .

☄ 'Out Of All This Blue' - Album Art ☄

The new album 'Out Of All This Blue' will be released on September 8th. It will be a double album on double CD and double vinyl and as a digital download.

There will also be a Limited Edition Triple CD version available only with the initial release. And there will also be a Deluxe triple vinyl available.

☄ 'Out of all This Blue' Formats ☄

• Double CD (23 Tracks)
• Limited Edition Triple CD (34 Tracks)
• Double Vinyl (23 Tracks)
• Deluxe Triple Vinyl (with Bonus Tracks)
• Digital Download

You can order various formats below...

☄ Oslo: First Show of 2017 ☄

The Band kicked off with their first show of 2017 in Oslo. It was a five piece line up with new face Aongus Ralston on Bass.

A strong set with the addition of two extra nuggets.. 'Stopping by Woods' (which features on Steve's solo album) and 'My Soul is in Memphis' (a new song that was debuted in Vicar St last November albeit with different lyrics.)

At the end when the band were taking their bows Mike insisted each band member show off their footwear while he gave a running commentary!

☄ Oslo Set List - June 23 2017 ☄

• Still a Freak
• Medicine Bow
• A Girl called Johnny
• Fishermans Blues
• Stopping by Woods
• Glastonbury Song
• We will not be Lovers
• My Soul is in Memphis
• The Whole of the Moon

* Set may not be exact running order.

(Thanks to Pat McHugh, Ann Kristin Tharaldson and Dag Reinert Johansen)

☄ Surprise Irish Summer Show Announced! ☄

June 3rd: A very special Irish show has just been confirmed for the Carrick Water Music Festival in Carrick-On-Shannon, County Leitrim on Sunday July 16th 2017.

The venue is the picturesque Landmark Hotel overlooking the mighty Shannon.

Thank you John Trautt.

Tickets are on sale Here!

☄ 'Out Of All This Blue' - New Album September 2017 ☄

Some details about the new album have just emerged, including some song titles.

There will be twenty three songs on the 2 CD release plus the option of a third 'Limited Edition' disc of alternate mixes, hip-hop instrumentals and mash-ups which is only available with the initial release.

Check out the piece in the new issue of Mojo...

☄ New Album 'Beekeeper' by Steve on May 12th 2017 ☄

Steve Wickham will release his long awaited follow up to 'Geronimo' titled 'Beekeeper' on May 12th. It will be released on vinyl and CD format as well as a digital download.

Steve writes: "In 2012 I was sitting (being painted) for my friend the painter Nick Miller and I started writing tunes as he was painting. The sittings went on over a couple of weeks by that time I'd recorded several hours of improvised music, thus began the seeds of this album."

Steve sits for portraits in Oil on Linen and Watercolour on Paper by the Artist Nick Miller.

In 2012, while Steve Wickham sat for a portrait by the Artist Nick Miller in his County Sligo studio, he began working on new musical compositions while Nick painted. The artist photographed both the musician and the painting to make a time-lapse 2 channel HD video. Steve edited out-takes recorded on an iPhone from the week's work to make a sound track for the 3 minute video. The week long session became part of the process of starting Steve Wickham's new album 'Beekeeper'.

nickmiller.ie

There are a plethora of musical guests (and good friends of Steve) appearing on the album including Camille O'Sullivan, Katie Kim, Mike Scott, The Lost Brothers, Joe Chester, David Hood, Ger Wolfe, Bruno Caliciuri and Oleg Ponomarev.

The Track Listing is as follows:

• 01. And The Band Played On (vocals from Irish singer Katie Kim)
• 02. Two Thousand Years
• 03. Song of Lost Things (vocals from acclaimed singer Ger Wolfe)
• 04. The Hare
• 05. Fractured (with The Lost Brothers and Muscle Shoals (The Waterboys) bass guitarist David Hood)
• 06. The Bohemian
• 07. Stopping by Woods (featuring Mike Scott on vocals)
• 08. Silence of a Sunday (feat. acclaimed Irish singer/actress Camille O'Sullivan)
• 09. Cells of the Heart which Nature Built for Joy (duet with No Crows violinist Oleg Ponomarev)
• 10. Love's Dark Sisters (Sombres Soeurs de l'amour) (vocals from Bruno Caliciuri)
• 11. Song of the River (vocal from legendary Irish producer and song writer Joe Chester)
• 12. Cockcrow

Steve's new album is one that conjures up wonderful imagery throughout the twelve perfectly tailored songs. The opener 'And The Band Played On' is the only song on which Steve takes lead vocal and he delivers it in a softly spoken style with Katie Kim supplying a haunting backing vocal on the chorus and verses.

The next song is a short instrumental titled 'Two Thousand Years' which is brimming with eastern promise. Think of minarets, hot sun, the smell of spices, pyramids or a packed and boisterous open-air souk.

What follows couldn't be in a more contrasting style. 'Song of Lost Things' is a merry jaunt (in an ass and cart along a quiet coastal boreen) of a song with a lovely lilting vocal by Corkonian folk singer Ger Wolfe.

'The Hare' is another timeless instrumental, again an uplifting tune with fiddle and acoustic guitar to the fore. And it is reminiscent of Zoe Conway and John McIntyre or Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill in full flight. It is nigh on impossible to remain still while listening to this hardcore trad tune.

'Fractured' is a very powerful song that Steve wrote in response to proposed fracking in the West, and which he sang while guesting at a recent Lost Brothers show. Here, Oisin and Mark of the Lost Brothers take on lead vocal duties and Oisin's unusually forlorn execution on this particular song only adds emphasis to the biting lyrics. Mr Hood also appears on this song on bass.

'The Bohemian' and the closing track 'Cockcrow' are two short stirring instrumentals that sound like two movements of the same piece of music and are ideal closers to side one and two of the vinyl.

'Stopping by Woods' by Robert Frost is up next and it features an exquisite vocal by Mike Scott with a driving pulsating backing. Mike wraps his voice around and articulates each word as only he can do.

'Silence of a Sunday' is another song that Steve sang at one his solo shows recently and he sang it in a heartfelt Waitsian growl. Here Camille O'Sullivan interprets it in a beautifully wistful and tender style accompanied mid-song by some gorgeous clarinet. A real heartstopper and just stunning!

'Cells of the Heart which Nature Built for Joy' is a fiddle two-hander instrumental that features Oleg Ponomarev of No Crows, a classical sounding piece that could easily be 'song of the week' on Lyric FM (An Irish Classical music radio station). In a nutshell, think Bach!

'Love's Dark Sisters (Sombres Soeurs de l'amour)' is an up-tempo all French number with a great melody with French singer Cali singing lead. A song of regret for a lost love and of love's dark sisters; jealousy, anguish and rage.

'Song of the River' with Joe Chester, is a slow poignant love song with some lovely backing from the house band.

Beekeeper has such a live and really warm sound; it feels as if the artists are in the room with you. One can only imagine the sheer enjoyment the musicians had when they were in the studio. And make no mistake, although there are many heavyweights guesting here, it is clearly Mr Wickham's opus.

This is an album destined to become a long- term resident in the various listening devices of music lovers across this fair land and far beyond. It is an absolute Gem!

stevewickham.ie

Steve has confirmed the following Album Launch Shows:

The Sugar Club, Dublin May 11th

The Model, Sligo May 12th

St Luke's, Cork May 27th

* Steve will also be guesting at Joe Chester's own Album Launch gig in the Unitarian Church, Dublin on April 28th 2017. * Tickets can be purchased Here!

☄ Waterboys in the 3 Arena, Dublin - October 26th 2017 ☄

The Waterboys have announced a string of autumn European dates in support of the forthcoming new album including a show in the 3 Arena in Dublin. This will be an all seated show. (at least that is, until they arrive on stage!)

Tickets are on sale here!

☄ New Autumn 2017 Shows Announced! ☄

See Tour page for details. Here.

☄ New Summer 2017 Shows Announced! ☄

☄ steve wickham - hawk's well, sligo - november 25th ☄.

Steve Wickham's musical career spans over three decades right back to his early 80's debut as fiddler with U2 playing on Sunday Bloody Sunday and touring with the Irish Rockers. Steve was a founder member of 80s Irish band InTuaNua, signed to the legendary Island records. As a session violinist Wickham has recorded with Elvis Costello and Sinead O'Connor and many others as well as guesting live with REM, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith etc. Steve Wickham is best known as the fiddler with The Waterboys and among Sligo residents as one of the group, No Crows. This November will see Steve's return to the Hawk's Well with previews from a forthcoming new solo album and will have some surprise and very special guests. The evening is a celebration of Steve Wickham's musical journey... This is bound to be a wonderful evening!

☄ Mike Scott - Bangor Interview - August 24th 2016 ☄

A very relaxed and happy Mike Scott with Gavin Martin.

Mike Scott gave a very warm, honest and open in Bangor as part of the 'Open House Festival' on August 24th. He talked about a whole range of subjects from the new Waterboys album that he is currently working on, his song writing process, his musical influences, and his family life, and the possibility of writing another book and a lot more besides.

Lasting over two hours in duration, Mike chatted openly with Gavin Martin and these chats were interspersed with edited video clips of various musical artists that Mike admires. So we got The Stones, Beatles, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, British Sea Power, Midlake and Amy Winehouse. He also had high praise for Van, Bowie, Leonard, Iggy Pop and Mathew E White.

So here are a few bullet points jotted down while on the bus journey back to Dublin.

- The New Album:

• The new (as yet untitled) Album to be released in September 2017:
• Mike is currently working on a double album - two dozen songs, 'I think they are my best, better lyrics and better songs' .
• There is a Big Hip Hop influence; in the sound not in the songs, with loops and Hip Hop drum grooves.
• He is playing a lot of keyboards and playing a lot of lead guitar himself, and funk guitar.
• There are no demos. On the new record he recorded the vocals on the night he wrote the song, in every case and then where necessary added vocals to the original for the masters.
• 'There is an authenticity to that because as a songwriter I know that the night I wrote the song is when the balloon is at its ripest'.
• He also mentioned adding several Scottish voices to some of the songs which he said was 'great fun' to do.
• He has written several songs about his wife-to-be and about their love affair and these will be on the new album.
• Five songs have been worked on by Trey Pollard who is the string arranger for Mathew E White.

- On his Songwriting:

• He sends emails to himself of a line of a lyric that he has thought of, or a chord sequence or he records a vocal melody on his phone and then mails it to himself.
• He also said his songwriting has really gone into overdrive.
• When it comes to song co-writing he described himself as a 'lone wolf'. He likes co-writing but by email, if someone sends him a lyric then he will work on it on his own.

- Asked about his Ambition:

• 'I am making a new record and my ambition is that it will be an absolute f@#king killer record and that everyone realises it is and that it turns people on, that is my ambition'.

Lastly, he took some questions from the audience. Mike seemed to be incredibly happy and content and as a good friend said 'It's great to see him blessed when he has given so much to others'. And this is a sentiment that we all feel. It was a very special evening indeed...

Now...Roll on September 2017!

☄ Mike Scott Interview - Bangor, Co. Down - August 24th ☄

Mike Scott will give a public interview with Gavin Martin the the Space Theatre in Bangor, County Down as part of the 'Open House' festival. Titled 'Talking Musical Revolutions' this is bound to be a fascinating evening.

☄ Progresja Music Zone, Warsaw ☄

The Waterboys played their first official Polish date on June 6th in Warsaw. And what a legendary show it was! A very long set...A magical atmosphere...The wonderful (mainly) Polish crowd, and a whirling dervish of energy from the band on stage...and the sheer happiness and joy just emanated from all the band members...with an absolutely perfect set list that featured old and new songs, including a rarely played epic outing of The Pan Within ...New song Nashville Tennessee was included..and we were also treated to another one-off song not on the set list called 'Warsaw Barrowlands'...all in all, a sublime gig from start to finish!.

☄ Radio Session at PolskieRadio Warsaw ☄

The Waterboys trio of Mike, Steve and Brother Paul played a wonderful 50 minute radio session in PolskieRadio studios on June 5th in front of a specially invited audience. Songs included a rare outing of the classic song This is the Sea and an epic 14 minute The Pan Within. .

To watch the video of the complete (incredible) performance Please Click Here.

☄ First Public Appearance by Mike of 2016: ☄

Bob dylan birthday bash - may 24th - new york.

Mike Scott made his first public appearance of 2016 at a 75th Birthday celebration for Bob Dylan in NYC on May 24th. He guested for two Dylan songs with the house band, including Rob Stoner, on vocals and guitar. The songs were Lonesome Day Blues and All Along The Watchtower. He then joined the ensemble for the encore, where he sang the second verse of Forever Young and played the piano throughout.

☄ Mike with Rob Stoner & Co. ☄

(Thank you Andy Goldstein)

☄ New England date announced for May 28th! ☄

The Waterboys are set to headline the 'Tunes in the Dunes' Festival on the Saturday evening at Perranporth Beach in Cornwall on May 28th!

Tickets are on sale on Now!

☄ New Scottish date announced for August 8th! ☄

The Waterboys are set to headline a 'Summer Nights' concert in Glasgow at the Kelvingrove Bandstand on August 8th!

Tickets on sale on Friday April 29th!

☄ First-ever Date Announced in Poland on June 6th! ☄

The Waterboys are set to play in Poland for the very first time, at Progresja Music Zone in Warsaw, Poland on June 6th!

This is sure to be a cracker of a show!

Tickets are on sale now!

☄ Dates for The Netherlands -June 4th and Norway - Aug 4th! ☄

☄ new uk date added for wychwood festival on june 3rd ☄.

The Waterboys are scheduled to play the Wychwood Festival on June 3rd in Cheltenham, England. Tickets are on sale now!

☄ New Dates Added In Norway and Netherlands! ☄

The Waterboys set to play Troll Rock Festival on July 28th in Norway and Bospop Festival in The Netherlands on July 09th.

Click Here For Ticket Info!

☄ New 2016 Irish Date Announced! ☄

The Waterboys set to Headline the Folkfest on July 10th in Killarney!

☄ .. A Letter To Mr Scott - by Erwin Rademaker. - Web author Review.. ☄

A Letter To Mr Scott is a Waterboys related book that is not a biography in itself. It is a deeply personal view of what The Waterboys songs mean to the author and that is what makes it a truly original opus. The author has managed to put his heart and soul into it as it has been written to express his intense love of the Waterboys music. The book takes the form of an open letter to Mike Scott, though it deals solely with the music' and it begins with a whole list of songs that have had a profound meaning to the author, and long-time Waterboys fan, Mr Rademaker.

In order to prepare himself to write what turns out to be a captivating and quite magical book, the author secreted himself away in Newgrange, County Meath, and over a number of days in seclusion, he listened to every single Waterboys song and jotted down notes and drawings. The opening section of the book makes for enchanting reading as with each song we are taken on a journey through the author's life, his memories and the imagery and emotions that each song evokes for him.

Interspersed throughout the book is a fable written by the author with beautiful artwork especially created for the book by the artist Veronique Castellanos. There are also a number of other breath-taking artworks by the artist Sven Roumen that are printed on colour plates within.

The middle section of this meticulously crafted book is made up of pieces of prose written by a number of Waterfolk who were asked by the author to answer in writing the simple question 'What Does Music Mean To You?' (And this web author also made a small contribution and was very honoured to do so). These pieces of writing are of varying length and are also wonderfully unique in their style and give great insight into each contributor's individual perspective on what having music in their day-to-day lives means to them.

It is a testament to the author's generosity that he wished to include input from other fans in what can only be described as a labour of love.

There then follows an extensive photo section containing colour and mono images of song lyrics with the author's handwritten notes and drawings alongside. There are also several photos of the Waterboys on stage and many other photos of various scenes that are described in the first part of the book, as well as family shots and more that relate to specific Waterboys songs in the author's perception.

Lastly, there is a full discography and complete song listing, up to and including the latest Waterboys LP Modern Blues. Also included is a full band members list to date in alphabetical order, which incredibly (if I have counted correctly) adds up to 79 past and present members!

In closing, this is an exquisitely produced opus that is a spellbinding read and a thing of profound beauty.

• A Letter To Mr Scott site: To Order Please Click Here

**There will also be a very special Limited Edition of the A Letter To Mr Scott book containing an expanded Three Volume version all housed in a beautifully designed wooden presentation box.**

☄ First Date of 2016 announced! ☄

Click Here For Info!

Thank You Noemi Martinez Turrillas

☄ ..Fan Site Added To The Waterboys Official Site ☄

This Fan Site has been added to The Waterboys Links Page on the Official Web Site!

So a heartfelt THANK YOU! to all of you who have contributed or visited the site to date as the creation of the Fan Site would not have been possible without your input and support.

☄ Web Site Thumbs Up From The Man Himself! ☄

Mike's tweet and steve's and more kind words. - 11th april 2015.

Thank You Mike and Steve! (and Everyone else.)

☄Great Report From The Opening Show On The U.S. Tour 2015 ☄

• Read The Article Here

☄ A Return to Glastonbury Festival! ☄

The Waterboys are set to make another return to Glastonbury in June. Alas, the Festival tickets are all sold out.

☄ Cynthia Lennon Song at Sydney Opera House Show ☄

'Song For Cynthia' ( A brief song for the late Cynthia Lennon) and 'Song of Wandering Aengus' both debuts at the Sydney Opera House gig.(Thank You Tony Thompson)

☄ Tour Debut in Auckland NZ - March 31 2015☄

'When Will We Be Married?' was a tour debut at the Modern Blues show in Auckland, New Zealand with just Mike and Steve performing the song on stage. (Don't Bang The Drum was also performed by the duo).

☄ Great new Waterboys-related Twitter Account ☄

An excellent new Waterboys Twitter account featuring random Waterboys Lyrics has appeared. You really should check it out!

Waterboys Lyrics on Twitter: Here

'When Will We Be Married?' was a tour debut at the Modern Blues show in Auckland, New Zealand with just Mike and Steve performing the song on stage. (Don't Bang The Drum was also performed).

☄ Melbourne Show Set List - March 27 2015 ☄

• Destinies Entwined
• Still A Freak
• Girl Called Johnny
• November Tale
• Time, Space And The Bride's Bed Burning.(fragment)
• Girl Who Slept For Scotland
• Three Day Man!!!!!!!!!!
• Nearest Thing To Hip
• I Can See Elvis
• The Whole Of The Moon
• Don't Bang The Drum (Mike and Steve)
• Fisherman's Blues
• Long Strange Golden Road
• Purple Rain (encore)

(Thanks Tony Thompson!)

☄ NEW WATERBOYS EP. ☄

To coincide with Record Store Day, The Waterboys will release a strictly limited edition four-track EP called 'Puck's Blues' on 10 inch vinyl on April 18.

Puck's Blues Track Titles:

• The Girl Who Slept For Scotland

The EP will also include a sleevenote by Mike.

The four tracks are Mike's home demo versions of songs from the new Modern Blues album. So check with your local music shop for availability.

☄ NEW SCOTTISH DATE ADDED! ☄

An new Scottish summer concert date has been added as part of The Waterboys 2015 European tour.

Friday 28 August Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh

Ticket Info on Tour page. Here

☄ THREE NEW NORWAY DATES ADDED! ☄

More European dates will be announced as they are confirmed.

The Norwegian dates are:

Thurs 15 October Grieghallen, BERGEN

Fri 16 October Konserthus - Kuppelhallen, STAVANGER

Sat 17 October Sentrum Scene, OSLO

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This Is the Sea

By Mark Richardson

April 14, 2024

When the Waterboys founder Mike Scott was a teenager living in Edinburgh, he published a fanzine called Jungleland . The sixth issue, which came out at the end of 1977, had Richard Hell on the cover and teased articles about the Sex Pistols and Graham Parker . That Scott named his zine after the final song on Bruce Springsteen ’s album Born to Run suggested that the angry energy of punk—a force that exerts an outsized pull on the young—was tempered by a yearning spirituality. For Scott, music offered a portal into a new way of seeing the world, one charged with romance, something you could get swept up in, where life seems so full of excitement and possibility it’s like a swelling container just about to burst.

Another coverline for “Jungleland” No. 6 is Patti Smith . When the Patti Smith Group came to London while touring Easter in 1978, Scott, on a hunch, called the hotel where he thought the singer might be staying and asked to speak with her, and the front desk patched him through. He asked if she’d received a package of zines he’d sent (she hadn’t), and after a brief chat she invited him down to London to cover the show. He took the train down, met his hero, hung out with her band, befriended her guitarist, Lenny Kaye, and stayed in a room in the fancy hotel she had arranged. Five years later, when Scott placed an advertisement in the NME classifieds seeking bandmates, he described what he was looking for:

THE WATERBOYS REQUIRE LEAD/RHYTHM GUITAR PLAYER. 18-24. Ability, own style, and appreciation of Patti Smith essential.

A few additional data points to help us understand Scott: When on holiday with his mother to London at age 16, he popped into a studio advertised in Melody Maker and recorded a version of Bob Dylan ’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” playing most of the instruments himself. He wanted to see how records were made. Scott’s first band was called White Heat, named after Lou Reed ’s song , and the name of the Waterboys was taken from a line in Reed’s “ The Kids ,” from Berlin . Other fixations during his youth were David Bowie and Van Morrison .

So that’s Dylan, Patti, Bruce, Van, Lou, Bowie, and punk rock—inspirations that all seemed in conversation with one another. Springsteen was once the New Dylan, and Patti was taking rock’n’roll poetics into strange places; Bruce and Patti had met each other in song on “ Because the Night ”; Springsteen’s second LP was deeply indebted to Van Morrison, and Patti had of course had transformed “ Gloria ,” the signature tune of Van’s early days, on her album Horses ; Bowie had covered Reed and Springsteen both, and was, like the latter, punk rock royalty; Springsteen had shown up on Reed’s “ Street Hassle .”

Borrow from Born to Run , Horses , “Like a Rolling Stone,” Astral Weeks , throw in the repetition and dirty grandeur of “ Heroin ” and the piss and vinegar of punk. What would you get? Perhaps “Big Music,” which was the title of a track on the Waterboys’ second album, 1984’s A Pagan Place . It was the rare case of a band inadvertently naming its own approach while describing the small scene springing up around them. Scott’s song, an appropriately widescreen epic with horns and crashing drums, describes a sound-fueled epiphany: “I have heard the big music/And I’ll never be the same/Something so pure/Just called my name.”

Big music is the chill down your spine and the sudden eruption of gooseflesh. It’s a feeling one usually encounters when young, describing that moment when you hear a song for the first time and it’s so overwhelming you feel like a changed person after it ends. For many musicians, an early experience with such an epiphany meant they could no longer imagine a future in the straight world—going to school, getting a job, settling down were out the window. All that mattered now was making a life in a band. Those who have had the experience but don’t perform themselves might subsequently spend their lives building a social scene around shows, collecting records, or reading and writing long essays about the power of music.

For a time, journalists looking for a hook used Big Music to describe a clutch of earnest young bands from Ireland and the UK who borrowed from the murky rumble and artful dissonance of post-punk while writing spiritually minded and cathartic songs about hope, endurance, and redemption. U2 , Big Country , Simple Minds , the Alarm, and the Waterboys themselves were ambitious acts that emerged during the first half of the ’80s, groups that grappled with the period’s grim economy and frightened turn to conservatism by searching for spiritual transcendence. George Orwell’s nightmare vision seemed as if it might come true. “It was 1984, after all,” Scott wrote in the notes for the band’s recently released box set, 1985 . “Fifteen years after a golden age, Kev and I were underground-literate post-punk adventurers, lingering in gray 1980s London, hanging on to the last vestiges of the counterculture.”

The music of the Waterboys and their cohorts was anguished, but it never veered toward nihilism—these acts never gave up on the ’60s ideal that music could usher in a better world. The bleak street-level reality was an essential part of their work, but they also had their eyes trained on the stars. “Because I was young and the world stood open before me,” he writes, setting the scene in the opening notes for the 1985 box, “it seems to me now to have taken place in an endless springtime.”

By the time Scott gathered the Waterboys to cut their third album, This Is the Sea , in early 1985, he was ready, alongside co-producer Mick Glossop, to take his already enormous aesthetic someplace even more grand. Other members at the time included multi-instrumentalists Anthony Thistlethwaite, whose piercing sax playing sounds something like his last name, and Karl Wallinger, who would soon depart to form the psych-pop band World Party.

While visiting New York City in January, Scott had purchased a large black book from an occult shop—the owner had said it was intended for witches to record their spells—and, brimming with confidence, filled its blank pages with lyrics for his next record. The Black Book, a volume designed to aid in channeling forces from beyond, became an important totem of the Waterboys’ mythology. It’s almost too perfect: At this point in his young life, Scott’s lyrics and music were hell-bent on capturing the hidden magic that seemed to exist all around him, the stuff that was so clear to him but so elusive to everyone else.

The opening “Don’t Bang the Drum” is our first experience of Scott’s dark magic. It’s a song about the animalistic side of human nature, about reverting to primal impulses. Streaks of Thistlethwaite’s sax give the track its color. It’s not a jazz saxophone, nor is it directly connected to the R&B sax that took root in the United States in the ’40s and led to rock bands of a certain bearing—like those that played on the Jersey Shore—to include the instruments alongside guitar and organ. The sax on This Is the Sea doesn’t carry or embellish the melody—it intensifies it. When you deploy a saxophone like this, any notion of “cool” is out of the question.

An artist growing in confidence wants to know just how good they are, whether this surge of ideas and new way of seeing things carries as much power as they suspect. A songwriter in the throes of such a moment might indulge composer’s version of a heat-check, to challenge themselves to do something great. Around the time This Is the Sea was coming together, Johnny Marr of the Smiths engaged in such a test. He had been reading praise in the music press of his and Morrissey’s songwriting genius and he thought to himself, “Right, if you’re so great, first thing in the morning, sit down and write a great song.” And so he did—the next day, the music for “ Cemetry Gates ” was complete. It’s a perfect song.

Scott’s challenge to write something great came from a girlfriend as the pair were walking in Manhattan. She asked him if writing songs was easy. To impress his new partner, he pulled a pen and a scrap of paper from his pocket and instantly scribbled the title and the chorus—“I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon.” Back in London, he returned to the fragment and fleshed it out, eventually laying it down on a demo at the piano. It’s another perfect song.

Everything about the finished version of “The Whole of the Moon,” from lyric to melody to harmonic structure to arrangement, reinforces its essential expression. It’s a bright production, the track closest to the sound of mainstream British pop from the time, with a synthesizer sparkle from Wallinger that would have fit on a Thompson Twins or Eurythmics record. And as the dozens of the song’s covers show, Scott’s tune invites a stadium singalong while being flexible enough to support a melancholic reading or one pocked with the rage that follows loss .

As often happens with an evocative song written about a character with sensitivity and specificity, people have long wondered who “The Whole of the Moon” might be about. Scott’s friend Nikki Sudden of Swell Maps wondered if he might be the subject, and others speculated it was written about C.S. Lewis, whom Scott had read voraciously since childhood. But the beauty of “The Whole of the Moon” is in how it maps so easily onto all our lives. It’s about an archetypical person so many of us encounter when young, the figure a few steps ahead of where we are now, who seems unafraid and inspires us to overcome our fears and take in life’s full measure, all the beauty and the horror. And in a characteristically romantic turn, the song suggests that access to such insights comes with a price.

“The Whole of the Moon” zeroes in on a single person, but the canvas for much of This Is the Sea is considerably larger. These are songs about mystical revelation powered by fire and wind, set on mountaintops. The brief fragment “Spirit” is a perfectly lovely coda to “The Whole of the Moon,” with couplets like “Man is tethered/Spirit is free” (we’ll hear more about this duality later). “The Pan Within” is about sex, but Scott frames the act in holy terms, positing the pleasure of the body as a path to a parallel universe. And the crashing “Medicine Bow” is about leaving the mundane behind to take in the mad world in one huge gulp: “I’m gonna burn all the words and letters and cards that I ever wrote/And you can sail with me where the current flows.”

When Scott turns a clear eye to life outside in sober moments, he doesn’t always like what he sees. “Old England” has a circular progression on piano that frames Scott’s rumination on the sorry state of the political landscape he inhabits, imagining the country as a broken-down old man whose best days are behind him. The melody and arrangement are gorgeous, but the view is ugly, filled with imperial hubris and forgotten children. Thistlethwaite’s sax cuts through the song like an alarm, or a whistle blown after a long day of brutal work. The winds that carried the life force on “Medicine Bow” now cut right through you.

The world-outside blues continue with “Be My Enemy,” a direct homage to a mid-’60s Dylan with a rollicking 12-bar blues progression that’s about being hated by God and hating Him right back. “I keep on findin’ hate mail/In the pockets of my coat,” goes one of many choice lines, suggesting no escape from these malevolent forces. But “Trumpets,” a love song that unfolds in front of a backdrop of churches and the ocean during high summer, puts us back in the album’s special place.

By this point in This Is the Sea , we have to ask what’s real—is it the electric romance of Scott’s dreams or the dreary bad vibes of “Old England” and “Be My Enemy”? The closing title track takes it all in and suggests a third path. It’s a simple song, just two chords, the first two, in fact, that you learned the day you first picked up a guitar. But in the early Waterboys, Scott made those two simple chords sound massive, layering multiple 12-string instruments into a symphony of wood and steel.

Two chords that sway back and forth—the perfect harmonic expression of contemplating the past and the present simultaneously. To borrow words that Dylan uttered in another context, one chord says, “It used to go like that” while the next replies with, “Now it goes like this.” Scott uses these two chords to suspend us in the moment of this album’s creation, that place where he shows us a way of looking at life and now realizes its limitations. The saxophone has moved down in the mix, and Scott transposes its reed-splitting pressure to his own vocal cords. The result sounds like “Street Hassle” played by buskers on a cobblestone street in Galway, a drone-powered expression of a new idea zooming toward the horizon.

“This Is the Sea” freezes and then amplifies the moment where romantic swallow-the-world energy, the force that powers the record and Scott’s life to this point—smashes into reality. It’s a paradox because freedom comes from releasing your connection to that youthful verve rather than wallowing in it. “Once you were tethered, now you are free,” Scott sings in the first verse, and he’s not talking about what your family or government has handed you but the limitations you’ve constructed in your own mind. “You’re tryin’ to remember how fine your life used to be/Banging a drum like it’s 1973,” he sings, connecting us not only to “Don’t Bang the Drum” but to a year when he would have been 13, a year or two away from his zine and dreaming of his own future in music. It’s not that those visions from childhood didn’t matter—they opened his eyes, now it was time to do something with them.

In a 2002 interview with Spin , Leonard Cohen , relaying a thought shared by his Buddhist teacher, said that one eventually reaches a point of spiritual crisis where the “hero that you’re trying to maintain as the central figure in the drama of your life—this hero is not enjoying the life of a hero.” The only way out, according to Cohen, is to let this hero die. “From there,” he said, “you just live your life as if it’s real—as if you have to make decisions even though you have absolutely no guarantee of any of the consequences of your decisions.”

This Is the Sea is filled with such characters, those burning with youth trying to walk like the heroes they thought they had to be. Both he and his label had grand designs for the record, thinking it might boost the band to the upper echelon of the rock scene. But Scott was a bit too restless to make that happen. Reaction in the States was enthusiastic, but unlike U2 and Simple Minds, the Waterboys would remain there in the realm of college radio. Which was OK, because Scott himself was ready to move on.

“I’d taken the rock sound of the first three Waterboys albums as far as I could,” he wrote in his memoir. “After This Is the Sea —the song itself, with nine acoustic guitars simulating an ocean and an accompanying soundscape of brass and string orchestrations—I stood on top of the sonic mountain with nowhere else to climb.” Scott’s next epiphany arrived when he realized that the greatest possible experience with music just might involve banging out ancient traditional numbers with a few strangers in the corner of a small-town pub, a revelation that would lead him over the next three years to the equally great Fisherman’s Blues . So This Is the Sea , the final product of Scott’s early musical obsessions, was both a new beginning and an ending, the kind of beautiful dream you don’t mind waking up from.

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The Waterboys

With almost continual changes to their line-up since 1983, The Waterboys are still going strong under the leadership of singer, songwriter and more...

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• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Moscow Metro Underground Small-Group Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

Moscow metro underground small-group tour.

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Free Cancellation
• Duration: 3 Hrs
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 10:00 AM
• Departure Details : Karl Marks Monument on Revolution Square, metro stop: Square of Revolution
• Return Details : Metro Smolenskaya
• If you cancel at least 4 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
• If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Go beneath the streets on this tour of the spectacular, mind-bending Moscow Metro! Be awed by architecture and spot the Propaganda , then hear soviet stories from a local in the know. Finish it all up above ground, looking up to Stalins skyscrapers, and get the inside scoop on whats gone on behind those walls.

Know More about this tour

We begin our Moscow tour beneath the city, exploring the underground palace of the Moscow Metro. From the Square of Revolution station, famous for its huge statues of soviet people (an armed soldier, a farmer with a rooster, a warrior, and more), we’ll move onto some of the most significant stations, where impressive mosaics, columns, and chandeliers will boggle your eyes! Moreover, these stations reveal a big part of soviet reality — the walls depict plenty of Propaganda , with party leaders looking down from images on the walls. Your local guide will share personal stories of his/her family from USSR times, giving you insight into Russia’s complicated past and present. Then we’re coming back up to street level, where we’ll take a break and refuel with some Russian fast food: traditional pancakes, called bliny. And then, stomachs satiated, we are ready to move forward! We’ll take the eco-friendly electric trolleybus, with a route along the Moscow Garden Ring. Used mainly by Russian babushkas(grannies) during the day, the trolleybus hits peak hours in the mornings and evenings, when many locals use it going to and from their days. Our first stop will be the Aviator’s House, one of Stalin’s Seven Sisters, followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — and you’ll hear the legends of what has gone on inside the walls. Throughout your Moscow tour, you’ll learn curious facts from soviet history while seeing how Russia exists now, 25 years after the USSR.

Local English-speaking guide

Pancake snack and drink

Additional food and drinks

Tickets for public transport

Souvenirs and items of a personal nature

Tips and gratuities for the guide

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Dress standard: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking. For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people

Traveler Reviews

This tour exceeded our expectations. Nikolai (Nick), our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, thorough, and has a great personality. He didn't take shortcuts and really covered everything that was on the agenda in great detail. We saw beautiful metro stations and learned the history behind them, including many of the murals and designs.

We did the tour with Anna her knowledge and understanding of the History surrounding the metro brought the tour alive. Well done Anna!

This tour was amazing!

Anna was a great tour guide. She gave us heaps of interesting information, was very friendly, and very kindly showed us how to get to our next tour.

Amazing beauty and history.

An excellent tour helped by an absolutely amazing guide. Anna gave a great insight into the history of the metro helped by additional material she had prepared.

great tour and guide - thanks again

great will do it again, Miriam ke was very good as a guide she has lived here all here life so knew every interesting detail.a good day

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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