WATERBOYS WILL PLAY ON RADIO 2'S MARK RADCLIFFE SHOW, 3RD NOV
Nov 2nd 2005

Mike Scott and Steve Wickham will play some songs and be interviewed on BBC Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe Show on Thursday 3rd November between 10.30 and Midnight, British time.

STEVE'S BELFAST SHOW, OCT 4
Sep 30th 2005

Steve Wickham's 3-piece fiddle band, FIDDLE TREE, will play a co-headline show with Karen Casey at McHugh's, 29-31 Queen's Square, Belfast on 4th October. The show starts at 7.30pm. Ticket office: 0044 28 9024 7830.

MIKE AND STEVE TO PLAY ON UK's JOHNNIE WALKER RADIO SHOW, OCT 5
Sep 30th 2005

Mike and Steve will be guesting on Radio 2's Johnnie Walker show on Wednesday October 5 at 6.30pm. They will be interviewed and will play some songs live in the studio. This is one of only a very few radio interviews scheduled around the Karma To Burn release.

'KARMA TO BURN' RELEASE DATE SWITCHED TO SEPT 26th
Aug 24th 2005

The Waterboys new live album 'Karma To Burn' has been delayed till Monday September 26th, instead of the previously stated September 12. The delay is because of artwork complications, which have now been happily sorted out. The band and management apologise to everyone who is looking forward to the album's release.

SOLO SHOW BY STEVE WICKHAM, JULY 16
Jun 23rd 2005

Steve will be playing a 'solo' show for the Sligo Cairde Festival in the Factory theatre, Quay Street, Sligo on 16th July at 8pm. Joining Steve will be Felip Carbonell (flamenco guitar), Eddie Lynch (piano), Jamie Carswell (bass), Billy Shine (drums), Anna Heuston (cello) and Frances Bell (viola). Steve will be playing songs from "Geronimo" plus some new work.

For more information on Cairde, the festival brochure, and information on how to book tickets please ring Blue Raincoat at 071 917 0431 or visit www.blueraincoat.com.

WATERBOYS LIVE ALBUM COMING IN SEPTEMBER
Apr 25th 2005

The Waterboys first ever official live album will be released this coming September. Mike and soundman Chris Madden are currently doing the final mixes. The recordings are from the 2003 and 2004 tours, and feature both the 5-piece full band (Carlos Hercules and Steve Walters on drums and bass) and the 3-man acoustic line-up. Mike has chosen 13-tracks, and the album, as yet untitled, will be a single CD. We don't have the tracklist yet but the album is understood to include full band versions of "The Pan Within", "Long Way To The Light" and "Glastonbury Song" and several acoustic tracks including "Come Live With Me" and "The Return Of Jimi Hendrix". It will be on the band's own Puck Records. We'll give you more details as we get them.

STEVE PREMIERES HIS NEW FIDDLE TRIO IN SLIGO, IRELAND, 5th MAY
Apr 25th 2005

Steve Wickham has formed a fiddle trio with two other fiddlers, Irishman Seamie O'Dowd and Scotsman Bill Stewart. The ensemble is called FIDDLE TREE, and they will make their debut on Thursday 5th May, 8.30 pm at the Model Arts and Niland Gallery, The Mall, Sligo, Ireland as part of the Solo Festival 2005.

Tickets are available from www.modelart.ie/solo/index.html and an early booking is recommended.

Says Steve: "It was an idea of a friend of mine, Jim Meehan, who knows us individually and wondered what kind of music we would make together. As we all have different backgrounds, Seamie's trad, Bill's classical and my rock, we felt the combination would be new and exciting. There are no plans to record or play other gigs as yet."

Séamie O'Dowd is a multi-instrumentalist and member of Sligo traditional group Dervish. He has also played and recorded with accordion wizard Máirtín O'Connor.

Bill Stewart has played with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Baroque Ensemble, Virtuosi Scotland, Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Passau State Opera Orchestra and Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. In the '90s he moved to Sligo and was introduced to jazz. He leads the swing jazz band Klazz.

WATERBOYS DATES ANNOUNCED
Mar 29th 2005

SPECIAL SHOW IN GALWAY - WITH ANTO

The Waterboys will play a benefit show in Galway on 7th May with a unique one-off ensemble featuring former members Anthony Thistlethwaite on bass and Fran Breen on drums. The show, at the Black Box, is a benefit for MASC (Male Abuse Survivors' Centre), and other performers include The Sawdoctors, Padraig Stevena, Breda Smyth and John 'Turps' Burke. The Waterboys spent much time in and around Galway during the 'Fisherman's Blues' era and all the acts on the bill are old friends - so this will be a very special reunion show.

May 7th, The Black Box, Galway, Eire. Box Office: 091 569777 Tickets: Euro 30.00

FURTHER SHOWS - ALL ON SALE NOW

FINDHORN CONCERT BY MIKE - MARCH 28TH
Feb 9th 2005

As part of the Universal Voices conference in Findhorn, Scotland, Mike Scott will play a concert at Universal Hall on Monday March 28th, accompanied by Richard Naiff on piano. This show is open to the public, and tickets go on sale 10am, Tuesday March 1st from the Phoenix box office, Findhorn, telephone (44) 1309 690110, price £10. For further details about Universal Voices or details of how to travel to Findhorn visit www.findhorn.org/universalvoices

MIKE SCOTT CONFIRMED FOR FINDHORN
Dec 3rd 2004

Mike will be one of the performers at Universal Voices, a festival of song and story at Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland, 26 March - 2 April, 2005. Mike will play an evening concert during the week and will also give some smaller, more informal presentations. It's not known whether Richard or Steve will participate as well. Other presenters and performers include gospel group Black Voices, sound healer Chris James, storytellers Laura Simms and Margot Henderson, and celtic harpist Fiona Davidson. Cost of the week, including accommodation and meals, is £545 if booked before 31 Jan 2005, £595 if booked after that date. For further details and information on how to book : www.findhorn.org/universalvoices

STEVE WICKHAM SOLO SHOW, DUBLIN, DECEMBER 17
Dec 2nd 2004

Steve will play a concert with his brother Henry as special guest at 'The Space', Helix Theatre, Dublin, Ireland at 8.30pm, Friday, December 17th. Tickets are €15/€12(concessions) plus booking fee and are available from: +353 1700 7000 or www.thehelix.ie

SCOTTISH SHOWS POSTPONED
Nov 29th 2004

The band's shows in Aberdeen, Kirkwall (Orkney) and Lerwick (Shetland) this week, have been postponed as a result of Richard Naiff's being unwell and unable to travel. They will be rescheduled for as early as possible in 2005. Sharon Shannon, who stood in for the last 3 dates of the Waterboys' Irish tour is unavailable, and rather than play with a two-piece line-up, the band will reschedule. According to Mike Scott "we've never played Orkney and Shetland before, and we want the audiences there - and in Aberdeen - to get the real show, not a stop-gap". The shows are expected to take place in February. Dates will be announced as soon as confirmed. Original tickets will be valid. Richard meanwhile is recovering at home.

SHARON SHANNON GUESTS ON WATERBOYS IRISH SHOWS
Nov 29th 2004

Sharon Shannon will continue to stand in for Richard Naiff at the Waterboys' Irish shows this weekend in Athlone (Sat Nov 27) and Waterford (Sun Nov 28). Sharon, a member of the band during the 1989/90 'Room To Roam' era, played with Mike and Steve for the second half of last night's show in Ennis. Richard has gone back to London suffering from a stomach infection and it is hoped he will return for the band's Scottish shows next week.

IRISH TOUR UPDATE
Nov 26th 2004

Richard Naiff has gone home to London on Doctor's orders, having caught a stomach infection during the Waterboys Irish tour. According to the band's tour manager, Richard struggled through the first six dates manfully, but is too unwell to continue for the moment. It is hoped he will return in time for the three Scottish shows next week. In the meantime, Mike and Steve will be joined for tonight's concert in Ennis by accordion and fiddle player Sharon Shannon, who played with The Waterboys in the late 1980s and is a great friend of the band.

STEVE GUESTS ON ALBUM BY COLIN BLAKEY'S NEW BAND
Jul 28th 2004

Colin Blakey's new band Orchestra Macaroon have just released their new album 'Breakfast In Balquhidder'. Colin was a Waterboy during the 'Fisherman's Blues'/'Room To Roam' era of the late 1980s, and his old colleague Steve Wickham guests on one of the new album tracks, playing no less than 6 fiddles ! The album can be ordered direct from Orchestra Macaroon's website, www.theshipbuilders.com

AUTUMN TOUR – ADDITIONAL SHOWS
Jul 28th 2004

Here are all the additional dates for the Waterboys' autumn tour. Besides a few more shows in Ireland and the UK in October it's our pleasure to announce an eight-date tour of Ireland for November. Dates are listed below. The complete list of these and previously announced shows can found here.

FINDHORN SHOWS - WHAT HAPPENED
Jun 24th 2004

The band's three Findhorn shows at Universal Hall over the midsummer weekend were a great success - all sold out, with people coming from as far afield as South Africa, Iceland and the USA.

Mike, Steve and Richard introduced several changes to the set, premiering their epic version of "The Return Of Jimi Hendrix", and playing "Good News", "Come Live With Me", Rodney Crowell's "Song For The Life" and a musical setting for Mike's reading of the 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' chapter from the book 'The Wind In the Willows', on midsummer's night.

They were joined by Craig Gibsone and May East each night for performances of "Seek The Light", and donned masks for "The Dance At The Crossroads". Other musical twists including Mike's solo, rewritten version of "The Return Of Pan", and a rare version of "A Home In The Meadow".

STEVE APPEARS ON TV'S LATE LATE SHOW
Sep 2nd

Steve Wickham will be appearing on Irish television's The Late Late Show, shown on RTE1 at 9.30pm this Friday, Sept 3rd. Steve will be playing a number from his new solo album "Geronimo". Steve's band will include his brother Henry Wickham, bodhran player Junior Davey, Waterboys piano player Richard Naiff and additional fiddlers Ray Coen & Austin McManus.

STEVE WICKHAM ALBUM "GERONIMO" OUT AUGUST 20th - PLUS HIS TOUR DATES
Aug 7th

We can now confirm Steve Wickham's solo album "Geronimo" was released in Ireland on Steve's label Ramblin Records (distributed by RMG) on 20th August. Copies will be available from that date on-line from Claddagh Records at : www.claddaghrecords.com.

The album is named after Steve's fiddle.

The full tracklist is :

The album was produced by Steve, who plays many instruments on the twelve tracks as well as his trademark fiddle. Other players include : Waterboy Richard Naiff, Gavin 'Fingers' Ralston (who played in Mike Scott's band in 1997), Aogan Lynch, Lloyd Byrne, Junior Davey, Anna Heuston and Dierdre Byron Smith. The music was recorded in London, Sligo and Wicklow.

Steve also plays the following Irish shows this Summer, all except the first show are with his brother, songwriter, singer and guitarist Henry Wickham.

AUTUMN TOUR - FIRST DETAILS
May 28th

Autumn will see the Waterboys on tour again! Starting in September Mike, Richard and Steve will bring their successful three piece acoustic show to audiences in Sweden, the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland. The shows will be in two parts with an intermission. Dates are listed below. A few more venues will be added to the schedule, and we will let you know as soon as we receive confirmation.

SHOW IN BONN, GERMANY ON 6^th JUNE May 28th

The Waterboys will play their only German show this spring at the Museumsplatz in Bonn (Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2-4, 53113 Bonn) on June 6th. This will be an acoustic three-piece show featuring Mike, Steve & Richard, and the band's scheduled onstage time is 6:00 pm, so don't be late! Also on the bill are Bob Geldof and The Hooters.

Tickets are available from 0800-175 275 0 (only from inside Germany) or from www.bonnticket.de - Tickets cost 41,75 EUR (incl. fees).

STEVE'S EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
May 19th

Steve will be playing fiddle with the Sligo Early Music Ensemble and Amaryllis Singers at Markree Castle, Colooney, County Sligo at 8pm, Sunday 23rd May. Tickets will be available at the Castle. The programme of music is : Handel's 'Acis and Galatea' and Vivialdi's Flute Concerto OP44 no. 11 and Cello Concerto in Dmajor.

SHOW IN KILLARNEY, IRELAND, AUGUST 28th
May 19th

The band play a special acoustic show on 28th August 2004 at the National Event Centre, Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland. Tickets are avilable from the Box Office at + (00) 353 6471555, priced : Euros 27.50 or from the NEC website : www.inec.ie

EXTRA FINDHORN SHOW ADDED
May 12th

A third show has been added at Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland on Monday June 21st. Tickets are on sale NOW from the Phoenix Box Office,(44) 1309 690954. Box office hours are 9.30am - 2pm Monday to Friday.

A MIDSUMMER’S EVE STRAMASH IN FINDHORN
May 3rd

The Waterboys will play two acoustic shows at Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland under the splendid title "A Midsummer's Eve Stramash" on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th June. Both shows will be in two parts with an intermission, and will begin at 8pm. Tickets go on sale at 9.30am, Monday 10th May from the Phoenix Stores Box Office, (44) 1309 690954. The box office hours are 9.30am - 2pm Monday to Friday. Early booking is recommended as last Summer’s Waterboys Findhorn concerts sold out very quickly.

MIKE AND RICHARD PLAY IN FINDHORN WITH DAVID & JULIE SPANGLER
April 19

Mike and Richard played two half-hour sets on Friday & Saturday, 16 and 17 April at Universal Hall, Findhorn, with American spiritual author David Spangler and his wife Julie, both former singers with the New Troubadours, the Findhorn musical group of the 1970s. The first set was the finale of the Findhorn Foundation's 'Spirit of Healing' Conference, and the second was a performance for the Community. The collaboration was suggested by English holistic author William Bloom. Both shows featured several Troubadours numbers plus "Bring 'Em All In" and a new, as yet untitled, song written by David and Mike, and sung by Mike, which we can expect to hear at future Waterboys shows. For more information about David's writings and work visit : www.lorian.org

While in the UK, David will be giving talks at Friends Meeting House, St Giles, Oxford on Tuesday 20th April at 7pm and at Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Rd, London NW1, 7pm. Admission is £10, or £5 (unwaged, students, seniors etc).

STEVE'S SOLO SPOT
Mar 1st 2004

On Sunday evening 7th March Steve Wickham will play a short set of songs and tunes as part of the "Celebration of Creativity" at the Focus Theatre, 6 Pembroke Place, off Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin. This is a night of cabaret with several guests, including Ronnie Drew. The evening begins at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £10 and may be obtained from the Box Office, telephone Dublin 676 3071.

LONDON SHOWS IN EARLY APRIL
Feb 26th 2004

Mike, Steve and Richard will perform two shows at the UCL Bloomsbury Theatre, London, England on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th of April. Tickets, price £28.50, go on sale from Friday 17th Feb from the Box Office, 0207 388 8822, and online from : www.thebloomsbury.com

On both nights they will play two sets with a short intermission. There will be no support act and the concert will begin around 8pm.

ITALIAN ACOUSTIC TOUR CONFIRMED FOR MARCH
Feb 9th 2004

Mike, Steve and Richard will follow their current successful and
rave-reviewed European acoustic tour with seven shows in Italy. This will be the first full Italian Waterboys tour since 1989, and says Mike : "It will be a great one. I remember how passionate the Italian audience is. Tell them we're on fire and on our way." Tickets for all shows are available now from : www.ticketone.it

ABERDEEN HOGMANAY CONCERT CANCELLATION
Jan 2nd 2004

The Waterboys' hogmanay show at Castlegate, Aberdeen, Scotland was cancelled by the Health & Safety Department because of bad weather, when wind and rain started to hit around teatime. Our commiserations go to those fans who travelled to Aberdeen for the show. We hope you still managed to have a good night. The Waterboys and all of us at this website wish Waterpeople everywhere a very happy, peaceful and creative 2004.

WATERBOYS EUROPEAN TOUR DATES FOR JAN-FEB 2004
Dec 26TH 2003

Mike, Steve and Richard will be playing shows at the following venues. All shows are acoustic-based and will feature two sets with intermission, so come early! Further dates will be announced soon in Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy, starting in March.

Please Note: All Shows In Holland : Tickets available at: 0900-3001250, and at Larger Post Offices, GWK Offices and VVV offices.

STEVE MISSES AMERICAN TOUR
Dec 3rd 2003

Steve Wickham will miss the Waterboys' American tour starting today in Annapolis, because he has had to go into hospital for an unexpected operation. It is not dangerous but it means he cannot travel for a few weeks and so Mike and Richard, rather than cancelling the tour, will be playing the concerts as a two-piece. Said Mike : "We wish Steve a safe operation, and a speedy return to the concert stage. Rich and I will be playing as a two-man band - which we've done a few times before and it will be great. We will be changing the set and using the circumstance in which we find ourselves as a creative spur." Steve will be back for the New Year's Eve show in Aberdeen and all concerts after that.

'THIS IS THE SEA' REMASTERING PROJECT LATEST
Dec 3rd 2003

Mike remastered the classic album "This Is The Sea" with Chris Blair at Abbey Road in late November and EMI/Chrysalis are scheduling release for Spring 2004. We can confirm it will definitely be a 2-CD set with the second disc containing over an hour of "This Is The Sea" era music that has never been on CD before, 50 minutes of it never released. Titles include "Towers Open Fire", "The Waves", "Beverly Penn", a different 1985 studio cover of Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing" and 10 others. More details will be announced soon.

STEVE PLAYS SLIGO BENEFIT CONCERT - NOVEMBER 28TH
Nov 19th 2003

Steve Wickham will be appearing with the band Cadenza at the first of two benefit concerts to be held at Southern Hotel, Sligo, Ireland on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November. Cadenza, whose new album Steve has recently produced, will perform early in the evening of the 28th, soon after the 8.30pm start. The concerts, organised by the Sligo band Dervish are a benefit for the family of their roadie Finn Corrigan, who died last year. Other acts playing include The Sawdoctors on the 28th, and Kila and Dervish on the 29th.

Tickets are available online from : www.ticketmaster.ie
or directly from Star Records, Sligo, The Sligo Southern Hotel or these Sligo pubs : Shoot the Crows, Furey's Sheela-Na-Gig.

AMERICAN TOUR - CONCERT DATE CHANGE
11th/12th December 2003
Nov 18th 2003

As you may have noticed there has been some confusion over the date of our concert at Pantages Theatre in St. Paul MN, USA in December. This date was scheduled for Thursday December 11th but tickets mistakenly went on sale via Ticketmaster and Pantages Theatre for Friday December 12th. This was beyond the control of The Waterboys management and representatives, but because so many tickets have now been sold with this date on them, we have decided to keep to this date, rather than risk further confusion.

Anyone who already has a ticket can therefore be certain that the date of Friday 12th, which is printed on the ticket, is CORRECT and anyone contemplating buying a ticket should kindly note that the date has change from Thursday 11th Dec to Friday 12th Dec.

We apologise for any inconvenience and hope you enjoy the show.

USA "UNIVERSAL HALL" ACOUSTIC TOUR DATES CONFIRMED
Nov 3rd 2003

The band play the following acoustic shows across the USA in December. All shows will be divided into 2 sets except Woodstock which will be a single set. The shows will feature Mike Scott (guitar/vocals), Steve Wickham (fiddle) and Richard Naiff (piano). Box office details follow each venue name below. Tickets for the shows on December 4,5 and 7 are also available from www.ticketmaster.com.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW CONFIRMED FOR ABERDEEN
Nov 3rd 2003

The band revive their tradition of playing Hogmanay shows with a 60 minute 5-piece set outdoors at Castlegate, Aberdeen, Scotland with Mike, Steve, Richard, Carlos Hercules and Steve Walters playing. Admission is free, and The Waterboys will play from 10.30-11.30 approximately. Other acts performing are The Peatbog Fairies and Union Avenue. Previous Waterboys Hogmanay shows were Dublin (1988), Glasgow (1989) and Galway (1990).

IRISH TV PERFORMANCE ON FRIDAY 17th
Oct 15th 2003

The Waterboys, currently midway through their successful UK and Irish tour, will play two songs with full band on the Eamon Dunphy Show, on Irish TV3 at 9pm on Friday 17th October.

EUROPEAN DATES
Oct 14th 2003

The following European Waterboys dates have been announced. The rest of the band's European Tour will take place in the New Year and will include further dates in Holland, Germany and Norway as well as shows in Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy. Dates will be announced soon.

NEW BAND MEMBERS FOR AUTUMN TOURS
Sep 30th 2003

The Waterboys have recruited two new members for their Autumn tours. Recent drummer Geoff Dugmore has left the band to pursue another musical job, and bassist Brad Waissman has also left though he is likely to play again with the band on future projects. The two new players are drummer Carlos Hercules and bassist Steve Walters who are currently rehearsing with the band in London. Said Richard Naiff : "Carlos and Steve play brilliantly together and are a great engine for the band". Their first show is at Cardiff on Wednesday night, October 1st.

MIKE'S CADUCEUS INTERVIEW ONLINE
Sep 20th 2003

Mike's recent interview with British holistic magazine Caduceus is available online at :
www.caduceus.info/currentissue.htm

ADDITIONAL SHOWS FOR UK TOUR
Sep 17th 2003

The following shows have been added to the band's October tour of the UK and Ireland :

Tickets for both shows are available now.

SINGLE DELAYED PENDING RE-RECORDING
Sep 10th 2003

The upcoming UK single of "Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired" has been delayed as Mike and Waterboys manager Philip Tennant have decided the band should re-record it in November, after not being satisfied with the version cut in August. Apparently it was "close but not right".

BFBS RADIO BROADCAST
Aug 30th 2003

The interview and 4 session songs from August 1st will be on "At The Edge" this Sunday 5-7pm on BFBS Radio 1 worldwide and streamed on the net. Last week 4 of the songs were featured in a Waterboys Seesion special. This week they are in with the 2-part interview (2 songs with each part - one at the beginning, one at the end) in hr 1 & hr 2 of the show. It's the exclusive first play of 'Saints & Angels' which was not featured last week or earlier in August.

DATE	SHOW	DETAILS
Sunday August 31	BFBS Radio 1 - 'At The Edge' 5-7pm CET	1 live acoustic song and an Interview. www.bfbs.com.

OBAN FM RADIO BROADCAST
Aug 22nd 2003

Oban FM, a Radio station in the north west of Scotland, are going to broadcast some songs from the Easdale Island Piano Benefit show that we did on July 20th. The show featured Mike, Steve & Richard. Oban FM does not have any internet streaming. Here is the info on the Radio Station:

Oban FM - 103.3 MHz. The programme is called Gordon's Grooves and is on every wednesday between 9pm and 11pm. Gordon plans to Broadcast the songs on either Wednesday 20th or 27th of August at approx 10pm.

OCTOBER TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
Aug 11th 2003

The band's October Tour of the UK and Ireland has now been finalised and we present the dates and box office numbers below. The shows will be in two parts, acoustic and full-band, like the recent UK June tour dates. A few more shows are likely to be added. European dates are currently being booked for November, and North American for December, and will be announced soon.

BFBS RADIO SESSION
Aug 10th 2003

Mike and Steve recently recorded a live acoustic session and Interview for the British Forces Broadcasting Service. The session was recorded in Germany, and will be networked around the world and streamed on the web. The broadcast times are as follows.

THIS IS THE SEA RE-MASTERED
Aug 7th 2003

This project is going ahead but will now be released by EMI in the first quarter of 2004. The re-issue will be a two-CD set, comprising a remastered version of the original album and an extra CD of unreleased songs, instrumentals and alternative versions.

JANUARY ACOUSTIC TOUR
JULY 31st 2003

Mike, Steve and Richard will be playing the following series of acoustic shows in the New Year. Further dates will be added soon and we understand these will be in Holland and Norway.

GALWAY CONCERT FOOTAGE ON IRISH TV
JULY 31st 2003

Film of the band playing at Galway's Radisson Hotel as part of their 'Tour of Galway' last weekend will be shown on the following Irish TV shows:

There is also a big feature and interview with The Waterboys in this week's edition of the Irish music journal Hot Press out today (Thursday 31st)

UNIVERSAL HALL - NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE, SEPT 9th
JULY 23rd 2003

Universal Hall will be released in the USA and Canada on September 9th by Minty Fresh, the company run by Mike's friend Jim Powers, immortalised in the 1993 Waterboys song "Mister Powers". Jim comments : "I've long been inspired by Mike Scott's songs and his quest to create passionate art that can be as universal in message as it is personal in experience. We are thrilled to be a part of sharing this music by releasing Universal Hall in North America, a profoundly beautiful record."

GERMAN ACOUSTIC SHOW - AUGUST 1st
JULY 23rd 2003

Mike, Steve and Richard play a special 3-man show at Stadtgarten in Cologne, Germany on Friday August 1st at 8pm. Tickets are available now from www.stadtgarten.de

CARDIFF FESTIVAL - AUGUST 3rd
JULY 23rd 2003

The Waterboys headline the Big Weekend Festival at the City Hall Lawns, Cardiff, Wales on Sunday August 3rd. The band will be onstage at 9.15pm. Admission is free. Other acts playing include The Bluetones, The Proclaimers, La Bothine Souriante and King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys. Festival website: www.cardiff-festival.com

STORNOWAY SHOW BIGGEST EVER IN THE WESTERN ISLES
JULY 23rd 2003

We've heard that the Waterboys concert at the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis last Friday (July 18th) was the biggest ever concert in the Western Isles of Scotland, with a capacity audience in the Festival Tent of around 3,400. By contrast the band's acoustic show two days later at Eilean Easdale Hall - also a sell out - was for 137 people !

WATERBOYS TOURS OCTOBER 2003 - MARCH 2004
JULY 23rd 2003

The band's Autumn tour of UK, Ireland and continental Europe is currently being finalised. Dates will run from early October to mid November. The band will tour North America in the first half of December (dates to be announced soon). And two further series of European shows will follow in early 2004; the first of these being a three-piece acoustic tour of Holland, Belgium and Norway in January/February featuring Mike, Steve and Richard; the second being another full-band tour of Continental Europe scheduled for February/March. The first confirmed shows are now on sale and are listed below. More dates will be announced shortly.

EXTRA SHOW FOR WATERBOYS TOUR OF GALWAY
July 9 2003

The band have added a three piece acoustic matinee show at 1pm on Friday July 25th, at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway. This is an addition to the sold out shows at Roisin Dubh (now 9pm, Friday 25th), Radisson Hotel (8pm, Saturday 26th), and Druid Theatre (8pm, Sunday 27th), and Richard Naiff's free organ recital at St. Nicholas Church (1pm, Saturday 26th)

Tickets for the Town Hall Theatre show are available from the Festival Box Office :
telephone (+353) 91 566 577 - or online from www.galwayartsfestival.ie
Tickets for the other shows sold out immediately so we recommend you book fast.

UPCOMING TV & RADIO BROADCASTS
July 9 2003

Coulter And Co, Irish TV : RTE1, Friday 11 July, 9.30-10.30pm BST : 3 songs featuring the whole band

Jonathan Ross Show, BBC Radio 2 (88-91 FM and online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2), Saturday 12th July, 10am-1pm BST : acoustic session featuring Mike, Steve & Richard

In Concert with The Waterboys, BBC Radio Wales (93-96 & 104 FM and 882 & 657 AM and online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/), Saturday 12 July, 6.30-7.30pm BST : one hour from the band's June concert in Wrexham

ACOUSTIC SHOW ON SCOTTISH ISLAND OF EASDALE, JULY 20
JULY 1st 2003

Mike, Steve and Richard will play a special show at Eilean Eisdeal Hall, Easdale Island, Scotland on Sunday July 20th. The concert is a benefit to raise funds to buy a piano for Eilean Easdale Hall and is being organised by former Waterboy Colin Blakey who lives on Easdale and is expected to join the band for several numbers. Easdale is on the west coast of Scotland close to Oban which has a railway station and can also be reached by road from Glasgow.

Tickets are available from Geoff Heslop, tel : (+44) 1852 300 113 or email : geoff@easdale.org Doors open at 7.30. There will be a support act. Mike, Steve and Richard will play a regular length set of between 75/90 minutes. Eilean Easdale Hall is a small theatre so tickets are limited - if you wish to come, you are advised to book early.

For directions to Easdale, visit www.mouthpiecemusic.com/contact/index.htm and scroll down to find map.

MIKE'S GLASTONBURY DAILY INTERVIEW
JULY 1st 2003

Mike gave a short question-and-answer interview by email to Q Magazine's "Glastonbury Daily" which was published during the recent Festival. Unfortunately the magazine substantially altered several of Mike's answers. We publish the correct interview here.

THE WATERBOYS TOUR OF GALWAY
JUNE 21st 2003

The Waterboys will play a short tour of Galway in conjunction with the Galway Arts Festival this year. The dates are:

- Friday 25 July Roisin Dubh
- Saturday 26 July Radisson Hotel
- Sunday 27 July Druid Theatre

All shows at 8.00PM. The Galway Festival Box Office is open from June 23rd and the telephone number is: +353 91 566 577. Booking before this date can be done online at: www.galwayartsfestival.ie

Richard Naiff will also be doing an Organ Recital at St. Nicholas Church in Galway on Saturday 26th July at 1.00PM.

OPEN AIR SHOW IN ANTWERP
JUNE 21th 2003

The Waterboys will be playing a special open-air show in Antwerp on Saturday August 9th at Rivierenhoff 2003 Turnhoutsebaan 232 - B-2140 Deurne Antwerp. The Box office telephone number is: +32-3-202 46 11. Press '1' for tickets. The online booking address is: www.ticketantwerpen.be

The band will be onstage at 9.30 PM and supported by Ron Sexsmith at 8.00 PM.

UNIVERSAL HALL
JUNE 11th 2003

To accompany the release of "Universal Hall", we have added a new section on our site where you can read a very informative interview with Mike discussing the sounds, writing style, musicianship and content of the album; the text of the album lyrics; and an article providing background information on the remarkable structure of Universal Hall itself, written by Findhorn resident Liza Hollingshead. To visit, click here

ACOUSTIC RADIO SESSIONS IN JUNE
JUNE 4th 2003

To co-incide with the release of "Universal Hall", the band have a series of British and Irish radio broadcasts scheduled, all featuring exclusive live acoustic performances of songs from the album. Watch out also for live acoustic sessions featuring Mike & Steve this week on radio in Holland and Belgium, where they will be doing interviews.

Rattlebag, RTE1 (Radio), Ireland (89.1 FM) - Fri 6th June between 2.45-3.30pm : interview and session of 3 acoustic tracks by Mike, Steve & Richard
Online at : www.rte.ie/radio

Pet Sounds, Today FM, Ireland (100-102 FM) - Mon 9th June between 7-10pm: interview and session of 4/5 acoustic tracks by Mike & Steve
Online at : www.todayfm.com/live.html

Dave Fanning Show, RTE Radio 2 , Ireland (90-92 FM) - Interview and session of 3 acoustic songs by Mike & Steve to be broadcast in first half of June
Online at : www.rte.ie/radio

Billy Sloan Show, Radio Clyde, Scotland (102.5 FM) - Sun June 8, 8.30-9.30pm : live interview and acoustic session of 6 songs featuring Mike, Steve & Richard
Online at : www.clyde1.com

The Johnnie Walker Show, BBC Radio Two, UK (88-91 FM) - Tues June 10, 5-7pm : live acoustic session featuring Mike, Steve & Richard
Online at : www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Tom Morton /Ian Anderson Show, BBC Radio Scotland (92-95 FM & 810 MW) - Mon June 23, 2-4pm : live acoustic session featuring Mike, Steve & Richard Online at : www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland

PRESSWATCH
JUNE 4th 2003

Look out for Waterboys features and interviews with Mike in the following publications : Uncut, Word, Scottish Sunday Herald, Caduceus, Manchester Evening News (UK), Foggy Notions, Irish Examiner, Dublin Event Guide (Ireland)

ROSS-ON-WYE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
MAY 17th 2003

We are pleased to confirm The Waterboys will be playing a full scale show at Britain's Ross-on-Wye International Festival on the Thursday August 14th. The show is at Riverside Marquee and The Waterboys are on stage at 10pm. Tickets go on sale 27th May from the box office : +44 (0)1989 562562 Festival website: www.rossonwye-intfestival.co.uk

'UNIVERSAL HALL" EIRE RELEASE DATE & TV APPEARANCE
MAY 17th 2003

"Universal Hall" will be released on May 30th in Eire - a week ahead of the rest of Europe - and the band will appear on RTE TV's Late Late Show performing "This Light Is For The World" the same day.

TWO SHOWS AT GLASTONBURY 2003
MAY 7th 2003

We are pleased to announce The Waterboys will be playing Britain's Glastonbury Festival again this year. However, this time they will be playing not one but two shows !

The first is in the Acoustic Tent at 7.30 pm, Saturday 28th June. The second is on the Pyramid Stage at 1.00pm Sunday 29th June. The two performances will reflect the band's current live show with Saturday's performance being a (mostly) acoustic set and Sunday's being a full scale electric performance.

Asked how he felt about playing 2 shows, Mike Scott said "It's great to get to play twice - what a challenge ! And with two shows we'll be catching up Van the Man and Costello as the "most-times-played-at-Glastonbury" champions."

WATERBOYS FINDHORN SHOWS JUNE 22 ANNOUNCED
APRIL 20th 2003

The band play two separate shows at Universal Hall, Findhorn, Scotland on Sunday June 22nd, at 6pm and 9.30pm. These will be full 5-piece ensemble performances. Tickets are £15 and go on sale Monday April 28th at 9am. The Box Office is open 9am - 2pm, Monday-Friday, telephone (44) 1309 690954. For travel/accomodation information click here.

WATERBOYS "UNIVERSAL HALL" ALBUM - full details plus UK TOUR DATES
MARCH 29th 2003

The Waterboys album Universal Hall will be released on their new label, the splendidly named Puck Records, on Monday 9th June. North American release will follow in the Autumn.

Universal Hall was produced by Mike Scott and contains 12 songs containing pop, acoustic and minimalist elements. Mike describes the album as "full of love and fire, with a bright, elemental sound". Two songs, "Universal Hall" and "The Christ In You" have already been performed in concert and the opening track "This Light Is For The World" was recently played live by the band on BBC's This Is Dom Joly (for broadcast in June).

Universal Hall celebrates the return of Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham, who contributes mercurial description-defying fiddle to the new songs. Other musicians include piano player/flautist Richard Naiff while Mike Scott complements his usual guitar and keyboards with a variety of unusual sounding instruments including earth resonator, harmonium, micro-synth and tambron.

The album was recorded in 5 weeks in January and February 2003 at the basement studio beneath Universal Hall, the remarkable building pictured on the album cover and situated at the Findhorn Community in Scotland.

The full track listing is:

1. This Light Is For The World
2. The Christ in You
3. Silent Fellowship
4. Every Breath Is Yours
5. Peace Of Iona
6. Ain't No Words For The Things I'm Feeling
7. Seek The Light
8. I've Lived Here Before
9. Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired
10. The Dance At The Crossroads
11. E.B.O.L.
12. Universal Hall

The Waterboys will tour Britain in June. Each show will comprise an acoustic first half and full ensemble electric second half, with a short intermission. There will be no support act. Scottish shows will be announced soon. Tour dates and box-office numbers are as follows :

June 13th : Brighton Dome Concert Theatre
Box Office: 01273 709 709 - 24 Hour Hotline: 0870 735 5000
Ticket Price: £18.50 www.bookingsdirect.com

June 14th: Birmingham Symphony Hall
Box Office: 0121 780 3333 Ticket price: £18.50

June 15th: London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Box Office: 0207 494 5061- 24 Hour Hotline: 0870 735 5000
Ticket Price: £20.00 www.bookingsdirect.com

June 17th: Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Box Office: 0161 907 9000
Ticket price: £18.50 & £16.50

June 18th: Bristol Colston Hall
Box Office: 0117 922 3683 - 24 Hotline: 0870 735 5000
Ticket Price: £18.50 www.bookingsdirect.com

June 19th: Wrexham NEWI
Phase 1 Records 01978 264 940 Tourist Board 01978 292015
Ticket price: £22 & £20 www.wayahead.com

June 20th: Edinburgh Usher Hall, Scotland
Box office: 0131 228 1155

The band also play at the:
Hebridean Celtic Festival, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland on Friday 18th July, Waterboys onstage at 10.15pm.
Box Office : (00 44) 7001 878787 Festival details from: www.hebceltfest.com

WATERBOYS PERFORM LIVE ON "THIS IS DOM JOLY"
MARCH 19th 2003

The band have recorded performances of two songs for "This Is Dom Joly", to be broadcast on BBC3 in June. They played "This Light Is For The World" from the forthcoming "Universal Hall" album and an extended version of "Strange Boat", with the same line-up as January's UK shows.

"INDEPENDENCE DAY" ON UNCUT MAGAZINE CD
MARCH 2nd 2003

The Waterboys have recorded a version of Bruce Springsteen's song "Independence Day" during sessions for their new album, and it will be on a CD of Springsteen songs included with the next issue of Uncut Magazine in the UK, street-date March 7th. The track features Mike on bass and vocals, Richard on organ and Steve on lead Electric Fiddle with a hip hop drum track. The original of "Independence Day" was on Springsteen's album "The River". This will be the second time The Waterboys have contributed a track to an Uncut CD, the first being Dylan's "Girl Of The North Country" in 2002. Mike talks about the recording of "Independence Day" here.

NEWCASTLE & GLASGOW SHOWS - WHAT HAPPENED
JANUARY 29th 2003

At their concerts at Newcastle and Glasgow last week the band unveiled a new two-part show. The first half of the shows were acoustic and featured Mike performing solo and in duo with first Steve, then Richard, followed by the three performing together, and finally as a four piece with Brad Waissman on upright Bass. The second half featured the full 5-man electric band with Geoff Dugmore on Drums and Richard playing Hammond Organ. The second set included "Long Way To The Light", "Whole Of The Moon" and a fifteen minute "Pan Within".

Said Mike : "With this show we're able to merge all the different kinds of shows we've done over the past three years and so step beyond playing either acoustic or electric and do both in depth. All aspects of Waterboys music are now possible every night."

To read a review of the recent gig at the Celtic Connections, Glasgow click here.

The band will resume touring with this shape of show in June when the new album, now titled "Universal Hall" is released. Watch this website for details or click here to receive regular news updates.

THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF JOE STRUMMER
DECEMBER 26th 2002

A Clash fan writes. Click here to read.

MIKE INTERVIEWED IN NEW BOOK "IN SEARCH OF THE MAGIC OF FINDHORN"
DECEMBER 8th 2002

There is an interview with Mike Scott in "In Search Of The Magic Of Findhorn" by Karin Bogliolo and Carly Newfeld, just published by Findhorn Press. The book is the latest of many about the Findhorn Community in Scotland with which Mike has strong connections and where he and The Waterboys have played many times. You can read an excerpt (here) and purchase it at amazon.com or amazon.co.uk

MIKE WRITES ARTICLE ON ELVIS IN NEW ISSUE OF CADUCEUS MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 8th 2002

Mike has written an article about Elvis Presley entitled "Elvis : World Server" which will be published in the end of year edition of the UK magazine Caduceus, available around December 17th. Mike describes it as "A new and personal view of who Elvis was