The Waterboys Announce Atlantic Rain

Article Contributed by Gratefulweb

Published on 2026-06-10

The Waterboys have announced Atlantic Rain-The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings, a collection of previously unheard music from the classic Fisherman’s Blues era. The set will be released by Chrysalis Records on July 17 in 3CD, 3LP and digital editions.

More information: https://www.mikescottwaterboys.com/

With a run of very special arena dates across Dublin, London and Glasgow this summer, The Waterboys have announced Atlantic Rain-The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings, previously unheard music from the classic Fisherman's Blues era. Released by Chrysalis Records on July 17 and available in 3CD/3LP and digital versions, Atlantic Rain may be pre-ordered HERE.

A second preview track from Atlantic Rain, a passionate cover version of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” is available now on all DSPs. A new lyric video is streaming now. The first teaser track, “Too Close To Heaven (soul version),” was released last month.

“Knockin' On Heaven’s Door” Listen and Watch Lyric Video HERE

“Too Close To Heaven (soul version)” Listen HERE: https://thewaterboys.lnk.to/tcth

Consisting of 25 tracks, Atlantic Rain contains long-lost music recorded during the prodigious sessions for Fisherman's Blues (1986-88). During this period the Waterboys recorded almost 400 multi-track reels of music, many running at half-speed in order to pack more music on without having to change tapes. Around a fifth of these reels had no song titles on them, only notes like “instrumental,” “unknown,” “soundcheck” or “jam.”

Band leader Mike Scott finally went through these mysterious tapes in 2024-25 and found many long-forgotten release-worthy performances, including never before heard songs such as “Come Back To Galway,” “Light Shine On Me” and “Endless Store,” the epic “Man With The Wind At His Heels,” and gorgeous covers of numbers by Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Willie Nelson. These and many other lost treasures have been collected to create this stunning set which stands proudly in addition to the now legendary 6-disc Fisherman’s Box, released in 2013, thought at the time to be the last word on the Fisherman's Blues sessions.

On its original release in 1988, Fisherman's Blues marked a change in direction for the band after their early alternative rock albums. Relocating to Ireland, they embraced roots, country and Celtic music — and as Atlantic Rain shows, the palette also included soul, old-time gospel and ecstatic instrumental explorations. In its day, Fisherman's Blues was met with bemusement, delight and rage, depending on peoples' perspectives, and has gone on to become the band's biggest selling album.

Alongside the announcement of Atlantic Rain comes an accompanying new remix of the classic “We Will Not be Lovers,” recently featured in the hit Netflix show Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen. Listen to it HERE: https://waterboys.lnk.to/WeWillNotBeLoversPR

A companion lyric video for the track was also released. Watch HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4bl2mFBwAQ

Atlantic Rain-The Lost Fisherman’s Blues Recordings will be available on 3CD, 3LP and digital editions, with the same track listing for all configurations. The package includes a 54-page deluxe book with contextual notes and track by track by Mike Scott.

Atlantic Rain Tracklisting

1. Too Close To Heaven (soul version) (5.32)
2. Come Back To Galway (8.51)
3. The Man With The Wind At His Heels (7.15)
4. And Then The Gods (2.47)
5. Light Shine On Me (3.14)
6. Endless Store (5.39)
7. This Land Is Your Land (studio version) (4.55)
8. Saints And Angels (1988 version) (4.41)
9. I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2.35)
10. Knockin' On Heaven’s Door (3.54)
11. Honky Tonkin' (2.04)
12. No Expectations (3.03)
13. When Doves Cry (3.16)
14. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (4.59)
15. Killing My Heart (full length) (5.27)
16. Bob And Anto's Soundcheck (1.07)
17. We Will Not Be Lovers (live take) (7.58)
18. Lost Highway (double version) (7.59)
19. The Good Ship Sirius / The Ship In Full Sail (2.31)
20. Mister Saxman (4.11)
21. The Waves (6.36)
22. The Last Jam (long version) (6.12)
23. Night Falls On Windmill Lane (1.18)
24. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (13.27)
25. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (6.54)

Following the release, The Waterboys will head out for a series of arena dates in summer 2026. Kicking off in Dublin, the nine-date run will also see the band play shows in London, Glasgow and across Europe under the banner The Fisherman's Blues Revue. The shows will celebrate and explore the music of the Fisherman's Blues era and will feature not only the great Americana singer/songwriter Steve Earle, who will join the ensemble singing his own songs while adding vocals, guitar and mandolin to Waterboys numbers, but also legendary Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham and Fisherman's Blues flautist Colin Blakey. Other band members include Brother Paul (organ), Famous James (piano), Aongus Ralston (bass), Eamon Ferris (drums) and Norwegian lap steel ace Roar Øien. Tickets are on sale HERE: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/the-waterboys-tickets/artist/888869