The Waterboys Deliver a Powerful Night
The Waterboys fans were out in force for the long-awaited 2026 Australian tour, and in true Waterboys style, the performance proved well worth the wait. From the opening number “Don’t Even Have To Say His Name,” to the final encore, the packed Palais Theatre was transformed into a celebration of music.
As always, the band, led by Mike Scott, delivered a strong, powerful and engaging performance. Scott moved between vocals, guitar and piano, providing an eclectic blend of rock, Celtic folk, blues and country influences, while still retaining the unmistakable sound that has defined The Waterboys for decades.
Steve Wickham’s electric violin solos, together with Brother Paul Brown, injected energy into the performance through vibrant and energetic keyboard work and the crowd-pleasing trademark white keytar. Supported by the rock-solid rhythm section of Aongus Ralston on bass guitar and Eamon Ferris on drums, the band delivered the usual powerful and polished sound.
The performance featured classic numbers such as “Glastonbury Song,” blending rock, folk and Celtic influences through to the emotional vocals of “A Girl Called Johnny.” The moving “Live in the Moment” from their 2025 album, “Life, Death and Dennis Hopper” delivered a driving rock-and-roll rhythm and strong stage energy.
Personal favourites included “Nashville, Tennessee,” “Strange Boat” and “Fisherman’s Blues,” the classic country-rock number that blended Irish/Celtic folk with American country-rock influences through Steve Wickham’s violin and folk-style rhythms.
However, two of the standout performances of the night were “This Is the Sea” and the finale, “The Whole of the Moon.”
“This is the Sea” featured a dramatic instrumental build-up led by Steve Wickham’s extended electric violin solo, combined with Brother Paul Brown’s keyboard work, and supported by Aongus Ralston on bass guitar and Eamon Ferris on drums.
The finale, “The Whole of the Moon,” perfectly captured the spirit of the night, bringing the performance to a memorable close.
