The Waterboys & Steve Earle at The O2 Review: Celtic Soul Fire

The Fisherman’s Blues Revue flyer for The O2 London gig, 12th September 2026

Billed as “Re-igniting the spirit of their classic album” The Waterboys headed to The O2 Arena in London, led by Mike Scott, for the final date of a tour that has seen gigs in Glasgow, Brussels, Valencia, Dublin, Oslo, Stockholm, Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Engaging American country singer Steve Earle, and a welcome return to the Waterboys inner sanctum for former member and fiddle player, Steve Wickham, as well as flute and tin whistle player, Colin Blakey, there is certainly a nod to Dylan’s legendary 70s Rolling Thunder Revue, with some already christening the expanded band, The Rolling Pogues, as the troupe of wandering minstrels came into town.

There has been some eyebrows raised surrounding the venues chosen for the Revue, some fairly sizeable venues chosen, the O2 Arena, weighing in at a 20,000 capacity, for example—how would the mix of self-anointed “Big Music” and more down-at-home Celtic Soul inspired Fisherman’s Blues and Room to Roam era recordings, thrive in these less intimate arenas.

The gig, followed a pattern established across the other dates and can be broken down into three main acts plus encore.

The setlist has remained fairly similar throughout with a few additions and deletions along the way (“Medicine Bow” making way for “The Pan Within”, “Kansas” added from Dublin onwards, “Light Shine On Me” replacing “Come Back To Galway” and “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” making its way into things).

Act I, Casting Off: The Core Waterboys

As the trumpeted beginning wafted around the O2, heralding the start of “Don’t Bang The Drum” from 1985’s This Is The Sea album, its almost impossible to avoid thoughts of the late Karl Wallinger, former Waterboy and World Party front man, who was instrumental in the writing of this song and establishing the sound of the band around this era. The song is given an appropriately fiery but loving rendition as Mike Scott and the band gracefully settle into their surroundings.

“Glastonbury Song” from 1993 album Dream Harder is next up, the song’s endless search for spirituality underpinning the wider pilgrimage about to be encapsulated within tonight’s revue.

“How Long Will I Love You” originally recorded during the Fisherman’s Blues sessions but only receiving its full release on Room to Roam in 1990, ferried the crowd over to Spidall, Western Ireland, virtually laying down an emerald signpost, as Scott’s majestic love song unfolds.

The Waterboys, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Scott, by this time, appears energised and animated, the 67 year old casting away the years, as he time travels back to the 80s.

The momentum continued with “A Girl Called Johnny”, Scott’s 1983 tribute to American poet and singer Patti Smith, which sounds as fresh and inspiring as it ever did—despite the absence of the original song’s soaring saxophone break (from "Anto" Thistlethwaite), it is effervescently replaced by Brother Paul’s driving, stage walkabout keytar riffing, which helps add fizz to the passion of Scott’s vocals.

“The Whole Of The Moon” draws a nice, neat line under the first Act. A song heard countless times over the years, the calling card of The Waterboys, but as ever is lapped up by the increasingly revved-up crowd who by this point are up on their feet, singing and dancing.

Act II, The Raggle Taggle Anglers: Reeling In Fisherman’s Blues

Enter Steve Wickham

With fiddle player Steve Wickham joining the ensemble from the sixth song, it was great to see the former Waterboy and proponent of his fuzz fiddle sound enter the fray for “We Will Not Be Lovers”. The song dials things up a notch with its jagged and syncopated fiddle breaks as Wickham locks horns with Scott.

Steve Wickham and Roar Øien, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Fisherman’s Friends

“The Pan Within” another cut from This Is The Sea which had marked Wickham’s recording debut with the band, paves the way into the more raggle taggle offerings from the Fisherman’s Blues era, namely “The Raggle Taggle Gypsy” (performed in busker mode by the duo of Scott and Wickham, transforming the O2 into a Galway street), the elongated and sublime reading of Van Morrison’s “Sweet Thing” with its “Blackbird” segue, to hitting the paydirt of “Strange Boat”.

The songs featured strong accompaniment from the keyboard pyrotechnics of Brother Paul and “Famous” James Hallawell, with the rhythm section of Aongus Ralston on Bass and drummer Eamon Ferris, holding the swirling symphony together.

Eamon Ferris, Aongus Ralston and Famous James, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

The instrumental “Dunford’s Fancy” then kicked in before the sweeping cinematic grandeur of W.B. Yeats poem “The Stolen Child”, with the original narration of Tomás Mac Eoin replaced in a live setting by Scott himself, and the flute and tin whistle played by Colin Blakey (who was the original Waterboy on the song), as the band grandly brought the curtain down on Act II and we headed into the interval.

Colin Blakey on the tin whistle, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Act III, The Hardcore Troubadour: Steve Earle

Act III saw the introduction of American singer-songwriter Steve Earle into proceedings.

Steve Earle

Emerging in the mid 80s, Steve Earle has pretty much done it all over the last forty years or so and, with a self-professed love of The Waterboys, the 71 year old singer seemed an appropriate bedfellow for the Revue (Scott later sharing that their paths had crossed many times, they had played a number of the same songs, though not previously at the same time or place!).

Act III gave Earle a showcase to play some of his best known tracks. Epic opener “Copperhead Road” from 1988 captivated the crowd, as Earle’s mandolin traded blows with the full on guitar assault from Mike Scott, who had hung around after introducing Earle to the stage.

Steve Earle leads the band, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

“Guitar Town” had announced Earle’s arrival onto the mainstream music scene in 1987 as a countrified Springsteen, and he reprised the song tonight, the rest of band passionately providing the muscular fire power.

Lowering the mood with “My Old Friend The Blues”, a song covered by many (The Proclaimers, Eddi Reader, Patty Loveless and Ginger Wildheart) Earle draws angst from the song’s melancholic lyrics framed by a largely acoustic backdrop.

Norwegian Roar Øien on pedal and lap steel added some colourful flourishes throughout the evening but particularly on Earle’s country flavoured songs.

Returning to a more upbeat “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied” taken from album Exit O, Colin Blakey rejoins proceedings, this time providing a vibrant mandolin pattern, as Earle encouraged the crowd to sing the chorus. There was still time to fit in a more recent number, the Los Lobos collaboration, “Volver a Celaya” (To go Back to Celaya), a more political statement, written from the standpoint of a Mexican construction worker.

Mike Scott rejoins

Mike Scott returned to the stage from this point, and the Earle/Waterboys pairing synchronised on “Kansas”, the opening song from 2026 album Life, Death And Dennis Hopper, which had originally featured Earle.

The Waterboys full ensemble, O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

We were then back to more familiar territory with rousing renditions of “When Will We Be Married” (vocals mainly from Earle, who by now had shaken off some earlier strains) and “When Ye Go Away”.

With a great cover of the Stones “Dead Flowers” dusted off, it more than elicited the spectre of Gram Parsons, tastefully reinforced by the Nudie suit clad, not-so-shrinking-violet, Brother Paul.

Scott’s largely solo and reflective “Has Anybody Here Seen Hank” was then turbo-charged with Waylon Jennings’ "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” as the full band threw off the shackles and rocked out.

“Light Shine On Me”- culled from the latest sweep up of Fisherman’s Blues era lost recordings and outtakes (Atlantic Rain) was a lesser known song but well received by a crowd now up on its feet, absorbing the performances from the entourage.

Crowd favourite and almost endless verse song “And A Bang On The Ear” drew things to a close - Earle and Scott trading verses lamenting lost loves—which, between the two of them, number many. It was a long song but still one you never wanted to end—a perfect collision of Scott’s Celtic soul vision, the west coast of Ireland and a wider rock and country dynamic.

Joining The Circle: The Encores

With the collective now in full flight, a boisterous “Galway Girl”, initially made famous by Earle and Sharon Shannon (herself a former Waterboy alumnus), gets the finale underway.

The chemistry between Scott and Earle shone throughout the evening. Perhaps given this being the final date of the tour, there was certainly an evident desire to extract the maximum from the songs and the enjoyment of Scott, Earle and the rest of the assembled star musicians was abundantly clear to see.

“Fisherman’s Blues” the beating heart of the whole revue, beautifully captures its whole essence, Wickham squeezing every ounce of passion from its memorable fiddle based motif, as the band pour their heart and soul into it.

It’s probably mightily appropriate for a revue such as this that hardy perennial “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?” ended the evening.

As the 1907 Christian hymn derived song, recorded by countless collectives (The Carter Family, The Staple Singers, Bob Dylan, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to name but a few) resonated around the O2, it helped draw and bond together the various strands of the evening, played by what was now nine on-stage musicians.

It was also poignant to see former musicians such as Steve Wickham and Colin Blakey complete their own Waterboys circle too; both added a sparkle and gloss throughout the evening to the songs they graced their presence with.

A Welcome Re-ignition

Covering a serious back catalogue of musical treasure and involving an experienced cast of exceptional musicians, the Fisherman’s Blues Revue certainly cast its net far and wide.

Hitting the heights reached throughout the evening was no mean feat and the various Acts within the set structured the flow of the music and sensibly reeled in the array of musical talent well.

Kudos to Mike Scott for enticing Steve Earle, albeit temporarily into the band—Steve was a great addition to the evening and came across a bona fide member of the band rather than a guest (“I’m a fucking Waterboy!” he even exclaimed at the end).

The crowd light up the O2 Arena, London, 12th September, 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

The O2 Arena gig was a fitting end to what has been a triumphant revue by The Waterboys, and whether they take it back on the road again in the future, these one-off dates and this show in particular, will live long in the memory.

Fishing In The Ocean Or A Pond?: The Venue

As noted earlier there has been some discussion surrounding the venues chosen for the tour - generally cavernous arenas with the sound and viewing degradation that often inevitably accompanies such gigs.

For the O2 Arena, my view is that it worked. Clearly a more intimate setting such as Hammersmith Apollo, Shepherd's Bush Empire would have been a preferable setting, seeing the whites of the band’s eyes, up close and personal. However, although I’d approached things with some trepidation, my seating location on the floor, (Block A3, row Q) meant that (a) there was a decent view of the stage and (b) the sound was also better than I had feared; instruments and vocals were clear and not over amplified from my seat.

Whilst it obviously wasn’t Spiddal House, the absence of fancy lighting, screens, pyrotechnics and other arena trappings, meant the music had to stand on its own merits, which the assembled Fishermen’s Friends made sure it did so with grandeur and some aplomb.

And for a revue of such exquisitely wonderful and timeless music, perhaps that is all that really matters!

Mike Scott at the O2 Arena, London, 12th September 2026 *(Image: Damien Wilkinson)*

Seat: Floor, Block A3, Row Q, Seat 53

The Band:

Mike Scott: Lead vocals, guitar, piano
Steve Earle: Vocals, guitar, mandolin
Steve Wickham: Fiddle
Brother Paul: Organ, Keytar
"Famous" James Hallawell: Piano
Aongus Ralston: Bass
Eamon Ferris: Drums
Roar Øien: Lap and Pedal steel guitar
Colin Blakey: Flute, Tin Whistle, Mandolin

Background notes: Brother Paul, the Memphis-born soul and gospel keyboardist has been a fixture of the band's core touring and recording setup for 13 years, ever since joining for the Modern Blues era.

“Famous” James Hallawell played in the band 2010-2013 and then 2021 onwards.

Aongus Ralston from 2016, is longest tenured bassist in the band’s history.

Eamon Ferris joined the touring line up as drummer in 2021.

Roar Oien, the Norwegian steel guitarist is a special addition specifically brought into the lineup for the 2026 Fisherman's Blues Revue show.

Colin Blakey was a central member of the late-1980s Fisherman's Blues era lineup—playing flute, whistle, piano, and organ.

** many thanks to James Nolan of the Facebook The Waterboys Fan Group for helping fill in a couple of blanks in my review

Setlist:

Act I: Core Waterboys

1. Don't Bang the Drum

2. Glastonbury Song

3. How Long Will I Love You?

4. A Girl Called Johnny

5. The Whole of the Moon

Act II: The Fisherman's Blues Album & Acoustic Sessions

6. We Will Not Be Lovers

7. The Pan Within

8. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy

9. Sweet Thing / Blackbird (Van Morrison / Beatles cover)

10. Strange Boat

11. Dunford's Fancy

12. The Stolen Child

Act III: Steve Earle Integration (Steve Earle joins on stage with the full band)

13. Copperhead Road

14. Guitar Town

15. My Old Friend the Blues

16. I Ain't Ever Satisfied

17. Volver a Celaya

18. Kansas

19. When Will We Be Married?

20. When Ye Go Away

21. Dead Flowers

22. Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?

23. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?

24. Light Shine On Me

25. And a Bang on the Ear

Encore

26. The Galway Girl (Steve Earle & Mike Scott joint vocals)

27. Fisherman's Blues

28. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (Full ensemble)

FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: The Waterboys & Steve Earle, O2 Arena, London, 12th September, 2026