On this day, 3 August 2003, British-Irish folk rock band The Waterboys played Cardiff’s Big Weekend. Also performing that day were, The Elephant is Gerald, Shod, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, La Bottine Souriante and The Proclaimers.
The band formed in London in 1983 by Scottish musician and songwriter Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.
Mike Scott has remained the only constant member throughout the band's career. They have explored a number of different styles, but their music is mainly a mix of folk music with rock and roll.
By the summer of 2000, Scott had assembled a new Waterboys lineup – himself on voice and guitar, Richard Naiff on keyboards and organs, bass player Livingston Brown and drummer Jeremy Stacey. Wickham guested on fiddle at live dates in Dublin and Belfast on the resulting tour of late 2001, and rejoined the band permanently in January 2001.
Scott, Wickham and Naiff were the core of the Waterboys by 2003, when the group changed direction once again and released Universal Hall a mostly acoustic album with a return of some Celtic influences from the Fisherman's Blues era as well as aspects of New Age music and dance electronica.
The album was followed by a tour of the UK and then Europe. Their first official live album, Karma to Burn, was released in 2005 – with Carlos Hercules on drums, Steve Walters on bass and a guest appearance by Sharon Shannon on accordion – showing off the band's acoustic and electric sides.
Setlist
Setlist
Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired
This Light Is for the World
When Ye Go Away
Further Up, Further In
Peace of Iona
Strange Boat
Medicine Bow
The Pan Within
Bring 'Em All In
(Mike Scott song)
Long Way to the Light
Glastonbury Song
Fisherman's Blues
Encore:
The Whole of the Moon
