A Waterboy’s Adventures in Music

Chairperson: Jim Carroll

The Dublin-based singer-songwriter and Waterboys’ frontman marks the launch of his memoir with an intimate reading and discussion.

From their eponymous debut in 1983 to their critically acclaimed new album ‒ An Appointment with Mr Yeats (a collection of songs inspired by the work of the Irish poet) – Mike Scott and his ever-evolving Waterboys have blazed a distinctive trail of rousing rock ‘n’ roll and Celtic firebrand folk. In  The Adventures of a Waterboy, Scott chronicles the highs and lows of a life lived in pursuit of musical perfection. There are moments of shared elation – at the huge early successes of A Pagan Place, This is the Sea and Fisherman’s Blues. But there’s also the loneliness and disenchantment that led Scott to retreat from public view to live in North East Scotland’s Findhorn Community, re-emerging sporadically to reassemble his iconic band and make music.

Scott’s memoir is a beautifully crafted and devastatingly honest account of this journey, unravelling some of the myths and misconceptions en route. Don’t miss this rare and candid encounter with one of Scotland’s modern heroes and Ireland’s favourite adopted sons.