Mike Scott has been in a London studio putting the finishing touches on a new Waterboys album . . . sort of. Too Close to Heaven will feature ten songs that were recorded during the sessions for the band's Celtic-folk-infused 1988 album Fisherman's Blues but had been previously unreleased, as well as a few new instrumental interludes.

Not surprisingly, the lineup for the album features some of Scott's more Celtic-minded Waterboys, including Anthony Thistlethwaite on mandolin and Steve Wickham on fiddle. Both will be onboard when Scott takes the Waterboys on a tour of North American this spring.

Waterboys tour dates:

3/20: Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club
3/21: Philadelphia, Theater of Living Arts
3/23: New York, The Roxy
3/24: Boston, Avalon Ballroom
3/26: Toronto, House of Blues
3/27: Chicago, Vic Theater
3/28: Minneapolis, First Avenue
3/31: Seattle, Paramount Theater
4/1: Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom
1/3: San Francisco, Fillmore
1/4-5: Los Angeles, House of Blues

ANDREW DANSBY
(January 31, 2001)