2026 THE ESSENTIAL PREVIEW REISSUES

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WATERBOYS

Title: Atlantic Rain

Due: Summer

Boxed, a banquet of outtakes from 1988’s Fisherman’s Blues. In August and September, the band will play the Fisherman’s Blues Revue with Steve Earle in the ranks.

Mike Scott (chief Waterboy): “Started in late 2023. New set contains tracks that could easily have been on the original LP in terms of quality, but which were overlooked due to the sheer volume of music made (hundreds of tracks). I was particularly thrilled to find a song I’d forgotten we even recorded, Come Back To Galway, one of the best Waterboys songs of all.”

THE ZOMBIES

Title: Begin Here

Due: March/April

The Zombies’ 1965 UK debut is remastered. In summer and autumn ’60s comps Continue Here and Finish Here round off their first decade. Vocalist Colin Blunstone, who tours solo in the UK in May, says new Zombies recordings with Rod Argent, who quit touring after a stroke, are possible.

Colin Blunstone: “It was very emotional when we played the final Zombies show [in 2024], but it was also a celebration of Rod’s career and everything he achieved… he certainly would like to record a new Zombies album, and I think that’s a great idea.”

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND BOX SET

Due: TBC

Originally scheduled for 2025, a box set curated by the Rough Trade label will collect the five albums the Incredible String Band recorded from 1966-69 plus extras.

Mike Heron (voice, instruments): “There are some live recordings, radio sessions from that era alongside a beautifully curated booklet… when Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee from Rough Trade said they wanted to put together the box set, I was genuinely moved.”