ONE of the world’s busiest bands is back on the road - and they are playing in Oxford on Sunday.

The Waterboys have been around for the best part of 40 years, have recorded some highly acclaimed albums, and seem to be perennially on tour.

They kicked off the year performing shows in Europe, are back on British soil for a series of dates that takes them throughout the British Isles, plus there’s a busy summer of festivals, including a return to Oxfordshire on June 16 when they play Nocturne at Blenheim Palace in June on a bill that includes Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.

Waterboys co-founder Mike Scott is the only band member who has been there from the start and is one of the country’s most respected songwriters, having penned the likes of The Whole Of The Moon and Fisherman’s Blues. There have been revered albums too, including A Pagan Place, This Is The Sea and Fisherman’s Blues.

Their latest album, Out Of All This Blue, was released last year and features a broad selection of some of Scott’s rocky/funky songs, utilising his best pal/fiddle player Steve Wickham to brilliant effect.

Sunday’s show is at the New Theatre in Oxford, a venue The Waterboys have played many times before. It starts at 8pm. Tickets are priced from £40.80 and are available from http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-waterboys/ - Stephen Webb