Steve Wickham is retiring from touring with folk-rock band The Waterboys

The Waterboys' Steve Wickham has announced a step back from touring with the classic Edinburgh-formed outfit.

After touring with the group for almost 21 years, the Irish fiddler has decided to "concentrate on his work" for the time being. Wickham will be back for future Waterboys projects but will not be a part of the regular line-up.

Issuing a statement on their website, the remaining members spoke of Wickham's departure saying: "We wish him every success and look forward to when future Waterboys' projects bring him back for more adventures."

"We will keep you posted on what he gets up to."

In the same post, Wickham explained the reasons for his departure in his own words.

"The downtime during Covid changed my life and priorities. It reconnected me with my creativity, and I need to go deeper with this."

"In the recent years I'd become more of a legacy musician within the Waterboys, playing a big part in the older music onstage but less in the new music and recent albums," he added. "So I've decided to retire from Waterboys touring to concentrate on my own work and interests, which include my Sligo-based band No Crows, my art studies, solo music, theatre composing and things yet to come into focus."

"I still consider myself part of the Waterboys family and will return from time to time as projects require."

Frontman Mike Scott expressed his gratitude for Wickham's "continued brotherhood."

"Steve's been part of the heart and soul of The Waterboys for so long it's gonna be strange working without him. But I know we're not finished yet; there'll be more at some stage, and it will be great. I always enjoy his extra-curricular activities so I'm looking forward to seeing how they develop."

Read the full statement below.

Our great friend & musical hero Steve Wickham is retiring from Waterboys touring . Steve will return for projects in the future but won't be part of the regular Waterboys touring line-up anymore. You can read comments from Steve, Mike & Brother Paul at https://t.co/OKPqixPTDP pic.twitter.com/ETDMvsV0xo

— Waterboys HQ (@WaterboysMusic) February 14, 2022

Wickham's exit comes just before the group are set to release their latest LP, All Souls Hill, on April 22.

The first two tracks taken off of the record – 'The Liar' and title track 'All Souls Hill' – were accompanied by haunting, collage visuals that played into the eerie "psychodramatic soundscape" of the Waterboys' latest offering.

All nine tracks on the forthcoming record have been described as "current, on the money social commentary, but with an air of hope."

"The album is mysterious, otherworldly, tune-banging and emotional.” Scott said. “I made it with Waterboys old and new and my co-producer, brilliant sonic guru Simon Dine. Its nine songs tell stories, explore dreamscapes, and cast a cold but hopeful eye on the human drama."

The group has a few shows slated for this year, including an appearance at England's Cornbury Festival on July 8 and a date in the Netherlands at Zuiderpark Live on May 25. These shows will presumably continue on without Wickham.