Mike Scott sets 20 Yeats poems to music

Waterboys frontman Mike Scott has set 20 Yeats poems to music. He describes the new songs as "psychedelic, intense, kaleidescopic, a mix of rock, folk and faery music."

While the layman might not be familiar with 'faery music' as a discrete genre, fans of the Waterboys' 1988 album Fisherman's Blues will recall Scott's setting of Yeats' 'The Stolen Child' (below).

The new show, entitled An Appointment with Mr Yeats will feature an extended line-up of musicians including the legend that is Mike McGoldrick on flute/whistle, Catalan trombonist Blaise Margall and Waterford singer Katie Kim whose voice Mike professes to having fallen in love with.

Among the poems that will feature are 'An Irish Airman Foresees His Death', 'September 1913' and the 'Song Of Wandering Aengus'.

An Appointment with Mr Yeats will take place in the swanky surroundings of the national theatre, no less, on March 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20. Tickets are €49.50 and available from the Abbey box office.