THE CRANBERRIES announce the first-ever release of LIVE AT THE LONDON ASTORIA II, 1994
The Cranberries are opening the vault with the release of a newly discovered live recording from a defining moment in their early career. Live at The London Astoria II, 1994 will arrive August 28, 2026 via Island/UMe, offering fans a rare glimpse of the Irish band's rise between their breakout debut album and their global breakthrough.
Recorded at London's legendary Astoria II, the performance took place shortly after the success of Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (1993), the album that introduced the world to future classics including “Linger” and “Dreams.” At the time, The Cranberries were returning home after a successful U.S. run and preparing for the next chapter of their career.
Drummer Fergal Lawler recalls the significance of the intimate show, describing it as a special homecoming after the band's growing success overseas. The concert marked a moment when the group could see their hard work beginning to pay off, with longtime supporters gathered close to the stage to celebrate the band's rapid rise.
Unlike the massive venues they had recently played in America, the Astoria II performance captured The Cranberries in a more personal setting. The set featured early versions of songs that would later appear on their landmark second album, No Need to Argue (1994), including a rare live performance of “Zombie” recorded months before the song became an international hit.
Released later in 1994, “Zombie” went on to top charts around the world, including reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States. Decades later, the song remains one of The Cranberries' most recognized tracks, with more than 1.8 billion YouTube views.
Live at The London Astoria II, 1994 Track List
The collection features 15 live recordings, including songs from both sides of the band's early career:
From Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
- Pretty
- Linger
- Dreams
- (and additional debut-era performances)
From No Need to Argue
- Dreaming My Dream
- Daffodil Lament
- Empty
- Zombie
- (and additional tracks)
The release also includes two songs that were not originally featured on a studio album:
- “Liar” – originally released on the Empire Records soundtrack (1995)
- “So Cold In Ireland” – originally released as the B-side to “Ode to My Family”
Live at The London Astoria II, 1994 will be available in multiple formats, including a limited-edition 2LP Molten Lava vinyl pressing, standard black vinyl, CD, and digital formats.
The recording captures The Cranberries at a rare turning point—after their first taste of international success but before they became one of Ireland's biggest musical exports. It preserves the energy, emotion, and anticipation of a band standing on the edge of worldwide fame.