Fire Draw Near

Episode LII is dedicated to the memory of Shane McGowan. It features some of my favourite Pogues songs as well as tracks by John Francis Flynn, Andy the Doorbum, Dulcidrone, Of the Clay and more. Tracklist The Pogues – Boys from County Hell The Pogues – The Old Main Drag Mick Moloney and Frank Harte – Conversation, June 1982 Pandy Corporation – Polly Vaughan feat. Sive Sestri Koushlevi – Da Znaesh...

This episode looks at the ballad The Maid on the Shore. Tracklist: A.L. Lloyd – The Maid on the Shore Peggy Seeger – The Fair Maid by the Shore Isla Cameron – The Maid on the Shore Tom Kines and Jean Price – The Maid on the Shore Frankie Armstrsong – The Maid on the Shore John Lyons – The Maid on the Shore Hedy West and Bill Clifton – The Maid on the Shore John Roberts and Tony Barrand – The Maid...

Episode LI is a spooky Halloween special coming straight from the swamps of Louisiana to steal your soul away. This episode features guest presenter Summer Newman of Holy Locust fame and showcases some of the creepiest traditional tunes and songs, rambling digressions on the calendar custom of Samhain / Halloween in Irish folk and fairy lore as well as some Dungeon Synth and experimental tracks fo...

This episode looks at the ballad Young Ramble Away aka Derry Down Fair aka Brimbledown Fair aka Burlington Fair aka Brocklesby Fair. Tracklist Frank Purslow & John Pearse – Young Ramble Away The Young Tradition – Derry Down Fair Chapter Three – Ramble Away Al O’Donnell – Ramble Away Jean Redpath – Rambleaway Derek Sarjeant & Hazel King – Ramble Away George Withers – Brimbledown Fair Tommy Tourish...

Episode L was recorded in a parking lot aka car park on the outskirts of Austin, Texas in the sweltering heat. Join me as I attempt to articulate what it's like to reach the 50th episode of Fire Draw Near. This episode features tracks that are actually new, tracks that are new to me and tracks that I hope are new to you. Tracklist Tenores di Bitti – Ite m'Importa sa Vida (ballu lestru) Swan Arcade...

This episode looks at the ballad Molly Bawn aka Polly Vaughn aka The Shooting of His Dear aka The Fowler aka Peggy Baun aka Molly Bond aka Molly Banding aka Molly Vaughan aka At the Setting of the Sun aka The Shooting of His Dear aka As Jimmy Went A-Hunting. Tracklist: John Maguire – Molly Bawn Lowry Elizabeth Cronin – Molly Bawn Séamus Ennis – Molly Bawn Robin Roberts – Molly Bawn The Dubliners –...

Episode XLIX is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Shuhada' Sadaqat aka Sinéad O'Connor and features versions of traditional songs recorded by her. There are also tracks from Uilleann Piper Joey Abarta's new album, Dragon Slumber, Frank Harte, Jimmy O'Brien Moran and more. Tracklist Sinéad O’Connor – Paddy’s Lamentation Sinéad O’Connor – Her Mantle So Green Cormac Cannon – The Gold Ring Ragna...

This episode looks at the ballad The Farmer’s Curst Wife aka the Women are Worse than the Men aka The Old Man under the Hill aka The Devil and the Farmer's Wife aka The Old Woman and the Devil aka The Battle Axe and the Devil aka The Farmer and the Devil aka The Carle o' Killyburn Braes aka The Farmer's Wife aka Jack's Wife aka Kellybumbraes aka Ten Little Devils The Devil and the Fanner's Wife ak...

Alexis Zoumbas – Doina Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin - Eileanóir na Rún Unknown - Nuvenapreghiera Per La Novena di Natale Amelia Dawley, Mary Moran – Gullah Song Group Of Men From Andros Island – Dig My Grave X-Seamen’s Institute – Santiano Sarah Ghriallais – An Sceilpín Draighneach Pererin - Llongau Caernarfon Maxime Martelot, Aude Giuliano – La Chanson de Craonne Metro Radomsky – Baryshnia A Cantata...

This episode looks at the ballad the Crabfish aka the Codfish aka the Crayfish the Lobster aka Tommy Doddler. Tracklist Nora Cleary – The Codfish Mickey Connors – The Crabfish Barry Gleeson – Mr. Crabfish Harry Cox – The Catfish Charlotte Renals – The Crabfish Cecil Sharp Centenary Collective – The Crabfish Tony Barrand and John Roberts - Crayfish Ron and the Rude Boys – The Lobster David Sear and...

Episode XLVII features a lot of new music from the likes of Holy Locust, Ora Cogan, Gabriel McArdle, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Sourdurent, Mike Oberst and Padang Food Tigers, as well as some classics from the wider world of Irish traditional music and song. Holy Locust – Sorrowhead Ora Cogan – Katie Cruel Tommy Reck – Port an Bhráthair / Port Shean tSeáin Gabriel McArdle – Johnny and Molly Diarmuid Ó M...

This episode looks at the ballad The Golden Vanity / The Sweet Trinity aka The Turkish Reveille aka The Turkish Revoloo aka The Turkey-Rogherlee aka The Turkey Shivaree aka The Merry Golden Tree aka The Golden Willow Tree aka The Green Willow Tree aka The Golden Vallady aka The Golden Furnity aka The Golden Fenadier aka The Golden Victory aka The Golden Merrilee aka The Mary Golden Tree aka The Ga...

Episode XLVI is respectfully dedicated to the memory of singer, songwriter, civil rights activist, musician, and all round legend Joe Mulheron who passed away earlier this month. It features a couple of songs by him as well as an unexpected early 80s anarcho-punk link with The Mob, new tracks from Jrpjej, Lainey Dempsey, Razen and Synth Widow, some risque slip jigs by Mary-Grace Autumn Lee alongsi...

This episode looks at the ballad the Keach i the Creel aka The Cunning Clerk aka The Wife and the Creel aka The Wee Toon Clerk aka The Rock in the Same Auld Creel aka The Little Scotch Girl aka Coochie Coochie Coo Go Way. Tracklist Jimmy McBeath – The Keach in the creel Gordeanna McCullough – The Wee Toun Clerk Michael Gallagher – The Keach in the Creel Packie Manus Byrne – The Creel Larry Mulliga...

Episode XLV was recorded by a very groggy me in a hotel room in Paris. It features some duuurty Cajun tunes, (yet another) Marlais song, an unlikely song sung by Shane McGowan, an unlikely Polish folk / Reggae crossover, some tunes from the new women's piping CD by Na Píobairí Uilleann as well as lots more gems from the outer reaches of the traditional folk multiverse. Illo is of the Beast of Géva...

This episode looks at the ballad Willie O’Winsbury aka Lord Thomas of Winsbury aka Johnnie Barbour aka the Rich Shipowner’s Daughter aka Tom the Barber aka John Barlow from the Isle of Man aka O Will You Marry My Daughter Janet aka Fair Mary aka What Aileth Thee Tracklist: Sweeney’s Men – Willie O’Winsbury Joe McCafferty – John Barbour Robert Cinnamond – There was a Lady Lived in the West Fran Mac...

Episode XLIV takes a look at versions of the traditional songs that made their way onto Lankum's fourth album False Lankum, as well as a cello version of A Stór Mo Chroí, a song by Genoese Anarchist Fabrizio De André and a recent anti-racist ballad from New Zealand! Tracklist Finn – A Stór Mo Chroí Fabrizio De André – Un Blasfemo (Dietro Ogni Blasfemo C'è Un Giardino Incantato) Jean Ritchie – Go D...

This episode looks at the ballad Prince Robert aka Lord Abore and Mary Flynn aka Harry Saunders. Tracklist: Frank Feeney – Lord O’Bore and Mary Flynn Jim Kelly – Lord Abore and Mary Flynn Al O’Donnell – Lord Abore and Mary Flynn Ewan MacLennan – Prince Robert Peggy Seeger – Harry Saunders https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear Artwork by Anthony Van Dyck c.1630

Episode XLIII features songs of war, songs of love, songs of death, songs of the siren and songs of the Devil. Tracklist: Michael Gallagher – The Plains of Boyle / The Leitrim Fancy Brìghde Chaimbeul - Carry Them With Us - Tha Fonn Gun Bhi Trom (I Am Disposed of Mirth) Zeitkratzer, Svetlana Spajić, Dragana Tomić and Obrad Milić - The Battle at Mackov Kamen Maria W. Horn & Sara Parkman – Till Marga...

This is an audio recording of a lecture / performance I gave in the Shriver Hall Auditorium, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore on the 6th of October 2022. https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

Fire Draw Near Episode XLII is a moody frontline assemblage of traditional folk adjacent magic with new tracks from Jonny Dillon, A Clatter and Drone, Áit Ait, Cormorant Tree Oh and Eliza Carthy, recently discovered tracks from M(h)aol and Perinne Bourel as well as old time classics from John Griffin (the 5th Avenue Bus Man), Stefan Shkimba & Co., Cyril Biddick, the Young Tradition as well as none...

This episode looks at the ballad Sailor Boy aka All Around My Hat aka London City aka the Brisk Young Sailor aka the Brisk Young Farmer aka the Brisk Young Miner aka A Bold Fisherman Courted Me aka the Student boy aka the Maid’s Tragedy aka Maid’s Complaint aka the Distressed Maid aka the Unfortunate Swain aka There is an Alehouse aka I Know My Love aka Apron Strings aka the Irish Boy aka Lullaby...

This episode looks at North American versions of the ballad Bonny Barbara Allen aka The Ballet of Barbara Allen aka Barbara Allen's Cruelty aka Barbarous Ellen aka Edelin aka Hard Hearted Barbary Ellen aka The Sad Ballet Of Little Johnnie Green aka Sir John Graham aka Barbry Allen. Tracklist: Norman Candler – Barbara Allen Almeda Riddle – Barbara Allen Texas Gladden – Barbara Allen Banjo Bill Come...

Fire Draw Near Episode XLI features 4 tracks called Trip to Ireland, 3 tracks with piping, 2 tracks called Foggy Mountain Breakdown, 1 track with dirty bits and loads more - such as Earl Scruggs playing banjo alongside a moog, Paddy Glackin playing fiddle alongside a synth, some madser playing techno alongside a fiddle tune and a load of Scottish women singing along to the beating of cloth. Trackl...

Featuring all of the usual plus even more of the unusual than usual! Joyce, NO PRISONS, songs that sound like other songs, English toffs doing Irish pleb cosplay, Irish ne’er do-wells doing English farmer cosplay, English farmers singing songs that are actually plots of 1970s pornos set in the 1700s, a dramatical audio tale, people playing the taps, everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Iris...