Johnny and Michael Cronin with Shane MacGowan.

Mullingar band join U2, Amble, Hozier, Springsteen and more on Shane MacGowan tribute

Mullingar based Cronin join the likes of Bruce Springsteen, U2, Amble, Hozier and many more on the Shane MacGowan tribute album out later this year.

The band had a close association with the former Pogues star and were integral with helping his widow, Victoria Mary Clarke, in choosing the acts and songs. Four of the tracks on the album were recorded in their Drumlish Transmission Rooms recording studio.

The tribute, ‘ 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan’ available from November 13, is described as a sonic love letter to a visionary who reshaped the landscape of Irish music.

Taking its title from a project Shane had long envisioned, the project brings together an assembly of defining voices. It builds on the success of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ and the Johnny Depp and Imelda May duet, ‘Haunted’.

Now, with the addition of U2, Bob Geldof, Kingfishr, David Keenan, Jimmy Artache, and Tom Creagh, the full roster cements 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan as a landmark moment for Irish music and one of the most ambitious tributes in recent memory.

The album navigates Shane MacGowan’s creative arc, moving from the high velocity punk of his early years to the haunting, literate depths of his later work.

Victoria Mary Clarke and Rubyworks now unveil the full sequence of artists and the songs they have chosen to interpret:

Amble – The Snake With the Eyes of Garnet

Bob Geldof – St John Of Gods

Bruce Springsteen – A Rainy Night in Soho

Camille O’Sullivan – You’re The One

Cronin – London You’re A Lady

Damien Dempsey – Sally MacLennane

David Gray – The Old Main Drag

David Keenan – The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn

Dropkick Murphys – The Body of an American

Garron Noone – White City

Glen Hansard – Bottle of Smoke

Hozier and Jessie Buckley – Fairytale of New York

Jimmy Artache – USA

Johnny Mac and The Faithful – Fiesta

Johnny Depp and Imelda May – Haunted

Kate Moss – Lonesome Highway

Kingfishr – The Sunnyside of the Street

Liam Ó Maonlaí – The Broad Majestic Shannon

Lisa Moorish and Another Day – Rain Street

Lisa O’Neill – Dark Streets of London

LYRA – Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six

Madra Salach – Turkish Song of the Damned

Moya Brennan – Mother Mo Chroi

Mundy – Victoria

Picture This – Aisling

Pinch of Snuff – Donegal Express

Primal Scream – A Pair of Brown Eyes

Steve Earle – If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The High Kings – Streams of Whiskey

The Jesus And Mary Chain – I’ll Be Your Handbag

The Libertines – Sayonara

The Murder Capital – The Song With No Name

The Pogues – Gabrielle

Tom Creagh – Paddy Public Enemy No. 1

Tom Waits – Summer In Siam

U2 – Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Victoria Mary Clarke stated: “It is not possible to say how much it means to me and to Shane’s family to have this extraordinary collection of his songs being sung in tribute to him, to his work and to Irish music. When I first met Shane in the early ’80s, he was inflamed with a powerful, passionate mission to bring Irish music, history and culture to the attention of the world through his songwriting.

“It made him feel like the happiest man alive to know that he had achieved his mission, and that there were many more musicians who came after him and seized that torch and lit fires with it in places that he had not even dreamed of.

“Some of those younger artists are featured on this album, and I know that Shane is overjoyed to hear their beautiful and soulful renditions of his songs. Also featured are artists who came before him, and who inspired him and artists that he worked with, artists who he loved and admired.

“There are so many that it is not possible to mention them all by name but each contribution is unique and inspired and sublime and I thank these beautiful people from the very depths of my own soul.”

Simon Community

In the spirit of Shane’s lifelong advocacy for those most in need, at least 50% of artist royalties from the album will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community. That partnership honors Shane’s long standing connection to the organisation and his commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness.

Availability

20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan arrives on all streaming platforms on November 13. The album will be available in three physical formats, headlined by a Limited Edition Deluxe Bookpack, which includes three LPs, two CDs, and a 60-page book featuring rare memorabilia and liner notes.

Order your copy here.