Explore every episode of the podcast PUB SONGS & STORIES
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Inspiration: Songwriting Habits of Mikey Mason | 18 Nov 2025 | 01:09:28 | |
Geek-rock musician Mikey Mason joins me to talk about writing songs on schedule, his New Music Monday ritual, and how to stay creative every single week. Music by Caliceltic, May Will Bloom, The Gothard Sisters, and Mikey Mason. This is Pub Songs & Stories #311 0:18 - Caliceltic "The Beer from St James Gate" from 2023 and Me 5:25 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. I am your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Today's episode dives into the creative mind of comedy-rock songwriter Mikey Mason. If you've ever struggled to finish a song or waited for inspiration to strike, this conversation will change how you think about writing. Mikey writes and releases a brand-new song every Monday. And he does it without relying on his muse. We'll talk about manufacturing inspiration, using unusual prompts, and turning routine into creative freedom. 6:59 - UPCOMING SHOWS
If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that at PubSong.com. I have a new band with my daughter Inara. We are called May Will Bloom and at IrishFest Atlanta, we released a brand new single. 9:40 - May Will Bloom "Star of the County Down" from Single A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you're enjoying Pub Songs & Stories or you've been spinning my music for years, follow me on Patreon. It's free to join, and you'll get early, ad-free episodes along with updates on what I'm creating next. But the real magic kicks in when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is how independent musicians like me keep making music, telling stories, and sharing these pub-song adventures with you. For just $5 a month, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusives—unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes podcasts, video concerts, rare bootlegs, and surprises you won't hear anywhere else. Want the full rundown? Email follow@celtfather and I'll send you all the details. 13:35 - NEWS
Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. 16:33 - The Gothard Sisters "Moment in Time" from Moment in Time 19:55 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 20:23 - QUEST & CHORUS of How to Write Songs on Schedule (and Still Stay Inspired) Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. Mikey Mason is a U.S.-based "geek-rock" musician. He blends his stand-up comedy background with music rooted in sci-fi, fantasy, board games, cats and role-playing. He spent more than a decade as a full-time stand-up comedian performing across the U.S. In 2011 his song "She Don't Like Firefly" went viral on YouTube and earned attention from outlets including Nerdist, SyFy, MTV Geek News, Dr. Demento and Time magazine. Since then, Mikey has released numerous albums and EPs and now primarily works as a musician and artist whose work draws heavily on his lifelong love of geek culture. Before we get started, this is also a Quest & Chorus.Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. That means you need a secret word to unlock a secret treasure chest of bonus content, this time from Mikey Mason. So listen up so you can unlock the Quest. How many songs does Mikey Mason average in a year with his New Music Monday releases? Click here to enter your answer and unlock your reward! 46:06 - Mikey Mason "Kinda Like" from Patreon Single 1:03:14 - Mikey Mason "Shades of Gray" from Shades of Gray If you want to learn more about Mikey Mason,
1:07:35 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra-rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Join the Pub and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus #6: From Carnac to Fangorn | The End of the Quest (special feat: Pub Songs and Stories #310) | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:35:36 | |
Over 3,000 stones rise from the fields of Carnac. They stand silent, waiting, like the trees of Fangorn Forest, patient and alive beneath their stillness. In this episode of Quest & Chorus, we walk among ancient alignments, uncover old legends, and listen to what endures. Featuring music from The Irish Lassies, Dublin Gulch, and Brobdingnagian Bards. This is Quest & Chorus #310 0:27 - The Irish Lassies "Hammer Up Whisky Down" from Immigration Stories 5:20 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where ancient stones still speak and songs remember what trees never forget. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse Celtic and folk music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. And today we walk not into a forest—but into a field that feels like one. The Alignments of Carnac stretch across the land like rows of rooted giants. They are silent. But not still. And if you listen… they speak in echoes. Today we talk of nature, of memory, and also of what I learned about food waste. WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FOOD
You don't have to do it in one day. It's taking me several years. And it doesn't have to be perfect. You just have to be open to learning. Check out Sustainable Jungle and One5C. They have a lot of real, practical and non-judgemental tips on how to be more eco-friendly with your food and your life. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that at PubSong.com. UPCOMING SHOWS
15:37 - Dublin Gulch "Sarah Daly/The Copper King's Daughter" from Tap 'Er Light Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. 19:59 - NEWS
A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! Pull Up a Stool and Join the Band! Follow me on Patreon for behind-the-scenes stories, ad-free episodes of Pub Songs & Stories, and a few free MP3s to take home. It's free to follow — but if you toss a coin in the bard's hat, you'll help keep the music playing every week. TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. In 2017, I led a Celtic Invasion of Brittany. You can read about our search for the Holy Grail in France. In the meantime, it's time for the… QUEST & CHORUS of ALIGNMENTS OF CARNAC Over 3,000 standing stones stretch in careful lines through the fields of Carnac. No one knows exactly why they're here. Were they a celestial map? Some say they mark burial grounds. But walking by them, I didn't feel like I was in a graveyard. I felt like I was among the elders. It reminded me of Fangorn Forest, home of the Ents. In The Lord of the Rings, Fangorn is a place where time moves slowly. Trees remember battles that men have forgotten. Carnac is a lot like that. The stones are not dead. They're just waiting. I can't help but wonder who placed them here, so careful and deliberate. The stones of Carnac weren't raised by elves or Ents, but by real people. Neolithic builders, thousands of years before written history. Here's what we know about them. HISTORY OF THE ALIGNMENTS OF CARNAC The Alignments of Carnac in Brittany, France, are one of the most remarkable prehistoric monuments in Europe. They consist of long rows of standing stones (menhirs) and other megalithic features that stretch across the landscape. Over the millennia, many stones were removed, toppled, or reused in local buildings, especially in historic times. The word "alignments" refers to the visible rows of standing stones that still remain. Today, the Alignments of Carnac are protected as important heritage sites. Research continues to refine their dating and function, and the monuments remain a remarkable testimony to the ambition and organisation of prehistoric communities. References:
LEGENDS & MYTHS OF CARNAC There are actual legends connected to the Carnac stones. One of the most widely told involves Saint Cornély. According to Breton tradition, Cornély was being pursued by soldiers. He and his oxen fled, and the stones of Carnac are said to be the soldiers turned to stone as a result of divine intervention. MY THOUGHTS on CARNAC
27:48 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Heart of Fangorn" from Memories of Middle Earth
HEART OF FANGORN Lyrics and music Marc Gunn Long before men tread Middle-Earth, Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Patient farmers they tend the woods. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. For Living Creatures all roam the land, Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. The rivers will flow though their course may change. Ha-room… Ha-da-ra-room. Mark it down. Because the stones are not silent. They're just slow to speak. This is the final episode named Quest & Chorus. For that matter, it's also the final episode of Folk Songs & Stories, at least by those names. I ran a poll on Patreon to see what name people liked the most. The most popular name was Pub Songs & Stories. So we're moving back to that name. That said, Quest & Chorus is not gone forever. This is just the beginning. I really liked this special feature and so in some episodes in the future, I hope to include a quest and chorus for you. I also realized that the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, my award-winning flagship program, is a great show. But over the past decade, the podcast has become more and more dominated by instrumental Celtic music. Which is fantastic. I love a great set of tunes as much as the songs. But I feel like the singers and the songwriters lost out a bit. I started playing music because I wanted to be a songwriter. I love all styles of music. I love learning how to write songs. Writing Celtic and folk songs are one of the reasons I continue to create music. So another thing I will be doing with a section of the podcast is to continue to promote the singers, songs, and songwriters that I find whether on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast or wherever. A great example is the interview that I'm sharing next time on the podcast. I interviewed Mikey Mason about his songwriting techniques. The things that inspire him to write a new song and share it each and every week for several years now. I'm trying to write more songs myself, and I will continue to share them over on Patreon but hopefully every month I will have a new song that I can share in this podcast as well. Additional References:
31:10 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Marc Gunn & Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Clean energy isn't just good for the planet, it's good for your wallet. Solar and wind are now the cheapest power sources in history. But too many politicians would rather protect billionaires than help working families save on their bills. Real change starts when we stop allowing the ultra-rich to write our energy policy and run our government. Let's choose affordable, renewable power. Clean energy means lower costs, more freedom, and a planet that can actually breathe. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus #5: Crossing the Waves to Skellig Michael (special feat: Folk Songs & Stories #309) | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:24:55 | |
The sea around Skellig Michael never rests. Waves slam the cliffs like a heartbeat, and mist rises from the rocks like breath from some sleeping giant. Eight miles off the Kerry coast, this jagged island looks less like a piece of earth and more like a fragment of another world. More than a thousand years ago, monks climbed 600 stone steps to live here, chasing silence, prayer, and the edge of heaven. Today, visitors come for the same reason, though they may not know it. Whether you're drawn by faith, history, or a galaxy far, far away, Skellig has a way of making you listen to what the sea remembers. And that's where today's story begins — between exile and return, faith and freedom, stone and surf. Because sometimes, we're all just trying to find our way back to the ocean. With Music from Niamh Dunne, Wolf Loescher, and Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira. This is Quest & Chorus #309 0:58 - Niamh Dunne "Ballyneety's Walls" from Portraits 4:17 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where every wave might carry a myth, and every exile still dreams of home. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. And today, we drift to the edge of the world, To Skellig Michael, where the sea swallows history and monks once whispered their prayers to gulls. It's also where a Jedi gave up the fight. And where a selkie sings himself back into the sea. Today's theme may seem like exile or perhaps it's where you truly belong. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of Celtic and folk music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that at PubSong.com. UPCOMING SHOWS
6:24 - Wolf Loescher "Rovin' Journeyman" from Child of Alba Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. News
A big thanks to my… 7:45 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 9:47 - Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira "Going Home" from Here To Stay 13:15 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let's begin the… 13:47 - QUEST & CHORUS of SKELLIG MICHAEL Eight miles off the coast of County Kerry is the island of Skellig Michael. It is a jagged twin-peaked island. Its name comes from the Irish Sceilg Mhichíl which means Michael's Rock. It was dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The island's history began in the sixth century. Monks sought isolation and closeness to God. So they settled there because the early Irish monastic tradition valued hardship, solitude, and spiritual testing. The monks carved out a small community on narrow terraces more than 600 steps above sea level. The monastic settlement they built still survives. They built a cluster of beehive stone huts, stone crosses and terraces connected by narrow paths. Everything was dry-stone construction. That means they were fitted together without mortar. They were built so well that they have lasted over a millennium. The monks grew small gardens, caught seabirds and fish, and collected rainwater in cisterns. They survived off of what the island would allow. Skellig Michael was a center of devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel sometime after the 8th century. The island was also a pilgrimage site for centuries. Climbing its steps was seen as a form of penance and spiritual renewal. By the 13th century, life on Skellig Michael had become too difficult. Storms, isolation, and changing Church patterns led the monks to relocate to the mainland, near Ballinskelligs. But the island remained a place of pilgrimage well into the modern era. Skellig Michael is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is recognized for its exceptional preservation of early Christian monastic life and its haunting natural beauty. It's also become familiar to a new generation as Ahch-To, the oceanic world where Luke Skywalker lived in exile in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Even now, Skellig Michael stands as a symbol of endurance, of faith carved into stone, of solitude turned to sanctuary, and of the fragile bridge between human devotion and the raw power of nature. LEGENDS OF SKELLIG MICHAEL One of the more famous legends involves the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesian invasion of Ireland. It is recounted in the Lebor Gabála Érenn (the Book of Invasions). According to this myth:
MY THOUGHTS on SKELLIG MICHAEL 20:02 - Marc Gunn "Selkie's Life" from Come Adventure With Me Thank you for returning to the sea with me. Skellig Michael is not the end of the story. But it's where stories are kept safe. Next time, we wander the great alignments of Carnac, stones older than myth, standing like trees in time. Until then… If the sea calls you, don't be afraid to answer. 23:39 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus Ep. 4: Come Adventure to The Quiraing on Skye (special feat: Folk Songs & Stories #308) | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:34:50 | |
The Quiraing is not a gentle place. Stone spires jut skyward, cliffs crumble toward the sea, and paths twist like they're still being carved by giants. It's a landscape that doesn't promise safety—it dares you to take another step. On Skye, they say even dragons once hid in these folds, rising to defend the island from invaders. And standing here, staring into that mist and stone, you can feel it: adventure isn't slaying dragons. It's choosing to face the one within. Music from Kinnfolk, Ed Miller, and Marc Gunn. This is Quest & Chorus #308 0:39 - - Kinnfolk "Highland Laddie" from Star Above The Mountain 4:21 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where every hill might hide a dragon, and every fear might be your map. We stand on the edge… of a cliff, of a journey, of ourselves. The Quiraing, on the Isle of Skye, is a land caught between movement and stillness… earth sliding slowly toward the sea. And standing here, staring out over stone teeth and mist-choked valleys, you might ask: Should I go forward? Or turn back? I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of Celtic and folk music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Review of ALEP 6: A Long Expected Party. Stories:
Ed Miller has a gift for turning lived experience into song. In "The Wide Rio Grande," he tells the story of a young Scottish singer facing the sting of rejection at the U.S. border — and how that moment bound him to countless others who've risked everything to cross into a new life. It's a song about displacement and determination, about rules that separate and courage that refuses to be denied. From Houston to Laredo, from Scotland to Mexico, it is both personal and universal — a reminder that behind every border there are human hearts, still daring to cross. 11:19 - Ed Miller "The Wide Rio Grand" from Many's The Fine Tale The Wide Rio Grande Lyrics and music by Brian McNeill Fifteen years gone, the airport in Houston A young Scottish singer stands waiting in line He's been too long apart from the home of his heart It's a young Texas sweetheart so fair and so fine But the man at the desk with his uniform shoulders Gives uniform reasons and a uniform smile Takes more than a song son. The paperwork's wrong son Fly back where you came from just 5000 miles Come all you brave lads who follow my story I'll stand at the border and give you my hand Here's honor and luck, good health, and glory To those who would try for the wide Rio Grande London to Mexico, ready to try again Walk through a border that thousands have crossed Join the bold dispossessed of the South and the West For a white boy from Scotland, no irony lost But he knows as he reaches the light in Laredo With the guards looking on and the sun beating down That the hard law and order, the rules on the border Has made him at one with the men who have drowned Come all you brave lads who follow my story I'll stand at the border and give you my hand Here's honor and luck, good health, and glory To those who would try for the wide Rio Grande So the next time you walk the wrong side of the border Remember this song as you think on your lot For every man, Jack, who can take the road back Should think on the fortune of those who cannot For Wetback's a name that they whisper in corners But there's one man hear who will wear it with pride For a fence or a wall means nothing at all For a heart full of courage will ne'er be denied Come all you brave lads who follow my story I'll stand at the border and give you my hand Here's honor and luck, good health, and glory To those who would try for the wide Rio Grande Compadres and amigos who follow my story I'll stand at the border and give you my hand Here's honor and luck, good health, and glory To those who would try for the wide Rio Grande 15:50 - UPCOMING SHOWS
Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. News
A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 18:38 - Marc Gunn "Paddy Murphy" from Kilted Drinking Songs 24:17 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let's begin the… QUEST & CHORUS of QUIRAING, SCOTLAND The Quiraing lies on the northern Trotternish Ridge of Skye. It's part of the largest landslip in Britain — a massive collapse of rock that stretches nearly the length of the peninsula. What makes the Quiraing remarkable is that it's still moving. Every year, the road below must be repaired, because cracks open and the land shifts. The cliffs and pinnacles here are not frozen in time; they are alive, in motion, reshaping themselves even now. Within this landscape are some striking features: The Needle, a tall jagged spike of rock; The Prison, a crag shaped like a fortress; and The Table, a grassy plateau hidden away within the folds of the cliffs. These names reflect how the landscape feels — not just natural, but storied. The word Quiraing comes from Old Norse — Kví Rand — which means "round fold." It's thought to describe the way the land curves inward, almost like a natural pen or hollow. Local lore says the hollows were once used to hide cattle, especially during Viking raids. The geography itself became a shield, a place of protection. There are stories of dragons living in the Quiraing. However, the dragon stories don't come from ancient Gaelic tradition. They appear more in modern folklore retellings and travel writing — stories told to capture the atmosphere of the landscape. It's easy to see why. The Prison, a huge crag that looks like a fortress, seems like the perfect lair. The Needle rises like a spear ready to strike. The Table, hidden within the fold of the cliffs, feels like a secret clearing where wings could unfurl. One version says the dragons hid in the folds of the Quiraing, guarding the people of Skye from Viking invaders. When longships came over the horizon, the dragons rose from the cliffs themselves — wings beating like thunder, breath as fierce as the Atlantic spray. The Vikings fled, and the people survived. It's not a tale you'll find in the oldest manuscripts. In a place where the land still moves, where cliffs shift and stones crash down, dragons feel less like fantasy and more like a natural explanation for the Quiraing's wild power. So when you set foot there today, you're not just walking among rocks and landslides. You're stepping into a landscape that invites adventure — where the air feels charged, as if dragons might still be hiding just behind the next ridge, waiting for the moment to rise again. In Middle-earth, places like this are where heroes are tested. Talk prompts:
This song came from that moment— 29:24 - Marc Gunn "Come Adventure With Me" from Come Adventure With Me Thanks for walking the edge with me today. The Quiraing doesn't give answers. But it gives perspective. Next time, we dive into a different kind of exile, on Skellig Michael, where legends go to disappear beneath the waves. Until then, wherever you are… Come adventure with me. 33:52 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus #3: Tintagel - History, Shipwrecks & Myth (special feature Folk Songs & Stories) | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:27:47 | |
Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where songs remember what history forgets. I'm your bard, and today, we climb a legendary cliff—where myth and memory blur. To Tintagel. Some say King Arthur was born here. Others say he died here. And whether that's true or not doesn't really matter… Because this place feels like the kind of place where someone says goodbye. Today, we raise a glass—to stories that fade, and the people who carry them. This is Quest & Chorus #307 0:30 - Heather Dale "Mordred's Lullaby" from The Trial of Lancelot and The Secret World of Celtic Rock 3:41 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. UPCOMING SHOWS
Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. News
A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 7:55 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Do Virgins Tast Better Medley" from A Faire To Remember 12:43 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let's begin the… QUEST & CHORUS of TINTAGEL, CORNWALL - History & Myth Tintagel is carved into the coast of Cornwall — cliffs like the broken edge of a sword, sea spray rising like breath. Ruins cling to the stone. A castle? Maybe. A dream? Definitely. But before we step into the realm of Arthur and Avalon, let's talk about what Tintagel really is. 🏰 The History The site we call Tintagel Castle was built in the 1230s by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the brother of King Henry III. Richard was a man of immense wealth and ambition. And his castle wasn't entirely practical. It wasn't raised to defend farmland or trade routes. It was built as a statement — to tie himself to the powerful myths already woven into Tintagel's cliffs. But Tintagel's story stretches much further back. Archaeological excavations reveal traces of a post-Roman settlement from the 5th to 7th centuries. Pottery and glassware from the Mediterranean show that Tintagel was a hub of high-status trade — a gateway where Cornish kings connected with the wider world. Of course, life on these cliffs was never easy. The seas around Tintagel are beautiful but brutal. The jagged rocks and fierce Atlantic storms made this stretch of coast notorious for shipwrecks. For centuries, sailors feared the Cornish coast as "the graveyard of ships." Wreckage would wash ashore, and in the medieval period — and even later — locals salvaged timbers, cargo, and stories from the sea. These wrecks added to Tintagel's aura: a place where lives and legends were broken against the rocks, where the ocean itself seemed determined to test humanity's endurance. So Tintagel is not just a romantic ruin. It is a site of trade, ambition, and survival — a place shaped as much by the storms of the sea as by the myths of men. 🗡️ The Mythology Of course, it's the legends that have made Tintagel famous. Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in the 12th century, set part of his History of the Kings of Britain here. He claimed that King Arthur was conceived at Tintagel. According to the tale, Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father, was enchanted by the wizard Merlin. Disguised in the form of Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, Uther gained access to Tintagel and to Igraine, the Duke's wife. From that union, Arthur was born. That story, scandalous and magical, placed Tintagel forever in the Arthurian landscape. And once Richard built his castle a century later, the connection between myth and stone was sealed. Visitors came not just to see a fortress, but to walk where legends were born. Other traditions place Tristan and Iseult at Tintagel. Some even whisper of Avalon, the mystical isle where Arthur was carried after his last battle, half-dead, half-remembered. 🌊 The Atmosphere When I walked those paths, I didn't feel like I was seeing where a king was born. There's a heaviness here, like the final chapter has already been written. And that's why I thought of Camelot. Of knights and queens and betrayal and loss. Of Avalon, where Arthur was taken, half-dead, half-remembered. This isn't a place where stories begin. It's where they echo.
This song is centuries old. 20:49 - The Haar "The Parting Glass" from single At the end of this story—both Arthur's and ours—there's something shared. Thank you for climbing to Tintagel with me. Next time, we cross into the Quiraing—the jagged edge of Skye—where dragons hide and courage trembles. 26:54 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus #2: A Lonely Shore on the Calf of Man (special feature Folk Songs & Stories) | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:21:29 | |
The Calf of Man, just off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. There's a decayed building there. And on its wall hangs a strange thing. A life preserver—round, red and white, worn by time. It made me wonder: What do we leave behind to save the ones who come after us?" This is Quest & Chorus #306 0:21 - We Banjo 3 "Alive With You" from Open The Road 3:14 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. We're sailing to the Isle of Man to talk about hope, abandonment, legacy, moving forward, and what comes next. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. UPCOMING SHOWS
Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I'll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. 4:55 - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh "Cad É Sin Don Té Sin" from Neadú 8:23 - Bill Mullen "Irish Rover" from The Beginning A big thanks to my… 11:06 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what's new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you'll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let's begin the… QUEST & CHORUS of CALF OF MAN The Calf of Man is a small island located about a half mile off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. It is a protected national park that is part of the Manx National Heritage. It is home to large number of species of birds, including some colonies that migrate there. Around 33 species of seabirds breed on the islet annually, including Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Shag. Every year, I take a small group of people to explore our Celtic heritage. It's called Celtic Invasion Vacations. Next year, we're going to Galicia in Spain. That's one of the most-obscure Celtic nations. But in the summer of 2024, we did a Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Man. On the invasion, we took the Wild Life and Scenic Trip around Calf of Man with Shona Boat Trips. They are one of the small boat operators that give tours. Desi was our guide. He lived on the island for a year. We didn't get to explore much of the land. Because the Calf of Man is raw. The kind of place the sea keeps for itself. There was a building by the shore. We couldn't inspect it during our fifteen minutes on the ground, but it looked like just the bones of a dwelling, stone clinging to stone. And from its wall, there was one oddity that stood out in the stark landscape. A life preserver. That's wild to think about. A life preserver is a tool meant to save someone in the future, and it was hanging on the ruins of a home from the past. It reminded me of Miranda, from the movie, Serenity. A planet left behind. A warning not given. A silence that cost too much. That building, that place… it feels like Miranda. Not because it's dead. But because someone left it—hoping it might save someone else. In the first episode of Firefly, Malcolm Reynolds is fighting in Serenity Valley. A soldier standing next to him is terrified that they are gonna die. Mal tells him, "we're too pretty to die." He's filled with so much hope. A moment later he watches in horror as his air support leaves. He watches his Angels fly away as the soldier next to him is shot down. Two-thirds of the Independents died in the Battle of Serenity Valley. Two-thirds of Mal's fellow soldiers did not make it home. And yet he lived. He was preserved. MUCH LIKE THE SECRET WORD OF THE DAY. WHAT WAS PRESERVED? Were you ever left behind? How did you move forward? Music is my safe place. That's one of the reasons I wrote "Serenity Valley Waltz". I wanted a song for survivors. For those who were left behind. To not just face the future, but to also take care of the next generation. This is why I spend so much time thinking about sustainability and my music career. Are we making a life preserver for the next generation? For my daughters? I've been reading the book Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. He does an amazing job at illustrating the tipping point of climate change. When we HAVE to start doing something about it. The very first chapters of the book lay out a horror that brought tears to my eyes. Especially when I imagined what my children will most likely face at some point. We can use that life preserver right now by changing how we do stuff right now. And perhaps music can be our guiding light. Our healer. Our hope. "Serenity Valley Waltz" is a song all about healing and hope. It's about overcoming our nightmares and looking out across the ocean from the Isle of Man and seeing a better future for all of us. This song is for the places that hold pain. But also for the objects that remind us to stay afloat. That round red and white ring… it didn't save a life today. But it might tomorrow. This is Serenity Valley Waltz." 16:19 - NEWS
Thank you for standing on the shore with me today. The Calf of Man may be forgotten, but its story, like yours, is worth remembering. Next week, we climb to Tintagel, the seat of Camelot, to raise a glass to myths and farewells. Until then… Leave something behind. Not because you're going… But because someone might come looking. 19:30 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Quest & Chorus #1: Don't Blink at Kilmartin (special feature) | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:26:52 | |
Quest & Chorus is a six-part series where I share songs, stories, and places along with a game to make the adventure even more fun. This is the first episode in your quest. A reminder to be present with those who you love, while we travel through time to Kilmartin Glen in Scotland. This is Quest & Chorus on Folk Songs & Stories #305 0:12 - Tan and Sober Gentlemen "All the Time" from Regressive Folk Music 4:18 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where legends meet lyrics, and every place sings a story. I'm your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus, and we begin our journey in a place where time stands still, literally. Welcome to Kilmartin Glen, in Scotland. A valley lined with stones that don't move, don't blink, and yet they watch… As you and I walk the long path of memory, love, and time itself. If you're new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. NEWS
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5:05 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 6:02 - Tulua "Rambling Boys of Pleasure" from No Coming No Going 11:48 - The Secret Commonwealth "Dubhachas (I'll Dream of Times Like This)" from Last Call The ads on this podcast pay for some of the hosting and podcast editing. My time producing the show is paid for by my… 15:43 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON Thank you so much for your generous support of my music. Patreon is how the modern musician makes a living with music. Album Pin and CD sales help me to perform in person. But my livelihood is entirely funded by Patrons of the Arts. You can sign up for as little as $5 per month. You'll get exclusive, unreleased songs. You'll get this and other podcasts I produce. Plus, you'll get access to a huge archive of video concerts. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! If you can't support me financially right now, just sign up on Patreon for free. You'll also get weekly updates. Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather Let's begin the… 16:54 - QUEST & CHORUS of KILMARTIN GLEN In a valley near the West Coast of Scotland is Kilmartin Glen. There you will find standing stones. Not one or two, but many laid out like a memory. Kilmartin Glen is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of the village, with 150 of them being prehistoric. In the glen that we visited, we got a nice sized taste of those monuments. If you stand still long enough, you might be able to look back into time, like the TARDIS from Doctor Who. But these time machines don't fly, they stand cold and alone, watching everything, never blinking. Count the stones in the cover image and let prime numbers guide you to unlock your first Quest. These stones watched lovers part and children grow old. And in their stillness, they remember everything. They carry the weight of forgotten voyages. They are beautiful. And they are a little bit sad. That sadness seemed appropriate in 2022 when I led my Celtic Invasion of Scotland to Kilmartin Glen. The group was shrinking due to Covid. The feeling as people left the group. This song, 'Blink,' was born of that fear, the fear of blinking and losing something beautiful. Of falling in love with someone so radiant, so unique, that you fear time itself. But also… It's a love song for the moment. It's for every second you choose to stay present, even when it hurts. Learn more about my song #277 "Blink". 22:31 - Marc Gunn "Blink" from Come Adventure With Me That's the end of today's tale, but the song lives on. Come back next week as we sail the Calf of Man through loss and resilience. Until then, don't blink. Don't look away. And may your memories always sing. 26:04 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Join the Quest and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #doctorwhoblink #kilmartinstones #questandchorus
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| Harry Potter Rising of the Moon: The Cat Who Lived (to Sing Irish Songs) #304 | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:28:39 | |
Wanna hear a Harry Potter inspired cat song? Plus learn some facts about whether you should declaw your cat. Celebrate Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers' 20th anniversary with this special podcast of the new and the old. This is Folk Songs & Stories #304 0:34 - Marc Gunn "Rising of the Moon" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 2:40 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Got a cat picture? Send it to me to post in the podcast. NEWS
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4:16 - Blibbering Humdingers "No Shame in Hufflepuff" from Free Awkward Hugs 8:21 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2026, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 9:52 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #6: "HARRY POTTER AND THE RISING OF THE MOON" & DECLAWING CATS FAQ Why you should not declaw your cats, and some great alternatives, plus a cat silliness on the net. Cat Music & News
Special thanks to these suppporters: Susan Saint-Lockhart, Charles Walker, Scott Robinson, Jennifer L. Sperry, Shelley Oden, Elizabeth Northrup, R N Goddard, Mary Mealiffe, Larry Lochner, Catherine Devine, David & Deborah Kaye Bibb, Kathryn Robinson, Charlotte Straight, Tay Aston, Fred Milano, Sandra Bobleter, Shelley Clifford, Matthew Williams, Dennise D Hunting, Roger Skulsky, Brenda Jarvis, Virginia Page, Kelli McLaughlin, Alan Brown, Steve Shonk, Fireball Express, Sarah leonard & Sarah Gruetz, Rebecca Jordan, Sara Carman, Beth Beal The Cat Lovers Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn. 24:45 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "Harry Potter and the Rising of the Moon" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers harry potter/rising of the moon autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn banjo: franco bordoni fiddle: James "Cedric" Hazlerig dombek: Michelle Hedden bass: Ari Koinuma bgv: Marc Gunn, Ben Hamby, Blake McCaig, Sarah Dinan 27:10 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Lord of the Pounce: A Feline Folk Fantasy #303 | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:25:40 | |
Make sure your cat is drinking water. Cats love to pounce. It's another 20th anniversary celebration of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers as I share the story behind "Lord of the Pounce". This is Folk Songs & Stories #303 0:29 - Marc Gunn "Lord of the Dance" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 3:05 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Got a cat picture? Send it to me to post in the podcast. NEWS
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5:09 - Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair "Mish as y Keayn" from LOSSAN
9:54 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2026, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 11:33 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #5: "LORD OF THE POUNCE" AND CAT VET VISIT TnT's Annual Visit to the Vet, Cat CD House Concerts, Kitten War, Cats need to drink lots of water, "Lord of the Pounce"
I want to offer Special Thanks to these Kind Supporters: Lanora Davidson of Things Celtic, Ashley Crawford, Kim Lambert, Dorothy Washburn, Holly Hill, Theresa Pittman, John Wohlers, Michele Piantà from Italy, Joshua Summit, Patrick Patterson, Zia King of Fifth House Candles – Cat Candles. 20:46 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "Lord of the Pounce" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers lord of the pounce autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn fiddle: Heather Gilmer bass, guitar: Ari Koinuma bgv: Marc Gunn, Ben Hamby, Blake McCaig, Sarah Dinan CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Catnipping Green: Where Good Kitties Go #302 | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:27:18 | |
What happens when a kitty passes from this life to the next? It's filled with milk and catnip and all the luxuries a cat could possibly enjoy. Hear the story of "Catnipping Green" as we celebrate 20 years of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. This is Folk Songs & Stories #302 0:34 - Marc Gunn "Fiddler's Green" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 4:38 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. This show is for fans of my music. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Got a cat picture? Send it to me to post in the podcast. NEWS
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6:26 - Socks in the Frying Pan "Irelands Struggle" from Waiting for Inspiration 10:49 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2025, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 12:01 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #4: "CATNIPPING GREEN" AND BATHING YOUR CAT (REBOOT) The martial art of bathing your cat and cat world domination in action on Cat Drinking Songs. Cat Music & News
Cat Lover Websites I want to offer Special Thanks to these Kind Supporters: Lanora Davidson of Things Celtic, Ashley Crawford, Kim Lambert, Dorothy Washburn, Holly Hill, Theresa Pittman, John Wohlers, Michele Piantà from Italy, Joshua Summit, Patrick Patterson, Zia King of Fifth House Candles – Cat Candles. 21:43 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "Catnipping Green" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn penny whistle: April Porter bass, piano, mandolin: Ari Koinuma bgv: Sarah Dinan 26:06 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Furagone's Wake: Zombie Cats and One Wild Party #301 | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:25:00 | |
Can cats become zombies, outside of Stephen King's Pet Sematary? Apparently, it happens in songs too. I'll share the story behind "Furagone's Wake" and another Cat Lovers Podcast episode. We're celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. This is Folk Songs & Stories #301 0:34 - Marc Gunn "Finnegan's Wake" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 3:16 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. NEWS
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4:35 - Kinnfolk "Byker Hill" from Kinnfolk 6:26 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2025, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 7:12 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #3: " FURAGONE'S WAKE", CATNIP FAQ (REBOOT) How to know if your cat is plotting world domination and a funny story about fresh catnip on Cat Music Lovers Podcast. Cat Music & News
21:14 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "Furagone's Wake" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers Based on the Irish folk song, "Finnegan's Wake", this cat song tells the story of a Sphynx Cat who loses his ninth life. His fellow cats gather for a wake that turns into one big cat fight. Look for it on my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD. furagone's wake autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn mandola: James "Cedric" Hazlerig bass, mandolin, maracas: Ari Koinuma bgv: Marc Gunn, Ben Hamby, Ari Koinuma comments & sound effects: Marc Gunn, Ben Hamby 24:00 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling #300 | 31 May 2025 | 00:28:19 | |
We're celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. I'll share a story about "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling". You'll find out how about how my first Kickstarter did 4 years before Kickstarter existed. Plus, you'll enjoy rockin 'traditional music from High Octane out of France. This is Folk Songs & Stories #300 0:45 - Marc Gunn "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 2:37 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. This show is for fans of my music. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. 3:00 - NEWS
3:13 - UPCOMING SHOWS
4:02 - High Octane "Eastern Vagrant" from High Octane 9:55 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: --CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2025, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 11:43 - IRISH DRINKING SONGS FOR CAT LOVERS KICKSTARTER In 2005, I decided to fund my second solo album, Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, with a Kickstarter. Well, officially Kickstarter hadn't started yet. It would be another four years before that happened. However, I ran the Kickstarter in a very similar way. I set different levels and ended up raising over $10,000 to fund the album. Admittedly, that was not all profit. In fact, I had far higher expenses back then because I didn't know how to run a fundraising campaign back then. Nevertheless, it was a huge success and I was able to order 1000 copies of this CD. I think I've printed over 3000 copies of this CD since it was released. But of course, now it is no longer available on CD with me at least. It's only available as a digital download or on an album pin. On June 6, 2005, I released the second episode of the Cat Lovers Podcast to fund this album. Here's a re-release of that podcast episode. 11:56 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #2: "WHEN KITTY EYES ARE SMILING", CATS STUCK IN DRAWERS (REBOOT)
24:25 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers "When Kitty Eyes Are Smiling" is a parody of the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling". The lyrics to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling were written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr. and set to the music of Enerst Ball for Olcott's production of The Isle O' Dreams. The music was published in 1912. when kitty eyes are smiling autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn flute: Hannah Gunn bass, piano: Ari Koinuma Did you find this episode entertaining? Share it with a friend. 27:12 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Wild Kitty Turns 20: Paws, Pints, & Parodies #299 | 28 May 2025 | 00:27:32 | |
2025 is the 20 year anniversary of the release of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. We're resharing the Cat Lovers Podcast along with stories about the song that launched that album, "Wild Kitty". You'll also enjoy the music of Jesse Ferguson in this week's show. This is Folk Songs & Stories #299 WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES0:35 - Marc Gunn "Wild Rover" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm also a cat lover as you'll hear later on in the show. This show is for fans of my music. But it's also for people who attend Celtic festivals, Renaissance festivals, and science fiction conventions. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Here's a weird request. I would like you to think of the first song that comes to your mind. Next, take a picture. Not one but three. Three pictures to tell a story. Perhaps you have a story to tell as well take some pictures and send them to me. 3:08 - NEWS
4:20 - UPCOMING SHOWS
5:02 - Jesse Ferguson "Bonnie Dundee" from Ten 8:45 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: 9:33 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2025, we're going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland. Find out more at CelticInvasion.com. 9:43 - IRISH DRINKING SONGS FOR CAT LOVERS In 2003, I was back from Dragon Con chatting with a friend on the phone. The Irish song "Wild Rover" was stuck in my head as we started talking about cats. The chorus came around and I started meowing. An idea started growing in my head. What if I parodied a bunch of traditional Irish drinking songs with lyrics all about cats. I wrote my first three songs before the end of October. I then found Ari Koinuma in Austin to help me produce the single. I set up a website at CatDrinkingSongs.com. In December, someone posted the idea to Fark. I had 20,000 website hits in one day and hundreds of comments. I knew this was a great idea. In May of 2005, I launched a podcast to help raise money for a CD of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. Thus was born the Cat Lovers Podcast. 10:54 - CAT MUSIC LOVERS #1: "WILD KITTY" AND CATS IN PHYSICS (REBOOT) In honor of the 20 year anniversary of my first cat CD, Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers, I am re-releasing the Cat Lovers Podcast on this feed. I'll also share new stories about the inspiration behind the album creation, including the liner notes from the album.
23:52 - Marc Gunn & The Dubliners' Tabby Cats "Wild Kitty" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers "Wild Kitty" is a parody of the traditional Irish song "Wild Rover". autoharp, lead vocal: Marc Gunn fiddle: James "Cedric" Hazlerig bass, maracas: Ari Koinuma bgv: Marc Gunn, Ben Hamby, Blake McCaig, Ari Koinuma meows: Marc Gunn, April Porter, Ben Hamby, Blake McCaig, 26:41 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Celtic Spring Challenge #298 | 08 Apr 2025 | 00:47:14 | |
The Celtic Spring Challenge is underway. I will tell you all about it. I'm heading back to Texas for Sherwood Forest Faire. Buy local and buy sustainable. Music from Tami Curtis, Sassenach, Charlie O'Brien, Toby Bresnahan, Brobdingnagian Bards, plus Screeched Inn with yours truly. This is Folk Songs & Stories #298 0:39 - Tami Curtis "Keep Our Fire Burning" from Cavort 4:43 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. Greetings my friends. Spring has sprung in Atlanta. Everything is covered in the yellowish glow of pollen. Fortunately, I've doubled up on allergy meds this year. It seems to have helped. I haven't lost my voice once this season, knock on wood. Even after a 4 hour show at the Wings Cafe & Tap House on St Patrick's Day. I call that a HUGE win. In the meantime, I've got a little challenge for you. It's simple, it's soulful, and it's rooted in the music we love. It's called the Celtic Spring Challenge, and it's happening all through the month of April. Here's how it works: 🎶 First—listen to Celtic music every day. Whether it's a lively jig, a haunting ballad, or an old favorite that stirs your heart. This podcast is mostly about Celtic Folk songs. So let that music be your companion. 🚶♀️ Second—go for a 30-minute walk. Every day if you can. Get outside, breathe in that spring air, and let the rhythm of the music move your feet. ♻️ And third—pick up three pieces of trash while you're out there. It's a small gesture, but it's a way of giving something back to the land that inspires so much of the music we celebrate here. It's easy, it's meaningful, and it's a beautiful way to connect—with nature, with music, and with community. Share your journey with us using the hashtag #CelticSpringChallenge. We'd love to see your favorite walking paths, hear your go-to songs, and celebrate the good you're doing out in the world. So what do you say? Lace up. Press play. And let's make this April a month to remember. 8:08 - Charlie O'Brien "Donovan's Mount" from The Trackless Wild, Irish Song of the Pampa 11:05 - BUY LOCAL. BUY SMALL. BUY SUSTAINABLE. 14:39 - Marc Gunn, Screeched Inn "Bright Side of Everything" from Selcouth
Vote: Favorite songs on Selcouth? 17:49 - UPCOMING SHOWS
I'm gonna be at Sherwood Forest Faire for the last two weekends. And I'd like you to do me a favor. I gave them a big ask this year. You see, I was initially scheduled for different dates. But because of my hip surgery, the faires so kind enough to change the dates for me so I could be sure I was able to walk at the festival. I am so grateful to them. So tell the faire thank you once you visit me at the event 21:49 - Sassenach "My Lagan Love" from Passages 25:47 - LATEST NEWS
See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Isle of Man Merch: Buy the Kiss Me I'm Sci F'Irish Album Pin. I have a limited run of these album pins available. But I also now have a Sci Fi Drinking Songs Special Package. 32:03 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON Your support on Patreon isn't just appreciated—it means everything. It's because of you that I'm able to make a living doing what I love: creating music that brings people joy, comfort, laughter… and sometimes, even a bit of healing. It's your patronage that fuels the songs, the podcasts, and the stories I get to share with the world. When you sign up as an official Gunn Runner—starting at just $5 a month—you become part of something truly special. You get access to exclusive, unreleased songs, intimate podcast moments, behind-the-scenes blogs, and a deep archive of video concerts. But more than that, you help keep this creative fire burning. And if you're not in a place to support me financially right now, that's okay. Honestly. Take care of yourself first—that's what matters most. You can still join the club for free and get weekly snapshots from my Celtic adventures and musical wanderings. However you choose to be part of this journey, know this: I'm deeply grateful. Your presence makes the music matter. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 33:13 - Toby Bresnahan "Lord Randall" from All In Good time Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 37:49 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a select group of Celtic music enthusiasts on an unforgettable, laid-back adventure. We don't rush to see everything. Instead, we immerse ourselves in one beautiful region, exploring its culture, history, and legends at a relaxed pace. You can join us from the comfort of your own home with a rich mix of podcasts and videos that bring the journey to life. In 2026, we'll be traveling to Galicia, a Celtic heartland in Spain. Together, we'll explore the deep history and captivating myths of the Galician Celts, tracing their connections to Ireland, Scotland, and beyond. We'll wander the same lands once tread by Celtic warriors, uncover the ancient tales passed down through the ages, and experience the soul-stirring rhythms of authentic Galician Celtic music, filled with history and passion. This isn't just a trip—it's an immersive journey into a Celtic culture like no other. Are you ready to join us? Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 39:00 - THE STORY OF MUSHROOMS 43:48 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Mushrooms" from Another Faire to Remember 46:32 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. The intro was performed by Sharon Collins. The podcast was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember. Climate change is real, and we can fix it. Cutting waste, saving energy, and pushing for clean power all make a difference. A cleaner, safer world benefits everyone. Talk to someone today—our children are counting on you. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs
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| Irish Songs for St. Patrick's Day #297 | 12 Mar 2025 | 00:40:41 | |
St Patrick's Day is a week away. Listen to a fun concert of St Patrick's Day music. Irish songs with my own unique twist. This is Folk Songs & Stories #297 WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, an hour-long radio show of some of the best indie Celtic music online. That was… If you're new to this show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. SET LIST 0:10 - "Star of the County Down" from How America Saved Irish Music 4:46 - "Slainte Mhaith" from Flower of Scotland 8:55 - "Wild Rover/Wild Kitty" from Irish Drinking Songs and Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers 14:23 - "Kilty Pleasure" from Selcouth 17:59 - "Happy Birthday From Ireland" from Soul of a Harper 21:44 - "Come Out Ye Black and Tans" from Songs of Ireland 24:04 - "Donald, Where's Your Drunken Sailor" from A Faire to Remember 29:37 - "I'm Coming Home" from Another Faire to Remember 36:10 - "Mingulay Boat Song" from Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion UPCOMING SHOWS
THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS Your support on Patreon isn't just a game-changer—it's the reason I get to make music, podcasts, and all kinds of Celtic mischief! For just $5 a month, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusive, unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes blogs, and a massive vault of video concerts. It's like a backstage pass to all things me! Not ready to pledge just yet? No worries—your first mission is to take care of yourself. You can still join the club for free and get weekly snapshots of my Celtic invasions, plus updates from my wild musical adventures. Either way, I'd love to have you along for the journey! 🍀🎻 Email follow@celtfather to get more details! Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs
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| St. Paddy's Day or St. Patty's Day? #296 | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:29:24 | |
St. Patrick's Day is almost here. So it's time to definitively answer the old question. Is it Saint Paddy's day or Saint Patty's day? Plus, I'll give you 17 amazing Celtic bands that you should listen to for St. Patrick's Day. Music from Socks in the Frying Pan, Marc Gunn & Jesse Ferguson, and Blackwillow Starling. This is Folk Songs & Stories #296 0:25 - Socks in the Frying Pan "Ireland's Struggle" from Waiting for Inspiration 4:47 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, an hour-long radio show of some of the best indie Celtic music online. That was… If you're new to this show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. 5:39 - IS IT ST PADDY'S DAY OR ST PATTY'S DAY St Paddy's Day is the shortened version of St Patrick's Day. However, that shortened name is often misspelled. It should be spelled Paddy. Not Patty. Patty is a girls name. Paddy is short for the Irish name Padraig. That's from my 11 St Patrick's Day Facts episode of this podcast. I learned from The Daily Difference, the newsletter of the Carbon Almanac that the Episocopal Church used their environmental voice with their wallet. In 2015, the Episcopal Church made a commitment to divest fossil fuel investments from its holdings of around $500 million. And they honored that commitment just before the end of 2024. We all have the power of our voice, our wallet and our time to support climate initiatives. We are all in a weird position these days. There's a billionaire stripping government services from people who need them, just so he can get a huge tax cut. No matter where you stand on that situation, I don't think there's a single person in America who think that billionaires and corporations need a tax cut. Let me know if I'm wrong. Sadly, we may not have the power to stop corporate entitlements. But we do have the power of our wallets. We can support businesses and organizations who are doing good things to protect the environment and protect individuals like you and me. Take a moment and think about where your money is going. If you're gonna play the stock market, will you consider divesting your fossil fuel investments? 9:02 - Marc Gunn "Blue Sun" from As Long As I'm Flyin'
11:29 - VOTE: Favorite songs on As Long As I'm Flyin'? 12:20 - UPCOMING SHOWS
12:51 - LATEST NEWS See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey Merch of the Month: Limited Edition Album Pins for Come Adventure With Me. 14:23 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS Your support on Patreon isn't just a game-changer—it's the reason I get to make music, podcasts, and all kinds of Celtic mischief! For just $5 a month, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusive, unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes blogs, and a massive vault of video concerts. It's like a backstage pass to all things me! Not ready to pledge just yet? No worries—your first mission is to take care of yourself. You can still join the club for free and get weekly snapshots of my Celtic invasions, plus updates from my wild musical adventures. Either way, I'd love to have you along for the journey! 🍀🎻 Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 15:36 - Marc Gunn & Jesse Ferguson "Molly Malone" from Come Adventure With Me
Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 18:13 - 17 CELTIC BANDS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS ST PATRICK'S DAY
23:50 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 24:31 - Blackwillow Starling "Matty Groves" from Blackwillow Starling 28:55 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs
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| 17 Things To See & Do in Wicklow, Ireland #295 | 18 Feb 2025 | 00:32:28 | |
Today, you'll learn about 17 things you can see and do in Wicklow, Ireland. Plus you'll hear music from Eimear Arkins, The Ciderhouse Rebellion and Kyle Carey. This is Folk Songs & Stories #295 0:14 - Eimear Arkins "Téir Abhaile Riú (Song)" from Here & There 3:47 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, an hour-long radio show of some of the best indie Celtic music online. That was… If you're new to this show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. Looks like you get a bonus episode this month. I'm gonna share with you some cool things I found for County Wicklow in Ireland. We're driving through Wicklow for my Celtic Invasion of Wexford. I heard so many good things about Wicklow that I plan to stop there. Now time for your Sustainability tip for the day. Get on the Meatless Monday bandwagon A few years back, my wife decided we would add a meatless day to our meal schedule for the week. It took me a while to get used to it. But I gotta say I feel so much better because of it. Now I've come to realize I really don't need meat in my diet. Not that I don't eat it. But I don't feel the need to spend the money to do so. We went to the grocery store last week and the price of a steak was insane, like double what it used to be. Giving up meat can be difficult, but it's one of the most impactful things that anyone can do to lower their personal carbon footprint and send a bigger message about sustainability in our agricultural system. Now I eat mostly veggies. Garbanzos are a new favorite. We have a super simple recipe that makes yummy garbanzos to go on rice and veggies. I also make my hummus. I even found this great recipe for lentil pancakes. They're sooo good. There are so many great vegetarian and vegan recipes I found on YouTube. I'm eating them up. And yet, we still eat chicken and salmon and steak and carnitas depending on our mood. But it feels good to not feel stuffed full of meat. Oh. Some good news. Last time, I mentioned getting involved with your local government. Good Newsletter reported. A bipartisan coalition of 24 U.S. governors pledged to continue the country's work toward achieving Paris Agreement goals.Representing nearly 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the nation's population, Alliance members pledged to reduce collective greenhouse gas emissions by 26% below 2005 levels by 2025, a target it is on track to achieve The Goodnewsletter is created by Good Good Good. 8:52 - Marc Gunn "Naked" from Come Adventure With Me
Vote: Favorite songs on Come Adventure With Me? 11:59 - UPCOMING SHOWS
13:24 - LATEST NEWS See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey I have pictures from Stirling Castle, Dewar Aberfledy, and even Falkirk, and Blair Athol Distillery Merch of the Month: Limited Edition Album Pins for Come Adventure With Me. Come Adventure With Me is my latest solo album. It features some of my best songwriting yet, if I do say so myself. Like for instance that song "Naked" I wrote, a song about emotional vulnerability. I have a new Album Pin coming out shortly. Well, two actually. They are in my store. Whoever buys one will get both versions. But there are only a handful of both. They use the dragon design that came out with the original release. But they are both made entirely of wood instead of enamel. You buy one, you get both. But only a handful of both will be available. I'm testing them out. And I'd LOVE your feedback. Which do you prefer? Find a link to order them in the shownotes. 15:26 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS 🎶 Calling all Gunn Runners! 🎶 Your support on Patreon isn't just a game-changer—it's the reason I get to make music, podcasts, and all kinds of Celtic mischief! For just $5 a month, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusive, unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes blogs, and a massive vault of video concerts. It's like a backstage pass to all things me! Not ready to pledge just yet? No worries—your first mission is to take care of yourself. You can still join the club for free and get weekly snapshots of my Celtic invasions, plus updates from my wild musical adventures. Either way, I'd love to have you along for the journey! 🍀🎻 Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 16:32 - The Ciderhouse Rebellion with Molly Donnery "The Cabin with the Roses 'Round The Door" from A Little Bit Slanted Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 23:48 - 17 Things to See and Do in Wicklow, Ireland
27:29 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 28:53 - Kyle Carey "The Sere Wind" from The Last Bough
31:57 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs | |||
| 17 Things to See and Do in Wexford, Ireland | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:36:14 | |
Today, you'll learn about 17 things to see and do in Wexford, Ireland. Just in time for my Celtic Invasion of Wexford that happens in June. I share one of the best ways to make effective climate change happen along with an easy personal change. And you'll hear music from Kinnfolk, Tarren, and Erin Ruth. This is Folk Songs & Stories #294 0:22 - Tarren "Sunk" from Outside Time 4:54 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, an hour-long radio show of some of the best indie Celtic music online. That was… If you're new to this show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. I had hip replacement surgery on the 13th of January. It's incredible that two weeks later I'm up and walking around. Yeah. I got a gruesome scar, but the medical professions are just amazing. The big challenge, of course, is that I haven't had time to work on podcasts or music or much of anything else. I'm largely exercising and taking care of my family. All while trying to ignore the pain. Sleeping is one of the worst parts of it all. But I'm hoping to get some new medicine that might make me at least a little bit more comfortable. So that said, I realized the Brobdingnagian Bards' Kickstarter is now delayed a couple months. Andrew and I planned to get together in person to record in February. I don't think it's gonna happen. Tho there's still a small possibility. In the meantime, we are planning to get together in April to record when I head to Texas for Sherwood Forest Faire. But that also didn't stop me from launching Another Kickstarter. This one is for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. It funds a CD and Album Pin and other merch to promote the podcast with a really cool design that reads "Celtic Forever". I'll tell you more about that in a little bit. But if you want to support the Kickstarter, I would greatly appreciate it. Follow the link in the shownotes. But before we goton with the show, I have a really important way for you to fight climate change. It all begins with your local government. The current administration is dismantling all the good climate progress we had these past few years. But that just reminds me that since the beginning of our country, there's been a big discussion about States Rights vs Federal Rights. States Rights was a big issue when our nation started. I'm learning more about that as I help my daughter with American History. While I think some issues like Climate Change progress should be national, that's not the way America will work for the next four years. We need to take it local. I heard about a recent analysis, state and local programs, such as improved building efficiency standards and ambitious renewable energy adoption targets. They have the potential to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by up to 62%. You can join a local group. Or you can talk to your city legislators or county or state legislators. If enough of us reach out locally, we can make change happen in our physical communities. Which will blossom up to our State and hopefully eventually our National. Start small. Start local. That idea was inspired while reading One5C, a website that shares climate news and actions. Bring your water bottle (or reusable mug) everywhere One of the biggest challenges in terms of both climate change and overconsumption is the world's dependence on single-use plastic. It's a dilemma in terms of fossil fuel use, pollution, ecosystem destruction, human health, and more. According to the U.N., 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every single minute across the world, and half of all plastic produced is used just once and then thrown away. The easiest thing we can do right this moment is make sure to grab your water bottle or coffee cup whenever you leave the house. You never know when thirst will strike, and bringing your own container no matter the destination takes away the need to buy something you'll just toss when it's empty—a win for both your wallet and the planet. 11:21 - Marc Gunn "Kilty Pleasure" from Selcouth Listen to the full story of "Kilty Pleasure" on show #251. Vote: Favorite songs on Selcouth? 15:25 - UPCOMING SHOWS
15:53 - LATEST NEWS See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey A few more weeks and I'll have shared all of my photos from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whisky. You can see those on Patreon. Merch: Celtic Forever: Best Celtic Music of 2024 Celtic Forever is a compilation CD (you have…) and Album Pin (you have…) featuring 14 of the best songs and tunes as voted on by fans of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. There's music from The Gothard Sisters, Poitín, Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, Cherish The Ladies, Marc Gunn, Sorcha, Mànran, Arise & Go, The Byrne Brothers, Screaming Orphans, Ian Fontova, Fialla, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Dancing With Hobbits. You can hear the complete list of songs and tunes on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcasts Celtic Top 20 of 2024 #691. And if you check out show #695 Celtic Forever, you'll hear other tracks from these amazing Celtic artists. So why Celtic Forever. It goes back to the last song I featured earlier, "Kilty Pleasure". Then I'm off to the pub or the fair or the fest A wee swing goes into each step 'Cause I'm American born and Celtic forever And both are truly blessed I was trying to use that phrase to promote Selcouth with an album pin for the past couple of years. But the ideas just weren't working. Then Christopher Toler made the Cat in front of a Celtic Moon design that inspired the compilation artwork. I love the Album Pin design. So when you support the Album Pin on Kickstarter, you will get both the 14 track compilation, plus you'll get my album, Selcouth, as a bonus gift. 19:54 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS Your generous support on Patreon is how I make a living with music. It is patronage that allows me to create new music and podcasts that help others out. Sign up as an official Gunn Runner for as little as $5 per month. You'll get exclusive, unreleased songs. You'll get podcasts, blogs, and you'll enjoy access to a huge archive of video concerts. If you can't support me financially right now, that's okay, take care of yourself first. You can join the club for free and get weekly photos of my Celtic invasions and regular updates of my musical adventures. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 21:27 - Kinnfolk "The Water's Rising / Gwendal" from Star Above The Mountain Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 27:10 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 28:33 - 17 Things to See and Do in Wexford, Ireland
33:12 - Erin Ruth "Oro My Little Boat" from single 25:42 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs
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| Top Celtic Folk Bands of 2025 to Watch #293 | 14 Jan 2025 | 00:31:46 | |
Today, I'm talking about… 9 Celtic Folk bands you want to watch in 2025. We also talk about simple actions we can take to combat climate change and improve our local community. This is Folk Songs & Stories #293 0:17 - WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send an email to follow@celtfather. Happy New Year! Climate change is a real issue, and it concerns me. I have two amazing daughters. I want them to have long healthy lives. I want them to continue to experience the great outdoors, going for hikes, and being a part of the beauty our world has to offer. That's one of the reasons I created the Album Pin. It's a beautiful product that connects you to the music. It may even make you think about how we consume. I also want to help other musicians create sustainable music careers. I believe Album Pin is the way to do just that. This year on Folk Songs & Stories, as well as my other podcasts, I have three goals. First, I will introduce you to some great Celtic and Folk musicians that I encounter as part of my travels or from through my Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. We'll dig a little deeper into their music. Second, I hope to share simple, practical tips on how to live life more sustainably. And finally, I will promote my music, because that's ultimately what this podcast has always been about. I am currently planning monthly releases of this podcast. However, when I get the urge, I might release more. And this summer, I have a 10-part series promoting my Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CD which was officially released 20 years ago. 20 years ago. This is also my 20th year as a podcaster and full-time musician. We're gonna start the year off by counting down 9 bands that you should keep an eye on in 2025 along with some of my favorite songs from the year. But I also hope that you will consider one change to support climate change efforts. Here are three that you can choose from. Just pick one.
Together we can make a difference 5:00 - Marc Gunn "Come Adventure With Me" from Come Adventure With Me Vote: Favorite songs on Come Adventure With Me? 9:28 - UPCOMING SHOWS
10:12 - LATEST NEWS See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey Merch: Did you listen to the Celtic Top 20 of the 2024 episode of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast? The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast launches a Kickstarter in a couple weeks for a new CD and Album Pin where you can own and archive some of the best Celtic music of last year. There will be only 100 CDs printed. No more than that. This is a great way to celebrate your love of Celtic culture through music. THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON Your generous support on Patreon is how I make a living with music. It is patronage that allows me to create new music and podcasts that help others out. Sign up as an official Gunn Runner for as little as $5 per month. You'll get exclusive, unreleased songs. You'll get podcasts, blogs, and you'll enjoy access to a huge archive of video concerts. If you can't support me financially right now, that's okay, take care of yourself first. You can join the club for free and get weekly photos of my Celtic invasions and regular updates of my musical adventures. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 10:52 - The Langer's Ball "Irish Rover" from The Singles Collection 2023-2024 Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 15:53 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Wexford, Ireland. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 16:31 - 9 CELTIC FOLK BANDS TO WATCH IN 2025 20:08 - The Haar "Wild Rover" from Where Old Ghosts Meet 24:38 - 9 CELTIC FOLK BANDS TO WATCH IN 2025 (continued) 28:07 - Kinnfolk "Roanoke Puirt à Beul" from Star Above The Mountain 31:13 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Folk Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. It was produced by Marc Gunn and my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Follow my Patreon blog for free updates and to listen to the podcast. Sign up to my mailing list for monthly updates and to discover where I'm performing. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. And Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change and your community. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #folksongs #celticsongs #topcelticfolkbands
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| Live Pub Songs from Dragon Con 2024 #292 | 23 Dec 2024 | 01:12:57 | |
Here's a holiday gift. It's a live concert from Dragon Con 2024. This is Pub Songs & Stories #292 0:09 - Marc Gunn & Mikey Mason "Hero of Christmas" from Browncoat Christmas 2:26 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and Folk musician and host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Today, I'm sharing a live concert from Dragon Con 2024. Each episode has a timestamp and chapter marks. You can click those to straight where you want in each episode. Just head over to the show notes. 3:10 - LATEST NEWS
5:33 - TODAY'S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don't see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2025, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. This lesser known Celtic Nation is located in the Northwest corner of the country. It's secluded in the mountains. So Julius Caesar never invaded this country. It survived with its own unique linguistic dialect and its own unique style of bagpipes. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 7:46 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:50 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON The ads on this podcast pay for the hosting and podcast editing. My time producing the show is paid for by my… A big thanks to all of my patrons who've been supporting me for months and years. When you join the community, you get access to exclusive videos and podcasts. You get some free early-release songs, blogs, and lots more. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially right now, just sign up on Patreon for free. You'll also get weekly updates. Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather 9:36 - LIVE AT DRAGON CON 1:07:59 - CLOSING 1:08:51 - Marc Gunn "Christmas in the Shire" from Celtic Christmas Greetings 1:12:34 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and talk with others about how you can make a positive impact on climate change. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com!
#pubstories
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| Can Album Pins Save the Music Business? #291 | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:33:56 | |
Can album pins save the music business? I'll tell you what they're all about, why all musicians should be selling them, and how to get started with them. This is Pub Songs & Stories #291 0:13 - Marc Gunn "Blink" from Come Adventure With Me
3:45 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. Today, I'm talking about Album Pins. Album Pins have revolutionized my music business. I'll talk about them in a little bit. But first I have other news to share. Each episode has a timestamp and chapter marks. You can click those to straight where you want in each episode. Just head over to the show notes. NEWS Podcast: 17 Things to Do on the Isle of Man #290 Poll: Did you vote for your favorite song on Dancing With Hobbits? See pictures from my Celtic Invasion of Scotland's Whiskey Merch: Get the Sci Fi Drinking Songs Collection on Patreon. You'll get 6 albums for $50, including: As Long As I'm Flyin, Sci Fi Drinking Songs, What Color Is Your Dragon, Pirates vs Dragons, Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits, Firefly Drinking Songs Kickstarter for Brobdingnagian Bards album Another Faire To Remember 7:58 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:46 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: Donald Leatherman, Hugh Hainey, Paul and Tara S., Arthur Otzenberger, Beth Lynn Nolen, Nightmare Rabbit, Jeriel Ng, Matt Whitney, PR 3672 9:47 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure, usually to one of the Celtic nations, but not always. 11:31 - Brother Sea "All As One" from Brother Sea EP 15:18 - WHAT ARE ALBUM PINS AND CAN THEY REALLY SAVE THE MUSIC BUSINESS?
30:11 - Marc Gunn "Serenity Valley Waltz" from Selcouth
33:22 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and help others to make a positive impact on our environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| 17 Things to Do on the Isle of Man #290 | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:33:18 | |
So you want to go to the Isle of Man? Can you spend a full week there and find enough to do? I'll share with you 17 things you will enjoy on the Isle of Man. Plus, you'll get some music from Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair. This is Pub Songs & Stories #290 0:14 - Marc Gunn "By Amazing Grace" from Come Adventure With Me 4:22 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic folk musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. This podcast is primarily for fans of my music in particular and Celtic music, in general. That's because I highlight some of the artists I feature on my other podcast the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. But today, we're doing a little bit of traveling to the Isle of Man. I traveled to the Isle of Man this summer as part of my Celtic Invasion Vacations. I learned a LOT about the island, its Celtic and Norse history, and I came up with a list of 17 things you can do on your own trip to this delightful Celtic nation. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com , over on my Patreon, or just send me an email to follow@celtfather. If you know someone interested in visiting the Isle of Man, please share this episode. 5:15 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:12 - SOME STUFF TO KNOW
13:08 - Ruth Keggin & Rachel Hair "Arraneyn Cadlee" from LOSSAN 17:49 - THINGS TO DO ON THE ISLE OF MAN A long recap of Celtic Invasion of Isle of Man coming to Travel Ireland & Scotland podcast. See the Itinerary for CIV Isle of Man
Food
30:05 - FEEDBACK Mary Deal emailed photos from Central Coast Ren Faire and wrote: "San Luis Obispo, CA Been here all day. Loving every minute. Wish you and some of your folks were playing. We need more good music." 30:19 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: 30:50 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure, usually to one of the Celtic nations, but not always. 31:31 - Dancing With Hobbits "Big Feet, Big Heart" from Dancing With Hobbits 32:58 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #isleofman #thingstodo
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| Happy Birthday from Ireland, Laughter Yoga #289 | 09 Jul 2024 | 01:35:34 | |
Is there an Irish birthday song? There is now. It's by Marc Gunn with the song "Happy Birthday From Ireland". Cedric of the Bedlam Bards hypnotizes with wit and charm. Then he shares how laughter is the best medicine, especially with something called Laughter Yoga. This is Pub Songs & Stories #289 0:21 - Marc Gunn with Rimbo "My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose" from Soul of Harper and The Secret World of Celtic Rock 2:56 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather
5:17 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. But at the end of September, we're invading Scotland's Whisky distilleries in between hiking throughout the country. It's gonna be epic. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ 5:52 - MY FAVORITES OF CELTIC TOP 20 Every week, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast asks fans of the show to vote for your favorite songs in the podcast. Those votes are compiled at the end of the year to create the Celtic Top 20, your pick of the best music of the year. I don't just make the podcast, I'm a fan of it too. So here is another favorite from recent episodes. 6:54 - Melanie Gruben "Water Charges Song" from Like a Tide Upon the Land 11:52 - THE STORY OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM IRELAND
19:48 - Marc Gunn "Happy Birthday From Ireland" from Soul of Harper Happy Birthday from Ireland lyrics and music by Marc Gunn On St. Patrick's Day, I was born. * O Ireland, how I long for your valleys and mountains! My Da played the tunes on squeezebox and fiddle. Now two years have passed and Ireland sings with me. 22:46 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get it all ad-free when you listen and on Patreon. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our Superhero Patrons: Janice G, Cecilia F, Not Higgins, C.J.T. M, Sarah C, William M, Carol Bl, Eric R, James R, Troy R 23:58 - HYPNOTIZED WITH FUNNY MUSIC Cedric is the fiddler and one of the singers of Bedlam Bards, a comedic Celtic group from Austin, Texas that was one of my biggest influences when learning how to put on a show. This weekend, I sat down with Cedric to get an in depth interview about how he escaped Lubbock to join the SCA, form a Celtic band, and hypnotize his audiences with charm and wit. 54:44 - Bedlam Bards "Crayfish" from Take Out the Trash 57:53 - LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE James Hazelrig is not only a funny fiddler, he's also a certified hypnotist in Austin, Texas with a lot of funny advice on laughing. I chatted with him at the Sherwood Forest Faire where I start the show with him using some of his hypnosis training and marketing prowess to promote his shows. Then we go into a wonderful discussion of his life as a hypnotist and Laughing Yoga. This is a funny and informative episode you will enjoy. Find more about James Hazelrig, aka Cedric the Fiddler, at hypnosisaustin.com. 1:30:49 - Bedlam Bards "Johnny Jump Up" from Furious Fancies 1:34:04 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Refuse, Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #famousefemalemusicians #middleearth | |||
| Princess Bride's Big Adventure #288 | 02 Jul 2024 | 01:14:05 | |
True love lost at sea. I share the story behind "Buttercup's Lament" inspired by Princess Bride. You'll learn why you should watch out for wild boar in Italy, see what happens when a juggler's props don't arrive, and learn about the most-beautiful place in Europe. Hear a story about biking across Italy. I interviewed jugglers Paolo Garbanzo and Carl Asch about their Ren Adventures. Plus, enjoy music from Scottish folk singer Ed Miller and Irish songwriter Enda Reilly. This is Pub Songs & Stories #288 0:32 - Marc Gunn "Lanigan's Ball" from Soul of Harper 3:43 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
5:33 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. At the end of September, we're invading Scotland's Whisky distilleries in between hiking throughout the country. It's gonna be epic. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ 6:05 - MY FAVORITES OF CELTIC TOP 20 Every week, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast asks fans of the show to vote for your favorite songs in the podcast. Those votes are compiled at the end of the year to create the Celtic Top 20, your pick of the best music of the year. I don't just make the podcast. I'm a fan of it too. So here is another favorite from recent episodes. 6:36 - Ed Miller "More Than Just a Dram" from Lolander 10:56 - THE STORY OF BUTTERCUP'S LAMENT
15:24 - Marc Gunn "Buttercup's Lament" from Soul of Harper Buttercup's Lament lyrics and music by Marc Gunn There's a leaf on a tree and it's swaying Oh wind, cruel wind, bring and end, an end There's a puddle on the ground and it's growing There's a woman on the run saying, 'Where have ye gone? 19:09 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get it all ad-free when you listen and on Patreon. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our Superhero Patrons: Janice G, Cecilia F, Not Higgins, C.J.T. M, Sarah C, William M, Carol B, Eric R, James R, Troy R 19:54 - RENAISSANCE ADVENTURES IN JUGGLING You'll learn why you should watch out for wild boar in Italy, see what happens when a juggler's props don't arrive, and learn about the most-beautiful place in Europe. I interviewed juggler Paolo Garbanzo. Links for Today's Show: 43:22 - Enda Reilly "Off the Grid For a While" from Single 46:59 - BIKING ACROSS ITALY WITH CARL ASCH Travel is a grand adventure to me. So I love talking with other adventurers. One such person is Carl Asch. He's a musician and juggler named Giacomo the Juggler. He sings with the band Empty Hats. He is also the co-founder with Paolo Garbanzo of Ren Adventurers, a tour company that takes you on small European trips much like my Celtic Invasion Vacations. But today, I wanted to talk to Carl about a bicycle trip he did across Italy. In this episode we'll explore:
1:10:32 - Empty Hats "The Hat Came Back" from The Hat Came Back 1:12:48 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Refuse, Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #famousefemalemusicians #middleearth | |||
| Middle Earth Bragging, Greatest Women Composers in History w/ Apryl Knight #287 | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:41:14 | |
Have you ever read Lord of the Rings and noticed that each time the hobbits meet a new race along the road, it's the OLDEST RACE EVER?! I wrote a song about that bragging. There are a lot of famous male composers in history. Apryl Knight will introduce you to some of the incredible female composers that you may not have heard of. This is Pub Songs & Stories #287 0:21 - Marc Gunn "The Lady of Setliff Manor" from Soul of Harper 2:41 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
5:46 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. That is usually how it rolls. But at the end of September, we're invading Scotland's Whisky distilleries in between hiking throughout the country. It's gonna be epic. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ 6:12 - MY FAVORITES OF CELTIC TOP 20 Every week, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast asks fans of the show to vote for your favorite songs in the podcast. Those votes are compiled at the end of the year to create the Celtic Top 20, your pick of the best music of the year. I don't just make the podcast, I'm a fan of it too. So here is another favorite from recent episodes. 6:34 - Emma Langford "Sailor's Wife" from Sowing Acorns 9:32 - THE STORY OF MIDDLE EARTH BRAGGING SONG
Middle Earth Bragging Song lyrics and music by Marc Gunn January 27, 2003 We're the Race of Men Oh, we'll never give up the mountain We're the race of Dwarves Oh, we'll never give up the mountain We're the race of Elves Oh, we'll never give up the mountain We're the race of Ents But we'll never give up the mountain I am Tom Bombadill Oh I'll never give up the mountain 17:46 - Marc Gunn "Middle Earth Bragging Song" from Soul of Harper 20:19 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get it all ad-free when you listen and on Patreon. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our Superhero Patrons: Janice G, Cecilia Fairley, Not Higgins, C.J.T. Maxwell, Sarah Crockett, William McKissack, Carol Baril, Eric Ray, James Regan, Troy Rodgers 21:27 - GREATEST WOMEN COMPOSERS IN HISTORY I find it intriguing that I know the names of lots famous male composers through the centuries: Turlough O'Carolan, Mozart, Bach. But I can't name even one woman. So I got really excited to talk with Apryl Knight at Sherwood Forest Faire a few weeks back. She had me captivated by her knowledge of women in music through centuries. Apryl Knight has been playing music since she was 3 years old. She plays the bowed psaltery and the hurdy gurdy at Renaissance festivals, SCA events around the country. She does it solo as well as with her band Tulstin Troubadours. She started telling me about women in music in history. I decided to sit down and find out more through an interview. She shared some of her favorite medieval women in music, plus thoughts on traveling as a solo female on the road. And her favorite app while traveling as a vegan too.
37:55 - Apryl Knight "Sellenger's Round from Dance the Knight Away 39:31 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Refuse, Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #famousefemalemusicians #middleearth | |||
| The Leprechaun, Building Sherwood Forest Faire Castle #286 | 18 Jun 2024 | 01:02:32 | |
The modern image of the leprechaun is very different from the leprechaun of Irish legends. But times change and not everyone adapts as easily. That doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate both the new and the old as we explore the origins of my song "The Leprechaun." Ever dream of building your own castle and starting your own Renaissance festival? Dreams can come true. They did for George Appling of Sherwood Forest Faire. This is Pub Songs & Stories #286 0:24 - Marc Gunn "Parting Glass" from Soul of Harper 3:45 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
6:01 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. That is usually how it rolls. But at the end of September, we're invading Scotland's Whisky distilleries in between hiking throughout the country. It's gonna be epic. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/ 6:29 - MY FAVORITES OF CELTIC TOP 20 Every week, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast asks fans of the show to vote for your favorite songs in the podcast. Those votes are compiled at the end of the year to create the Celtic Top 20, your pick of the best music of the year. I don't just make the podcast, I'm a fan of it too. So here is another favorite from recent episodes. 7:04 - The Dustbunnies "Gillingham Ramshire" from What Goes Around 11:37 - THE STORY OF THE LEPRECHAUN
The Leprechaun lyrics and music by Marc Gunn There's a Leprechaun in me head, and I wish that I were dead * Well, he says to me, "Ah, you're no Irish Laddie! * La ta tee, da diddley dee, la ta tee ta tee da There's a leprechaun in my room. He swats me with a broom. There's a leprechaun on the floor, and he says that I'm a bore. There's a leprechaun on a hill, and his gold is buried there. 21:29 - Marc Gunn "The Leprechaun" from Soul of Harper 25:31 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get it all ad-free when you listen and on Patreon. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: James Liang, Carol Donahue 26:13 - CASTLE BUILDING AT SHERWOOD FOREST FAIRE Ever since I started performing at Renaissance festivals in 1999, I've dreamed about starting my own faire. I think most Rennies have. How exciting that would be! George Appling, or King George as he's known at the Sherwood Forest Faire, not only dreamed of it, he made his dream a reality. How did it happen? Where did this inspiration come from? Where has he seen his greatest successes and challenges over the years? 56:33 - Patsy O'Brien "Jack 'Brien" from Onward 1:01:32 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Refuse, Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| The Bridge & Best Travel Tips With Vince Conaway #285 | 11 Jun 2024 | 00:54:45 | |
Vince Conaway shares his top 3 places to see in Italy along with some travel tips, and stories of busking in Italy. Music from Vince Conaway, Brobdingnagian Bards, and Ironwood. And if you're going to apologize, make it a good one. That's what I did when I wrote the song "The Bridge" as an apology. It's all part of a new series where I talk about my album Soul of a Harper. This is Pub Songs & Stories #285 0:30 - Marc Gunn "Killiecrankie" from Soul of Harper
3:47 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure, usually to one of the Celtic nations, but not always. 7:04 - Ironwood "She Likes the Guinness" from Gretna Green 10:55 - STORY OF SOUL OF A HARPER
20:24 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Soul of a Harper" from Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales 23:52 - THE STORY OF THE BRIDGE
29:35 - Marc Gunn "The Bridge" from Soul of Harper The Bridge Lyrics by Marc Gunn Was it something I said that made you angry with me. I would build me a bridge a hundred meters long I would build a boat, and paddle agaist all sorrow. I would beg your forgiveness for the pain I've fed Well I never knew that your tears ran so deep. 33:21 - SUPPORT THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. You get it all ad-free when you listen and on Patreon. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: 34:21 - INTRO – BEST TRAVEL TIPS 36:22 - BEST TRAVEL TIPS Best Travel Tips with Vince Conaway #212 If you love adventure, then you will find your heart pumping with an interview I did with Vince Conaway. He plays hammered dulcimer, is an incredible busker, and every year, he goes to exotic locations in abroad to play music in the streets and to become a part of the culture of the region. Having had years of Celtic Invasion Vacations where we sort of do the same, his story is dear to my heart. From Florence to Machu Pichu, Austria to Croatia, plus the Renaissance festivals he does the rest of the year, Vince has been all over. He even can explain what the dulcimer is in those various languages, which is just too cool. Vince will share his favorite memories and best travel tips. You can find him and his travel blog and photos at vinceconaway.com and he's also on Patreon. 50:51 - CLOSING – BEST TRAVEL TIPS 51:24 - Vince Conaway "Goblin Parade" from Musica Instrumentalis 54:16 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Refuse, Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Sci Fi Drinking Songs at Gen Con 2023 #284 | 30 Apr 2024 | 01:35:56 | |
We're taking a journey today as I share the story of how I found myself playing Sci Fi Drinking Songs at science fiction conventions around the nation. This is Pub Songs & Stories #284 0:15 - Marc Gunn and Jesse Ferguson "Molly Malone" from Come Adventure With Me 2:52 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F' Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. This show is for fans of Celtic music and science fiction and fantasy. I create Celtic-inspired music. In fact, I also host the multi-award-winning Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I've done that for nearly 19 years now. But I also love science fiction and fantasy. I started playing at Dragon Con, the largest fan run sci fi convention in 2002 and in 2007, I started playing at Gen Con, the largest gaming convention. Both have been super instrumental to my music and career over the years. And today, I'm gonna share a live concert from Gen Con 2023 of Sci Fi Drinking Songs, where I not only share some of my more popular songs there, but I also share how I got here in the first place. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. I'm currently working on a new podcast series where I highlight my very first solo album, Soul of a Harper, which is 20 years old this year. I hope to release that series this summer. But I thought I'd give you a live show as you await the next series.
5:34 - UPCOMING SHOWS
7:26 - The Gothard Sisters "Nightfall" from Dragonfly 11:38 - CELEBRATE THE THINGS YOU LOVE The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. That includes bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our new and returning patrons: Laura Belle, Michelle Powers, James Regan, Tim G. Thomas, Danny Faught 12:26 - SCI FI DRINKING SONGS SHOW FROM GEN CON 2023 If you are an official member of the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon, then you can also download all of the individual songs in this show. You can also just buy the songs on Patreon as well. 13:17 - "Intro" 13:56 - "Jedi Drinking Songs" 19:01 - "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits" 24:23 - "Reavers, Malcolm, Reavers" 30:35 - "Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster" 35:28 - "The Leprechaun" 38:56 - "Come Adventure With Me" 43:46 - "Doctor of Gallifrey" 47:26 - "Close Your Eyes" 51:24 - "A Drop of Vulcan Blood" 56:48 - "Breathing" 1:03:31 - "The Mining Ship the Red Dwarf" 1:09:11 - "Naked" 1:12:27 - "Kilted For Her Pleasure" 1:15:16 - "Don't Blink" 1:19:45 - "Ring of Hope" 1:23:56 - "Mingulay Boat Song" 1:30:29 - "You Are My Thor" 1:35:10 - CLOSING 1:35:29 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #gothardsisters #gencon
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| Redemption #283 | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:33:54 | |
Pain is hard to deal with. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. You can get through it with maybe a little help from Doctor Who. We talk about my song Redemption. You can learn all about it today on Pub Songs & Stories #283 0:16 - Marc Gunn "By Amazing Grace" from Come Adventure With Me
4:23 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
9:32 - UPCOMING SHOWS
Make sure you check the calendar on the Marc Gunn homepage to see the latest list of performances. 10:35 - Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer "Folk Club Song" from Twelve Months & A Day 15:44 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: Laura Belle, Michelle Powers, James Regan 17:20 - THE STORY OF REDEMPTION
This is a story about finding redemption. In the 50th anniversary Doctor Who episode "The Day of the Doctor", the 10th (Matt Smith) and 11th Doctor (David Tennant) meet The War Doctor. They are horrified and filled with dread to once again see themselves as the man who committed horrible atrocities wiping out the Time Lords and the Daleks with a doomsday weapon. But after centuries dealing with that pain. They finally come to grips with it. They accept the decision they made even though it caused the death of billions of people. But even better, they remember Who they are. The Doctor. Never cruel or cowardly. Never give up or give in. Doctors give hope. They are finally able to save the people they thought they lost. Redemption LyricsI was so young. I made a mistake To speak the words out loud made me * Because I burn. I burn. Are great men truly forged in fire? Deep down inside there's a scared little child But still I burn. I burn. And still my monsters come from my past Promise to keep, tho I may weep No longer burn. No longer burn. 26:11 - Marc Gunn "Redemption" from Come Adventure With Me 29:47 - CLOSING 33:25 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Myra's Lament for Lamlash Bay #282 | 12 Mar 2024 | 00:27:50 | |
Everything changes. But what do you do when your career, your life, your joy, comes to an end because everything must change. We're talking about the life of a scallop diver in Lamlash Bay. You can learn all about it today on Pub Songs & Stories #282 0:17 - Marc Gunn "Favor of a Dance" from Come Adventure With Me
3:14 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
8:28 - UPCOMING SHOWS
Make sure you check the calendar on the Marc Gunn homepage to see the latest list of performances. 9:29 - The Byrne Brothers "P Stands for Paddy" from The Boys of Doorin JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons: Laura Belle, Michelle Powers, James Regan 12:43 - THE STORY OF MYRA'S LAMENT FOR LAMLASH BAY
ban them. But they done us in as well… a Federal hammer to crack a wee nut!!!! So, the song is called "Myra's lament for Lamlash Bay"…Lamlash is at the Isle of Arran.
Myra's Lament for Lamlash Bay lyrics Liam Griffin, music Marc Gunn There are scallops in the sea, put there for you and me * There's a wild and rolling sea bringing me back home to ye. There are rocks upon the shore, But today the sea is calm and the boat is full of clams** But now a new day's dawned and time is moving on 23:37 - Marc Gunn "Myra's Lament for Lamlash Bay" from Come Adventure With Me 27:22 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #lamlashbay #obanscotland
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| Come Adventure With Me #281 | 05 Mar 2024 | 00:31:21 | |
Do you ever get nervous or anxious? Sometimes the toughest thing to do, to overcome your fear, is to just take those first steps forward. Come Adventure With Me is the title track to my brand new album inspired by the 1977 Rankin & Bass film, The Hobbit. You can learn all about it today on Pub Songs & Stories #281 0:20 - Marc Gunn "Selkie's Life" from Come Adventure With Me
3:57 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. And I compost non-meat scraps. Come Adventure With Me comes out on March 4 If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
7:21 - UPCOMING SHOWS
Make sure you check the calendar on the Marc Gunn homepage to see the latest list of performances. 8:47 - Mànran "Crow Flies" from Ùrar 12:04 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Thanks to my Kickstarter supporters: An extra HUGE thanks to Rich & Leslie Maynard, Carol Baril, Emily "dragondoodle" Gaskill, Larry & Sarah-Beth Cook, Les Howard, Sunshine & Navigator Burke, Janine Rinker, Zan Rosin, Vicki Solomon, Thomas Browne, Kris Dobie, CrimsonDraggen, Jason Denen, Kathy Smith, Dell Christy, DW, Tammy Glover, Angela Hughes, Ben Doran, Thul Family, Crab Donkey, Glen Bartram, Rumbly Porter, Carol "Crazy Cat Lady" Donahue, Mike and Sam Cavanaugh, Jan & Jim Czenkusch, Tony & Enzo Lamanna, Jennifer Crispin, Mark Peters, Wendy Erisman, Rie Sheridan Rose, Tracy O'Shea, Kathleen Sloan, Lawrence Lang, James O'Dell, LeighAnn Mott, Kelley Durski. Thank you! 14:04 - THE STORY OF COME ADVENTURE WITH ME
Come Adventure With Me Lyrics and music Marc Gunn There's a secret door to a hall unknown * This world's a treasure that is full of strife There are ugly goblins doing scary things So many wars. It's an endless fight 25:25 - Marc Gunn "Come Adventure With Me" from Come Adventure With Me 29:54 - CLOSING Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #adventurepodcast #thehobbit
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| Reaver Drinking Song #280 | 27 Feb 2024 | 00:22:59 | |
"If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing – and if we're very, very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Zoe's description of reavers on the TV show Firefly sounds pretty insane. And every time we meet the reavers in the show and movie, they seem just as insane. And yet… they can fly spaceships. I share the story behind my song "Reavers Drinking Songs" today on Pub Songs & Stories #280. 0:25 - Marc Gunn "Molly Malone feat. Jesse Ferguson" from Come Adventure With Me 3:00 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. Come Adventure With Me comes out on March 4 If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
5:09 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:06 - The Elders "Down at the Pub" from Well Alright Then 10:12 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. 10:53 - THE STORY OF REAVER DRINKING SONG
"Reaver Drinking Song" lyrics and music Marc Gunn * Bash their heads flay their skin Niska was old and scary, Badger was a businessman Durran's steak was always rare Bester loved ships and women Boss Higgins' word was law Fanty and Mingo are fine twins Jubal was a bounty hunter No mercy, they all were weak 18:23 - Marc Gunn "Reaver Drinking Song" from Come Adventure With Me 20:57 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #thehaar #comeadventure
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| Spiderwebs #279 | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:18:22 | |
Is it all a game that we all fall into? Saffron certainly thinks so in "Our Mrs Reynolds from the TV show Firefly. Hear the story behind my song "Spiderwebs". We're also making waves with music from Matt McGinn. This is Pub Songs & Stories #279 0:17 - Marc Gunn "Bright Side of Everything" from Selcouth 3:28 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. Come Adventure With Me comes out on March 4 If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. What are your favorite songs on Selcouth? There's a poll in the Gunn Runner's Club. It's open to all. 4:41 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:02 - Matt McGinn "Making Waves" from Behind Every Door
8:56 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: Laura Belle If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. 9:28 - THE STORY OF SPIDERWEBS
Bad men are bird dogging our town We're gonna spin a spiderweb I'll wear a soft cotton dress Will shoot them down in the spider web A pretty little girl has lured me in She caught my heart in a spiderweb She's leading me to the end of the line I'll break free from her spiderweb Come here little lady, May I meet you It's all a game of spiderwebs 15:21 - Marc Gunn "Spiderwebs" from Come Adventure With Me 17:27 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Naked #278 | 13 Feb 2024 | 00:26:40 | |
Let's get Naked! Or at least I'll share a story of one of my songs inspired by an episode of Firefly. Plus, The Haar are featured on this week's show. This is Pub Songs & Stories #278 0:13 - Marc Gunn "Bright Side of Everything" from Selcouth 3:25 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. Come Adventure With Me comes out on March 4 If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.
4:14 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:14 - The Haar "Wild Rover" from Where Old Ghosts Meet 10:43 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email follow@celtfather ! Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: If you can't support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. 12:27 - THE STORY OF NAKED
You're a stunning lady * You think it's a game That I undress your heart Bridge: You're breaking down now Don't shut yourself off 21:27 - Marc Gunn "Naked" from Come Adventure With Me 24:35 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Blink #277 | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:28:50 | |
They don't kill you in the normal sense of the word. Rather they feed off the life that might've been. My song, Blink is a parable about missing out on the best things in life. This is Pub Songs & Stories #277 0:14 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Oor Hamlet" from Real Men Wear Kilts 4:02 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. Come Adventure With Me comes out on March 4 If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to pubsong@celtfather. 7:42 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:11 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you'll get access to videos like my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Email pubsong@celtfather If you can't support us financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. 10:29 - THE STORY OF BLINK Lyrics I love old things. They make me feel sad Asked you out for a drink. While the rain fell down. Don't blink. Don't look away. Things don't always happen. Like we dream and plan. 22:06 - Marc Gunn "Blink" from Selcouth 25:40 - CHORD STRUCTURE 28:23 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen. You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Nerdy Noel & Dancing With Hobbits #276 | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:36:03 | |
Imagine a holiday market for nerds and geeks. I talk with one of the creators of Nerdy Noel and share my own Nerdy Wonderland story. Plus, I have a new album on Kickstarter. It's called Dancing With Hobbits. Find out why you should support this CD and Musical Pin. This is Pub Songs & Stories #276 0:20 - "Celtic Christmas Elf" by Marc Gunn from Celtic Christmas Greetings WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIESI am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm at Conjuration this weekend. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to pubsong@celtfather. You can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know you're favorite Sci F' Irish song. 3:13 - WHAT'S NEW
6:33 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:12 - "Hobbit Hornpipe" by Dancing With Hobbits from Dancing With Hobbits 10:36 - CELTIC MUSIC NEWS
11:53 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month. Email pubsong@celtfather ! Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: If you can't support us financially, you can leave a review for free. 12:21 - ABOUT DANCING WITH HOBBITS 19:13 – "Hobbit Polka" by Dancing With Hobbits from Dancing With Hobbits 22:26 - THE STORY OF NERDY NOEL Nerdy Noel is a holiday market for nerds and geeks by Komai's Oh My! 32:53 - Marc Gunn "Yuletide" from Single Listen to the Story of Yuletide on show #246. Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can follow and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I'm performing. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Become a patreon because your generosity allows me to keep bringing you podcasts, videos, exclusive blogs, photos, and songs every month. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Soul of a Harper, Rie Sheridan Rose #275 | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:23:21 | |
Who was the red-headed queen of Ireland? Why did she assault the harpers of old? Author Rie Sheridan Rose tells the story behind her song "Soul of A Harper". New Star Trek inspired musical pin. This is Pub Songs & Stories #275. 00:14 - Brobdingnagian Bards "The Unicorn Song" from Songs of Ireland 3:38 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Sci F'Irish musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. I have a livestreaming concert this Thursday on Bandcamp. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather. You will get an auto responder to download the month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 5:04 - WHAT'S NEW
9:30 - UPCOMING SHOWS
11:12 - Fire In The Glen "Whup Jamboree" from Cutting Bracken 14:48 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month. Email pubsong@celtfather ! Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: Mykael, Mia If you can't support us financially, you can leave a review for free. 15:39 - THE STORY OF SOUL OF A HARPER BY RIE SHERIDAN ROSE 19:18 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Soul of a Harper" from Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales 22:49 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Sign up for new podcasts, videos, and songs every month. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can follow and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. #pubstories #unicornsong #riesheridanrose
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| Fun at Dragon Con 2023 | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:41:28 | |
Did I go drinking with hobbits this year? You bet I did. Hear all my stories escapades from Dragon Con 2023. Learn what new musical pin is in my store and how I'm keeping them organized through upcycling. This is Pub Songs & Stories #274. 0:20 - Marc Gunn "Arthur McBride" from St Patrick's Day 3:02 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk musician and podcaster. I perform at Ironshield Brewing in Lawrenceville, Georgia this Saturday. If you're new to the show, please follow us on your favorite podcatcher. You can do that PubSong.com or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show and the last one. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather. You will get an auto responder to download the month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 3:44 - WHAT'S NEW - UPCYCLING MUSICAL PIN CASES 8:48 - UPCOMING SHOWS
12:29 - Dan the Bard "Drink Drink Drink" from Unicorns & Dragons 14:44 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: DWS, Melissa Randall, A. Lynch, Traci Girard-Turner, Michelle Hahn, Lisa, David Willer, Jo Navarre, Tracy O'Shea, Antoinette Brenion, John Dowling, Kate Smith, Gina Colaianni, Ruth Acoya, Gordy Euler, Iain Benson, Kerry Komai, Dannan Tavona, Tom DiGenno, Mazer If you can't support us financially, you can leave a review for free. 15:49 - DRAGON CON THURSDAY - SATURDAY 24:56 - Marc Gunn "Those Characters Died" from Sci Fi Drinking Songs 29:56 - DRAGON CON 2023 - SATURDAY - MONDAY 37:09 - CLOSING 37:45 - OUTRO Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Sign up for new podcasts, videos, and songs every month. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can follow and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment. #pubstories #danthebard
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| Dragon Con 2023: firefly, musical pins and madness #273 | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:33:14 | |
Dragon Con weekend is back. There's Firefly, hobbits, Brobdingnagian Bards, musical pins and madness. Music from Marc Gunn, Wakefire, Brobdingnagian Bards, Mikey Mason. This is Pub Songs & Stories #273. 0:21 - Marc Gunn "Raise a Glass to Flyin'" from As Long As I'm Flyin' 1:57 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. Where I'll be performing at Dragon Con this coming weekend. If you're new to the show, please follow us on your favorite podcatcher. You can do that PubSong.com or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show and the last one. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather. You will get an auto responder to download the month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 3:44 - UPCOMING SHOWS
7:36 - As featured on the latest Irish & Celtic Music Podcast: Wakefire "Storm Warning" from Meaning of Life
11:03 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: Alice M, Karla A, Triskele, Ayden If you can't support us financially, you can leave a review for free. 11:57 - BARDS AT DRAGON CON 2023 14:59 - Brobdingnagian Bards "I Will Not Sing Along" from I Will Not Sing Along 20:02 - THE STORY - MUSICAL PINS 25:27 - Mikey Mason "Shades of Gray" from Shades of Gray
32:17 - OUTRO OUTRO MUSIC: Marc Gunn & Sam Gillogly "Hobbit Polka" from Dancing With Hobbits Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Sign up for new podcasts, videos, and songs every month. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can follow and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! Remember. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about how you can make a positive impact on your environment.
#pubstories #dragoncon2023 #dragonCon
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| Live Show at Maggie McGuiness Pub #272 | 14 Aug 2023 | 01:23:16 | |
This pub is not a real Irish pub, but it's the most-authentic Irish pub that is not in Ireland. Enjoy music from Kinnfolk and Fire in the Glen. Learn when Coffee with The Celtfather returns and what the future holds for this fall. This is Pub Songs & Stories #272. 0:19 - Kinnfolk "Siúil a Rún" from Kinnfolk 3:34 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk Celtic musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. This episode kicks off the fall season of Pub Songs & Stories. I'm gonna talk about what I have in store for the fall. I'm also gonna share with you a live concert from the Maggie McGuinness Pub. The most-Irish of Irish pubs that are NOT in Ireland. The first band was Kinnfolk. They are a wife and husband duo out of Virginia. They hosted show #609 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Where they talked about Irish sessions they performed at during their recent honeymoon in Ireland. That song is from the CD… If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather . You will get an auto responder to download the month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, well album, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 5:10 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:36 - WHAT'S COMING THIS FALL I tried a lot of new things out in the spring. I tried 2 or 3 different show names. I bounced the format around. I did an interview. I shared tips for visiting County Mayo, Ireland. I linked the podcast more tightly to my newsletter. I even shared a Countdown of Celtic music favorites from 2022. It felt to me like I didn't have a direction. And to a large degree, I didn't. As always, I love having this podcast and opportunity to talk about what's new and promote what's coming up. I love sharing stories about sustainability and how to protect our planet. I love sharing stories from my travels. I enjoyed interviewing people. I also know that I don't have a ton of time for this podcast, especially because I have the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. That's my main show. It's the one I promote. It's tough promoting multiple shows. But this podcast serves a very special audience, you, the Gunn Runners who enjoy my music. So the show will continue in a very similar fashion… without the constant show name changes. Whether Pub Songs & Stories is a misnomer or a reflection of my love and appreciation of public house music… folk music for people, it's gonna continue in a similar fashion. I have a list of about 40 things I'd love to talk about. They include shows about sustainability and climate change, stories from my recent trip to Ireland, making better choices for your community, staying healthy with exercise, looking to the future to make things better, and of course, I'll share the stories behind each of the songs I write or have written. Plus, I still want to highlight my fellow musicians, Celtic or otherwise. Because that's just what I do. So we're gonna do that right now with a funny track from the band Fire in the Glen. Rod hosted show #611 of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and shared a story for Star of the County Down in this podcast. 10:52 - Fire in the Glen "From Amish to Irish" from Cutting Backen 14:23 - JOIN THE GUNN RUNNERS CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You will access scores of podcasts, download dozens of songs and sheet music. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Those shows return on Wednesday August 23 at 11 AM Eastern. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 15:32 - LIVE SHOW FROM MAGGIE MCGUINNESS PUB 16:36 - "Slainte Mhaith" 20:37 - "Kilted" 23:38 - "Mingulay Boat Song" 29:41 - "Reaver's Lullaby" 34:44 - "Bright Side of Everything" 41:41 - "Shiny" 46:39 - "Breathing" 52:13 - "Mingulay Cat Song" 58:57 - "Black Velvet Band" 1:02:39 - "Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits" 1:06:45 - "Wild Mountain Thyme" 1:11:04 - "Come Adventure With Me" 1:16:55 - "Johnny Jump Up" 1:22:03 - NEXT TIME I'm gonna share some stories from my Celtic Invasion of County Mayo. So make sure you subscribe. And also please consider posting a review on Apple Podcasts. I'm still hoping to get those 10 new reviews. I'm still about 8 shy. Seriously, it means a lot to me when you post a review of the show. It also helps others know if they should subscribe as well. And if you can't support me financially, you can always leave a review for free. 1:22:44 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll save 25% off all the merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #irishpubsongs #irishdrinkingsongs
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| The 3 S's: Songs, Stories, & Sustainability this Fall #271 | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:06:19 | |
Greetings Gunn Runners, The Fall 2023 season of Pub Songs & Stories will be back on Mon Aug 14 at 6 PM Eastern. So mark your calendar and of course subscribe if you haven't done so already. You can do that at PubSong.net You will enjoy a live concert, some stories from my Celtic Invasion of County Mayo, Ireland. I will continue my series talking about sustainability in the music industry and what you can do to fight climate change. You'll hear music from musicians I find on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast and beyond. We will look to the future to make things better. And of course, I will tell you the stories behind the songs I write and perform. It's all on Pub Songs & Stories starting August 14. Oh! And if you want to support the new Kickstarter for the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. You'll find a link to that and more at pubsong.net. MUSIC IN THE PUB THIS WEEK "Bright Side of Everything" by Marc Gunn from Selcouth "Hero of Canton" by Marc Gunn from As Long As I'm Flyin' | |||
| A Man Who Wears A Kilt Every Day #270 | 10 May 2023 | 00:39:33 | |
The first Friday of May is no pants day. Learn about the origins of this hilarious holiday, and if it was actually invented by a Scotsman in Glasgow in the early 1800s. I talk about a man who wears a kilt every day. You will also learn about some sustainable green bath products. Listen to music by Marc Gunn, Vicki Swan and Johnny Dyer, Niamh Dunne, and Brobdingnagian Bards This is Pub Songs & Stories #270. 0:25 - Brobdingnagian Bards "Seven Drunken Nights in Hobbiton" from I Will Not Sing Along 4:49 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES This is the audio edition of my newsletter. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk Celtic musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com/free or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 6:04 - WHAT'S NEW STORY 7:40 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:50 - GUEST SONG: Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer "1924" Hear the story behind the song in show #603 Celtic Tides of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. 14:44 - STORY OF NO PANTS DAY In 2000, the Knighthood of Buh, a student organization at the University of Texas at Austin, held their first annual No Pants Day celebration on the first Friday of May. Andrew and I were practicing daily on the South Mall of the university as the Brobdingnagian Bards. So we were there as a bunch of students ran through the school shouting and waving signs about the oppression of pants. The event resonated with me because, well, we wore kilts at all of our shows. We were "pantless" too. The event spread to other locations around the nation and eventually the world. But it took me four years before I wrote "A Man Who Wears A Kilt Every Day", a parody of the traditional Scottish song "Jock Stuart". Instead of "a man you don't meet every day", my song was about a man who loved wearing kilts, like I did. I didn't stop there. Again, I felt like No Pants Day was a Scottish holiday. So I decided to create a backstory for my song. I wanted people to think that the origins of No Pants Day was actually a Scottish holiday called No Troosers Day. I researched Scottish history and learned about the Proscription Act of 1746. This act banned the Scots from wearing "highland clothing". The goal of course was to assimilate the Scots into Great Britain, just like the Disarming Act banned the Scottish from wearing weapons. From that base, I wrote a fictional history of an uprising in Glasgow where the Scots removed their trousers and donned their kilts and rewrote "Jock Stuart" to celebrate their love of the kilt and their culture. The best thing about this fictional history was that a few years later, a newspaper in Canada quoted the blog where I shared this fake history saying that this was ACTUALLY the origins of No Pants Day. This should serve as a reminder to all of us. Check your sources! I finally recorded this song in 2009 for my CD, Kilted For Her Pleasure. "Jock Stuart (A Man Who Wears A Kilt Every Day)"lyrics by Marc Gunn, May 6, 2004, music traditional Oh my name is Jock Stuart, I´m a trooser-less man * So be easy and free in nae boxers or briefs I'm Highlander made and a piper to trade I go out with my gun and my dog for to hunt I've got acres of land, I've got ships to command So come fill up my glass with whiskey or rum It's better easy and free in nae boxers or briefs 20:52 - Marc Gunn "A Man Who Wears A Kilt Every Day" from Kilted For Her Pleasure 23:40 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 26:59 - Niamh Dunne "Tides w/ Karan Casey" from Tides
30:25 - GREEN PRODUCTS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT I'm actively trying to buy fewer items that are packaged in plastic because plastic is made from chemicals from fossil fuel production. It also lasts pretty much forever. It is virtually impossible to remove it entirely from what I buy. But I have found a few items that I enjoy that are not that I thought I'd share. Did you know you can buy shampoo and conditioner in bar form? This was one of those weird rabbit holes I went down. Once upon a time, we didn't have liquid shampoo and conditioner. It certainly wasn't in a big plastic bottle. A day after I started researching this a few months back, Gwen came home with a Love Beauty and Planet shampoo conditioner bar from Target. I immediately tried it out and loved it. You can see a list of Shampoo and Conditioner bars here. My favorite body soap is the Dr Bronner's Lavender soap. I was starting to lament losing that when I just saw they have bar soap also. And of course, all of those are wrapped in paper and I can get it at my local Publix. 34:58 - Marc Gunn "Kilty Pleasure" from Selcouth 38:59 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll also save 25% off all the merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories
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| Making Better Things, Sustainable Music with Kyle Carey #269 | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:40:06 | |
My goal is to get someone to share what I make. Highlight a new theme each week. Your mom is calling! Or is it? It might be a scammer. But I can help you protect yourself. Can we make the music business more sustainable? I have an interview with Kyle Carey. This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #269. 0:16 - Marc Gunn "Romulan Ale" from Sci Fi Drinking Songs 3:23 - WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIES This is the audio edition of my newsletter. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Rhythm & Folk Celtic musician in Atlanta. I play traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs, but I am also a songwriter. I write songs Celtic culture and fuse them pop culture, things like Lord of the Rings, Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and more. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that at PubSong.com. Or even better send me an email to pubsong@ celtfather. You can not only subscribe, but you can also download all of my songs in this show. You will get an email with a link to download this month's songs. It's quick and easy. Oh! And let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. And as you hopefully heard in the last episode when I say I have CDs. Your job is to shout, "You have CDs!" 5:01 - UPCOMING SHOWS
5:43 - Marc Gunn "A Well-Dressed Hobbit" from Don't Go Drinking With Hobbits 8:02 - KYLE CAREY IS MAKING MUSIC MORE SUSTAINABLE Kyle Carey plays Gaelic Americana music. She's originally from New Hampshire and sings songs in Irish and Scots Gaelic. Her songwriting is inspired by American and Celtic folklore. She has a brand new Kickstarter currently running for her album, The Last Bough. 23:59 - Kyle Carey "June Day" from North Star 27:50 - SUPPORT THE THINGS YOU LOVE If you enjoy this show and want to keep it going, join over 150 other Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts and discounts on merch. Sign up for as little as $5 per month. You can also save 15% with an annual membership. I make music and podcasts because of your generosity so please join the Club today! Thanks to my newest Gunn Runners on Patreon: Alice M, Karla A, Triskele, Ayden B 28:49 - DEFENDING YOURSELF FROM AI DEEP FAKES One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is called Akimbo. It's by Seth Godin, a brilliant marketer and thought leader. He constantly challenges his listeners to "make things better by making better things." That resonates with me. One of my early Irish & Celtic Music Podcast slogans was "changing the way you hear Celtic music." That was about improving the culture, embracing change, recognizing that our past is important but so is our future. That's what podcasting is all about. Or it can be. This week, Seth didn't something intriguing. He asked ChatGPT to evaluate the functions, the future, and the problems of artificial intelligence like ChatGPT. He recorded the responses… Well, sort of. It turned out the entire recording, except the intro, was an AI voice manipulator that sounded almost exactly like Seth Godin. There was one moment in the recording that I thought, this is kind of dry sounding. I chalked it up to ChatGPT. Little did I know, it wasn't Seth speaking. My mom just shared an AI scam that's happening. I have an idea on how to fix. Thank you Harry Potter! The scam is that an AI simulator will call you on the phone and have the same voice as someone you know. They say that they are in financial trouble. They ask for your help. What do you do? At some point, the simulator will be good enough to fool you. Just like Seth Godin's podcast fooled me. We're already there. But I immediately came up with a defense. It's from the final books of Harry Potter. I'll let ChatGPT explain: "In the final books of the Harry Potter series, Remus Lupin asked Harry Potter a question to prove that he was not an imposter. The question was: "What is the secret of the Marauder's Map?" This was a question that only the true creators of the map - Lupin, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew - would know the answer to. Harry correctly answered that the map was activated by tapping it with one's wand and saying "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," and that it could be closed by tapping it again and saying "Mischief managed." This answer convinced Lupin that Harry was indeed who he claimed to be." Yeah. I was talking about it with my mom and realized this is the way we need to protect ourselves from THIS AI scam. We ask a question that only the person we're talking with would know the answer to. Seems simple. But it's a good lesson to pass on. So please please share this idea. Because at some point, you won't be able to tell who's real and who's not. Mind you, that's not to scare you. As I said at the beginning, change is inevitable. We need to work with this bizarre new paradigm. As Seth Godin's podcast points out, it can be beneficial or it can be hurtful. We have the power to choose and to make change. So let's do something for the better. Oh and if you want some more thoughts on ChatGPT by Andrew McKee and me. We did a great podcast on it on the Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast. 37:47 - Marc Gunn "The Long Arm" from As Long As I'm Flyin' 39:33 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #kylecarey #ecofriendlymusicians | |||
| Isn't it Grand to be Walking Undead #268 | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:24:21 | |
What happens when a traditional Irish song is rewritten about zombies? And I have CDs!!!! If you didn't say, "You have Cds…", you'll find out why it's important. It's kind of funny. This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #268. 0:16 - "Isn't It Grand Boys" from Happy Songs of Death 4:09 - WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIES This is the audio edition of my newsletter. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk Celtic musician living in Atlanta, Georgia. I play traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs. I'm also a songwriter. I write songs inspired by Celtic culture as well as pop culture, things like Lord of the Rings, Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and more. If you're new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com/free or even better or you can subscribe and download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@ celtfather You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's songs. You will also get that subscribe link. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. We kicked off the show… 5:04 - WHAT'S NEW STORY I really should talk more about the stuff I sell in my store. But it feels uncomfortable to do so. That's one of the reasons if you go to any of my live shows, and I say, "I have Cds". Audience members will shout "you have Cdddsss?!" It's a little gimmick I use to draw attention to my merch. And it's really catchy. I was listening to the last episode of the podcast about writing drinking songs. While I talked about my song "The Cat Came Back… the Cat's Perspective,". It's from my C-D… And then I paused, just like I do at live shows. When I listened to the episode, I responded, "You have CDs…" It got me thinking. Could we do that same thing through a podcast? I don't know. But we're gonna try. We're gonna make this podcast into a sort of an interactive drinking game. Each time I mention CDs, your job is to audibly respond, "you have CDs…" 6:25 - UPCOMING SHOWS
9:24 - The Celtic Kitchen Party "Covid-19 Shanty" from Last Call 11:11 - COMMENTS I don't get a ton of feedback for this show. But if you send an email to pubsong@celtfather with a short comment about the show… or just mentioning CDs that you love, that's a great way for us to interact and have more of a conversation. In fact, if you need a starter, I'd love it if you would grab your phone. Go to your voice recorder app. Say, "You have Cds". Then email it to me. Marisa Halvorson emailed: "Hello Marc! I have been listening to your songs practically nonstop this St. Paddy's season (I'm in NOLA and work on Magazine street so season it is) I had to work on the day the Irish Channel parade rolled and definitely enjoyed it more with your songs keeping me company while locked in my building by parade goers. Thank you for always keeping me company and my spirits up with your music." Kennedy Johnson emailed: "Happy St Patricks Day to you Marc. I hope you and your family are well on this day of Green & Orange 🇮🇪 I love your podcasts!! I have today's show cued up and ready to play. Always a tradition foe me to list to your music podcast on this day!!" 13:50 - JOIN THE CLUB As always, this show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It might be a podcast, a song, sheet music, a blog, or a photo. And of course you will get videos, including my weekly Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 14:34 - Marc Gunn "The Maid Went to the Mill" from Kilted For Her Pleasure 16:49 - THE STORY ISN'T IT GRAND, BOYS, TO BE WALKING UNDEAD What happens when a traditional Irish song is rewritten about zombies? One of the cool things about drinking songs is when the audience gets involved to make the song their own. I don't know if that is the origins of the "dead, dead, dead" line in "Isn't It Grand, Boys". But it seems likely. It also seems like a great inspiration for a geek to turn it into a song about zombies. My friend Cathy Dailey did that and wrote "Isn't It Grand, Boys, to Be Walking Undead." It features all sorts of undead tropes like BRAINS, crushed flowers, and hunting undead, which totally takes my brain to Buffy, The Vampire Slayer. The "Brains" line is my favorite because it replaces the "dead, dead, dead" with "brains, brains, brains" in the most-zombie-like style. The chorus is also fun because it includes the "Wilhelm Scream". That's the term used for that death yell I make at the end of "Just time for one bloody last cry". Oh! Check this out from Wikipedia: "The sound is named after Private Wilhelm, a character in The Charge at Feather River, a 1953 Western in which the character gets shot in the thigh with an arrow. This was its first use following its inclusion in the Warner Bros. stock sound library, although The Charge at Feather River is the third film to use the effect. The scream is believed to be voiced by actor Sheb Wooley." Sheb Wooley is best known for his song "Purple People Eater". But the trope of all tropes that makes the song for me is "Up come the hands of another undead". It's creepy, very visual, and just perfect. The song features Nathan Deese on guitar, whistle, bass and "Brains" comments. 20:34 - Marc Gunn "Isn't It Grand, Boys, To Be Walking Undead" from Sci Fi Drinking Songs 23:47 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll also save 25% off all the merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #theceltickitchenparty #walkingundead | |||
| St Patrick's Day, Writing Drinking Songs #267 | 14 Mar 2023 | 01:02:01 | |
St Patrick's Day isn't just about drinking. But I will tell you the story of how I learned to write drinking songs so you can write your own… just sing along a little more easily. I share 17 amazing Celtic Bands you should check out for St Patrick's Day. Learn a green idea for investing in our climate. This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #267. 0:22 - Kilted Kings "Ride On" from Flower of Scotland 4:42 - WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIES Happy St Patrick's Day! I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk Celtic musician living in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the audio edition of my weekly newsletter. I play traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs. I also write songs inspired by pop culture, things like Lord of the Rings, Firefly, and Doctor Who. That's why this is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. But this week, I'm mostly focusing on St Patrick's Day fun. 5:17 - UPCOMING SHOWS
8:15 - WHAT'S NEW STORY
15:53 - Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" from How America Saved Irish Music 19:47 - FEEDBACK Mitchell Petersen responded to my last newsletter about "Saying No Even If It's Included". I said "When I choose fruit and vegetables, I pick the ones that aren't in plastic bags. I get a little grossed out by putting them on the scanner. But then I wash them when I get home." He responded: "FYI, we have these bags for fruits and veggies at the grocery store and they are awesome and you don't need to use the plastic bags OR have to put your stuff straight in the basket" 21:08 - One of the best things about Dragon Con… 21:55 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@ celtfather You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. You can also subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 24:08 - Jiggy "King of the Faeries" from Translate New video: "Fiery Arrow" 27:21 - STORY OF THE CAT CAME BACK… THE CAT'S PERSPECTIVE I learned how to write a drinking song thanks to "The Cat Came Back… The Cat's POV". First, let me point out, a drinking song isn't about alcohol. It's a song with a fun, easy-to-sing chorus. Sometimes it's interactive. "Wild Rover" has claps in the chorus. "Rattlin' Bog" and "The Unicorn Song" have a whole bunch of motions that act out the lyrics. "Seven Drunken Nights" and "Big Strong Man" have phrases that the audience shouts back at the singer. These were the songs I was thinking of when I wrote the cat's perspective of a famous folk song. I never liked "The Cat Came Back." It was cruel and I love cats. So I decided to rewrite the song using the melody of "The Moonshiner". But I wanted to make it a call-and-response song. So I added "Ka-Boom", "Gurgle" and more to the end of the verses. But when I finally decided to play it live, I had NO idea how to get the audience to interact with the song. Eventually, I taught the audience the 5 different responses (five, really? What was I thinking?). I introduce each exclamation before the verse. But it's still difficult to get them involved. If you want to write a drinking song, keep it simple. One call and response throughout is best. Teach it at the beginning of the song. "Slainte Mhaith" is a great drinking song. It has an easy-to-sing chorus. But it also has a super easy call-and-response. "When I sing slainte mhaith, you shout it back to me. Slainte mhaith! [Slainte mhaith]". Sometimes you learn to do something the easy way. With this song, I learned what not to do. Ah well. Live and learn. Here's the lyrics to "The Cat Came Back… The Cat's Perspective": I was a crazy cat for many a year, I'm a yellow tabby, kinda flabby. And I'm coming home. His neighbor ambushed me with shotgun and dynamite. He gave me to a boy with a dollar and a note He gave me to a man going up in a balloon. He took me to the mill where the meat was ground. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson, I know you hate me, 32:22 - Marc Gunn "The Cat Came Back… The Cat's Perspective" from Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers 35:34 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 36:07 - 17 CELTIC BANDS FOR ST PATRICK'S DAY Whether you're a die-hard Celtic music fan or your interest tends to heat up more around St. Patrick's Day, we have a band for you! We've assembled 17 of them here for you to add to your holiday playlist, or to check out in your spare time. Each of them has earned a spot on the list because they have something special to offer, so take a listen—and enjoy! 44:16 - CLIP: Poitin "Dirty Old Town" from One For the Road 45:13 - Poitin "The Knife in the Bread" from One For the Road 49:17 - INVESTING IN A GREEN ST PATRICK'S DAY It's fascinating how creative people are when it comes to finding innovative new ways to combat climate change. One of the more creative is through banking. The fossil fuel industry is funded by investors. What happens if investors refuse to invest in them because they don't want to support the fossil fuel industry? We will see greener energy. There's a campaign in the U.K. asking people to green their investments. Thinking about that I just migrated to a new Mutual Fund so that my money no longer supports Fossil Fuels. Yeah. My small mutual fund will not make a huge difference. But imagine if just you and I made this change and we had the exact same amount in our pension? What if 10 other people on my mailing list did the same? Or 30? Multiply your pension times 30 and we start to make a real impact. That's really what it takes. It takes each of us being aware and making small changes to force banks to stop investing in fossil fuels and start investing in the health of our planet. 52:34 - Marc Gunn "St Patrick Never Drank" from Kilted For Her Pleasure 54:50 - ALBUM GIVEAWAY CONT… 56:47 - Marc Gunn "Wild Mountain Thyme" from The Bridge 1:01:29 – CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll also save 25% off all my merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #jiggy #poitin
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| Irish Diaspora, Men of New Basin Canal #266 | 03 Mar 2023 | 01:10:54 | |
The departure of the Irish from Ireland in the 1800s had some tragic consequences. Jamie Haeuser's songs "Men of New Basin Canal" and "Bridget's Prayer" dig into that. So we're gonna dig into the songs and the album How America Saved Irish Music. Great news about my next album, Come Adventure With Me. Bandcamp now playlists. And learning to say no. This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #266. 0:30 - Marc Gunn "Old Dun Cow" from St Patrick's Day 4:35 - WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIES This is the audio edition of my newsletter as well as the liner notes for the songs I record so that you can enjoy my music even more! And who am I? I am Marc Gunn. I'm a rhythm and folk Celtic musician living in Atlanta, Georgia. I play traditional Irish and Scottish drinking songs. But I'm also a songwriter. I write songs inspired by Celtic culture as well as songs inspired by pop culture, things like Lord of the Rings, Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who and more. That's the reason one brewery I play called my music Sci F'Irish music. It's also why this is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. WHAT'S NEW 6:08 - UPCOMING SHOWS
9:34 - Lauren Oxford "What Rings True" from Lauren Oxford 14:40 - IF YOU'RE WAITING TO COME ADVENTURE WITH ME…Then you don't have too much longer to wait. Well, assuming you were part of the Kickstarter. My engineer, Mitchell, sent me three songs last week. I listened to each of them while I was getting my car emissions tested. We spent the rest of the morning emailing and forth with mixes and edits. I love the result, and those are the final tracks for the album. I should have a track listing soon. I want to make sure we nail down the last of those songs. But I greenlighted Mitchell to start creating a song order so I could start listening. The other thing I finally did was come up with a couple Album Pin designs thanks to Miranda. I ran a poll on Patreon between two different designs: one a dragon and one a compass. It was a tight poll. They both are pretty fantastic. But as they say in Highlander: there can be only one! That's actually not at all true. I can do more. But for the Kickstarter, I went with the Compass design that reads: "Never Stop Adventuring". I'll send that to the printers as soon as I have a track listing. Finally, I'm still on target for sending out the digital album to everyone on Kickstarter on March 17. Here's hoping! 21:10 - Marc Gunn "Whiskey in the Jar feat. Andrew McKee, The Irish Bard" from St Patrick's Day 24:26 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. You can also subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 25:00 - STORY OF MEN OF NEW BASIN CANAL I was living in New Orleans in 2009 when I got a phone call from Jamie Haeuser. She was driving back from an Irish session in NOLA to her home in Robert, Louisiana across the causeway. She told me she had written lyrics for two songs. She asked if I'd set them to music. Of course, without hesitation, I said, "Yes! What are they about?" She then told me how the Causeway she was driving across had once been the New Basin Canal. It was a shipping canal from Lake Pontchartrain through swamp to booming uptown part of New Orleans. Work on the canal began in 1832. Almost immediately, they ran to problems. Yellow fever ravaged the workers. It was deemed too costly to use slaves to build the canal. So instead, the Irish immigrants were hired to build it. Many people don't realize that New Orleans was one of the top immigration points for the Irish behind New York and Boston. As a result, it's estimated that between 500-30,000 Irishmen died digging the New Basin Canal. No one knows for sure the exact number. Wikipedia suggests 8000 might be a more accurate number. But holy crap! But even a popular number of 8000 people dying to dig this canal is insane? So Jamie decided to write a song called "Men of New Basin Canal" to share their story. 26:43 - Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser "Men of New Basin Canal" from How America Saved Irish Music Here, we came to find a bit of land The yellow jack, one day you're up * Heave ho, boyo, it's dig and death O'Hanlan was the first to fall The men who fell, hundreds a day Why is it Erin's sons are called From lake to river to move the goods But we will rise, somehow, sometime We will be known as men who died It's a powerful story. It had me mesmerized imagining the almost shanty style of work to dig the canal. So when I came up with the melody and chorus, that's the rhythm that I picked. Especially with her "Heave ho, boy". It just screamed sea shanty. Later, Jamie and I recorded the song for our CD, How America Saved Irish Music. The one little thing I had to add to it was a crash symbol. You see, I have long thought this was a great sing and interact along. In particular, I always imagined clapping like this. Heave ho, boyo, it's dig and death [clap, clap] It gives it a great energy. But for the recording, I didn't want clapping. I wanted that crash symbol much like the one used in the song "Zombie" by The Cranberries. Jamie didn't stop at one song though. She also wrote "Bridget's Prayer." It's basically the same story but it's from the perspective of women who watched their men die digging the canal. The ones buried them. It's another great song. Oh, Michael, please don't go today I've washing in, I can do more I pray, in holy Bridget's name My babies need their father here I can find work, I'll sew and wash Oh, Michael love, I cannot live I cannot stand to see you fall A big thanks to TJ Barrens, our sound engineer, Doctor Sick, who provided fiddle and mandolin, and Katie Haeuser who shared some amazing background vocals for the album. 29:52 - INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE HAEUSER 49:27 - Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser "Bridget's Prayer" from How America Saved Irish Music 51:31 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 52:25 - SAYING NO, EVEN IF IT'S INCLUDED Inara asked me to fill her juice bottle up to a certain line. No higher! I asked her why. She said it was because if she drinks more than that, then she'll get filled up and not be hungry for breakfast. I was blown away that at age 8, she already knows her limits. I might've learned that by 48… She also knew that it was too tempting if I gave her more than her limit. She might end up drinking it. Seth Godin wrote a blog recently about saying no, even if it's included. He concludes that "No might be better than free." I've come to appreciate saying, "No," a little bit more recently. I do it on those rare times I go eat fast food. "Do you want the meal?". No. Not really. Thanks. But I'm also thinking of it in terms of environmentalism. The Album Pin printer I use, GS-JJ, automatically put each album pin in plastic when it is shipped. I really don't want those little pieces of plastic that encase each pin. It just occurred to me today, I can say, no. I can ask them to not put them in there. I bring canvas tote bags to the grocery store so I can bag the groceries myself and not take another plastic bag home with me. When I choose fruit and vegetables, I pick the ones that aren't in plastic bags. I get a little grossed out by putting them on the scanner. But then I wash them when I get home. I don't need more stuff in my life. If I buy it, it needs a reason to stick around. Sometimes that can be for pure enjoyment. Sometimes it's like you want to archive something you love, like many of you do with CDs or USBs. But most of the time it's gotta be something practical. So I do my best to say no. Obviously, I'm. not perfect. I don't do all of these things every time. But as long as I'm learning to say no to excess more than I say yes, I'll call that a win! What about you? What do you say "no" to? 1:00:57 - Brobdingnagian Bards "The Orange and The Green" from Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales We talk about AI on the next Brobdingnagian Bards Podcast. 1:03:22 - BANDCAMP APP NOW HAS PLAYLISTS One of the big reasons I started selling my music through Bandcamp was because of their app. Yes. You can download music as MP3s or whatever lossless format you prefer, but you can also stream the music through their app. But up until now, I could only listen to one album at a time from one artist at a time. No longer! You can now create your own playlists with music that you own. So if you've been buying my music on Bandcamp these past few years, head on over. Make your own playlist. Buy some merch while you're there. The full store opens up on Wednesday. And this Friday, March 3 is Bandcamp Friday, Bandcamp waives all of their fees. So I earn a little bit more from each purchase. It's prolly a good time to pick up some USBs to archive your music! Or get a ticket to my St Patrick's Day concert. If you love this episode, then take a screenshot on your phone. Post it on social media. And tag @celtfather. Tell me what you like about this episode and what you'd like to hear in the future. 1:06:02 - Marc Gunn "Tae the Begging" from St Patrick's Day 1:10:20 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll also save 25% off all my merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #stpatricksday #irishdisaspora | |||
| When She Held Me In Her Arms, Running Tips #265 | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:45:02 | |
Happy Valentine's Day! I have a love song story to share with you from my newest CD, Selcouth. Find how my next album, Come Adventure With Me, is progressing. I added another February gig to my calendar. I share things no one ever told me about running. And is Arbor Day in February? This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #265 0:24 - "Galway Shawl (live)" by Marc Gunn from Camping Trip 2022 6:13 - WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. This is the audio edition of my newsletter as well as the liner notes for the songs I record. You can follow this show at PubSong.net or send an email to pubsong@celtfather to sign up and get the MP3s for my songs featured in this episode. 7:19 - UPCOMING SHOWS
WHAT'S NEW? Thanks to everyone on Patreon who voted for the next Internet Concert theme. Next month's theme is Irish music for St Patrick's Day. In April, we'll sing Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. Read the Daily Journal from my Celtic Invasion of Loch Lomond. Oh! Make sure you subscribe to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. I'm sharing songs I recorded on a camping trip last fall. They're kinda romantic too! 8:47 - COME ADVENTURE WITH ME… Is the title of my next album. I did a Kickstarter for it about this time last year. It was a huge success, fully funded a few days into the campaign. I gave myself until July to actually release the album to supporters. But that's not good enough. I'm gonna try to release the digital music to supporters by my birthday, March 17. Will that happen? We shall see. Right now, I have 8 songs fully completed. I have four more that are being edited. So I'm well on the way to completing it by that date. There are several other tracks. I still haven't come up with a good album pin idea. But I'm hopeful I can figure that out in the next few weeks. But I am super excited that the project is almost done. Because I have three other albums to work on: Dancing With Hobbits, Another Faire to Remember by Brobdingnagian Bards, and whatever the next album will be… I have an idea or two… 12:07 - "Wherever I May Roam (live)" by Marc Gunn from Selcouth 14:55 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@ celtfather You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. You can also subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 15:06 - WHEN SHE HELD ME IN HER ARMS In 2001, the Brobdingnagian Bards were performing at a lot of faires. Kansas City Renaissance Festival was one of the biggest and the coolest gig we had booked to that date. They paid us to fly to KC from Austin, Texas for several weekends. They put us up in a hotel. We hung out with 3 Pints Gone. We made a lot of new fans. We were even hired to perform at a wedding. I don't remember all of the details surrounding the writing of "When She Held Me In Her Arms". But that festival stands out in my mind. I remember writing the song in the hotel after a long day at faire. It flowed out of me, filled with so much hope, love, and romance about finding true love and never turning back. Andrew and I recorded it shortly after that. We went into the studio. The Bards recording was decent enough, but the performance was way too fast. So it did not end up on A Faire to Remember or Songs of Ireland. But when I was trying to put together a compilation of music so we could book some wedding gigs, I added that song to A Celtic Renaissance Wedding. But I was never really happy with it as a recording. Nevertheless, I continued to sing the song over the years. When I met Gwen in 2009, I sang it to her at MileHiCon in Denver. She was living in Virginia at the time. But she flew to Colorado to be with me for that con. It took another five years before I recorded it again, and some years after that before I dug up the recording and the guitar additions by Daniel I Briggs before I finally sent it to Sam Gillogly to add fiddle. That was when I knew the song was finally done. I love the result. Best part about it for me is when I come to that line about "twenty years later I've not regretted a day." Then I realize that Gwen and I are now on 13 years of marriage. Wow! Mind blown! And yup, no regrets! Here's the lyrics: When She Held Me In Her Arms Lyrics and music Marc Gunn Through a market, I wandered and prayed When she held me in her arms that night, She smelled of the sweetest lilac skin. Oh, the market became a more beautiful place: 20:15 - "When She Held Me In Her Arms" by Marc Gunn from Selcouth 23:01 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, or stories from the road. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 23:55 - THINGS NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT RUNNING I started running right before the pandemic closed everything down in 2000. It made a huge impact on my life. But I also realized that most everything I knew about running was wrong!
You can read more of my thoughts on it in my blog. 35:35 - "Naked" by Marc Gunn from Camping Trip 2022 38:27 - ARBOR DAY IN FEBRUARY? National Arbor Day is celebrated in April. What you may not know is that each state celebrates Arbor Day from January to May depending on the regional season for planting trees. The State of Georgia celebrates its Arbor Day on the third Friday in February. It is a day to reflect on the importance of trees in our state and across our nation. Scientific research is increasingly adding to the evidence that trees are essential to global environmental health. So go plant a tree, play outside, enjoy the beauty of trees, create art inspired by trees, or honor trees in any way that pleases you! That's all according to Trees Atlanta. When is your state's Arbor Day? Oh! Mark your calendar for April 29. I'm going back to The Lost Druid. But I'm not doing it the regular way. I'm biking there. If you're able to bike there or carpool or reduce your own environmental impact that day, as well, that'd be brilliant. Come join us! If you love this episode, then share it with a friend. You can send one of the MP3s from your EP of the Month or just ask them to listen to the show. Maybe tell them one thing that really inspired you. Just spread the word. 42:00 - "When She Held Me In Her Arms" by Brobdingnagian Bards from A Celtic Renaissance Wedding 44:27 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you get a new podcast or song or video or concert. You'll also save 25% off all my merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and find out where I'm performing. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #runningtips #valentinesday | |||
| Blue Sun, 5 Things to Do in County Mayo, Ireland #264 | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:42:41 | |
The itinerary for my Celtic Invasion of Westport, Ireland is now online. Find out what my Firefly song, "Blue Sun", has to do with Monopoly and Walmart. Get an Atlanta Food Recommendation. Then go out to eat with your own Celtery. This is Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories #264. 0:20 - Kilted Kings "Blue Sun" from Flower of Scotland WELCOME TO SCI FI PUB SONGS & STORIESI am Marc Gunn. This is the audio edition of my newsletter as well as the liner notes for the songs I record. You can follow this show at PubSong.net or send an email to pubsong@celtfather to sign up and get the MP3s for my songs featured in this episode. 3:10 - WHAT'S NEW: A NEW SHOW NAME One of my weaknesses is sometimes I have to try something before I can see how effective it is. The past two episodes were called Atlanta Pub Songs & Stories because I wanted and still want to highlight things around Atlanta, where I currently live. The problem is I wasn't sure what to do. Yes. I have a food recommendation coming up. But when I put myself in the shoes of potential listeners, like you, I just don't see the Atlanta part as being useful for reaching an audience. More than likely, you're interested in Sci Fi, fantasy, Celtic music and culture, or pop culture because that is what I do. Atlanta is not as essential to the music story even though most of my shows are located in this city. And so, I'm pleased to introduce Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. 5:15 - UPCOMING SHOWS
6:25 - CELTIC INVASION OF WESTPORT, IRELAND This June, I'm bringing a small group of people to Westport, Ireland. I'd like you to join me. Westport is part of the Wild Atlantic Way. That's a spectacular, scenic route from Irishowen in County Donegal all the way down the west coast of Ireland to Kinsale in County Cork. It's broken up into 14 stages, two of which are in the area we are staying, Achill Island and Clew Bay, and Westport to Clifden. 5 Things You Should Do in County Mayo, Ireland
I completed the itinerary for the trip and already I think I scheduled way too much. There are so many fine castles, cliffs, and amazing things to see, not to mention the time I hope to spend in Matt Malloy's listening to music. It's gonna be an incredible trip. I still have space for just two more people. If you'd like to join me in Ireland, hear me perform live in your living room, you won't be sorry. It's gonna be spectacular. Check out the itinerary for the Celtic Invasion Vacations of Ireland 2023 and drop me an email to let me know that you want to go! 10:35 - Marc Gunn & Jamie Haeuser "Gypsy Rover" from How America Saved Irish Music 13:50 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email to pubsong@ celtfather. You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. You can also subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. While you're emailing me to get your free EP, let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 14:35 - STAND AGAINST BLUE SUN CORPORATION AND GET LOCAL I loved Monopoly as a kid. I taught Kenzie it. After just two games, I was kinda done. The game drags on just way too long. Unfortunately, Kenzie is not done with it. She loves it and makes us play as often as we will let her. So I finally figured out how to endure the game. It's a quick win or lose strategy. If you're lucky enough to buy all the property as soon as possible, then demolish and win. If you're not, do your best to lose and get out of the game as soon as possible. Kind of sad. But that's what a monopoly is. If you learned about early 20th century monopolies, it wasn't much better. In fact, the woman who created the game was trying to teach people the evils of monopolies. Yet, we haven't learned. The government allowed Live Nation to create a monopoly of concert venues. Ticket sales for Taylor Swift's summer tour busted their online system. Well, actually, it was already busted thanks to bootleggers. Monopolies are one of the reasons I finished "Blue Sun". But the song actually goes back before that, all the way back to the writing of "Monahan's Mudder's Milk". That's when I wrote the chorus. Blue Sun. Blue Sun Blue Sun is the corporation in the TV show Firefly with a seemingly nefarious background. You see their imagery on Jayne's shirt, on the docks of Persephone, and other places. The blue color makes me think of the Two by Two, Hands of Blue from the episode Ariel. I can't help but wonder if a connection is there. It feels to me like Blue Sun is a monopoly that largely is in control or at least has a big blue hand in their Alliance government. And because they have a monopoly, they can do what they want. They can also destroy what they want all in the name of profit for their investors. I did my best to come up with what a bully corporation would do. That's what the first two verses are all about. It's about subjugating the people they are supposed to "serve". They terraformed the lands of many fine worlds You see their emblem emblazoned on crates Now we come to the final idea that motivated writing this song. My family is from a small town in East Texas. It was never a super vibrant town. As a kid, it looked like they stopped growing as a community in prolly the 40s or 50s. But they did have a downtown area. That downtown area disappeared when Walmart moved in. Walmart's strategy was to build a big store on the edge of town. It offered low, low prices, on everything. We were all thrilled. That's where I first experienced the store. I loved it. Before long, the downtown of our local community was closed down. You've prolly heard the term "Buy Local". It took a while for me to understand that idea. The fact is that we need to support our local community if we want to see it thrive and grow. Much like "Monahan's", this song turns into a Woody Guthrie style protest song against corporations. Their manacles we'll cast off our tired wrists. So raise up your voice and shout to the firm I love the imagery in these verses. It is very down-to-earth. And fierce. Complete with burning their products in protest. I made two recordings of this song. The Kilted Kings version features Randy Wothke on percussion. The As Long As I'm Flyin' version has Lyrics and music Marc Gunn So I wrote, this song, not just as a stance against corporations but also as a stance FOR small businesses, local organizations and companies and individuals and bands 24:25 - Marc Gunn "Blue Sun" from As Long As I'm Flyin' 26:50 - THANK YOU GUNN RUNNERS! The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. Every week, you get bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, or blogs. Plus, you get weekly access to my Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month and save 15% with an annual membership. 28:01 - ATLANTA THAI FOOD RECOMMENDATION My wife and friends tried going to a Trivia night with friends last Sunday. The one that looked most promising was in Sandy Springs. So we drove 30 minutes over there only to find the place was very smoky. Something I'm not big on. Happily, we were close to Pontoon Brewing Company. We stopped and had a drink while we picked a place to have dinner. We were all tired from the day. One of the closest places that sounded interesting was a Thai food restaurant. We drove over to Sweet Chili Thai Cuisine. I love Thai but never have I loved it as much as I loved it here. There were four of us. We had four appetizers, three meals and two desserts. Every, single, dish, was, AMAZING! The coconut soup was so creamy and delicious. They recommended Curry Puffs and WOW! The Basil Rolls were so fresh. The Nom Sod was delicious. Drunken Noodles, Spicy Green Beans, and Chef's Catfish special. Omg! They apparently just opened six months ago. So now is the time to go. Because this food was incredible. Oh! And the price was very reasonable for Thai food. Go check out Sweet Chili Thai Cuisine. 31:26 - Marc Gunn "Botany Bay" from Going for Brogue 34:36 - ARE YOU CARRYING YOUR OWN CELTLERY? You heard that right—Celtlery. I'm looking for more eco-friendly merch that I can create and sell at shows. I finally packaged up one such item-Travel Celtlery. How many times do you go to a lower-end restaurant where they give you a small plastic bag filled with plastic cutlery and a napkin that smells like pepper. You know what I'm talking about. I find this so frustrating because no matter how many times I order out and I tell them no silverware is needed, they bring it. What do we do with that stuff. You open it up. The plastic bag is not easily recycled. The plasticware usually goes straight into the trash. One of the things I'm trying to teach myself to do is to bring my own cup and cutlery so I don't have to use more plastic than I have to. That's why I'm trying out selling Travel Celtlery. This is a small bag to hold bambooware that you can take with you so you too don't have to add to the plastic problem that is destroying our planet. Right now, I have a small handful of Celtlery Bags in my store. What do you think of the idea? Want your own? Oh! Shortly after writing this, I found a downloadable guide from Beyond Plastics about how to reduce plastic use at restaurants. If you love this episode, then take a screenshot on your phone. Post it on social media. And tag @celtfather. Tell me what you like about this episode and what you'd like to hear in the future. 38:08 - Marc Gunn with Mikey Mason "Tough Times" from Selcouth Listen to the Tough Times episode. 42:05 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Sci Fi Pub Songs & Stories. The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. Every week, you'll get a new podcast or song or video or video concert. You'll also save 25% off on all my merch in my store. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to read the show notes for this episode and get notified when I'm next performing near you. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #fireflytvshow #irelandtravel | |||
| Green Grow the Rashes | Robert Burns #263 | 17 Jan 2023 | 00:38:27 | |
Was Robert Burns a Vulcan? Learn more about one of the most-famous songs by the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Get ready for the pub that's not really a pub. Catch a bus at a Buzz Stop. It might help beautify your neighborhood and fight climate change. 0:20 - "Ride On" from Flower of Scotland by Kilted Kings 4:40 - WELCOME TO ATLANTA PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. This is the audio liner notes for the songs I record and play and for the stories I gather and the people I meet in the city of Atlanta. It's also the audio edition of my newsletter. You can subscribe at pubsong.net, you'll get the written version of this podcast, along with quick access links to many of the stories listed I'm telling you about. 5:10 - WHAT'S NEW?
7:40 - "She's Shiny" from As Long As I'm Flyin' 11:56 - MAGGIE MCGUINNESS PUB Maggie McGuinness Pub is not your typical Irish pub. Not unless your typical Irish pub is located in the basement of an Irish American home in the suburbs of Hunstville, Alabama. "To The Irish!" That's their slogan. And you best be ready to shout when the time comes. Aside from that, the Pub is just a fun place to play. For over a decade, I have packed that basement, decorated to look the most-traditional of Irish pubs. I am excited to return there once again in January. 12:50 - UPCOMING SHOWS Here are some more shows happening this month:
Is there a venue that you think I should perform at? Please let me know about it. I'm looking for new places to play this year. Maybe there's a spot near you. And if you live in the Atlanta area, then it's even more possible. Let's make it happen! 13:35 - "Loch Lomond" from Selcouth 16:27 - GREEN GROW THE RASHES I got a t-shirt at a Highland Games as a kid. It read, "Spock is a Scot." I never understood that until I heard Scottish singer, Ed Miller, introduce "Green Grow the Rashes". He joked, "I know a Scotsman who loved a woman so much. He almost told her." The joke is that Scots are not very emotional. And yet, this song by Scotland's National Poet, Robert Burns, is one of the most beautiful, touching, and emotional songs ever written. There's naught but care on every hand, * Green grow the rashes O! The war'ly race may riches chase, But gie me a cannie hour at e'en For you sae douce wha sneer at this, Auld Nature swears the lovely dears, I don't remember who I learned this song from. But I've always been a hopeful romantic. I loved it. Brobdingnagian Bards performed it regularly even before we recorded it for our album, Real Men Wear Kilts. However, I do remember Royce Perry was an inspiration for recording that CD. Royce was the head of Clan Gunn in Texas. He was excited to have a Gunn singing Scottish songs for our clan. He was So very encouraging. I remember his gentle smile the most. It was very kind as he listened. It was us performing this song that really made him happiest. So when I finally re-recorded it for Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion. He was in my thoughts. Just read those lyrics and you'll understand. Well, if you understand basic Scots. Robert Burns was apparently quite a ladies' man. He said what was most important in life was spending time with a lady. The worldly man chases money. Money is fleeting and short lived. Just give me an hour with a woman. All the cares in the world will disappear. The last verse is my favorite. Nature did some great things. She even made man while she was an apprentice. But then she mastered the art and created women. How perfect! I don't play this song nearly enough these days since I have quite a few beautiful ballads. But it definitely stands out in my mind as being exceptional. It's also a great song to sing at your annual Burns Supper. These are fancy dinners that celebrate the poetry of Robert Burns. Read more about Robert Burns on Wikipedia. You can listen to it on my Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion album on Bandcamp. The CD is in my Mage Records Store from February 1-10. 22:20 - "Green Grow the Rashes" from Scottish Songs of Drinking & Rebellion 26:34 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. You can also subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. But this is a free gift just for listening to the audio edition of my newsletter. Let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. 27:02 - WATCH BURNS DAY SING ALONG Three years ago, I played a Coffee with The Celtfather while I was still living in Birmingham. The show was dedicated to Robert Burns. It's no longer publicly available. But you can watch it because you're subscribed to my newsletter. Thank you! Watch Robert Burns Sing Along. BTW. If you enjoy shows like this, Coffee with The Celtfather is still going. However, it's not exclusively available in the Gunn Runners Club on Patreon. The show starts back this Wednesday, January 18. But there will be a public show available on the 25th. Just remember the time moved up 30 minutes to 10:30. 28:30 - "The Moonshiner" from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover's Companion 30:42 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast and my music, please join the Club. You get 4-10 new things every month. That includes bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, stories from the road, and access to Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month. And you can save 15% with an annual membership. 31:20 - EMAIL CLEAN UP I love email. It is the absolute best way for me us to communicate. Unfortunately, if I send an email and there are a lot of dead email addresses on my list, then email servers get suspicious. They dump my emails into spam or promotional folders. That's why I did some email clean up last week. If you're subscribed to my newsletter and regularly open an email. Then you're all good. But if you don't… then I might've sent you an email saying, "Goodbye". Those who didn't respond were unsubscribed. Hopefully, this will mean those of you who want to hear from me will. I thank you for that. 32:27 - READ. HAVE YOU HEARD OF BUZZ STOPS? This is cool. A bunch of bus shelters are converting their roofs to be green. They are filled with plants that attract pollinators, like bees. The idea began in The Netherlands and spread to Sweden, Denmark, and now the UK. The idea is to offer a new way to support these vulnerable insects. Plus, it makes the city a bit prettier. I've long thought that every the office buildings should have a garden on their rooftop to make the city more beautiful and to offer new ways to fight climate change. Is this something that could work for your community? You can read more about it here. I learned about this from The Daily Difference. It's a newsletter by the Carbon Almanac with practical tips on how to fight climate change, one action at a time. 34:22 - LISTEN. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SCI F'IRISH SONGS? I'm still working on this Spotify playlist. But I need your help. This could be something great. What are some great Sci F'Irish songs that should be added? Send me your song request. I'll send you access to the EP OF THE MONTH that I'm releasing as part of Atlanta Pub Songs & Stories. There's a new EP every month. 35:19 - "Flower of Scotland" from Flower of Scotland by Kilted Kings 37:55 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. The show was produced by Marc Gunn, edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. You can also subscribe to my mailing list. You will get regular updates of new music, podcasts, special offers, and you'll get more stories behind several of my most-popular songs. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #robertburns
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| Demon & Reaver Lullaby, Top 10 Celtic Bands of 2022 #262 | 03 Jan 2023 | 00:50:15 | |
There are demons beneath your bed that are gonna eat you up this year. I am unofficially performing at GaFilk this weekend in Atlanta. And I count down the Best Celtic Bands of 2022. This is Atlanta Pub Songs & Stories #262. 0:16 - "The Prettiest Hobbit" by Kilted Kings from Flower of Scotland 2:08 - WELCOME TO ATLANTA PUB SONGS & STORIES I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic and folk musician living in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the audio liner notes for the songs I record and play and for the stories I gather and the people I meet in the city of Atlanta and beyond. This is the first episode as an Atlanta-centric podcast. Hopefully, I can do it justice. 4:26 - WHAT IS GAFILK? Filk is the music of fandom. The name started as a misspelling of folk music that was happening at science fiction conventions back in the 60s. GaFilk, or Georgia Filk, is a convention that happens every year here in Atlanta, Georgia. I was first introduced to it when Brobdingnagian Bards was invited as a Super Secret Guest. We were still performing together in Austin. It's a different kind of convention. There aren't a whole bunch of panels on your favorite fandoms. It's all about the music… and the people. Folks from all over the nation gather together to sing songs inspired by science fiction, fantasy, parodies, and just geek out together. And it's a RelaxaCon. It's super laid back. I've been a guest about three times, including with the Bards. This year, I'm just going for fun. But I'll have CDs and album pins and will do my best to entertain you when it's my turn in the filk circle. 6:50 - UPCOMING SHOWS Here are some more shows happening this month:
10:06 - Altan "Dúlamán" from Island Angel 13:45 - JOIN THE CLUB The show is brought to you by my Gunn Runners on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast and my music, please join the Club. You get 4-10 new things every month. That includes bonus podcasts, downloadable songs, printed sheet music, blogs, stories from the road, and access to Coffee with The Celtfather video concerts. Sign up for as little as $5 per month. And you can save 15% with an annual membership. 14:42 - COUNTDOWN OF TOP 10 CELTIC BANDS OF 2022? I was listening to a podcast called Hit Parade. They talk about the hits. The host is a Charts Nerd. Like me, he listened to Casey Kasem's Top 40 Hits back in the 80s. I wasn't quite as obsessed as he was. But I did love the show. My interest in charts really took off in the early 2000s when the Brobdingnagian Bards were topping the charts. I was able to figure out the system and how to maximize our success there. So now I have Two Charts that I keep track of each year. One is the Celtic Top 20. This is the last episode of the year of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. I highlight fan votes for the top 20 songs and tunes of all of the episodes of the year. The second is my organic pick of the Top 10 Celtic Bands. Meaning, these are the bands I played the most. I didn't plan to play any band more than any other. But I did. You can read the blog, Top 10 Celtic Bands of 2022, on my website. You can also check out my 5 Celtic Bands to Watch in 2023. 24:37 - DOWNLOAD MY FREE EP You can download all of my songs in this show. Just send me an email. pubsong@celtfather You can let me know what you're doing while listening to this episode. I'd love to hear from you. You will get an auto responder with a link to download this month's album. Please subscribe to the podcast if you're not already subscribed. It's quick and easy. And just like this Free EP, it is FREE! 25:38 - "Biddy Mulligan" by Banshee in the Kitchen from Last Pint - NOT 31:38 - STORY OF CLOSE YOUR EYES & REAVERS LULLABY One of my most-popular songs since 2009 is a song called "Close Your Eyes". It's commonly known as "The Demon Lulllaby". The song was written in 2003 by filker, Daniel Glasser. It won Best Comedy Song in the 2008 Pegasus Awards. That's also the year I first heard the song. It was a I-Con Science Fiction Convention in Stony Brook, New York. I remember those filk circles fairly well. Now if you're not familiar with the word filk, that is the music of fandom. It's the music you hear at science fiction conventions. The word was first used as a misprint of folk music that was happening at conventions back in the '50s. I guess con goers liked the term, because next thing you know, filk circles exploded. The filk circles at I-Con were my first. My old band, Brobdingnagian Bards, were invited to be guests at I-Con back in 2002, I believe. I saw Emerald Rose was performing there and thought, "why on earth is a Celtic band like us playing at science fiction convention". So I booked us and realize con goers love Celtic music, and that we were also playing filk, with songs like "Do Virgins Taste Better" and "If I Had A Million Ducats". Any case, we were invited to the I-Con Filk Circle. We sang our songs and began building an audience. 2008 was our last year at the convention before we broke up. I don't remember who sang "Close Your Eyes". But I loved it. After we parted ways, I did an internet search to find the song. Lo and behold, I found it on the Pegasus Awards website. I contacted Daniel Glasser and asked if I could record the song. He was extremely generous to say yes. I had never played the song live when I recorded it in January 2009 for my CD Kilted For Her Pleasure on the North Shore in Louisiana at my friend Jamie Haeuser's house. Jamie recorded percussion on a couple of tracks for that album. As a lullaby, I kept the song pretty barebones, just me and the autoharp. And it worked. As I played it at shows, it was an immediate favorite. "The demons in your bed are gonna eat you up". One of my most-memorable moments was performing it a giant ballroom at Dragon Con in 2009. The stage was simple with me dressed in my black kilt, long hair flowing, the enormous sideburns, and an autoharp as I sang the song, pausing for comedic effect. (YouTube video)The audience was in tears by the end. It was a brilliant start to my solo career. The song was an obvious hit. I'm gonna play the song for you right now. And then I'll share the filk of the song in a moment. 37:10 - "Close Your Eyes" by Marc Gunn from Kilted For Her Pleasure 40:51 - STORY OF REAVER'S LULLABY In 2010, my first daughter was born--Kenzie. Having a daughter made this song even better. Not only do I like singing it to her. But there's no better way of finishing the song and stating, "If you enjoy this song, then your CD purchases help to pay for my daughter's therapy when she grows up." And it's true. Your purchases do help to pay for her therapy. So please.... Well, if she wasn't disturbed, then she has been when I filked the filk. I think it was 2014 when I first filked "Close Your Eyes". The song was already popular at my many shows. I started performing it at my Firefly Drinking Songs show at Gen Con the year before. It was well-loved. Now when I'm up on stage, I'm always looking to use things from the moment to include in the show. Some people complain about hecklers. I don't think I've ever met a heckler I didn't like. They just give me ammo to improve my show. The year before "Close Your Eyes" was a hit. But could I make it funnier? "Close your eyes and sleep Reavers! Hey that works! I remember thinking. The reavers in your bed... I can't tell you why I decided to change the next line. But the response was mind-blowing. "The reavers in your bed… The room erupted. Those who knew the original song already thought it was funny. But the visual of the horrifying reavers eating someone's face... well, it worked! Over the next few years, I tried changing the lyrics more to suit Firefly, but they never really came. Meanwhile, several Browncoats kept asking, "when are going to record that song?!" I set a Milestone on Patreon in 2017. If I raised enough money, I would record the song for a short EP. The goal was met. I sat down to record the song and ended up recording a whole bunch of Firefly songs. Lo and behold I had a new album. The album is called As Long As I'm Flyin'. It will be officially released on March 6, 2018. March is the only month that you will be able to buy a physical copy of the album online for the foreseeable future. So mark your calendar. If you want a download of the album, along with a bunch of notes about it, become a Patron of music. JOIN THE GUNN RUNNERS CLUB ON PATREON! You'll be able to buy it everywhere online. And you can stream it through Spotify. I would deeply appreciate it if you would help me spread the word. You can share this podcast. Of course, my previous Firefly album with Bedlam Bards, Firefly Drinking Songs, is on sale. If you ever wanted to experience what it's like going to a pub in Canton on Higgin's Moon, you want to own this album. 48:26 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Atlanta Pub Songs & Stories. The show was produced by Marc Gunn, edited by Mitchell Petersen with graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. You can subscribe and listen to the show wherever you find podcasts. O can also subscribe to my mailing list. You will get regular updates of new music, podcasts, special offers, and you'll more stories behind several of my most-popular songs. And of course, please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Have fun and sing along at www.pubsong.com! #pubstories #celticmusic #top20 --> | |||