This episode looks at the ballad Santiano aka Santiana aka Santy Anno aka Santy Anna aka The Plains of Mexico. Tracklist Henry Lundy and David "Pappie" Pryor – Bay of Mexico The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem – Santy Anno The Watersons – The Plains of Mexico Pusser's Rum ft. Stan Hugill – Santiano Meredydd Evans – Santiana The Weavers – The Bay of Mexico Odetta – Santy Anno The Kingston Trio - Santy Anno Dave Van Ronk – Santy Anno The Men Of The Robert Shaw Chorale – Santy Anna A.H....

FDN LIII has been a long time coming...Included therein are songs of resistance, songs of magic and songs of being human. Life, Death, Love, Rage, Joy and Suffering. You know the drill. Sit by the Fire Draw Near. Free Palestine. Artwork designed by Palestinian artist Abdal Latif Muhanna and published by the Foreign Information Department of the PLO in 1982. X Tracklist Zeinab Shaath – The Urgent Call Of Palestine Marcel Khalife Oumeima El Khalil – My Teacher Palestinian Student Karmel Group...

This episode looks at the song Eggs and Marrowbones aka Marrowbones aka The Old Woman from Wexford aka The Old Woman from Oxford aka The Old Woman from Boston aka The Old Woman of Slapsadam aka An Old Woman’s Story aka The Rich Old Lady aka The Auld Man and the Churnstaff aka Tippig it Up to Nancy. Artwork by Carol Roe - https://youtu.be/laBE2X5tBMw Tracklist: John Reilly – Tipping it up to Nancy Joe Heaney – Old Woman of Wexford Red Mick McDermott – Marrowbones Sarah Makem – Canny Ould...

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

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

Episode LI is a spooky Halloween special coming straight from the swamps of Louisiana to steal your soul away. This episode features guest presenter Summer Newman of Holy Locust fame and showcases some of the creepiest traditional tunes and songs, rambling digressions on the calendar custom of Samhain / Halloween in Irish folk and fairy lore as well as some Dungeon Synth and experimental tracks for good measure. Tracklist Paul Miles and His Red Fox Chasers – Did You Ever See The Devil,...

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

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

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

Episode XLIX is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Shuhada' Sadaqat aka Sinéad O'Connor and features versions of traditional songs recorded by her. There are also tracks from Uilleann Piper Joey Abarta's new album, Dragon Slumber, Frank Harte, Jimmy O'Brien Moran and more. Tracklist Sinéad O’Connor – Paddy’s Lamentation Sinéad O’Connor – Her Mantle So Green Cormac Cannon – The Gold Ring Ragnar Vigdal - Jesus Din Søde Forening at Smage Liam Weldon – One Starry Night Joey Abarta – Any...

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

Alexis Zoumbas – Doina Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin - Eileanóir na Rún Unknown - Nuvenapreghiera Per La Novena di Natale Amelia Dawley, Mary Moran – Gullah Song Group Of Men From Andros Island – Dig My Grave X-Seamen’s Institute – Santiano Sarah Ghriallais – An Sceilpín Draighneach Pererin - Llongau Caernarfon Maxime Martelot, Aude Giuliano – La Chanson de Craonne Metro Radomsky – Baryshnia A Cantata Di Li Pasturi – Pastorale Planxty – The Well Below the Valley https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode XLIV takes a look at versions of the traditional songs that made their way onto Lankum's fourth album False Lankum, as well as a cello version of A Stór Mo Chroí, a song by Genoese Anarchist Fabrizio De André and a recent anti-racist ballad from New Zealand! Tracklist Finn – A Stór Mo Chroí Fabrizio De André – Un Blasfemo (Dietro Ogni Blasfemo C'è Un Giardino Incantato) Jean Ritchie – Go Dig My Grave Died For Love – Jasper Smith Gordon Bok – Clear Away in the Morning Cormac Begley –...

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

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

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

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