Episodes

  • Episode LVII is a grim Halloween special featuring some creepy favourites! Artwork is a German painting of the Danse Macabre, creator unknown.

    Tracklist

    John Carpenter – Tommy Tells Of Ghost Ships
    Richard Dawson – Ghost of a Tree
    Paddy Glackin and Robbie Hannan – The Young Tom Ennis / The Maid at the Well
    John Goodluck – The Lover’s Ghost
    Pentangle – The Cruel Sister
    Harry Bradley and Michael Clarkson – The Geese in the Bog / The Jig of the Dead
    Roky Erickson – I Walked with a Zombie
    Dimlaia – Goodnight Sweet Ghost
    Eddie Butcher – Saturday Night is Halloween Night
    Shane McGowan and Sinéad O’Connor – Haunted
    The Kipper Family – All on the Shore
    Blood Axis & In Gowan Ring – Dead Men’s Slip-Jig
    Tom Lehrer – The Irish Ballad
    Jeannie Robertson – The Dublin Murder Ballad

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • This episode looks at the ballad Fair Margaret And Sweet William aka Lady Margaret And Sweet William aka Sweet William and Fair Margaret aka Knight William aka Lady Margaret aka Little Margaret aka The Old Armchair

    Tracklist


    Tom Munnelly – Talking about Knight William
    Martin Howley – Knight William
    AL Lloyd – Fair Margaret And Sweet William
    The Hare and the Moon – Sweet William and Fair Margaret
    Justus Begley – Lady Margaret
    Emma Shelton – Fair Margaret and Sweet William
    Almeda Riddle – Lady Margaret
    Sheila Kay Adams – Little Margaret
    Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi – Little Margaret
    Amps for Christ – Sweet William and Lady Margaret

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

    “Margaret’s Ghost” by Gwen Raverat, 1909

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  • Fire Draw Near Episode LVI turns a focussed ear to the liminal weirdos at the very fringes of traditional and folk music. And Nioclás Tóibín. Pictured are the Belgian duo Tabernis, who open the episode.

    Tracklist

    Tabernis – Carmen Reginarum
    Róis – Caoine
    Charanjit Singh – Raga Bhairav
    Isa Gordon – What a Voice
    Seamas Hyland – Navan Road
    Nioclás Tóibín – Eochaill
    The Deadlians – Return to Fingal / Lord Mayo
    Dawn Ray'd – Requital
    Córas – George White’s
    Ancient Hostility – Immigration Van
    Greet – John Barleycorn

  • This episode looks at the ballad the Suffolk Miracle aka the Holland Handkerchief aka the Lover's Ghost.

    Tracklist

    Nora Cleary – The Holland Handkerchief
    Packie Manus Byrne – The Holland Handkerchief
    Austin Flanagan – The Holland Handkerchief
    Michael McGonigle – The Holland Handkerchief
    John Goodluck – The Suffolk Miracle
    Chris Foster – The Holland Handkerchief
    Rósa Ingólfsdóttir – Djákninn á Myrká
    John W. Green – The Suffolk Miracle
    Mrs. G. A. Griffin – The Suffolk Miracle
    Dol Small – The Suffolk Miracle
    Peggy Seeger – The Suffolk Miracle
    Dean Gitter – The Suffolk Miracle
    Doctor Evazan – The Suffolk Miracle
    Quadriga Consort – The Suffolk Miracle

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • Fire Draw Near Episode LV is respectfully dedicated to the memory of Heather Wood ' - outstanding singer, tank driver and wit'. It features her singing with the Young Tradition alongside some anti-marriage songs, a little look at Oró Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile, some traditional tunes by Rory Gallagher, some north American goodness and a bit more besides.

    Tracklist

    Jim Williams – Finger Scene
    The Young Tradition – Lyke Wake Dirge
    Rory Gallagher – She Moved Through the Fair
    Darach Ó Catháin – Oró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile
    Sinéad O’Connor – Oró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile
    Natalie Ní Chasaide and Iarfhlaith Ó Dohmnaill – Welcome Home Gràinne
    The Kossoy Sisters – I Never Will Marry
    Lukas De Clerck – Sacrifice of a Reed
    The Dubliners – Don’t Get Married
    West of Roan – Let No One Steal Your Thyme
    Abner Jay – I’m So Depressed
    Rory Gallagher – Bratcha Dubha
    Paul Clayton – Johnny's Gone To Hilo
    Iris Dement – Pretty Saro
    The Young Tradition – The Innocent Hare
    The Rheingans Sisters – Devils

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • This episode looks at the ballad Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man aka An Old Man Came Courting Me aka Never Wed an Old Man aka The Foolish Old Man.

    Tracklist

    The Dubliners – Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man
    The Clancy Brothers – An Old Man Came Courting
    Pat McNamara – Never Wed an Old Man
    Sam Larner - Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man
    Danny Brazil – An Old Man Came Courting Me
    Peggy Seeger – An Old Man Came Courting Me
    Killy Country – An Old Man Came Courting Me
    Ashley Hutchings – Black Joke
    Jeanie Robertson – An Old Man Came Courting Me
    Alex Beaton – Maids When You're Young
    Alasdair Roberts and Mairi Morrison – Never Wed an Old Man
    Alan Mills and Jean Carignan – The Foolish Old Man
    Edna Ritchie – An Old Man Came Courting Me
    Frank & James McCravy – Get Away, Old Man, Get Away
    Joni Mitchell – Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man
    Paul Gwynne Phillips – An Old Man Came A-Courting
    Jon Kennedy – Never Wed an Old Man

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • Fire Draw Near Episode LIV features wrens, bitterns and cailleachaí.

    Roisin El Cherif - Siúil a Rúin
    David Murphy – Sean O'Duibhir a Ghleanna
    Dave Van Ronk – Luang Prabang
    Wire Worms – The Cutty Wren
    The Young Tradition – Byker Hill
    Thin Lizzy – Sitamoia
    Meaigí Nic Dhonncha – Cailleach an Airgid
    Stiofán Ó Cualáin – Cailleach an Airgid
    David Power – The Hag With The Money / Garrett Barry's
    Bexley H.S. Vocal Ensemble – 'Si Do Mhaimeo I
    Seán Jeaic Mac Donncha – An Bonnán Buí
    The Huntress and Holder of Hands – Rocky Coast⧸EDT
    Norman MacLean – Am Bothan a Bh'Aig Fionnghuala
    The Bothy Band – Fionnghuala
    Toké O'Drift – Bothy Bangz
    Harry Gorski-Brown – Buain na Choirce

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • This episode looks at the song Paddy Works on the Railway aka Paddy on the Railway aka Poor Paddy aka Fillimiooriay aka Paddy Works on the Erie aka Pat Do This, Pat Do That.

    Tracklist

    That Clancy Children – Paddy on the Railway
    The Pogues – Poor Paddy
    Salty Dick – The Shaver
    Mark Page – Paddy Works on the Railway
    Ewan MacColl – Paddy Works on the Railway
    Dominic Behan – Paddy Works on the Railway
    Louisa Jo Killen – Paddy Works on the Railway
    Keith Kendrick - Paddy Works on the Railway
    The Wolfe Tones – Paddy Works on the Railway
    Michael Cassius Dean – To Work Upon the Railroad
    The American Ballad Singers – Pat Works on the Railway
    Pete Seeger – Paddy Works on the Railroad
    The Highwaymen – Pat Works On The Railway
    Cisco Houston – Pat Works On The Railroad
    Stuart M. Frank – Paddy on the Railway
    Barbara Moncure – The Bluestone Quarries
    Sam Amidon – Pat Do This, Pat Do That
    Ben Miller Band – Paddy on the Railway

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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. Rasmussen – Chantey interview
    Hugues Aufray – Santiano
    Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Aim Spirente
    Sea Shanty Metal – Santiana

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 – Al Intifada Was Jabal Al Thawra
    Robert Sarazin Blake – Don’t Use Our Death and Pain
    Daniel Kahn, Psoy Korolenko – Oh you Foolish little Zionists
    Rola Azar – Ya Teir Elsnono
    Áit Ait – Henry Martin
    Gazelle Twin & NYX – Fire Leap
    Wailing Sídhe – Corrag
    Derrick Morgan – Three Drunken Night
    Mark Lanegan – The Cherry Tree Carol
    Richard Bégin – Lavrador
    Jack Sheehan & Isa Gordon – My Heart Biological (Loch Erne’s Shore)
    Doyle & Andersson – Baffled Knight
    Leonard Barry – Tom Busby's / The Humours of Ballingary
    Ian Lynch - The Rocks of Palestine

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 Lad
    Janet Gibson Lynch – The Old Woman from Kelso
    George Inglis Fraser – The Toon O’Kelso
    Jimmy Knight – Marrowbones
    Ken Peacock – Old Woman from Dover
    Helen Fultz – Holy Boly
    Horton Barker – There Was An Old Lady
    Hedy West – Johnny Sands
    Peggy Seeger – Rich Old Lady
    Dorothy Olsen - Marrowbones

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 – Winter Bracken
    John Francis Flynn – Kitty
    Of the Clay – Geordie
    The Pogues – A Pair Of Brown Eyes

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 Shore
    Eliza Carthy – The Maid on the Shore


    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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, Uncle Joe
    The Voice Squad – I Am Stretched On Your Grave
    Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh – An Manglam / The Fairy Reel / I Have No Money
    Ruskavellas – Ballad of the Twelve Marys
    Swan Arcade – Go from My Window
    Maire O'Sullivan – The Fairy Lullaby
    Dean Gitter – The Suffolk Miracle
    Mag Doyle – The Banshee (story)
    Micho Russell – The Banshee (reel)
    Dónal Maguire – Willie O
    Sunken Grove – Upon a Hill, Fairy Folk are Gathering
    Len Graham – Sweet William's Ghost
    Rónán Galvin – Taibhse Chonaill
    The Copper Family – Babes in the Wood
    Eddie Noack – Psycho
    Matmos – Zealous Order Of Candied Knights

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 – Ramble Away
    Tattiebogle – Rambleaway

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 Kelly's Delight / The First Slip / Hardiman the Fiddler
    Sallows – The Unfortunate Lass
    Chirgilchin – Lonely Man
    The Critics Group – My Husband's Got No Courage In Him
    Nihiloxica – Endongo
    Frank Purslow and John Pearse – Rap A Tap Tap
    John Francis Flynn – Mole In The Ground
    ØXN – Love Henry
    Paddi Benson, Grace Lemon & James Patrick Gavin - A Primer

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 Vaughan
    Anne Briggs – Polly Vaughan
    The Furrow Collective – Polly Vaughn
    Marlais – Polly Vaughan
    The Dillards – Polly Vaughn
    Peter, Paul & Mary – Polly Von
    Sally Sloan – Molly Baun Lavery

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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 Ol' Jig Will Do_The Black Rock_Top it Off
    Sinéad O’Connor – Lord Franklin
    Dragonslumber – Phrygian Boys of Leisure
    Frank Harte – Molly Malone
    Jimmy O’Brien Moran – An Briste Bréidín, Na Ceannabháin Bhána
    Joey Abarta – The Lament for Limerick
    Sinéad O’Connor – The Parting Glass

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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) Scolding Wife.

    Tracklist

    A.L. Lloyd – The Devil and the Ploughman
    Walter Pardon – The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife
    Gordon Hall – Farmer’s Curst Wife
    The City Waites – Lillibullero
    Frankie Armstrong – Devil and the Farmer’s Wife
    Jimmy White – The Devil
    Maggie Murphy – Killyburn Brae
    Dominic Behan – The Women are Worse than the Men
    Margaret Dunne – There was an Old Woman from Conner in Hell
    Thomas Moran – The Farmer’s Curst Wife
    Bill and Belle Reed – Old Lady and the Devil
    Captain Pearl R. Nye – Old Woman under the Hill
    Joe Hubbard – The Farmer’s Curst Wife
    Hobart Stallard – The Old Lady and the Devil
    Lena Armstrong and Etta Jones – The Farmer and the Devil
    Jean Ritchie - The Farmer's Curst Wife
    Civilization IV – Colonization – The Farmer’s Curst Wife

    https://campsite.bio/firedrawnear

  • 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