Irish folk rock band Kingfishr will release their cover of The Pogues song The Sunnyside of the Street from the upcoming Shane MacGowan tribute album this Friday.
The trio, who have enjoyed huge breakthrough success over the past year with their song Killeagh and debut album Halcyon, join thirty acts including U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Waits on 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan, which is released in November.
Shane MacGowan
Pogues front man MacGowan passed away aged 65 on 30 November 2023, and The Sunnyside of the Street appeared on The Pogues’ 1990 album Hell’s Ditch.
“We the song because of how surprisingly sad the lyrics are when you focus in on them,” Kingfishr said.
“We thought the song deserved to be shown in a light that reflects that. Shane made an incredible contribution to music and it’s an honour to be included in the project with so many talented people, especially given the cause it serves.”
Shane MacGowan: Twilight of a Celtic champion
50% of artist royalties from 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community, who provide life-saving housing and healthcare initiatives for people experiencing homelessness across Dublin.
The announcement comes after record-breaking year for Kingfishr. Killeagh spent a total of 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Irish charts and the band recently completed their first ever headline tour of Australia.
Kingfishr’s Killeagh spent a total of 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Irish charts
Kingfishr are currently on a headline tour of the US and they are back in Ireland for outdoor shows in Belfast, Dublin, and Limerick next summer.
Boston band The Dropkick Murphys have covered The Body of An American for the new MacGowan album.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment before he took the stage recently in Fairview Park in Dublin, front man Ken Casey said the band chose the song as a wake-up call to Irish Americans.
“That line from the song, ‘I’m a freeborn man of the USA’ hits different now. It’s like a reminder to Irish Americans, so many of whom have become MAGA – I say to them that a generation or two ago you were the villainised immigrant population.
“Don’t forget where you came from. In our hearts, that song is a way to remind Irish Americans to pull their head out of their arse.”
The full track listing of 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan is:
Amble – The Snake With the Eyes of Garnet
Bob Geldof – St. John Of Gods
Bruce Springsteen – A Rainy Night in Soho
Camille O’Sullivan – You’re The One
Cronin – London You’re A Lady
Damien Dempsey – Sally MacLennane
David Gray – The Old Main Drag
David Keenan – The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
Dropkick Murphys – The Body of an American
Garron Noone – White City
Glen Hansard – Bottle of Smoke
Hozier & Jessie Buckley – Fairytale of New York
Jimmy Artache – USA
Johnny Mac and The Faithful – Fiesta
Johnny Depp & Imelda May – Haunted
Kate Moss – Lonesome Highway
Kingfishr – The Sunnyside of the Street
Liam Ó Maonlaí – The Broad Majestic Shannon
Lisa Moorish & Another Day – Rain Street
Lisa O’Neill – Dark Streets of London
LYRA – Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six
Madra Salach – Turkish Song of the Damned
Moya Brennan – Mother Mo Chroi
Mundy – Victoria
Picture This – Aisling
Pinch of Snuff – Donegal Express
Primal Scream – A Pair of Brown Eyes
Steve Earle – If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The High Kings – Streams of Whiskey
The Jesus And Mary Chain – I’ll Be Your Handbag
The Libertines – Sayonara
The Murder Capital – The Song With No Name
The Pogues – Gabrielle
Tom Creagh – Paddy Public Enemy No. 1
Tom Waits – Summer In Siam
U2 – Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
More music news, reviews and interviews here