The late Glen Hansard is back in Shane’s corner. His live take on The Pogues’ “Bottle of Smoke” is out now, the latest track from 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan, the 36-track tribute landing November 13 on Rubyworks.

Recorded at LA’s Wiltern Theatre in October 2024, it has Pogues accordion man James Fearnley sitting in, with uilleann pipes, banjo and fiddle going at full gallop. It comes out with the blessing of Hansard’s family; he died in a motorcycle crash in July, aged 56.

Hansard was musical director at Shane’s funeral in Nenagh, and Victoria Mary Clarke says the album wouldn’t exist without him. Half the proceeds go to the Dublin Simon Community, whose Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street Glen drove for years.

https://www.shanemacgowan.com/