The Popes – LONDON CELTIC PUNKS WEB-ZINE

NEW POGUESTRA SONG FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY 2021

The You Tube sensation the PoguestrA are back again with another classic Pogues cover for us. This time they are again supported by two musicians who played large parts in The Pogues story. Read on to find out who! The PoguestrA are a group of musicians from across the world who are big fans of…
ODDS’N’SODS. CELTIC-PUNK ROUND UP DECEMBER 2020

In a attempt to get away from just doing ‘ReviewReviewReviewReview…’ we started a monthly feature of all the Celtic-Punk news that passed us by. All will get a mention but I need YOU to help if it’s going to work. Any band news, record releases, videos, tours (not individual gigs though yet sadly), live streams,…
LET THE MUSIC KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH – PART TWO

Our short series on the songs of Andy Nolan continues today with another five of Andy’s masterpieces. As a past member of Shane MacGowan And The Popes and Spider Stacy’s Vendettas he has a great musical legacy but it’s as accordion player and songwriter for London Irish musical tour-de-force The Bible Code Sundays that Andy’s…
LET THE MUSIC KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH – PART ONE

Andy Nolan is best known on these pages as the accordion player and songwriter for the London Irish musical tour-de-force The Bible Code Sundays and as an ex-member of Shane MacGowan And The Popes and Spider Stacy’s Vendettas but there’s a lot more to him than just being an expert accordionist. Andy is also a…
POGUE LAUREATE: POGUETRY – THE LYRICS OF SHANE MacGOWAN

It’s thirty-eight years to the day that The Pogues, then known as Pogue Mahone first trod the boards at their debut gig at The Pindar of Wakefield in Kings Cross, London. At their height, The Pogues were as vivid an embodiment of the Irish of London as you’re ever likely to see. Their songs bled…
IRISH SOUL STEW- THE POGUES

One man’s thoughts on what the Pogues Shane MacGowan were and are. The original Celtic-Punk band, formally known as Pogue Mahone (from the Irish Gaelic ‘póg mo thóin’ meaning ‘kiss my arse’) who later became known as The Pogues. Formed in 1982 their inspired use of traditional Irish instruments and poetic, often politically tinged lyrics…
REMEMBERING RODDY McCORLEY IN SONG

A short series exploring some of the figures from history immortalised in song and covered by all your favourite Folk and Celtic-Punk bands. You’ve sung the song but do you know the rich history behind the words? Today we celebrate Roddy McCorley, a young man executed back in 1800. He has been immortalised in both…
HUNGARIAN CELTIC PUNK WEEK! EP REVIEW: THE CRAZY ROGUES- ‘Rebels’ Shanties’ (2017)

Anyone remember 2015? That was the year of the Hungarian celtic-punk record. A whole host of bands coming together in a perfect storm and absolutely completely dominating the scene that year. Loch Nesz, The Jolly Jackers, The Crazy Rogues, The Scarlet, Firkin and Paddy And The Rats all featured in the London Celtic Punks end of year…
ALBUM REVIEW: SHAMBOLICS- ‘Riot On Race Day’ (2016)

“In South Australia I was born, heave away, haul away In South Australia, ’round Cape Horn, we’re bound for South Australia” …Ten original songs from rollickin’ celtic punk to country and spaghetti western…and beyond! One of the biggest dangers of doing a site like this is that there are only so many ways you can describe…
INTERVIEW WITH PAUL ‘Mad Dog’ McGUINNESS FROM THE POPES

A couple of years back the whole celtic-punk community were shocked to hear that Paul ‘Mad Dog’ McGuinness, vocalist with The Popes, has been involved in a serious car accident in east London. The Popes were best known originally as Shane MacGowan’s backing band but also became a God damn brilliant celtic rock/punk band in their own…
INTERVIEW WITH JOHNNY CAMPBELL

A fast, ruthless, uncompromising sound with influences from far and wide. Material that embraces traditional music and sometimes frantic Bluegrass style picking with self penned songs of protest and debauchery. We are extremely happy that Johnny took time out from megabussing it around the country from gig to gig to do a little interview for us. The…
FILM REVIEW: ‘A MAN YOU DON’T MEET EVERY DAY’

It’s the mid-nineties in London and a couple meet through a lonely hearts column. She is an middle class English married woman, he is an lonely Irish mechanic and despite the gulf between them they start an affair. A long forgotten slice of life from the early 90’s with a soundtrack from the best band of all time.…
UPDATE ON PAUL ‘mad dog’ McGUINNESS FROM THE POPES RECOVERY

The great news is that Paul was eventually discharged from Homerton Hospital in North London and continues to make great progress with his physical strength and mobility improving daily and also his cognitive skills. He has moved into a self contained flat and is well on the road to recovery. To those who hadn’t heard Paul…
ALBUM REVIEW: ANTO MORRA- ‘Never Had To Shout’ (2014)

Every now and then you can come across a new act or artiste that literally blows your socks off and you just cannot work out how you had never heard of them before. Well this is exactly what happened recently with ourselves and Mr Anto Morra. Without going into the twists and turns of fate…
30492-LONDON CELTIC PUNK’S TOP TWENTY CELTIC-PUNK ALBUM’s OF ALL TIME‏

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! Today we celebrate the blog’s first anniversary so, in a case of obvious self-indulgence, we thought we’d share with you our TOP TWENTY CELTIC-PUNK ALBUM’s OF ALL TIME. The last year has flown by and, even better, feedback for the site seems to have been universally good. As long we’re appreciated it’s…
ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDS CROSS- ‘Gods And Fighting Men’ (2014)‏

Its always great to hear about a new band on the London scene but when that band is super-bloody-fantastic its even better! Creed’s Cross are a relatively new band formed by internationaly celebrated musician Bart Foley. He’s accompanied by some stella fellow performers in Pat McManus of The Mamas Boys and Brian Kelly of The…
PAUL ‘mad dog’ McGUINNESS OF THE POPES IN HOSPITAL AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

Shocking news out of London that Paul McGuinness vocalist with The Popes has been knocked down by a car in east London. As of the 6th December Paul has now been moved to a ward and is no longer under intensive care and is now undergoing physiotherapy. Paul is still making good progress but as…
NECK IN SEISUIN SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2013

Next month (20-22 September) is the annual North London Punx Picnic festival. Its basically a DIY punk festival in the spirit of the old picnic’s not what passes for them now as they’re more like wee mini Rebellions! its all done as non-profit with cheap gigs that are all benefits for decent causes with a picnic in the middle… beware though the…

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