The Minstrel Boy with Jesse Ferguson #696

Interview with Jesse Ferguson about traditional Irish songs on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #696. Subscribe now!

Jesse Ferguson, Juha Rossi, The Byrne Brothers, Spoil the Dance, Telenn Tri, Fig for a Kiss, Mànran, Jigjam, Ironwood, Reilly, Misty Posey

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VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2025

This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music of 2025 episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now!

You can follow our playlist on Spotify and YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks.

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:02 - Intro: Jesse Ferguson

0:11 - Juha Rossi "Spotted Dog / Kataroni" from Irish Tunes on Mandolin

2:44 - WELCOME

5:33 - The Byrne Brothers "Trilogy" from The Boys of Doorin

10:25 - Spoil the Dance "The Maid on the Shore" from The Maid on the Shore - Single

14:52 - Telenn Tri "Mountain Road set" from The Cat's Meow

20:18 - Fig for a Kiss "Kildalton Bridge" from Wherever You Go

25:44 - FEEDBACK

29:47 - INTERVIEW WITH JESSE FERGUSON

30:38 - INTRO / THE MINSTREL BOY

34:07 - Jesse Ferguson "The Minstrel Boy" from TEN

36:23 - NEW ALBUM / DANNY BOY

40:05 - Jesse Ferguson "Danny Boy" from TEN

42:58 - YOUTUBE / FAIR AND TENDER LADIES

48:22 - Jesse Ferguson "Fair and Tender Ladies" from TEN

51:44 - THANKS

54:35 - The Stubby Shillelaghs "The Vodka Song" from Whiskey Business

56:48 - Mànran "San Cristóbal" from Ùrar

1:00:24 - Jigjam "Water's Hill" from Across The Pond

1:04:10 - Ironwood "Trip to Goa" from Gretna Green

1:07:09 - Reilly "Whiskey Grease" from Durty Pool

1:09:51 - CLOSING

1:11:06 - Misty Posey "Auld Lang Syne" from Celtic Voice of the Ancients

1:15:43 - CREDITS

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode.

Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage.

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* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and host of Folk Songs & Stories. This podcast is for fans of Celtic music.

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In 2025, we're going to the Celtic nation of Galicia in Spain. We're gonna learn about the history and legends behind the Celts there and experience some amazing Galician Celtic music.

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I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? I'd love to see a picture of what you're doing while listening. Is there a new Celtic CD or Celtic band that you heard of or saw? Send a picture.

Email me at follow@bestcelticmusic.

Peter Wood emailed about Stubby Shillelaghs: "Hi Mark,

I wrote a few years ago about playing the show with my wife in the car on dates and on our wedding day, and now we are expecting our first child. We don't listen to the show together much anymore, but when we go to the Renaissance Faire we played it (just missed you again!) and I put it on when we went for a swim on a summer evening when she wanted music without getting interrupted by YouTube Music ads. Since this year's Renaissance festival she's asked a few times for Tartanic when she's been in the mood for "my" music.

Recently I was listening to a different podcast that plays novelty songs around a theme (Bitslap with KBC if you're curious), and the theme of the week was Drinking, so of course some Celtic - sounding music came up, and for part of a set I thought I was listening to your show!

Of the two songs in particular that got me confused, the first was the Vodka Song by Stubby Shillelaghs (https://youtu.be/h9YRbJSbPw0) which I'm unsure if it or the band have ever been played on your show.

It was followed by Sober on St. Patrick's Day, and at first I thought I might have heard it on your show, but then when it got going I realized it wouldn't have fit in on your family friendly show. Turns out it's by Psychostick. I know you've got ties to the FuMP collective so you're probably already aware of it.

The Vodka Song at least would be a fun one to play if you've got the permission."

Patrick Rieger emailed photos from Ohio Renaissance Festival: "Hi Marc,

My family and I, along with our friend Chenna from Nashville, spent Labor Day Weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival, three days of faire. Ohio is a big faire with plenty of celtic musicians, but even with three days we didn't see them all.

We did see Captain John Stout (aka Richard Brentar), Donal Hinely, The Harper and the Minstrel, The Toasted Clover, The Jackdaws, Bettina Baudville, Seán Nós, and The Lady Victoria.

I had never heard of a nose harmonica until I met Bettina Baudville; that is what she is playing in the photo.

Also I never heard celtic music played on a ukulele until I met The Toasted Clover.

Donal Hinely was featured on the Renaissance Festival Podcast years ago when you were still a host, but until this year I had not seen or heard him in person."

Despite three long days of working the faire, Victoria was able to join us for a quick dinner one night.

And before the weekend was done, the four of us already planned to go back next year."