Bruce Springsteen, Hozier and Jessie Buckley Record Shane Macgowan Tribute Album
shane macgowan is being honored with a star-studded tribute album announced on March 12 (ET). The project, 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane Macgowan, arrives with Bruce Springsteen’s cover of “A Rainy Night in Soho” as the first single, and the full collection is set for release in November through Rubyworks. Victoria Mary Clarke, who oversaw the project, said the family is humbled by the artists involved.
Shane Macgowan: Tribute album and first single
Organizers announced the album on March 12 (ET) and released Bruce Springsteen’s rendition of “A Rainy Night in Soho” the same day; Springsteen’s version is now available to stream. The album title is 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane Macgowan, and Rubyworks is listed as the label handling the release. The collection is due out on Nov. 13 and will include a broad mix of artists interpreting Macgowan’s songs.
Contributors named for the project include Hozier performing a duet with Jessie Buckley, Tom Waits, Primal Scream, Steve Earle, David Gray, Damien Dempsey, Dropkick Murphys, Johnny Depp in a duet with Imelda May, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Libertines and Kate Moss. The wide roster reflects the reach of shane macgowan’s songwriting across generations and genres.
Immediate reactions from artists and family
Bruce Springsteen framed his contribution with an extended essay calling Macgowan “raw, hilarious, no apologies and profound, ” and recalling an afternoon he spent with Macgowan at his home in Ireland shortly before the musician’s death. Springsteen wrote that he thanked Macgowan for his work, kissed him and told him he loved him, adding that Macgowan’s writing was “so flashing, alive and historically rich. “
Victoria Mary Clarke, Macgowan’s wife, who oversaw the tribute, said: “Shane’s spirit and songwriting are eternally exalted through this glorious collection, each song is uniquely and graciously interpreted by these beyond-beautiful artists and his family are humbled by and thankful to each and every one of the musicians involved. ” Rubyworks founder Niall Muckian called it a privilege to provide a home for the work and to help ensure Macgowan’s voice continues to reach audiences.
The project also carries a philanthropic pledge: 50% of the artist royalties generated by the album will go to the Dublin Simon Community, the charity that works with the city’s homeless population—an explicit allocation tied to the release.
What’s next: release schedule, availability and legacy
The single from Bruce Springsteen has already been released for streaming on March 12 (ET), and the full compilation is scheduled for a November release through Rubyworks with a Nov. 13 date cited for the album’s arrival. The album will be available in standard and expanded formats, including a deluxe package with multiple discs and a book of memorabilia.
Organizers and contributors framed the project both as a celebration and a stewardship of Macgowan’s catalogue: it gathers established and unexpected interpreters to reimagine songs that critics and peers described as articulating the lives of working-class Irish immigrants. The family’s oversight and the royalty pledge aim to tie the tribute to charitable impact while reintroducing shane macgowan’s work to new listeners.
Expect further single releases and promotional details in the months ahead as the project moves toward its November release; fans can anticipate more contributions to surface from the named roster and statements from participating artists in the run-up to the album’s arrival honoring shane macgowan.
