Inspiration is a funny friend. It finds you and guides you. It takes you to strange and wonderful places. It introduces you to heroes. I started playing Celtic music in 1999... by accident. I had three "Celtic" songs in my song repertoire: "The Scotsman", "Irish Ballad" by Tom Lehrer, and an original Enya-esque song with nonsensical lyrics called "Lounging in La La Land". I was practicing on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin when red-haired gentleman asked if I'd like to perform at a Renaissance festival. As a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, I was so excited I asked my friend Andrew McKee to start a band with me. Soon the Brobdingnagian Bards found new Celtic music heroes and inspiration. For me, it was The Wolfe Tones, Christy Moore, The Irish Balladeers, and some random cassette that was called Irish Drinking Songs. That was my introduction to Celtic music. Those were my first Celtic music heroes. Later, I added Ed Miller, Serious Kitchen (featuring Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer), Dougie MacLean, The Elders, Gaelic Storm, Clandestine, and even Bing Crosby. So of course many of these you have heard on my podcasts. Who are your Celtic music heroes? Welcome to the Pub Songs Podcast, the virtual Public House for Celtic culture and change through music. My name is Marc Gunn. I am a Celtic Geek musician and your guide to a kinder, happier world. Today’s show is brought to you by my Heroic Gunn Runners on Patreon. These generous people pledge $10 per month so that I can keep creating music, podcasts and live streaming video shows like Coffee with The Celtfather. Of course, you can support me for any amount. But these are my heroes. Thank you! If you have comments or want to chat in the pub, email me. Use #PubSongs when talking about this show. Cead mile failte! PubSong.net Celtic bands mentioned in this show: Screeched Inn, Kilt, Spirit of the West, Great Big Sea, Flogging Molly, Koady and Tim Chaisson, Jake Charron, East Pointers, NUA, 10 Strings and a Goat Skin, Andrea Beaton, Syr, Stout Pounders, Patrick Ball, 3 Pints Gone, Darby O’Gill, Young Dubliners, Wicked Tinkers, Bad Gaggis, Kilted Kings, The Chieftains, Silly Wizard, Emerald Rose, Dropkick Murphys, The Larkin’s and the Moranes, The Pogues, The Tossers, Brobdingnagian Bards, Old Blind Dogs, Damh the Bard, Enter the Haggis, Gaelic Storm, The Fighting Jamesons, Celtic Thunder, Celtic Woman, Clannad, Barney McKenna, Lunasa, Solas, Leahy, Off Kilter, The Clancy Brothers, Tullamore, Runrig, Brian McNeil, Back Bush, Tears for Beers, Alan Stivell, The Sweet Sorrows   WHO'S PLAYING IN THE PUB TODAY? 0:16 "As Long As I'm Flyin'" by Marc Gunn from As Long As I'm Flyin' Last week, I raised the question on my Facebook page: Who are your Celtic music heroes? What Celtic bands and musicians inspired you? Here's a link to Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. 4:32 "I's The B'y" by Screeched Inn from Screeched Inn 7:05 "Happy Cammy Drammy Birthday" by NUA from BOLD 11:50 "Run Paddy Run" by Stout Pounders from 3 Drinks Minimum 14:21 "Doctor of Gallifrey" by Marc Gunn from Sci Drinking Songs 17:46 "Skye Boat Song" by 3 Pints Gone from Live at the Shamrock Club 22:19 "The B-52" by Bad Haggis from Trip 25:48 Rant: Is it Good enough to share with a friend? Remarkable enough? 31:19 "Name On My Soul" by Kilted Kings from Name On My Soul 37:27 "Hills of America" by Emerald Rose from Celtic Crescent 41:17 "Terror Time" by Old Blind Dogs from Four on the Floor 45:28 d20 Math Question. 46:36 "Antlered Crown and Standing Stone" by Damh the Bard from Antlered Crown and Standing Stone 51:36 "Lily the Pink" by Brobdingnagian Bards from Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales 54:38 Long-form podcast content 56:00 "Kiss Me I'm Irish" by Gaelic Storm from Bring Yer Willies 1:00:49 "Gasoline" by Enter the Haggis from Casualties of Retail 1:05:38 PUB CHAT I want your feedback. What are you doing today while listening to the Pub Songs Podcast? How has this show inspired you? Send a written comment along with any pictures