Glen Hansard has released his version of ‘Bottle of Smoke’, taken from the forthcoming tribute album 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan.
The song was recorded in October 2024. The release has the full support of Hansard’s family and estate. The press release describes it as a celebration of the artistic bond and personal friendship between Hansard and Shane MacGowan.
‘Bottle of Smoke’ was originally written for the album If I Should Fall From Grace With God. The press release calls it one of the most joyful songs in MacGowan’s catalogue.
Victoria Mary Clarke says: “I’m eternally grateful to Glen for being such an incredible friend to both myself and Shane and for being such an integral part of making this album possible. He did a magnificent version of Bottle of Smoke and he infused it with all of the soul and spirit and passion that he was famous for. I know that Shane adored Glen and admired his work and was hoping that Glen would produce an album for him. His passing is a profound loss to the music world and to humanity in general but it is some comfort to have his voice and presence and beauty on this album which would not have been made without him.”
Half of the proceeds from the album will go to the Dublin Simon Community, which works to end homelessness across Ireland. The press release says MacGowan and Hansard both supported social causes throughout their lives.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, says the charity is grateful to Clarke, Rubyworks and the artists who gave their time to the project. She says the money will help support people experiencing homelessness through the winter. She adds that MacGowan was a long-time supporter of the charity, while Hansard was the driving force behind the Dublin Simon Christmas Eve Busk on Grafton Street.
20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan is a 36-track album celebrating MacGowan, who lived from 1957 to 2023. Contributors include Bruce Springsteen, Hozier, U2, Tom Waits, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Damien Dempsey, Lisa O’Neill and The Murder Capital. It is out on Friday 13 November 2026 on 3LP vinyl, 2CD, Deluxe Bookpack and digital formats. Pre-orders are open.
The full tracklisting is:
- Amble – ‘The Snake With the Eyes of Garnet’
- Bob Geldof – ‘St. John Of Gods’
- Bruce Springsteen – ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’
- Camille O’Sullivan – ‘You’re The One’
- Cronin – ‘London You’re A Lady’
- Damien Dempsey – ‘Sally MacLennane’
- David Gray – ‘The Old Main Drag’
- David Keenan – ‘The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn’
- Dropkick Murphys – ‘The Body of an American’
- Garron Noone – ‘White City’
- Glen Hansard – ‘Bottle of Smoke’
- Hozier & Jessie Buckley – ‘Fairytale of New York’
- Jimmy Artache – ‘USA’
- Johnny Mac and The Faithful – ‘Fiesta’
- Johnny Depp & Imelda May – ‘Haunted’
- Kate Moss – ‘Lonesome Highway’
- Kingfishr – ‘The Sunnyside of the Street’
- Liam Ó Maonlaí – ‘The Broad Majestic Shannon’
- Lisa Moorish & Another Day – ‘Rain Street’
- Lisa O’Neill – ‘Dark Streets of London’
- LYRA – ‘Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six’
- Madra Salach – ‘Turkish Song of the Damned’
- Moya Brennan – ‘Mother Mo Chroi’
- Mundy – ‘Victoria’
- Picture This – ‘Aisling’
- Pinch of Snuff – ‘Donegal Express’
- Primal Scream – ‘A Pair of Brown Eyes’
- Steve Earle – ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’
- The High Kings – ‘Streams of Whiskey’
- The Jesus And Mary Chain – ‘I’ll Be Your Handbag’
- The Libertines – ‘Sayonara’
- The Murder Capital – ‘The Song With No Name’
- The Pogues – ‘Gabrielle’
- Tom Creagh – ‘Paddy Public Enemy No. 1’
- Tom Waits – ‘Summer In Siam’
- U2 – ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’
More information is on the official Shane MacGowan website.