- Bruce Springsteen releases a studio cover of “A Rainy Night in Soho”, a Pogues classic from 1986.
- It is the first single from the tribute album 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan, due out November 13, 2026.
- More than 30 artists are taking part, including Tom Waits, Hozier, Primal Scream, Dropkick Murphys, and the surviving members of the Pogues.
- 50% of the artists’ royalties will be donated to Dublin Simon Community, a homeless support organization.
Even after decades of listening to rock at Woodbrass, some announcements still give us chills. When Bruce Springsteen lends his voice to a song by Shane MacGowan, folk-punk receives the finest tribute imaginable. The Boss kicks off a massive tribute album bringing together around thirty artists. Let’s take a closer look.
“A Rainy Night in Soho”: a ballad reinvented by the Boss
Available since March 12, 2026, on all streaming platforms, the cover turns this Pogues classic into an intimate, majestic piece. Taken from the EP Poguetry in Motion (1986), the song is one of the most moving ballads in MacGowan’s catalog — somewhere between a declaration of love and a nocturnal ramble through London.
For this studio version, Springsteen and producer Ron Aniello chose a stripped-back yet warm approach. The Boss handles keyboards, Aniello takes care of bass and drums, while a four-piece horn section wraps it all in cinematic elegance.
Springsteen had already performed “A Rainy Night in Soho” live with the E Street Band at three concerts in Ireland in May 2024. Bob Dylan has also covered the song onstage, confirming its status as a modern standard.
20th Century Paddy: a monumental project
The album 20th Century Paddy will be released on November 13, 2026 via Irish label Rubyworks, as a vinyl box set (3 LPs), double CD, and digital release, along with a 56-page book. The list of contributors is staggering:
- Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain
- Hozier & Jessie Buckley (as a duet), Johnny Depp & Imelda May (as a duet)
- Dropkick Murphys, The Libertines, Glen Hansard, Kate Moss
- The surviving members of the Pogues and many more
The project, initiated by Victoria Mary Clarke (MacGowan’s wife) and Rubyworks, is all the more moving because it is said to be an album Shane himself had always dreamed of making.
Springsteen and MacGowan: long-standing admiration
The friendship between the two men was far from incidental. Springsteen visited MacGowan in Dublin in May 2023. After his death, the Boss called him one of his all-time favorite songwriters.
To accompany the single, Springsteen wrote a personal essay placing MacGowan alongside Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams — “natural rebels” whose genius was inseparable from a life lived outside convention.
To understand the musical DNA of the Pogues, listen to Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (1985) and If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1988). These two albums defined Celtic punk: Irish folk (tin whistle, accordion, mandolin) + raw punk energy. A fusion that inspired Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.
Shane MacGowan: punk poet and voice of the Irish diaspora
For those discovering the man, Shane MacGowan (1957–2023) was the co-founder of the Pogues, a band formed in London in 1982. Born in Kent to Irish parents and immersed in traditional music from childhood, he fused Celtic folk and punk rock like no one else. His lyrics gave a voice to the Irish diaspora. “Fairytale of New York” and “The Body of an American” remain etched in rock history.
A charitable, committed album
Beyond the music, 20th Century Paddy carries a powerful message. Half of the artists’ royalties will be donated to Dublin Simon Community, a homeless support organization in Dublin. MacGowan had long supported the organization — his last live performance was at the Christmas Eve Busk in 2021, organized by the charity.
A collective love letter to MacGowan’s genius
20th Century Paddy is shaping up to be far more than a tribute album. It is a living celebration of an artist whose work influenced entire genres. As the Boss put it, he does not know who will be listening to his music in a hundred years, but he is certain people will still be listening to Shane’s.
Sources
- Rolling Stone – Bruce Springsteen Shares ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ From Upcoming Shane MacGowan Tribute LP
- Billboard – Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Others Remember Shane MacGowan With Tribute Album ’20th Century Paddy’
- Consequence of Sound – Shane MacGowan Tribute Album 20th Century Paddy Announced
- RTÉ – Hozier joins Jessie Buckley on new MacGowan tribute album
- Hot Press – Bruce Springsteen to release ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ cover in tribute to Shane MacGowan
