Last night, I started putting together a set list for my next Pub Songs Podcast. My plan is to do a live show. Since I am a huge proponent of keeping Irish music alive and kicking (see my Irish MP3s, my Celtic MP3s Music Magazine, or my Irish & Celtic Music Podcast), I am trying to balance my love of Irish music with my desire to be a songwriter and to play songs that I enjoy. I feel scattered. So balancing those many interests seems a difficult thing to do.

So here's what I came up with. For the Irish (and traditional folk) songs, I chose “Star of the County Down” (Irish), “Lish Young Buy-A-Broom” (Lowlands Scotland/Northern England), “La Fiera Dell'Este” (Italian), “Eleanor Plunkett” (Irish), “The Mermaid” (sea song), “The Parting Glass” (Irish), and “Loch Tay” (Scottish). Hmm… I guess that's quite a few folk songs. Add to it my original songs, like “The Pleasant Peasant Pheasant Plucking Song”, “Another Lonely Night” and “Lord of the Pounce”. Then add “Heart and Soul” and I guess that's a nice mix. Mostly traditional with a few originals. Yeah, I guess that'll work.

Ultimately, it's my own insecurities. I know a lot of songs, but not enough. There are still a lot more that I hope to learn one day. I'd also like to add more instrumentals to my set list. I write a lot of instrumental tunes. In fact, I've been slowly working on a CD of elven music and fairy music. Maybe one day, I'll sit down and actually finish some of those tunes so I can release that CD. But I'm just going by inspiration. And most of those tunes arise from performing at Renaissance festivals, where we don't perform near as often as when I started.

Anyway, keep an eye open for the next Pub Songs Podcast, Show #19 and you can hear my live performance on the podcast.