FOLK SONGS & STORIES cover art

FOLK SONGS & STORIES

FOLK SONGS & STORIES

By: Marc Gunn Celtic & Folk musician
Listen for free

About this listen

 Folk Songs & Stories shares the heart of indie Celtic and folk music. Host Marc Gunn uncovers the stories behind songs and offers tips for sustainable living—perfect for fans of authentic, grassroots tales. All songs are used with permission of the artists and copyright holders.2005-2025 Marc Gunn Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Quest & Chorus #3: Tintagel - History, Shipwrecks & Myth (special feature Folk Songs & Stories)

    Quest & Chorus #3: Tintagel - History, Shipwrecks & Myth (special feature Folk Songs & Stories)
    Sep 22 2025
    Welcome to Quest & Chorus, where songs remember what history forgets. I’m your bard, and today, we climb a legendary cliff—where myth and memory blur. To Tintagel. Some say King Arthur was born here. Others say he died here. And whether that’s true or not doesn’t really matter… Because this place feels like the kind of place where someone says goodbye. Today, we raise a glass—to stories that fade, and the people who carry them. This is Quest & Chorus #307 0:30 - Heather Dale “Mordred's Lullaby” from The Trial of Lancelot and The Secret World of Celtic Rock 3:41 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. I’m your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. If you’re new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. UPCOMING SHOWS SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KYOCT 11: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GAOCT 17-19: MultiVerse, Peachtree City, GANOV 1: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Festival, Fairburn, GANOV 8: IrishFest Atlanta, Roswell, GA with Inara Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I’ll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. News October Patreon Membership Drive. Get a free album: Field of Drams: Kilted Drinking SongsFlash Sale on MageRecords.comGuess the Secret Word to Unlock a reward. A big thanks to my… GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what’s new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you’ll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! 7:55 - Brobdingnagian Bards “Do Virgins Tast Better Medley” from A Faire To Remember 12:43 - TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let’s begin the… QUEST & CHORUS of TINTAGEL, CORNWALL - History & Myth Tintagel is carved into the coast of Cornwall — cliffs like the broken edge of a sword, sea spray rising like breath. Ruins cling to the stone. A castle? Maybe. A dream? Definitely. But before we step into the realm of Arthur and Avalon, let’s talk about what Tintagel really is. 🏰 The History The site we call Tintagel Castle was built in the 1230s by Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the brother of King Henry III. Richard was a man of immense wealth and ambition. And his castle wasn’t entirely practical. It wasn’t raised to defend farmland or trade routes. It was built as a statement — to tie himself to the powerful myths already woven into Tintagel’s cliffs. But Tintagel’s story stretches much further back. Archaeological excavations reveal traces of a post-Roman settlement from the 5th to 7th centuries. Pottery and glassware from the Mediterranean show that Tintagel was a hub of high-status trade — a gateway where Cornish kings connected with the wider world. Of course, life on these cliffs was never easy. The seas around Tintagel are beautiful but brutal. The jagged rocks and fierce Atlantic storms made this stretch of coast notorious for shipwrecks. For centuries, sailors feared the Cornish coast as “the graveyard of ships.” Wreckage would wash ashore, and in the medieval period — and even later — locals salvaged timbers, cargo, and stories from the sea. These wrecks added to Tintagel’s aura: a place where lives and legends were broken against the rocks, where the ocean itself seemed determined to test humanity’s endurance. So Tintagel is not just a romantic ruin. It is a site of trade, ambition, and survival — a place shaped as much by the storms of the sea as by the myths of men. ...
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • Quest & Chorus #2: A Lonely Shore on the Calf of Man (special feature Folk Songs & Stories)

    Quest & Chorus #2: A Lonely Shore on the Calf of Man (special feature Folk Songs & Stories)
    Sep 9 2025
    The Calf of Man, just off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. There’s a decayed building there. And on its wall hangs a strange thing. A life preserver—round, red and white, worn by time. It made me wonder: What do we leave behind to save the ones who come after us?” This is Quest & Chorus #306 0:21 - We Banjo 3 "Alive With You" from Open The Road 3:14 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. I’m your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus. Quest & Chorus is a 6-part podcast series. I fuse my love of music, science fiction and fantasy, and travel into a podcast with a quest. In each episode, you will get a clue to unlock a secret reward. And at the end of the season, you will combine all of those clues to unlock an even bigger amazing reward. We’re sailing to the Isle of Man to talk about hope, abandonment, legacy, moving forward, and what comes next. If you’re new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. UPCOMING SHOWS SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KYOCT 11: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GAOCT 17-19: MultiVerse, Peachtree City, GA Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I’ll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast. 4:55 - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh "Cad É Sin Don Té Sin" from Neadú 8:23 - Bill Mullen “Irish Rover” from The Beginning A big thanks to my… 11:06 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON If you enjoy this podcast or you love listening to my music, please follow my Celtfather Patreon page. You can sign up for free and get updates on what’s new and you can get an ad-free edition of this podcast before public listeners. But you get so much more when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is one of the ways modern musicians and podcasters make a living. For just $5 per month, you’ll get exclusive, unreleased songs, podcasts, video concerts, bootleg concerts, and so much more. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. Let’s begin the… QUEST & CHORUS of CALF OF MAN The Calf of Man is a small island located about a half mile off the southern tip of the Isle of Man. It is a protected national park that is part of the Manx National Heritage. It is home to large number of species of birds, including some colonies that migrate there. Around 33 species of seabirds breed on the islet annually, including Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Razorbill and Shag. Every year, I take a small group of people to explore our Celtic heritage. It’s called Celtic Invasion Vacations. Next year, we’re going to Galicia in Spain. That’s one of the most-obscure Celtic nations. But in the summer of 2024, we did a Celtic Invasion of the Isle of Man. On the invasion, we took the Wild Life and Scenic Trip around Calf of Man with Shona Boat Trips. They are one of the small boat operators that give tours. Desi was our guide. He lived on the island for a year. We didn’t get to explore much of the land. Because the Calf of Man is raw. The kind of place the sea keeps for itself. There was a building by the shore. We couldn’t inspect it during our fifteen minutes on the ground, but it looked like just the bones of a dwelling, stone clinging to stone. And from its wall, there was one oddity that stood out in the stark landscape. A life preserver. That’s wild to think about. A life preserver is a tool meant to save someone in the future, and it was hanging on the ruins of a home from the past. It reminded me of Miranda, from the movie, Serenity. A planet left behind. A warning not given. A silence that cost too much. That building, that place… it feels like Miranda. Not because it's dead. But because someone left it—hoping it might save someone else. In the first episode of Firefly, Malcolm Reynolds is fighting in Serenity Valley. A soldier standing next to him is terrified that they are gonna die. Mal tells him, “we’re too pretty to die.” He’s filled with so much hope. A moment later he watches in horror as his air support leaves. He watches his Angels fly away as the soldier next to him is shot down. Two-thirds of the Independents died in the Battle of Serenity ...
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • Quest & Chorus #1: Don’t Blink at Kilmartin (special feature)

    Quest & Chorus #1: Don’t Blink at Kilmartin (special feature)
    Aug 26 2025
    Quest & Chorus is a six-part series where I share songs, stories, and places along with a game to make the adventure even more fun. This is the first episode in your quest. A reminder to be present with those who you love, while we travel through time to Kilmartin Glen in Scotland. This is Quest & Chorus on Folk Songs & Stories #305 0:12 - Tan and Sober Gentlemen “All the Time” from Regressive Folk Music 4:18 - WELCOME TO QUEST & CHORUS Where legends meet lyrics, and every place sings a story. I’m your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, and typically host of this show as Folk Songs & Stories, but today, we call it Quest & Chorus, and we begin our journey in a place where time stands still, literally. Welcome to Kilmartin Glen, in Scotland. A valley lined with stones that don't move, don’t blink, and yet they watch… As you and I walk the long path of memory, love, and time itself. If you’re new to the show, please follow us. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather. NEWS Poll: What are your favorite songs on Come Adventure With Me?Merch: Buy Come Adventure With MeAre you ready to answer the secret question to unlock your free gift? Click here. 4:55 - UPCOMING SHOWS AUG 28-SEP 1: Dragon Con, Atlanta, GASEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KYOCT 11: The Lost Druid Brewery, Avondale Estates, GAOCT 17-19: MultiVerse, Peachtree City, GA 5:05 - TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos. In 2026, you can join me for a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com. 6:02 - Tulua “Rambling Boys of Pleasure” from No Coming No Going 11:48 - The Secret Commonwealth “Dubhachas (I'll Dream of Times Like This)” from Last Call The ads on this podcast pay for some of the hosting and podcast editing. My time producing the show is paid for by my… 15:43 - GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON Thank you so much for your generous support of my music. Patreon is how the modern musician makes a living with music. Album Pin and CD sales help me to perform in person. But my livelihood is entirely funded by Patrons of the Arts. You can sign up for as little as $5 per month. You’ll get exclusive, unreleased songs. You’ll get this and other podcasts I produce. Plus, you’ll get access to a huge archive of video concerts. Email follow@celtfather to get more details! If you can’t support me financially right now, just sign up on Patreon for free. You’ll also get weekly updates. Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you're listening. You can also message me on Facebook. Email me, send me pictures of where you're listening. follow@celtfather Let’s begin the… 16:54 - QUEST & CHORUS of KILMARTIN GLEN In a valley near the West Coast of Scotland is Kilmartin Glen. There you will find standing stones. Not one or two, but many laid out like a memory. Kilmartin Glen is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six mile radius of the village, with 150 of them being prehistoric. In the glen that we visited, we got a nice sized taste of those monuments. If you stand still long enough, you might be able to look back into time, like the TARDIS from Doctor Who. But these time machines don’t fly, they stand cold and alone, watching everything, never blinking. Count the stones in the cover image and let prime numbers guide you to unlock your first Quest. These stones watched lovers part and children grow old. And in their stillness, they remember everything. They carry the weight of forgotten voyages. They are beautiful. And they are a little bit sad. That sadness seemed appropriate in 2022 when I led my Celtic Invasion of Scotland to Kilmartin Glen. The group was shrinking due to Covid. The feeling as people left the group. This song, ‘Blink,’ was born of that fear, the fear of blinking and losing something beautiful. Of falling in love with someone so radiant, so unique, that you fear time itself. But also… It’s a love song for the moment. It’s for every second you choose to stay present, even when it hurts. Learn more about my song #277 “Blink”. Unlock the secret page. 22:31 - Marc Gunn “Blink” from Come Adventure With Me That’s the end of today’s tale, but the song lives on. Come back next week as we sail the Calf of Man through loss and resilience. Until then, don’t blink. Don’t look away. And may your memories always sing. 26:04 - CREDITS Thanks for listening to Quest & Chorus. This episode ...
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.