# 220. The Tipsy Fiddler: Celtic Music in Shanghai

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/220-the-tipsy-fiddler-celtic-music-in-shanghai
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/220-the-tipsy-fiddler-celtic-music-in-shanghai.md
Podcast: [The Ireland Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574)
Published: 2026-06-08T11:30:38+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-ireland-podcast/episodes/220-the-tipsy-fiddler-celtic-music-in-shanghai
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64e340adddadb00012365278/e/6a26a21e4edd69dbd1cde568/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/episodes/220-the-tipsy-fiddler-celtic-music-in-shanghai
Duration seconds: 1181

## Resource

In Episode 220 of The Ireland Podcast, Fender Jackson visits The Tipsy Fiddler, a Celtic-themed pub in Shanghai owned by Scottish musician Alan Cowell. Having lived in China for two decades, Alan shares the story of how he arrived in Shanghai as a musician, why he opened The Tipsy Fiddler, and what keeps him there after all these years. The conversation explores life in modern Shanghai, the challenges of running a pub after Covid, and the surprising popularity of Irish and Scottish traditional music among Chinese musicians. Along the way, Alan discusses music sessions, cultural exchange, Scottish and Irish musical traditions, and what he misses most about home. A conversation about pubs, music, migration and the unexpected places where Celtic culture continues to thrive. Relevant Links https://thesession.org/sessions/3780 https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g308272-d7362006-Reviews-Tipsy_Fiddler-Shanghai.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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