The CAT Club (Classic Album Thursdays)

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . .

PAUL WELLER – WILD WOOD

with special guest DAN JENNINGS

Released in 1993 'Wild Wood,' Paul Weller’s second solo album, confirmed his status as one of Britain’s greatest songwriters, blending pastoral folk, soul, and psychedelia into a landmark record.

Dan Jennings is the founder of the acclaimed Weller podcast 'Desperately Seeking Paul' and the author of 'The Authorised Oral History, Paul Weller: Dancing Through The Fire.’

AMANDA COOK was in the interviewer's chair.

“A massive thank you to everyone at The CAT Club for inviting me, to Amanda Cook for such a brilliant conversation, to Rev, Jason Barnard, Stacy and the whole team for making me feel so welcome, and to everyone who came along and made the night what it was. Genuinely blown away. What a night.” Dan Jennings.

This event took place on 17 September 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . .

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE

with special guest GRAHAM OLIVER

In 1967 Hendrix and his group released their extraordinary second album, 'Axis: Bold As Love.' The record fits perfectly between 'Are You Experienced' and 'Electric Ladyland' with Hendrix at the fore with superb writing and melancholic nuanced musicianship.

Founding member and former lead guitarist with Saxon, Graham Oliver is an acknowledged Hendrix aficionado. He returns to the CAT Club ten years after being our special guest for our first ever public gathering in 2016. The featured LP that night was 'Are You Experienced.'

Our good friend Ian Clayton was on top form in the interviewer's chair.

When you listen to this recording Graham reveals an unusual hobby not usually associated with great guitarists - but it does explain why he was overjoyed to receive The CAT Club mug and matching coaster.

This event took place on 23 July 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . .

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION – THE FIRST OF A MILLION KISSES

with special guest MARK NEVIN

Released in 1988, 'The First Of A Million Kisses,' was the double platinum debut album from Fairground Attraction, a band originally formed with Mark Nevin and Eddi Reader.

Largely written by guitarist Nevin, it blended folk, jazz, country and pop influences. At the 1989 Brit Awards the record won the British Album Of The Year, while 'Perfect' was named British Single Of The Year.

Since Fairground Attraction split up the following year, Nevin has enjoyed a successful solo career as a songwriter and performer, working with many artists including Morrissey, Kirsty MacColl and Ringo Starr.

Fairground Attraction reformed in 2024, recording a new album and returning to the stage.

A fascinating interview with

JASON BARNARD from The Strange Brew Podcasts.

This event took place on 21st May 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club in association with Route Publishing presents a long playing vinyl record . . .

BOB DYLAN – BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME

Bob Dylan’s fifth album Bringing It All Back Home was released in March 1965. The introduction of electric guitar into his sound set off a wave of controversy that came symbolically crashing down at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester fourteen months later when some wag shouted ‘Judas!’ 

Ian Clayton, author of the bestselling memoir Bringing It All Back Home, was in a fascinating conversation with Ian Daley of Route publishing, who have re-issued CP Lee’s classic book, Like The Night to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the legendary concert.

This event took place on 14th May 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents An Appreciation of

THE PRETTY THINGS 

With special guest, former band member
WALLY WALLER

The Pretty Things hold a unique place in the history of British rock. Formed in the early sixties from the same London R&B scene that produced The Rolling Stones, they began as one of the rawest and most uncompromising groups before evolving into one of its most adventurous.

Over the course of the decade they helped chart the journey from beat group to album-led experimentation, pushing British rock into darker and more ambitious territory.

Their later work produced some of the period’s most forward-thinking records, including S.F. Sorrow, widely recognised as the first rock opera, and Parachute, now seen as a defining statement of the era. Though rarely rewarded with sustained commercial success, The Pretty Things became a touchstone for musicians drawn to innovation over conformity.

Wally Waller joined the band during this crucial creative period and became a central figure in their development as bassist, singer, songwriter and later producer. His work with The Pretty Things and beyond placed him at the heart of a remarkable era of British music making.

Jason Barnard was in the interviewer’s chair. Another first class interview from JB which aided and abetted by many hours of research by his good self.

A splendid time was had by all.

This event took place on 30th April 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents An Audience With

GRAHAM PARKER 

“After doing numerous promotional podcasts and interviews discussing my musical career as it hits 50 years since my first album was released, being onstage at the CAT Club in Pontefract in front of a full house of delightful folks has been the absolute highlight of the entire experience. 

The dedication of the people who run the venue is beyond impressive - you can feel the love they put into every aspect at every moment.

Thanks to Rev, Jason, Drey, Lee, Liz, Amanda and everyone at The CAT Club – I give it 10 stars out of 5!’’ GRAHAM PARKER

Jason Barnard was in the interviewer’s chair.

A splendid time was had by all.

This event took place on 26th March 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record:

MARIANNE FAITHFULL – BROKEN ENGLISH

with special guest JUDE ROGERS

Marianne Faithfull’s brilliant album, 'Broken English' from 1979, isn’t pretty and it was never meant to be. It consists of wracked, haunting tales, told over a hypnotic mesh of throbbing synths & wrecked guitars.

Our special guests was journalist, arts critic, broadcaster and Guardian music reviewer Jude Rogers. Jude spent time with the great lady in 2018 and made a superb Radio Four show, ‘Paris With Marianne,’ about her extraordinary life.

Jude was joined on The CAT Club stage by our very own Amanda Cooke in the interviewer’s chair. After the event Jude went on record to say that: “I was interviewed by the brilliant regular attendee Amanda Cook, who was better than 99% of the journalists and bigwigs I’ve encountered at major festivals.”

A splendid time was had by all.

This event took place on 12th March 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record:

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (debut album)

with special guest JOHN WILLIAMS

At the time Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' eponymous debut was released in 1976, the band were fresh enough to almost be considered punk.

Like the Ramones, they shared a love for ‘60s rock and roll. For the Heartbreakers that meant embracing the Byrds as much as the Stones. The result is a classic album with tuneful jangle balanced by a tough garage swagger.

When we asked acclaimed producer John Williams to pick his favourite album, the man at the helm of many a fine record by The Proclaimers, The Housemartins, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Petula Clark, The Waterboys and many others, replied instantly: “The first Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers LP.”

The result was another great CAT Club gathering with our good friend Jeff Matthews in the interviewer’s chair opposite the truly wonderful John Williams.

A splendid time was had by all.

This event took place on 26th February 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a long playing vinyl record . . .

DAVID BOWIE – BLACK STAR

with special guest

PAUL MORLEY

The visionary and haunting Blackstar was released in January 2016 on Bowie’s birthday and just two days before his untimely death.

Writer, broadcaster and cultural critic Paul Morley has written about music, art & entertainment since the 1970s.

A founding member of the electronic collective Art Of Noise, he is the author of the bestselling biography The Age Of Bowie. His other books include biographies of Grace Jones, Dylan, Joy Division and Tony Wilson.

He was an artistic advisor for The David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A.

His latest book is the acclaimed Far Above The World – The Time And Space Of David Bowie.

In the interviewer’s chair was AMANDA COOK.

This event took place on 29 January 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents

An Audience with Jethro Tull guitarist

MARTIN BARRE – A Life In Music

His iconic riff in Jethro Tull’s 'Aqualung' is widely recognised as one of the best in rock history and was also voted as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time by Guitar Player magazine readers.

From 1968 to 2014, his guitar work defined much of the band's sound, contributing to their success and enduring popularity. Martin played on all of Jethro Tull's studio albums.

Beyond his time with Jethro Tull, Martin Barre has pursued a successful solo career, releasing albums that showcase his versatility across rock, blues, and acoustic music genres.

Martin Barre's contributions to music have been recognised with numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1989. His innovative guitar playing has inspired countless musicians across various genres, cementing his influence in the music industry.

He talked and entertained a sold-out audience about his extraordinary life and of his new book, 'A Trick of Memory: The Autobiography of Jethro Tull's Guitarist.’

Jason Barnard in the interviewer’s chair had to be on top form to keep the great man on track, which he did admirably.

This event took place on 11 December 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.

To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk

Happy Trails.