In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear Ian Gregory who, under the pseudonym of EIEI Owen, was the drummer in XTC’s psychedelic alter ego the Dukes of Stratosphear. He is also the brother of Dave Gregory.

What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

Music courtesy of Jack Calvesbert and Spider Noises

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

Picture courtesy of Tim Bourne

In this month’s episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast we return to the 2025 XTC Fan Festival to hear engineer and producer Hugh Padgham remembering his work on Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement, not to mention his time with Brian Wilson, the Police, Phil Colins and many others.

The episode also features a review by Jonathan Jacques of the new Atmos remix of Drums and Wires by Steven Wilson.

I’m delighted to announce that What Do You Call that Noise? The XTC Podcast is now sponsored by Burning Shed, the online home for all XTC CD, vinyl and official merchandise.

Music courtesy of Mick Marston and the Minor Ailments

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

Picture courtesy of Tim Bourne

This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a fascinating conversation with Stu Rowe recorded at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. Stu talks about working with Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, Barry Andrews, Peter Blegvad and Jen Olive on everything from the 3 Clubmen to Gonwards.

XTC-inspired music comes courtesy of Callum Wilson and Nick Lacey

Callum Wilson and the Hemp Queens

Nick Lacey and Model Worker

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

This episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast features a highly entertaining conversation between XTC guitarist Dave Gregory and fellow musician Thomas Walsh (Pugwash) recorded at the 2025 XTC Fan Festival in Swindon. The interview covers everything from facial hair to inspirational guitarists.

The episode also includes a round-up of the weekend’s events from first-timers Gayle Ramage and Alison Eales who loved every minute of it.

XTC-inspired music comes courtesy of Jeff Norman, aka Monkey Typing Pool.

Thomas Walsh

Monkey Typing Pool

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

Pictures courtesy of Tim Bourne

In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we join Alfredo Marziano, the author of the newly published XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic. This 152-page book draws on archive material and original interviews to go on a deep dive into the record that many XTC fans regard as the band’s finest.

As well as setting the scene, describing where the band was in 1986 and the background to working with producer Todd Rundgren in Woodstock and San Francisco, Alfredo gives a track-by-track breakdown of the album and its associated B-sides and outtakes to create a comprehensive overview.

XTC: Skylarking – A Life in A Day, the Making of a Pop Classic

Music from Dave James

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

It’s fan festival time again. Coming up on 20–22 June at the Mecca in Swindon, the sold-out 2025 XTC Fan Festival is a chance for friends old and new to come together and share in their love of all things XTC.

On the line-up, as well as a trip to the Uffington White Horse, and interviews with Dave Gregory and Hugh Padgham, are performances from several cover bands. They include our guests in this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast: Dan Barrow, who is opening the festival with a one-man rendition of The Big Express in its entirety, and Peter Mills and Martin Malone, two of the members of Innocents Abroad, who will be working their way through the XTC songbook on Sunday afternoon.

Music from Jeff Farris

Further listening at Innocents Abroad

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

Twenty-five years after their final album, XTC continue to inspire new generations of musicians. In this episode of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Madison Cunningham talks about finding inspiration in River of Orchids, 1000 Umbrellas and Easter Theatre.

The musician also talks about her love of a riff, lyrical ambiguity and following her musical instincts.

Madison Cunningham

Madison Cunningham, Jacob Collier and Chris Thile covering XTC's River of Orchids

This month’s song is by Stephen Dahill

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.

How much further up the charts would Senses Working Overtime have climbed if the sleeve had been made of heavier material? What does the finish on the cover of Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down tell us about its sales?

In this edition of What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, we explore the fascinating relationship between XTC and cardboard in the company of Professor Penelope Letterhead…

Oh, and it is also 40 years since the Dukes of Stratosphear released 25 O’Clock.

You have been listening to:

Boy:48

The Ephemera

David Feltham

Fog99horn (Ed Stainsby)

Innocents Abroad

Pond Yacht (James Hollingworth)

Simon Russell

XTeeHee

What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book available from www.xtclimelight.com

If you’ve enjoyed What Do You Call That Noise? The XTC Podcast, please show your support at https://www.patreon.com/markfisher

Thanks to the Pink Things, Humble Daisies and Knights in Shining Karma who’ve done the same.