Wild Kitty Turns 20: Paws, Pints, & Parodies #299

2025 is the 20 year anniversary of the release of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. We’re resharing the Cat Lovers Podcast along with stories about the song that launched that album, “Wild Kitty”. You’ll also enjoy the music of Jesse Ferguson in this week’s show.

This is Folk Songs & Stories #299

WELCOME TO FOLK SONGS & STORIES

0:35 - Marc Gunn “Wild Rover” from Irish Drinking Songs: The Cat Lover’s Companion

I am Marc Gunn. I’m a Celtic folk musician and podcaster living in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m also a cat lover as you’ll hear later on in the show. This show is for fans of my music. But it’s also for people who attend Celtic festivals, Renaissance festivals, and science fiction conventions.

If you’re new to the show, please subscribe. You can do that PubSong.com or Just send me an email to follow@celtfather.

Here’s a weird request. I would like you to think of the first song that comes to your mind. Next, take a picture. Not one but three. Three pictures to tell a story. Perhaps you have a story to tell as well take some pictures and send them to me.

3:08 - NEWS

• Poll: What’s your favorite song on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers?
• Merch: Buy Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers on Patreon or Bandcamp.

4:20 - UPCOMING SHOWS

• JUL 19: Fiddler's Green Coffeehouse Concert series @ 8 PM, First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta. 470 Candler Park Dr. NE / Atlanta GA 30307. 404-378-5570. firstexistentialist.org, Presented by Atlanta Area Friends of Folk Music (AAFFM)
• JUL 31-AUG 3: Gen Con, Indianapolis, IN
• AUG 28-SEP 1: Dragon Con, Atlanta, GA
• SEP 24-28: ALEP 6, Harrodsburg, KY
• OCT 17-19: MultiVerse, Peachtree City, GA
• NOV 8: IrishFest Atlanta, Roswell, GA with Inara
• DEC 7: Nerdy Wonderland at The Lost Druid, Avondale Estates, GA @ 12 - 5 PM.

5:02 - Jesse Ferguson "Bonnie Dundee" from Ten

8:45 - SUPPORT THE CLUB

The show is brought to you by my supporters on Patreon. If you enjoy this podcast or my music, please join the Club. You get something new every week. It could be a blog, an exclusive podcast, downloadable song, printed sheet music, or stories from the road. Plus, you’ll get access to all of my Coffee with The Celtfather video concert series. Email follow@celtfather !

If you can’t support me financially, just sign up on Patreon for free. Special thanks to our newest and returning patrons:

9:33 - CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I lead a small group of people on an exciting adventure to one of the Celtic nations and other exciting locations. In 2025, we’re going on a Celtic Invasion of Galicia in Spain. Galicia is indeed one of the more obscure Celtic nations to those of us who are most familiar with Ireland and Scotland.

Find out more at CelticInvasion.com.

9:43 - IRISH DRINKING SONGS FOR CAT LOVERS

In 2003, I was back from Dragon Con chatting with a friend on the phone. The Irish song “Wild Rover” was stuck in my head as we started talking about cats. The chorus came around and I started meowing. An idea started growing in my head. What if I parodied a bunch of traditional Irish drinking songs with lyrics all about cats.

I wrote my first three songs before the end of October. I then found Ari Koinuma in Austin to help me produce the single. I set up a website at CatDrinkingSongs.com. In December, someone posted the idea to Fark. I had 20,000 website hits in one day and hundreds of comments. I knew this was a great idea.

In May of 2005, I launched a podcast to help raise money for a CD of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers. Thus was born the Cat Lovers Podcast.

10:54 - CAT MUSI