'They are a boisterous crowd': John Power on Cast's renaissance, 90s revival, and upcoming Leeds show

Whether standing in front of tens of thousands at peak 90s festivals or playing intimate acoustic sessions, Cast frontman John Power has spent decades soundtracking the lives of British guitar music lovers.

But as the band prepares to return to Leeds, he is noticing a distinct shift in who is standing in the front row.

It isn't just the fans who were there for 1995's seminal debut All Change, but a whole new generation of teenagers discovering the era's soaring melodies for the very first time.

"My youngest daughter is 15," John explains to the Yorkshire Evening Post. "She comes to quite a few shows, especially in festival season through the summer, and she’s been putting that to me all summer - that half the audience is her age and a bit older, and the rest are people who’ve been on the journey from the beginning.

"Singing the songs, knowing all the words - it’s been really noticeable in the last 12 months. All it means is that we're inspired. I was inspired by The Who and The Clash when I was starting, and I guess they’re doing the same.

“It’s reaffirming that we did have good times and we did have our dreams, and we did all sing them together in fields and in venues."

That generational torch-passing coincides with a massive broader resurgence of interest in 90s guitar music. For John, the enduring appeal comes down to raw emotional connection over passing trends.

"There was something about that period of music that was quite eclectic, but it was about choruses and songs that could be sung," he reflects. "Fads come and go, but as time always seems to show, you can’t beat a song that touches people emotionally and melodically.

“It’s been proven throughout generations, and the interest in this music again is just proving that once more."

Unlike some of their Britpop peers relying solely on legacy sets, Cast are riding the momentum of their eighth studio album, Yeah Yeah Yeah, which crashed straight into the UK Top 10 earlier this year.

Working alongside Manchester indie label Scruff of the Neck and producer Youth, the band secured widespread national radio playlisting for new singles like ‘Poison Vine’ and ‘Calling Out Your Name.’

"We’re not just a band who’ve got great classic records from the 90s, we’re a band who’ve got great records right now," John says. "That’s a very important piece of the jigsaw. We play ‘Free Love’ after ‘Walkaway,’ and ‘Walkaway’ is this massive track with a lot of history and emotion attached to it.

“But ‘Free Love’ just keeps the energy up there. The new material is genuinely holding its own, and it puts us in that sweet spot."

At the heart of it all remains John's natural compass for a euphoric hook; a trait he traces back to his childhood household.

"Subconsciously I try and make sure that I lift and change gear when needed," John says. "I like to sing along to songs myself, so that’s reflected in what I write. It’s more like the troubadour thing now.

“Ultimately, my inner compass has brought me back on course, and I still want to write songs and sing."

That passion will be on full display when the Liverpool icons bring their tour to Stylus in Leeds on October 1, a city John holds a deep affinity for.

"The crowd is always up for it," he laughs. "Yorkshire is always a great place to start for us. Leeds is a boisterous crowd full of energy. They have a fondness for Cast, and we have a fondness for them.

“We reflect that back to them because we appreciate it, and we just enjoy the energy the audience gives us."

Cast perform at Stylus, Leeds, on October 1. Tickets and tour details are available via the band's official website and See Tickets.