Fortitude Valley: Aussie icons The Cat Empire will introduce their vibrant new line-up to the Valley on Friday, September 22, to celebrate their current album, “Where The Angels Fall”, with a massive new show that epitomises the herculean high-energy nature of this much-loved band.
With their signature fusion of jazz, funk, ska, rock, and latin influences, The Cat Empire’s latest outfit puts even more focus on movement and playfulness, adding a host of super-cool new material plus all the crowd-favourites, coming off the back of a massive 23-headline show across Europe and the UK earlier this year.
Originally formed in 1999 when they were a nine-piece, Melbourne-based band, named Jazzy Cat, and led by Steve Sedergreen, the band first debuted at the Manly Jazz Festival in Sydney.
They have since performed extensively at major festivals both nationally and internationally, but it was their 2003 studio album, The Cat Empire, created in just seven months, which officially brought the band to the world’s attention, with lead single, “Hello,” after it was placed on high rotation by the UK’s BBC Radio 1 that same year.
While several members have come and gone over the years, such as favourite trumpeter and vocalist Harry James Angus, only recently leaving (but you can still catch him with jazz quartet The Conglomerate), famous front-man Felix Riebl is still leading the show with fellow OG member and backing vocalist/keys player Ollie McGill.
Riebl and McGill join a new ensemble, including Seychelles singer, Grace Barbe, Cuban-born trumpeter Lazaro Numa, and Neda Rahmani, with surprise special guests (could we see Angus again?), and fresh interpretations of some of the band’s classics.
Fans will love the brass sounds, flowing funk, rich rap, and foot-stomping, fast-paced grooves, with punchy new singles, “Thunder Rumbles”, “Rock ’n’ Roll” and “Money Coming My Way”.
With a history of multiple-platinum records and awards, sold-out tours and more than 250 million online streams, it appears The Cat Empire may have have officially entered their golden era.
Supporting The Cat Empire on their European journey, Steph Strings is set to continue with the band for their east-coast Australian shows, supported by Double J (that’s Triple J for old people), including their Brisbane show, before the band sets off to conquer the US.
Boom!
The Cat Empire plays at The Fortitude Music Hall, 312-318 Brunswick Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on September 22. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au.
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