CAT EMPIRE ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY

The Merri-Bek Hall in Brunswick is an extraordinary rehearsal venue, recording studio, music library and performance space, where time has stood still. Old band photos from yesteryear hang from the walls and vintage brass and percussion instruments sit atop dusty shelves. It’s also where The Cat Empire created their brand new fabulous album Where The Angels Fall, along with around 70 other local musicians who appeared on the record.

Last night, the band returned to Merri-Bek Hall where, friends, family and selected invitees joined them to celebrate the album release. With minimal production fuss, the band took to the stage to deliver, not only songs from the new album but also a great serve of their greatest hits. In an emotional night, Felix Riebl, The Cat Empire frontman told how the album was created with this new, energised version of the band, after covid and the loss of his brother (who came up with the band name at just 8 years old) to cancer. Felix pointed to the vocal booth in front of him and revealed how tears streamed down his face as he recorded the vocals to ‘Be With You Again, dedicated to his musician brother and that it was the music that got him through the darkest times.

The new band continues the band’s legacy of spreading joy, now featuring Neda Rahmani on Afro-Brazilian percussion and Cuban-born Lazaro Numa on trumpet and vocals. A host of the musicians that contributed to the album also appeared throughout the night. The band launches their Australian tour from September 5 before heading overseas to dazzle international audiences.