Australian music icons The Cat Empire have been tearing up stages across the UK & Europe the last few months, and they are about to touch down in Australia for a run of sold-out Australian orchestra shows next week.
To celebrate, today the band are excited to share that their tenth studio album Bird In Paradise is set to be released next March 7, 2025 via BMG Australia and includes recent dance-floor filler ‘La Gracia’.
On the new album, Felix Riebl comments “Musically speaking, Bird in Paradise is an Australian-Flamenco, Afro-Cuban project. We’ve drawn from the themes of contemporary flamenco and Cuban music, and combined it with the grit, and toughness of Aussie rock history. Add Ollie’s Jazz influence and you have a sound only The Cat Empire can create. These influences are shaped by undercurrents of urban and outback Australia, adding an undeniably Aussie edge to international sounds.”
Inspired by the vibrant energy of their European tour, their latest offering, ‘Blood on The Stage’ pulses with creeping percussion, a deep thumping beat, and electrifying horns. The new single captures the essence of their live show, transforming it into an irresistible anthem that’s guaranteed to ignite dancefloors.
LISTEN TO ‘BLOOD ON THE STAGE’ HERE
Felix discusses the single, “The expression ‘Let’s leave some blood on the stage’ was a way to fire up before shows. It was a pact we made with each other – to give everything we had and then some each night, no matter the exhaustion, or whether it was a festival, a theatre or an intimate club. That deal (with the devil?) remains, it’s become a Cuban inspired banger that reminds us of it. The chorus hook has to be sung at the top of your voice (you have to mean it!), and has been shouted in on some fairly high spirited post show bus celebrations. Now it’s time the song actually hits the stage!”
The accompanying video was filmed in London over two days during the band’s shows at the iconic Camden venue Electric Ballroom and on the tour bus.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Ollie McGill explains the process, “Our videographer Dara Munnis put us in touch with one of his fellow Irishmen Peter Neill whose shot videos for the likes of Queen, Rick Astley and The Script and the plan all came together from there. The idea behind the clip was to take people on the journey the band takes on tour from bus to performance to backstage. The song’s all about leaving it all on the stage for the crowd so we thought what better visual to accompany the song than to take people on that ride with us.”
Following a run of explosive shows through the UK, Europe, and North America, The Cat Empire are heading home for a string of electrifying performances, featuring their most beloved tunes and exuberant new music with Australian symphony orchestras in premiere venues across Sydney, Brisbane Adelaide and Hobart. All shows in Sydney and Brisbane have officially sold-out.
The band will also be performing an exclusive performance for the NFL KickOff Festival at Bondi Pavilion on September 7.
LISTEN TO ‘BLOOD ON THE STAGE’ HERE
PRE-SAVE BIRD IN PARADISE HERE
BIRD IN PARADISE TRACKLISTING:
Bird in Paradise
Blood on the Stage
Shooting Star
Going to Live
La Gracia
Devil
Doing Fine
Oh Eh
Sparrow in the Night
Blackout Blues
THE CAT EMPIRE TOUR DATES
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
Thu 05 September 2024 | Sydney Opera House – Sydney, NSW SOLD OUT
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Fri 06 September 2024 | Sydney Opera House – Sydney, NSW SOLD OUT
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sat 07 September 2024 | Sydney Opera House – Sydney, NSW SOLD OUT
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sat 07 September | NFL ‘KickOff Festival’ Bondi Pavilion – Sydney, NSW
Tickets available here
Thu 19 September 2024 | Fortitude Music Hall – Brisbane, QLD SOLD OUT
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Tue 01 October 2024 | Wrest Point Entertainment Centre – Hobart, TAS
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Fri 04 October 2024 – Festival Theatre – Adelaide, SA
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Sat 05 October 2024 – Festival Theatre – Adelaide, SA
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Thu 05 December 2024 | Perth Concert Hall – Perth, WA
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Fri 06 December 2024 | Perth Concert Hall – Perth, WA
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
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