All American Entertainment Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Read more
Fee Range:Please Contact
Availability:Please contact
Years Active: 1999 (1999)–present
10.3MScrobbles
365.0KListeners

The Cat Empire is a six-piece alternative band from Melbourne, Australia. Their sound has been described as a fusion of jazz, funk, and rock with heavy Latin / Salsa influences (not to mention reggae, ska and dub).

Currently, the Cat Empire consists of Ollie McGill (keyboard and backing vocals), Ryan Monro (bass and backing vocals), Felix Riebl (percussion and vocals), Harry James Angus (trumpet and vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums), and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (decks, percussion).

A strong, recurrent theme of their music is the rejection of materialism, war, and intolerance and an enthusiastic embrace of cultural diversity and the simple, carefree life.The Cat Empire began as a trio with McGill, Riebl, and Monro in late 1999, and started playing a wide variety of gigs in Melbourne.

The band soon expanded in 2001, adding Angus, Hull-Brown, and Khadiwala.THE Cat Empire's message, on stage and in the studio, has always been about breaking down borders: musical, geographic, lingual.

But they have never done it so powerfully as they do on their new album, Cinema. The album serves up a set which captures the inexorable force - and sheer joy - of their live performances, delivered in a format perfect for lounge-rooms, backyards, BBQ’s, cafes, road trips and parties all over the world.

Cinema, the band's fourth studio album, is a dazzling statement of a band at a peak of its powers, music designed to move the body and the mind. Right from the opening track, Waiting, this is music that leaps from the speakers.

All the elements that people love about The Cat Empire are there but the result is brighter, bolder. And yes, more cinematic. What grabs the ear immediately is that this is not a band playing with genres.

In the past, The Cat Empire dived in to any musical style which took their fancy, from reggae to salsa, Latin to hip-hop. Cinema reveals a band that has developed an emphatic voice that is all their own.

``That's a sound that has emerged out of nearly 10 years of playing on stage together,'' says singer and percussionist Felix Riebl. ”The result is an album that's much more integrated than anything we've done before, with a Cat Empire sound that runs consistently through it.

The lyrics are perhaps darker, but they are accompanied by music that is uplifting which gives it a strange but powerful feeling.''Riebl adds: “At times the album is thoughtful, at times it makes you just forget and dance.

But it is an album that has more sonic depth than we've ever had before, experimental in parts but with really direct choruses. It's going to be a great album to play live, especially on big stages and at festivals.

''Of course, the stage is never far from the thoughts of this band. In an age when so much of selling music seems to be about celebrity and fashion, The Cat Empire have risen to be one of Australia and indeed the worlds favourite live acts through sheer musicality and the power of their interaction on stage.

The band - Riebl, Vocalist and trumpeter Harry Angus, keys player Ollie McGill, bassist Ryan Monro, drummer Will Hull-Brown and Jamshid Khadiwala (aka ‘Jumps’) on decks - played their 700th show in Amsterdam last year, and will hit the 800 mark in 2010.

While it is not well known in Australia, The Cat Empire are one of the country's most successful musical exports, doubling their audience numbers at every return stop. They have headlined some of the world's biggest music festivals, including Summersonic (Japan), Rock am Ring (Germany) and V Fest (UK), playing Bonnaroo (US) as well as to an audience of 300,000 at the Montreal Jazz Festival.

They have also played on some of world's highest rating entertainment shows, including Dave Letterman and Jay Leno. This year their worldwide tour in support of the international release of Cinema will see them return to Canada, US, Europe, Japan and the UK, where they will play to a full house at London's Brixton Academy.

The knowledge that they would be playing songs from the new album on so many big stages focused the song writing sessions for Cinema. The album was recorded close to home at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne with producer Steve Schram, and he encouraged them to make an album that was their most collaborative song writing effort yet.

``That was a deliberate decision from all of us,'' says the lion of the live show - Vocalist and Trumpeter Harry Angus. ``With six people in the band sometimes there will be a song on an album that not everyone wants to play live.

This album certainly gets around that problem. And I think that after so many years playing together the guys are much more confident about contributing to the writing. Steve encouraged us to do that.

That's been great for us.''Of working with The Cat Empire, Schram says “it was the perfect studio scenario; amazing players open to trying anything and willing to take a back seat when required. Egos were left at the door.

” He adds “In terms of musicianship, it's no secret that they don't come much better than The Cat Empire. Yet Cinema shows that simplicity and one well placed note packs more of a punch and serves the song far more than musical chops alone.

We set out to explore in depth the mood and character of each song while maintaining a focus on performance rather than studio trickery. “After taking their longest break from studio recording after the release of 2007's So Many Nights, the band reconvened feeling refreshed.

``In 2008 we took a break from touring for 8 months. Then in 2009 we released our (live album) Live on Earth” Riebl says. ``When we came back to the band, and then into the studio we all rediscovered what we loved about The Cat Empire in the first place; that it is a band that can do the unexpected, that we have great energy and make music that is always a lot of fun to play on stage.

The feeling right now is just like when we were starting out. We're all very excited about that.''Cinema will be released …JUNE 25, AUSTRALIAJUNE 29, CANADAJULY 6, USAAUGUST 2010, EUROPE & JAPANSee www.

thecatempire.com for tours and information

The Cat Empire performs alternative, funk, jazz, reggae music and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, or other music performances. The estimated booking fee range to book The Cat Empire for your event, Please Contact. The Cat Empire has more than 365.0K listeners worldwide and really knows how to entertain your audience. Similar artists are  Bedouin Soundclash, Babylon Circus, The Beautiful Girls, Ball Park Music, Mad Caddies, Xavier Rudd, The Skints, Reel Big Fish, The Slackers, Streetlight Manifesto, Youngblood Brass Band . Contact AAE Music agency for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling The Cat Empire for an upcoming event.

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of popular musicians and bands to consider for performances at corporate events, fundraising galas, or university events. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any artist or celebrity on this site. AAE Music is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.

The 2022 Speaking Industry Benchmark Report
This is a standard notification.

Report an issue with my profile

Please use this form to report an issue with your artist profile or to request removal from our online catalog.

Leave your message and contact information below. We will send you a confirmation message or reach out if we have questions.

    Please update my profile
    Please delete my profile