THE CAT EMPIRE ANNOUNCE FINAL TOUR WITH THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP
One of the country’s most beloved acts, The Cat Empire, has announced a huge change of the guard. The band announced to fans today (September 16th) that their long-running lineup will be performing their final concerts. A new version of The Cat Empire, commanded by Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill, will be revealed to the audience in the future. Plans for The Cat Empire’s future have been in the works for some time, and they have come as a shock and a sad moment for long-time admirers of the group.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
• Four members of the Cat Empire, as well as their manager, are leaving the band.
• On Thursday, December 16 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, they’ll play their farewell gig in Melbourne.
• The band will be revived by two of its founding members.
The Cat Empire as we know and love them will be no more, with the band confirming that the band’s original 20-year lineup will perform their final gigs together in December 2021, with Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill joining the next version.
The Cat Empire became a well-loved pillar of Australian funk music throughout a career that saw them perform around 1,500 joyful live concerts around the world over the past two decades.
The Cat Empire has parted ways with long-time manager Correne Wilkie, as well as musicians Will Hull-Brown (drums), Harry James Angus (trumpet, vocals), DJ Jumps (Jamshid Khadiwhala), and Ryan Monro (bass – who had formally left in March).
In a statement, the organization stated, “We have so much to celebrate.”
“We leave each other with full hearts, strong connections, and a profound appreciation for one another and the musical adventure we’ve taken together and with the rest of the globe. We are convinced that The Cat Empire has a long-term purpose to keep bringing excellent music, exceptional musicianship, and happy moments to the world.”
“…Our heartfelt gratitude for accompanying us on this trip, for your commitment, and for playing our music,” they added.
“Thank you for sharing it with your friends and family, for taking it across the globe in your backpacks, for letting it be the soundtrack to your important life experiences, for coming to our performances, and for making it all meaningful and enriching.”
Tickets for the December performances go on sale Tuesday, September 21st at 10 a.m. local time.
With the announcement of the lineup, The Cat Empire has announced their summer tour plans: a victory lap, if you will. The Cat Empire will conduct a series of performances in Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria as a goodbye to the group’s current roster. In December, they will also live stream a global virtual concert.
The Adelphia Sessions, a collection of music from 2002’s The Sun and 2001’s Live @ Adelphia, will be released in October to commemorate the event. In November, their 2006 album Cities will also be streamable. The Cat Empire is sure that listeners are not left waiting with more new songs due out in October.
“The Cat Empire will develop into a worldwide collective with new and exciting music planned for release in 2022,” says Felix. “The spirit of the band will flow through to the next chapter as Felix and Ollie, together with numerous guest artists, grow The Cat Empire into a global collective.” On Tuesday, September 21st, at 10 a.m. local time, tickets for The Cat Empire’s original line-up farewell performances will go on sale.
