Since I last saw The Cat Empire a few months ago at Byron Bay's Bluesfest, the band has toured extensively throughout the US and Canada.
They're currently playing a range of smaller venues around Australia, before heading straight back off to Europe. Their music has such a strong global appeal, and has evolved considerably over their 20-plus years of making music.
The current tour is a celebration of their 2025 album, 'Bird In Paradise'. Previous work of theirs has displayed a strong Latin influence, infused with ska and some reggae. With the new album, their music has reverted to a more traditional Spanish style.
Listening to the 2025 album, one group's influence stands out – to me – and that is the timeless Gipsy Kings. It comes through in many areas – the flamenco guitar, the syncopated clapping and the "lie-lie-lie" chants. All of these elements often feature in Spanish music and create such a great energy, which of course The Cat Empire are perfectly placed to lift.
The 2025 album kicks off with the title track, underpinned by Ollie McGill's light piano work, and switches between songs sung in English and Spanish. 'Blood On The Stage' becomes slightly anthemic in its chorus, and features the great brass section for which The Cat Empire is renowned.
The Cat Empire - image © Bill Prendergast
The music continues to alternate between Spanish and English before reaching three highlights: 'Devil', 'Doing Fine' and 'Oh Eh'. The final track is very different in style, and singer Felix Riebl's vocals sound very much like Paul Kelly on 'Blackout Blues' in what the band sees as a deeply Australian song, evocative of the outback.
Some of the music, notably 'Devil' and 'Doing Fine', really conjure feelings of a stage filled with gently swaying dancers, such is the joy and rhythm in the music led by the brass section and some sublime piano work.
Thursday evening's Gold Coast show (28 August) – held at the fantastic central stage at Miami Marketta – was led off by Little Quirks, who present a true family affair.
Hailing from the New South Wales Central Coast, sisters Abbey and Mia Toole (vocals and drums, respectively) are joined by their cousins, Jaymi and Alex Toole (mandolin and bass), and another friend Jordan Rouse (guitar).
Their style has been suggested as indie folk, but I think a more apt description is country, infused with a devotion to ABBA; and I loved it! Abbey and Jaymi took centre stage, dressed in shiny ABBA body suits, and bizarre makeup similar to but slightly more restrained than that used by Skyhooks.
Little Quirks - image © Bill Prendergast
Their music was great; 'Maybelle' was probably the set highlight and saw Abbey wildly moving around the stage with her tambourine, before moving into a cover of the country music classic, 'Jolene'.
As they wound up with 'The Ones That Dance', there was hair and bodies everywhere, and Abbey wound up playing guitar on the floor in a fine dying cockroach pose. I loved their set, and as they move onto the Gympie Muster, and continue to tour with big acts such as The Cat Empire, they will become far more popular.
The Cat Empire then joined the stage for a two-hour set, with tough shoes to follow after the huge warm-up act, but of course they did not disappoint.
After a quick introduction, they moved straight into 'Blood On The Stage' from the latest album. It was the perfect song with which to kick off, with Felix and the band bathed in red light.
Their earlier song, 'How To Explain' saw Felix on drums at the side of the stage, with Cuban trumpeter Lazaro Numa staking central stage and singing in Spanish.
The Cat Empire - image © Bill Prendergast
Felix noted how much fun they had had recording the latest album, then launched into the title track, 'Bird In Paradise', followed by 'Candela' taken from the lovely – almost 30 years old – Cuban classic from Buena Vista Social Club (produced by the enigmatic Ry Cooder).
In 'Brighter Than Gold', Felix was sitting at the larger bongo (hembra) drums, and every time he started to play, it was completely apparent through the sound, so the evening's sound mixing was spot on.
Felix has a very chatty nature and interacts well with the crowd, so the audience listened intently as he introduced – at some length – the tragic story behind 'Song For Elias' and his part in the story. The trumpet line in the original is beautiful but very sad, and the trio on brass nailed it to perfection.
The Cat Empire - image © Bill Prendergast
'Two Shoes' was an absolute crowd favourite, as was the follow up from the latest album, 'Going To Live'. Felix related the next song was written in five minutes, and with this in mind, it did sound quite simple in its construction, but that didn't bother the crowd who of course loved 'Hello'.
'Sly' is not my favourite of their songs, but the crowd differed and this was a very extended version, with a detailed drum solo overlaid only with some dreamy keyboard work. Felix was seated on the side of the stage during this solo, such was the energy he had already put into the show.
'Owl' is one one their best in my view, introduced by the descending scale in triplets as features in a number of their songs, and I noted there were many couples dancing to this lovely piece.
Felix again talked of music, how important it is in life, what it has meant to him in times of loss, and that he sent positive thoughts to anyone going through loss. He really sounds genuine when he talks of music, and loss.
The Cat Empire - image © Bill Prendergast
I was surprised that 'Steal The Light' was met with a muted reaction from the crowd, but their involvement only grew throughout the piece, as Felix held the mic out over the crowd in order for them to add their vocals and energy.
Before the final piece, the three female members of Little Quirks rejoined the stage for 'Still Young'. This version was fractionally faster with the bass really standing out, and the version also featured the brass section playing reggae-like chops on the up-beat, which sounded great.
Read our recent interview with Felix.
The band was shortly back on for an encore. First up was a medley, kicked off with a very brief introduction from 'Fishies', and culminated in a Greek-sounding instrumental piece, reminiscent of 'Zorba The Greek', which kept getting faster and faster.
The final song of the evening was 'The Chariot'. The introduction was slow and moody, and quite restrained with its ska feel, but as it approached the chorus those present could really sense it would wind up considerably, which it did.
The Cat Empire - image © Bill Prendergast
This was a fantastic evening of great music and energy, from two excellent bands. I was struck again how strong the appeal of The Cat Empire would be (and is) to a global audience. The Cat Empire provides such a high-energy act, but it really is a feel-good/ positive-vibes show, and the audience was fully appreciative of this.
One area where I was slightly surprised; the tour is in support of their new album, but there is some outstanding music on that album that wasn't played. This is The Cat Empire wanting to please, being aware the crowd clearly wants to hear a lot of their older music.
I just felt the new music is of a high enough quality that it stands alone, and it will form a part of their repertoire going forward. Either way, this was a brilliant evening.
More photos from the concert.
