Symbol used by The Cat Empire, a mixture of a crown and cat's eye. Its name is Pablo

The Cat Empire is a six-piece alternative band from Melbourne, Australia. Their sound is often described as a fusion of jazz, funk, hip hop and rock with heavy Latino influences. Currently, the Cat Empire comprises 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. Image File history File links Cat_Empire_logo. ... Image File history File links Cat_Empire_logo. ... Crown (headgear) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Trinomial name Felis silvestris catus (Linnaeus, 1758) This article is about the domestic cat. ... The term alternative rock or alternative music1 was coined in the early 1980s to describe bands which didnt fit into the mainstream genres of the time. ... City of Melbourne Local Government Area State Victoria Lord Mayor John So (since 2001) Area 36 km² Population (2001) 57,960 Density 1,601/km² (1999) Greater Melbourne Subdivisions Local Government Areas Area 7,694 km² (1999) Population 2001 census (2nd in Australia) 3,555,321 Density 462. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... // Etymology Latino, feminine Latina derives from Latin (the adjectives latinus, latina), originally referring to Latium, the area of Rome, by aitiology derived from a king of the name Latinus. ...

The bands name, as well as it's distinctive cat eye icon, both came from a picture drawn by Felix Riebl's younger brother, Max.

Beginnings

The Cat Empire began as a trio with Oliver McGill on keyboards, Felix Riebl on percussion and vocals and Ryan Monro on double bass in late 1999 and started playing a wide variety of gigs in Melbourne. The band soon expanded in 2001 adding Harry James Angus on trumpet, Will Hull-Brown on drums and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwala as a DJ. City of Melbourne Local Government Area State Victoria Lord Mayor John So (since 2001) Area 36 km² Population (2001) 57,960 Density 1,601/km² (1999) Greater Melbourne Subdivisions Local Government Areas Area 7,694 km² (1999) Population 2001 census (2nd in Australia) 3,555,321 Density 462. ...

By late 2001, the band was appearing in the Speigeltent at the Melbourne Festival. The band prepared an independent single "Feline" (plus EP "Live at Adelphia") at the end of that year. In early 2002, the band played a series of gigs at the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Later that year, they were the headline act at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and St Kilda Film Festival in March. North Terrace, Adelaide - Cultural Precinct The Adelaide Festival of Arts is a prestigious arts festival held biannually in Adelaide, South Australia. ... The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) is held each April in a number of venues across Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

The band commenced its first overseas tour on the west coast of the United States playing to sellout crowds in the Matrix in San Francisco and playing at the Napa Valley Wine Auction in June 2002. The band received a Music for the Future to fund the recording of The Sun album at the Adelphia studio in Melbourne before flying out to the Edinburgh Festival where they played sixteen successive shows at the Late'n'Live show between 3am and 5am. The band returned to Melbourne for the 2002 Melbourne Festival and played a series of sell-out performances in Melbourne, with Kate Ceberano appearing as a guest vocalist at their final show of the year. The Edinburgh Festival is a collection of various festivals in August of each year in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Kate Ceberano (1966 - ) is a singer from Australia. ...

Recording career

The band recorded its debut studio album in seven months during 2003 with producer Andy Baldwin in Melbourne. It recorded the album in between touring Australia playing at the St Kilda Festival with Kate Ceberano and appearing at the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival in April 2003. The band was nominated in two categories at the Australian Jazz Awards. The band successfully applied for an International Pathways grant from The Australian Arts Council. The St Kilda Festival is a community festival held in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. ... The East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival is an annual music festival held for five days over the Easter long weekend at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. ...

The band was featured in a BBC Television 4 on the 2003 WOMAD Festival where the band appeared. Their track "Two Shoes" was placed on high rotation on BBC Radio 1 in August 2003. The bands growing live and critical reputation put them in a great position to approach record companies for a record deal for their self-financed, self-titled debut album in the middle of 2003. The band signed a deal with EMI Records Virgin Records subsidiary. This article is an overview article about the Crown chartered British Broadcasting Corporation formed in 1927. ... World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) is a festival started in England in 1982. ... BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station, specialising in popular music aimed at a young audience (children, teenagers and young adults). ... The EMI Group is a major record label, based in the United Kingdom and with operations in over 25 other countries. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972 after a period of selling discount records via their small shop in London. ...

The first single "Hello" was released in October 2003 with a film clip that was Channel V's clip of the week ahead of Justin Timberlake. The Cat Empire was released in November 2003, debuting in the top 20 of the ARIA Top 50 album chart with Triple J nominating it as their album of the week in November. High profile appearances on Rove (Live) with Rove McManus and The Panel on Network Ten helped raise the profile of the album helping it to go gold in Australia by December 2003. "Hello" would finish at number 6 on the Triple J Hottest 100 for 2004, one of the biggest music polls in the world with album track "Days Like These" at number 37 and "The Chariot" at number 100. The band finished 2003 playing high profile gigs at festivals like Homebake and the Falls Festival before headlining the Melbourne New Year's Eve celebrations at Federation Square. Channel [V] is an international music channel chain. ... Album cover for Justin Timberlakes debut album, Justified. ... This article is about the musical term aria. ... Triple J (JJJ) is a nationally-networked, government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), mainly aimed at youth (defined as those between 12 and 25). ... Rove Live Rove Live is a weekly Australian television talk show hosted by Rove McManus. ... Rove McManus Rove McManus (born John McManus, 21 January 1974) is an Australian talk show host, comedian and owner of the production company Roving Enterprises. ... The Panel is an Australian television show, first aired in 1998, and was very popular in its first few years. ... Network Ten is one of Australias three commercial television networks. ... The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual top 100 list, based on the votes of Australian youth radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. ... Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup (with the occasional artist from New Zealand. ... Snout playing at the 2001 Falls Festival The Falls Festival is a New Years Eve music festival, held annually in Australia since 1993-94. ... Inside the Atrium Federation Square (or Fed Square) is the new public heart of the city of Melbourne, Australia. ...

"Days Like These" was the second single reaching the top 40 of the ARIA singles charts in early 2004. The band would play a double bill with Ozomatli in Sydney and Melbourne in January 2003 before starting a 35 date 2004 tour of Australia playing to 100,000 and closing the main stage at the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival in 2004. The Cat Empire would also perform as a support act to James Brown in his 2004 Australian tour. Their debut album would go platinum in February 2004. Their third single "The Chariot" would also debut in the ARIA top 40 in May 2004. Ozomatli Ozomatli is a Latin funk/worldbeat/rock en Español group, formed in 1996 in Los Angeles, known as much for their extremely vocal activist viewpoints as their huge array of musical styles. ... James Brown, known variously as: Soul Brother Number One, the Godfather of Soul, Mr. ...

The Cat Empire released their second album, "Two Shoes" on 19 April 2005. The album, recorded in Havana, Cuba, contains many old favourites for those who followed the Cat Empire from the beginning, as well as some new tunes (the first single, "Sly", was released on 28 March 2005). The new songs are all much more Latin in flavour, and there is a higher proportion of songs written by Harry than on the first album. Two Shoes also contains a "hidden" track - that is, one which is not announced on the back of the CD case - called 1001. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Havana (Spanish: San Cristóbal de La Habana; UN/LOCODE: Habana (CU HAV)) is the capital of Cuba and, with a population of 2. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in Leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In July 2005, The Cat Empire played two sets at the Cambridge Folk Festival (Cambridge, UK). The Cambridge folk festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. ... Map of the Cambridgeshire area (1904) The city of Cambridge is an old English university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. ...

The Cat Empire has released two DVD's - The first 'On the Attack' was released in September 2004, while the 'Two Shoes Deluxe Edition DVD' was released in October 2005. Both DVD's are available for purchase on the official site.

In 2005, The Cat Empire featured on a Triple J CD entitled "Like A Version", featuting cover versions of songs performed by artists on Mel Bampton's show, Mel In The Morning. The track was a version of Hotel California (by the Eagles), sung in French by Harry. Triple J (JJJ) is a nationally-networked, government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), mainly aimed at youth (defined as those between 12 and 25). ... Mel Bampton is an Australian radio announcer, best known for her work on the Triple J network. ... Hotel California was the title song from The Eagles 1976 album of the same name, and was released as a single in the spring of 1977. ... The Eagles are an American rock music group that originally came together in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. ...

Band members

As of 2005, The Cat Empire consists of:

• Ollie McGill (piano, keyboard and backing vocals; recorder and tubular bells)
• Ryan Monro (double bass, bass guitar and backing vocals)
• Felix Riebl (percussion and vocals; chariotti and 'heffe')
• Harry James Angus (trumpet and vocals; recorder and resonator)
• Will Hull Brown (drums; antics and shouts)
• Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (turntable; tambourine, clave and shouts)

Often accompanied by The Empire Horns:

• Ross Irwin (trumpet)
• Kieran Conrau (trombone)
• Carlo Barbaro (saxophone)

and featuring other musicians on various tracks:

• Jesus "Aguaje" Ramous (trombone)
• Yauren Muniz (trumpet)
• Javier R Zalba Suarez (baritone saxophone)
• Idania Valdes (backing vocals)
• Maritza Montero (backing vocals)
• Virgillio Valdes (backing vocals)
• Alyssa Conrau (violin)
• Georgina Cameron (violin)
• Kristy Conrau (cello)
• Max Riebl (trumpet, soprano voice)
• Jorge Yoandi Moline (congas)
• Arnado Valdes Perez (timbales)

Joining the band you might see The Empire Dancers:

• Fay Khadiwhala
• Anthony
• Carlos

Discography

The Cat Empire's latest album, Two Shoes.

Image File history File links Twoshoes. ... Image File history File links Twoshoes. ...

Albums

• Live @ Adelphia (2001)
• The Sun (2002)
• Tapes, Breaks and Out-Takes (2003)
• On the Attack (2004)
• The Cat Empire (2003) - #15 Australia
• Two Shoes (2005) - #1 Australia

An album is a collection of related audio tracks, released together commercially in an audio format to the public. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Sun live album @ Adelphia, was recorded June 2002 It was never released for retail sale but was sold at gigs during the American tour. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... From The Cat Empire website: As the title of this album suggests, this musical package contains old tapes, funky breaks and some out-takes that didnt make our album. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... From The Cat Empire website: On The Attack offers an insight into life on the road with The Cat Empire. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cat Empire is the self-titled studio debut album of Melbourne band The Cat Empire. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Two Shoes is the second studio album by Australian band The Cat Empire, the follow-up to the wildly successful self-titled first album, The Cat Empire. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Singles

The Cat Empire's latest single, Two Shoes (Album cover song).

• "Hello" (2003) - #12 New Zealand (no commercial Australian release)
• "Days Like These" (2004) - #37 Australia
• "The Chariot" (2004) - #34 Australia
• "One Four Five" (2004)
• "Sly" (2005) - #23 Australia
• "The Car Song" (2005) - #46 Australia
• "Two Shoes" (2005) - #? Australia

In music, a single is a short (usually ten minutes or less) record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-side, often accompanied by several B-sides, usually remixes or other songs. ... Image File history File links Catempiretwoshoes. ... Image File history File links Catempiretwoshoes. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Cat Empire site
• The Cat Empire unofficial fansite
• Harry J. Angus and Felix Riebl of Cat Empire on stage at 13th Annual Meredith Music Festival / Dave Tacon (2003)
• The Cat Empire at Naked Dwarf