First we had ‘Wolves’, the infectious first single from The Cat Empire’s highly anticipated 6th studio album Rising With The Sun (released on March 4). Fans loved ‘Wolves’ so much the song was voted in at #79 in this year’s triple j Hottest 100 countdown – the biggest music countdown of its type in the world with over 2 million votes registered across over 16 000 songs. ‘Wolves’ is The Cat Empire’s 11th entry into the Hottest 100 in 11 years, a great testament to Australia’s long love affair with one of its most enduring bands.
Now it’s time to unleash ‘Bulls’, the next single from Rising With The Sun.
“The song ‘Bulls’ came directly from a dream” explains frontman Felix Riebl. “I woke up at the very edge of sleep. Almost, just before I woke up, there was a guy in there showing me a rhythm. It’s very distinct. That song came straight from there. I think we run the risk of sounding pretentious to say that songs come in dreams, but sometimes they really quite literally just appear that way. That’s a real gift.”
“Tell me who’s real….no way, no way….the bulls inside my head…..and I say I say….the flag I wave is red”
‘Bulls’ is the third taste from Rising With The Sun with the aforementioned ‘Wolves’ and an earlier release of ‘Qué Será Ahora’, a track the band released ahead of their 2015 European tour.
With a bag full of new songs ready to go, it’s LIVE where the guys are bursting to start performing these songs for their fans. So today The Cat Empire are very excited to announce the first leg of their ‘Rising With The Sun’ Australian Tour with shows in Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, far north Queensland and of course their home town of Melbourne. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 5 with fans on the bands mailing list having the chance to secure tickets earlier in the week through an exclusive pre-buy (still on offer). These latest show announcements (many of them suitable for all ages) join the already announced Western Australian dates in March and performances at Womadelaide and Blues Fest in Byron Bay, with more shows to be announced soon.
The songs on Rising With The Sun are ready made for the stage and will only enhance The Cat Empire’s already legendary live show. Felix makes no secret about what the intention is for these songs. “You can play it on a big stage. The choruses are ones people can sing. The rhythms really work.”
Rising With The Sun was recorded in their home town of Melbourne, with producer Jan Skubiszewski. “There’s a lot of celebration on Rising With The Sun,” concludes Felix, “in terms of ‘celebrating’ what the Cat Empire is, and what it means to people to come to the shows and be a part of that.”
Friday 4 March – FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE, WA
Saturday 5 March – 3 OCEANS WINERY, MARGARET RIVER, WA
Sunday 6 March – CASTELLI ESTATE, DENMARK, WA
Friday 11 March – WOMADELAIDE (all ages), SA
Sunday 27 March – BLUES FEST, BYRON BAY (all ages), NSW
Wednesday 4 May – EMPIRE THEATRE, TOOWOOMBA, QLD
Friday 6 May – THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE, QLD
Saturday 7 May – THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE, QLD
Sunday 8 May – NIGHTQUARTER, GOLD COAST, QLD
Thursday 12 May – C.EX, COFFS HARBOUR, NSW
Friday 13 May – LAURIETON UNITED SERVICES, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW
Saturday 14 May – BAR ON THE HILL, NEWCASTLE, NSW
Sunday 15 May – ENTRANCE LEAGUES, CENTRAL COAST, NSW
Thursday 19 May -ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY, NSW
Friday 20 May – THE ENMORE, SYDNEY (all ages), NSW
Saturday 21 May – THE ENMORE, SYDNEY (all ages) NSW
Sunday 22 May – CANBERRA THEATRE (all ages), ACT
Thursday 26 May – THE THEBARTON, ADELAIDE (all ages), SA
Friday 27 May – THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, VIC
Saturday 28 May – THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, VIC
Fri 3 June – TANK ARTS CENTRE, CAIRNS, QLD
Sat 4 June – MAGNUMS, AIRLIE BEACH (outdoor show), QLD
Sun 5 June – KIRWAN TAVERN, TOWNSVILLE (outdoor show), QLD