Hills alive with Cat Empire leader

Felix Riebl, band leader of the The Cat Empire will perform at Montrose Town Centre as part of his national tour.

By Derek Schlennstedt

Cat Empire band leader Felix Riebl will be playing at Montrose Town Centre as part of a national tour dedicated to his second solo album.
Felix has put aside the Ska and Jazz anthems the internationally acclaimed band is infamous for to instead produce a more introspective solo body of work.
Although he will be accompanied by four of the country’s most celebrated musicians on stage, Felix said that audiences could expect a Cat Empire-like show.
“The musicians I worked with are my favourite in the country,” he said.“One thing I’d say about the live show is I always try to get the same intensity and same moment in all my live shows … but it’s been really interesting in the sense that’s it’s a completely different world and dynamic, and I really enjoyed the challenge,” he said.
The song list in the show will include songs from all of Riebl’s solo albums, “and one or two re-imagined Cat Empire songs”.
The tour has taken Felix to various regional locations across Australia.
He said that this travelling reflected the feel of the album and that he enjoyed touring as it allowed him to discover new places, and that Montrose would be no exception.
“Every other part of touring is the work, and being on stage is the time you get to be in another language with people who are on stage with you and people who are listening and that’s the electric and great part.”
You get to have a closer interaction with the audience, and I really enjoy that – it’s such a travelling album, there’s a real personal mood to it which suits the show,” he said.
“I really enjoyed that in this in your Arms Tour I was able to go to a few regional Victorian locations. … Montrose is no exception, and I think it’s going to be great.
The show will be held at Montrose Town Centre on 17 August at 8pm
Tickets are $35 to book visit boxoffice@yarraranges.vic.gov.au