THE CAT EMPIRE – THE FINAL SHOW OF THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP AFTER 20 YEARS with CARÃVANA SUN and TIJUANA CARTEL
In the first of a series of announcements featuring artists playing Thursday 14th April, Bluesfest would like to start by proudly revealing its standout headliner for their Opening Night at Bluesfest 2022!
Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM announced this morning:
“It’s going to be a magnificent celebration when The Cat Empire play their final ever show Easter Thursday at Bluesfest after 20 years, including an incredible 16 performances at Bluesfest in that time. We always believed they would be a major band, everywhere, when we first saw them play at the Prince Bandroom, St Kilda, all those years ago, and booked them as a result. Now they are known and loved all over the world. It will be interesting to see what everyone from the original lineup does in future.
Felix & Ollie have advised they will be launching The Cat Empire II soon … can’t wait, but meantime … we get to say ‘Goodbye, Goodbye’ before we say ‘Hello, Hello’ again.
And with Caravãna Sun and Tijuana Cartel BOTH performing on the main stage immediately before them, it’s going to be a truly memorable occasion.”
Thursday, 14th of April at Bluesfest 2022 is set to be bigger and better than any Opening Night we’ve had before, which will feature a number of very special performances which will ONLY HAPPEN THAT EVENING! So, it’s certainly not to be missed.
Bluesfest 2022 promises to give us all the well-deserved live music treat we need after the last few years without a Bluesfest!
For those who already have tickets to other days of the event, Bluesfest have made Thursday add-on tickets available. For everyone else, 5-Day season, 3-day Thu-Fri-Sat, and single-day tickets are all ON SALE NOW! Visit www.bluesfest.com.au for the full lineup, festival information, tickets and more!
THE CAT EMPIRE
The Cat Empire recently announced that after 20 years the band’s original line-up will play their final shows together in a series of massive shows around Australia end 2021/beginning of 2022. They have chosen to play their very last show together at Blues Fest 2022.
The Cat Empire performed for the first time at Blues Fest in 2003, beginning a long association that saw the band shake the Blues Fest stage a total of 16 times as their stratospheric trajectory continued unabated, making them one of Australia’s most successful musical exports of the past 2 decades.
Since their teens, the six bound together by a love of music have gone about the business of crafting infectious, genre-embracing anthems, and releasing chart-topping, multi-platinum albums to take to the live stage. It was not unusual to find the band performing on main stage bills at iconic international festivals, selling out the world’s most famous arenas, mobbed by supporters and media at airports in Spain, and appearing on top rating T.V. shows like Letterman and Leno.
The next chapter of The Cat Empire is yet to be written, with founding members Felix and Ollie stepping forward with “a re-imagined, vibrant, cross-cultural, and joyful collective of musicians and artists” in late 2022.
But first, let’s welcome to the Bluesfest stage one final time, The Cat Empire original line-up.
CARAVANA SUN
Described as “the most explosive performance ever witnessed” by LOST Magazine, Caravãna Sun has always been known for the raw energy of their live shows. From the huge crowd singalongs to the quiet, soulful heart moments, they always keep their focus on the connection to their audience.
From touring with iconic artists Madness, UB40, The Cat Empire & Fat Freddy’s Drop, Caravãna Sun has become internationally regarded as one of the world’s finest live draws, with a sound that demands to be heard live. From sun-drenched reggae to sweeping synth indie groove, Caravãna Sun will have you off your feet and soulfully shook to the core.
They have played over 300 shows/festivals/open airs in Europe/UK. Highlights include Boardmasters (UK), Headlining Madnes (NL), Summer in the city (Germany), Boomtown (UK), Reggae Sun Ska (France) to name a few. Now that they have signed with Berlin’s Embassy of Music, joining a heavyweight roster including Björk & Moby, Caravãna Sun is fully equipped and excited for what is to come. Itching to get back on the road again and share their new music, 2022 is shaping up to be the band’s biggest year yet.
TIJUANA CARTEL
Tijuana Cartel have established themselves on the Australian music scene as one of the country’s most exciting live acts, combining the sounds of the Middle East, India, and Spain with a psychedelic and atmospheric approach to song writing. Based in deep electronic roots with a concoction of multi-layered grooves, splashes of Middle Eastern vocals, lilting Moby-esque soundscapes, Flamenco and slide guitar, trumpet, live & electronic world beats and percussion, influenced heavily by break beats. The four-piece formed on the Gold Coast in the 1990s and have since built a firm reputation as a global force, notching up residencies in Mumbai, Thailand, Bali’s KuDeTa Bar and Beijing’s famous Loong Bar during the 2008 Olympic Games. Tijuana Cartel has also been a familiar face on the international festival circuit, playing stages across Europe and the USA as well as Australia’s most loved events including Peats Ridge, Rainbow Serpent, Wave Rock, Splendour In The Grass, Bluesfest, Woodford, Falls Festival and more!