Shot Notes
This is Ollie McGill on the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2023. Along with Felix Riebl, they are the remaining two-thirds of the founding trio of The Cat Empire. The band’s history includes over 40 musicians, enough for a chamber orchestra. After their last gig with the original lineup at Bluesfest 2022 there were a number of changes in the lineup. This made the reformed Kitten Empire the most anticipated show at Bluesfest 2023. Who would be there? What songs would they play? Would they still have that festival energy they are famous for? Australian Musician got the scoop on their new album. Watch this space for more Bluesfest stories throughout the year.
The Cat Empire will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.
UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.
[…] draws on musicians and stories from every corner of Australia. Melbourne-based Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill from The Cat Empire produce the music to tell stories of the Yindjibarndi people from the Pilbara […]