SOUTH Perth foreshore became Perth’s newest outdoor venue on Friday night, hosting one of Australia’s most eclectic bands, The Cat Empire.
By The River promised to use Sir James Mitchell Park to full effect for the Melbourne act and it did not disappoint as concertgoers enjoyed picnics as the sun went down.
DJ Fdel warmed up the late afternoon crowd with a reggae-infused mix of tunes before Melbourne singer songwriter Whitely took to the stage.
Sydney band The Beautiful Girls entertained with their blues and roots groove, with a simplicity perfect for the late summer afternoon.
The Cat Empire’s reputation as one of Australia’s best live acts was upheld with the crowd dancing to the high-energy blend of sounds from a stunning diverse range of genres.
Blending jazz, reggae, Latin and hip-hop, the Empire’s diversity was on full display. Soulful ballads kept the crowd swaying but the band’s real strength are their up tempo tracks, with favourites So Many Nights and Two Shoes not failing to disappoint.
Band leader Felix Reibl kept the party atmosphere high and singer and trumpeter Harry Angus brought the groove during the ballads.
DJ ‘Jumps’ Jamshid Khadiwala’s work on decks provided a remarkably effective counterpoint to the band’s strong brass element.
After closing the set with the 2003 hit Sly, the band came back for a two-song encore that ensured concertgoers left on a lingering high.