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Vocalist extraordinaire and The Cat Empire frontman, Felix Reibl spoke to us ahead of the band's record-breaking sixth performance at the 2020 WOMADelaide.



"It's really one of the most remarkable festivals in the world, in terms of how beautiful the site is, how diverse and international the artists are, there's very few festivals that do that," Felix says.



"We were really embraced by Australia, before [WOMAD] we were just an underground sound, and [it] was the flagship festival for us."

The Cat Empire are hard to describe, a mixture of genres and cultures that make up the band's identity. However, one fact has remained consistent and it is their intrinsic connection to their live performances.



"I hate the way that we're explained sometimes, people use the word ska, but it's not at all that kind of band. It is really a unique sound... we wanted to be a band to ignite a festival," Felix says.



"If anything, we've been influenced by the festival genre."



"We brought sounds from all around the world to Australia, but I feel like when we travel overseas we bring some of Australia to them. Something about the attitude."



They are undeniably a band whose performances at festivals and gigs span across the world to an immeasurable number of locations. From intimate to jam-packed, the band has experienced every type of crowd.



"I remember going to a town in the outskirts, on the very border of America and Canada, we didn't think there'd be anyone at this show, in the midst of an early US and America tour," Felix reminisces.



"This troupe of people from Montreal came across the border to come see us, they knew the words to all our songs, we'd never even been to Montreal before, and that started a love affair with that city, because people came to travel to see us play."



Their sound, as amalgamated and elusive as it is, totals the notion that their music transcends time and place.



"...and that's happened all over the world, especially in the early days people would travel to come see us with this sense of occasion, which was really at the heart of the music as well."



"Those moments you don't forget, you can't get them back and you cant recreate them, they're just moments that happen like that."



Essentially, "we've always taken our enjoyment seriously, and we've become better musicians," Felix laughs.



Their performances are indeed notable, one look at their Spotify page, you will see a heap of their 'live at x' albums, offered to the public, not only due to their ability to sing as well live as on record. They are also there to cement the experiences inside the festival-goers' minds forever.



"When you're on stage sometimes you close your eyes it's really nice to open them and see a massive audience like the WOMAD ones. Likewise you can close your eyes on a very small intimate show and have a very transformative experience," Felix says.



"I really rely on some songs now that become part of the live experience for me. You can't not do The Chariot. I think I wrote that song when I was 19 or something [and] it's not the most amazing song for me to sing anymore but it's more about the celebration of the music."



But in terms of which songs he enjoys singing live the most, Felix notes 2013 release Steal the Light, "it's about as high as my register goes, and it's a song I really enjoy lyrically."



He does mention that their identity as a live band, a festival band is about "losing yourself and not taking yourself too seriously, recognising the really strong songs so you're not just going through the motions."



Perpetually working on something musical, Felix's other project Spinifex Gum, a choir of young Indigenous women singing in English and Yindjibarndi,

Aussie indie-pop faves Sheppard are roaring back to Superloop Adelaide 500 alongside Pete Murray for the highly anticipated Saturday night show.



We spoke to George Sheppard ahead of their return to Superloop stage.



"Last time we were lucky enough to be supporting Robbie Williams, so this time, the fact that we're getting to co-headline with Pete Murray, it's very exciting for us," George says.



Sheppard have recently released their new single 'Phoenix', a song dedicated to victims of the Australian bushfires, raising money for those affected by the blaze.



"During New Years we were absolutely devastated... a mixture of confusion, helplessness and guilt, cause we're sitting up in the sunshine coast which is not affected and we're having a great holiday... and the country is burning all around us."



"We decided pretty quickly that we were going to put our musical skills for the cause," George says.



The profits from Phoenix will be donated to two Australian charities- Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal, a not-for-profit organisation focusing on rural, regional & remote communities, and Wires, Australia's largest wildlife rescue organisation.



According to George, Phoenix came to be incredibly quickly, "when it is that raw emotion thats pouring out of you, its a lot more definite... it was really quick song, it took about a day and half for the lyrics, and then we spent two days recording it."



Their vibrant energy and passion for music translates through to their hits that have dominated charts throughout the last decade.



Arguably their biggest hit, Geronimo overtook Pharrell's Happy on the Aria Charts and it's easy to see why with the uplifting tune resonated so well with fans.



Sheppard's third album is on the horizon and George tells us it's going to be released in a slightly unusual way.



"We've spent the whole of last year writing and recording the third album, we're going to release a song every month this year."



"It's very ambitious to release every song as a single, it presents itself with some unusual challenges. We've got a video clip, artwork and a song every month."



Catch George and the rest of Sheppard this Saturday at Superloop Adelaide 500 alongside Pete Murray.

Sarah McLeod chats playing at The Superloop 500, why Thebby Theatre is so special, and her new bushfire relief single.

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John Brewster chats returning to play at The Gov next year, what it was like touring with David Bowie, and his favourite place to eat in Adelaide.

Live lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Ed Kowalczyk, chats about the band's reunion, upcoming music, and getting to do his hobby for a living.