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The Cat Empire returns to Womadelaide for fifth time

A US soul legend and the “Golden voice of Africa” will join The Cat Empire at the 2020 Womadelaide festival in Botanic Park.

The Cat Empire. Picture: Supplied by Womadelaide
The Cat Empire. Picture: Supplied by Womadelaide

The Cat Empire will make an unprecedented fifth appearance at Womadelaide next year, alongside US soul great Mavis Staples and African superstar Salif Keita, who is making his farewell tour.

They are among the first 20 acts announced for the 2020 line-up, along with Cuba’s Orquesta Akokan, Australia’s Grammy-nominated Hiatus Kaiyote and New Zealand indie superstar Aldous Harding, at Botanic Park from March 6-9.

US singer Mavis Staples. Picture: Myriam Santos, supplied by Womadelaide.
US singer Mavis Staples. Picture: Myriam Santos, supplied by Womadelaide.
Mali singer Salif Keita. Picture: Thomas Dorn, supplied by Womadelaide
Mali singer Salif Keita. Picture: Thomas Dorn, supplied by Womadelaide

“It’s such a great moment when you find out you’re playing that festival,” says The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl. “We’ve done it so many times, but it’s always like each time is better than the last.”

“Those early shows were amazing … it was a time before any labels. We’d sell out all of our CDs, which meant a lot to a young, teenage touring band.

“We also got see so many bands, the sorts of bands that we would be very influenced by and excited by. It’s a really fertile place for us.”

Felix and bandmate Ollie McGill will also perform at Womadelaide with their other group, Spinifex Gum. As The Cat Empire wraps up touring for this year’s album Stolen Diamonds, he says its members have solo projects planned for next year.

The Cat Empire. Picture: Supplied by Womadelaide
The Cat Empire. Picture: Supplied by Womadelaide

Womadelaide will also feature the airborne spectacular As the World Tipped, a politically charged and environmentally focused work by renowned UK company Wired Aerial Theatre.

Towering 13 metres above the audience, As the World Tipped will entwine dance and theatrics with extraordinary projections which illustrate the immediate realities of climate change, performed nightly in adjoining Frome Park.

For information and tickets visit womadelaide.com.au

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/arts/the-cat-empire-returns-to-womadelaide-for-fifth-time/news-story/be1c8b35e9e047824ca29a4407aa75bb