News
8 October 2026 – The Cat Empire Launch Rocket and Bring the Brazilian Street Parade Into the Studio
By Editorial Team - October 8, 2026
Summary
Australian favourites The Cat Empire return with exuberant new single Rocket, reuniting with producer Jan Skubiszewski ahead of orchestral tour dates.
Key Facts
- The Cat Empire release Rocket, their first new studio recording of 2026.
- The single reunites core founders Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill with longtime producer Jan Skubiszewski.
- Precedes two major orchestral concerts with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra on October 9 and 10.
- Entities: The Cat Empire, Felix Riebl, Ollie McGill, Jan Skubiszewski, Rocket, Where The Angels Fall, Bird in Paradise, Adelaide, Melbourne
- Tags: the-cat-empire, rocket, jan-skubiszewski, felix-riebl, ollie-mcgill, funk, latin, ska, australia
Australian festival favourites The Cat Empire release "Rocket" today, their first new studio recording of 2026 and a lively return to the band's trademark collision of funk, Latin rhythms, jazz brass and exuberant global pop. The single reunites the group with producer Jan Skubiszewski, a longtime collaborator associated with their celebrated early records. Felix Riebl describes the new track as combining the band's familiar percussive energy with tropical, Brazilian and surf-influenced colours.
"Rocket" arrives after several particularly successful years for the revitalised lineup, which has continued developing around Riebl and Ollie McGill since major personnel changes in 2023. Recent albums Where The Angels Fall and Bird in Paradise have maintained the group's international momentum, while orchestral collaborations have introduced another dimension to their live presentation.
The accompanying "Rocket" video deliberately embraces the rough visual character of older indie performance clips, using camcorder footage rather than attempting to make every frame resemble an expensive perfume advertisement. Its initial clean studio environment is intended to evolve into a progressively more colourful visual world as the next release campaign develops. The single arrives just before orchestral concerts in Adelaide on October 9 and 10.