Gallery: The Cat Empire @ Northcote Theatre, Melbourne – 7 September, 2025

The Cat Empire took over The Northcote Theatre last Sunday, transforming the venue into a vibrant, energetic dance party.

The Northcote Theatre transformed into an electric dance party Sunday night, eliminating any Monday morning work blues as The Cat Empire took punters through a crowd-pleasing set.

The band had decked out the stage with a colourful array of roses, pairing it with dark, dramatic red lights, turning the room into a vibrant cabaret.

Opening with the groovy ‘Blood on the Stage’ from their most recent album, the crowd took the stage with a commanding force of showmanship, proving they’ve still got the power 25 years into their career to write tracks that can turn the usually timid Melbourne audience into willing participants of a high-energy dance party.

The setlist was filled with tracks across all eras of the band’s lengthy discography, even performing a dizzying medley in the encore assembled of some of The Cat Empire’s most beloved songs and deep cuts alike. No matter what kind of fan you were, the band had assembled a setlist that would satisfy everyone.

As the band played their final song, despite everyone’s weak knees and drenched shirts, everyone came together for a final celebration. The Cat Empire’s ability to capture and get an audience to match their energy is precisely why they’ve remained one of Australia’s best live acts to catch for the last 20 years, and maintain their status as a bucket list band everyone should see at least once.

Here was the full setlist from the night:

• Blood on the Stage
• How to Explain?
• Oscar Wilde
• Prophets in the Sky
• Candela (Buena Vista Social Club cover)
• Brighter Than Gold
• Devil
• Two Shoes
• Going to Live
• Hello
• Sly
• Owl
• Be With You Again
• Steal the Light
• Rock ‘n’ Roll
• Still Young

Encore setlist

• Still Young (last chorus only)
• Fishies / Days Like These / Saltwater / One Foure Five / So Many Nights / The Darkness / The Rhythm / In My Pocket / The Wine Song
• The Chariot

You can check out the full gallery from the night, with photos by Katie Dannock, below.

The Cat Empire @ Northcote Theatre, Melbourne Gallery