The Cat Empire already have an impressive lineup locked in for their upcoming Australian headline tour but now the ever-impressive Aussie live music masters of genre-mixing delights are looking to expand the bill.

The quintet are giving one musician in each state a chance to temporarily join The Cat Empire lineup for ‘One Night Only’ as part of their upcoming tour, as the group open online submissions for artists interested in joining the band for a jam during select dates of their national jaunt this September and October.

“We don’t mind which instrument you play. Or which song you play us. Or how old you are,” write The Cat Empire on their official website. The initiative, led by the band’s trumpet-slaying co-frontman Harry Angus, is calling for audition videos – maximum two minutes in length – with the band themselves handpicking the winners after viewing submissions… along with their fans.

“Be warned – [audition videos will] be on our Facebook page so everyone’s going to see. It doesn’t need to be a Cat Empire tune, just whatever you like to do – go on, surprise us!”

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Winning entrants will not only get to perform their song of choice live on stage with the band, they’ll get to mingle backstage with the group too, earning a backstage pass for them and a friend.

“We’ll sort out all the musical details a few weeks before the show, and you’ll attend sound check on show day to rehearse and meet us first, so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare,” adds The Cat Empire. “If you live in a regional town or a state we aren’t visiting on this tour, we’ll get you and your plus one to the closest show and put you both up for the night close to the venue.”

Full details, terms and conditions for the ‘One Night Only’ call-out are available here.

Following on from commemorating their landmark 1,000th live gig earlier this year, The Cat Empire’s forthcoming Spring celebrations – kicking off Friday 26th September in Perth – will see them taking their genre-fusing troupe of horns, guitars, drums, percussion, and singers all across the country in support of their latest album Steal The Light once more.

As well as the winning ‘One Night Only’ guest, The Cat Empire will be joined on tour by two very special guests: 9-piece progressive Latin Reggae group, Madre Monte, and beat-boxing human orchestra (and TED Talk sensation) Tom Thum, who will be opening for the band across multiple dates.

(Photo: Shaan R. Ali. Source: The Cat Empire Tone Deaf Photo Gallery)

The Cat Empire Australian Tour 2014

with special guests Madre Monte and Tom Thum

FRI SEPT 26 – PERTH, FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE
Tickets: http://heatseeker.oztix.com.au/?Event=44391

SAT SEPT 27 – PERTH, METRO CITY
Tickets: http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=44398

FRI OCT 3 – ADELAIDE, THEBARTON THEATRE – all ages
Tickets: http://eventfeed.eventshop.com.au/public/htmlfeeditemview.php?itemid=9496&userid=39&check=f4ac4122ee48c213eec816f4d7944ea6&affid=venuetix

SAT OCT 4 – MELBOURNE, FESTIVAL HALL – all ages
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/The-Cat-Empire-tickets/artist/983767?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module

FRI OCT 10 & SAT OCT 11– BRISBANE, THE TIVOLI
Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/The-Cat-Empire-tickets/artist/983767

SUN OCT 12 – GOLD COAST, RABBIT & COCOON Creative Precinct
Tickets: http://thecatempire.oztix.com.au/Default.aspx?Event=44538

FRI OCT 17 – CANBERRA, UC LIVE – all ages
Tickets: http://thecatempire.oztix.com.au/Default.aspx?Event=44369

SAT OCT 18, SYDNEY, HORDERN PAVILION – all ages
Tickets: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=THECATEM14

SUN OCT 19 – NEWCASTLE, PANTHERS* – all ages
Tickets: http://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/the-cat-empire/71812

WED OCT 22 – FORSTER, CLUB FORSTER*
Tickets: http://clubforster.com.au/bio-cat-empire.html

THU OCT 23  – PORT MACQUAIRE, PANTHERS*
Tickets: http://tickets.oztix.com.au/?Event=44487

FRI OCT 24 – COFFS HARBOUR, CEX*
Tickets: http://www.cex.com.au/see/buy-tickets/

*Note that Newcastle, Forster, Port Macquaire & Coffs Harbour will feature Madre Monte only as support

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