Lemon Tree Music Signs The Cat Empire, Adds 5 Bigsound-Bound Talents (EXCLUSIVE)

Lemon Tree Music is branching out with a raft of new signings, led by ARIA Award-winners The Cat Empire, TMN can exclusively reveal.

One of Australia’s favourite live bands, The Cat Empire will be represented by senior artist manager Kristie McCarthy, alongside LTM co-founders Regan Lethbridge and David Morgan.

After 20 years, the well-travelled group recently wrapped its final tour with the original lineup.

It’s not the end of the line.

The latest incarnation is now led by two of the original three founding members, Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill, and will “continue their legacy and create a fresh, new era for the band and their fans,” reads a statement.

“What The Cat Empire does to a room full of people is so unique and I felt like I wasn’t ready to leave that,” comments Riebl, “and I was also really excited by all of the new musical possibilities.”

Photo: Jess Gleeson. @jessgleeson

McCarthy says the party-starters remain “an absolute force” and “their vision for the future truly excites me. I can’t wait for Australia and the world to see their dynamic new live show, and ambitious new record.”

At the same time, McCarthy signs award-winning producer, mixer and engineer Andy Lawson to LTM, joining Garrett Kato and Jan Skubiszewski on the firm’s growing roster of producers.

Lawson operates Debaser Studios and has worked with the likes of Death By Denim, Noah Dillon, Riley Pearce, Garrett Kato, Mitch Santiago, Eskimo Joe, Gyroscope and Drapht.

“After years of getting to know Lemon Tree Music through producing their artists,” Lawson comments, “I’m excited to join the fold myself.”

SAYGRACE

With LTM’s ten-year milestone on the horizon, the management specialist adds several emerging and established acts to its roster.

New additions include singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Little Green; teenage multi-instrumentalist Mitch Santiago (whose third single “How I See You” drops July 7); multi-platinum vocalist SAYGRACE (real name Grace Sewell); and Sydney artist/producer Roy Bing, all of whom will showcase their talents this week at Bigsound 2022.

LTM is turning 10 next year, “and to see our company grow with incredible artists is something we don’t take for granted,” comments Morgan and Lethbridge in a statement.

Mitch Santiago

With that anniversary looming, the business shares some updates on its established acts kicking international goals.

Tash Sultana is playing the final leg of their world tour this month after a string of sold-out shows across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, while Tones And I is in the middle of a run of concerts across Europe and North America, including supporting slots with Macklemore, who guests on “Chant,” lifted from Tones’ follow-up to Welcome to the Madhouse.

Also, Budjerah, an ARIA and APRA Award winner, has landed festival slots at Splendour in The Grass, A More Perfect Union, and The Great Escape, and a warm-up spot touring Europe with Vance Joy.

“We are incredibly proud of our team, everything we have achieved together and we look forward to the next exciting chapter,” the LTM co-founders enthuse. “We are a small company with big global ambition and our artists are what get us out of bed everyday.”

Roy Bing

Kicking off today and running through Sept. 9, Bigsound will spread out across 21 venues in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

QMusic, producer of the annual industry gathering, expects 16,000 folks to attend the show, including 1,500 delegates for the daytime conference.