Musicians set for Karratha gig

Hip-hop artist Drapht and jazz party band The Cat Empire are gearing up to come to Karratha for this year’s Beats in the Heat festival.

Paul Reid, better know as Drapht, has performed in the Pilbara several times and said he enjoyed playing regional gigs.

“They’re always filled with amazing energy because obviously up there you guys don’t get as many live shows that a big city would get, so it’s always great,” he said.

“I want to see as much of Australia as possible and when all the touring winds down, I plan to drive around Australia just to see the places that I haven’t been to before but I’ve been lucky enough with my music... to be able to see quite a bit of it.”

Cat Empire trumpeter and vocalist Harry James Angus said the band liked to get out and do regional gigs as much as possible.

“If... you only play in Melbourne and Sydney and Brisbane and Perth and Adelaide, you kind of feel like you’re not really seeing the real Australia at all,” he said.

“Whenever you do a regional show people tend of say thanks a lot for coming out here and it makes you realise how seldom touring bands do come to a lot of places.”

Angus hopes to find someone to take him fishing while in Karratha.

“Hopefully I’m expecting someone’s going to take me fishing but I don’t have anyone actually lined up yet, but I’m sure they’ll be some local Cat Empire fan... or someone that’s got a boat.”

Both Angus and Reid said they were looking forward to escaping the cold weather in Perth and Melbourne.

“To be out of Perth especially at this time of year when it’s a bit cold and get out into some warmer climate would be amazing,” Reid said.

He has been spending a lot of time in the studio recently, putting together a new album set to be released in August.

“I’m super happy with it. It’s definitely my best work to date,” he said.

“It’s sort of like an amalgamation of the last four-and-a-half records that I’ve put out and there’s heaps of guests.”

Beats in the Heat audiences will also be treated to an exclusive new song that has never been played live before.

“I’m putting about three new tracks in the set from the album so that’s going to be a heap of fun,” he said.

“I played the other two over the last sort of couple of months in the Groovin’ the Moo run but I haven’t played the first song which is like a potential single, so I’m just testing the waters with it.”

Angus said crowds should expect a mixed set from the Cat Empire.

“We generally do mix it up a bit... it’ll be some old stuff and some new stuff and a few hits, a few obscure ones,” he said.

“There are certain songs we know work the best live and we always end up playing them.”

Beats in the Heat will be Karratha Entertainment Centre June 24-25.

For more information, visit beatsintheheat.com.au.