The Katet

The Katet

The Katet is an eight-piece band from Edinburgh led by singer-songwriter Mike Kearney. Kearney forms the group by selecting players from the city’s funk, soul, blues, ska, rock and jazz fusion scenes, and the band develops into a prominent live act in Scotland.

Live activity

The Katet begins a residency at Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar in 2007. Over the following years, the band plays hundreds of gigs there and becomes associated with performances that attract visiting artists and entertainers passing through the city. Among the people reported to have attended their shows are Anne Hathaway, The Mavericks, James Corden, Zero 7 and Snarky Puppy.

Releases

The band releases its debut album, Leitmotif Man, in 2009, followed by Philosophika in 2011. Kearney also develops a distinctive conducting style for the group. The band has three EPs planned for release in 2013 and 2014, with the first, Chess, available for download at that time.

Style and reception

The Katet is associated with funk-driven, dance-oriented music that combines elements of jazz and soul with other forms from Kearney’s broad musical background. The group receives press descriptions that emphasise its energetic live reputation and its mixture of jazz and funk.