Official WOMAD 2009 Line Up Announced
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:34 pm

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Festival Features Over 200 Performers From 18 Countries on 6 Stages
And for the first time, the Sustainable Village

New Zealand’s pre-eminent celebration of music, arts & dance is set to be a sell-out success once again as organisers Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) today announce the star-studded line up for WOMAD 2009, to take place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl 13-15th March 2009.

Widely proclaimed ‘King of Afrobeat’ Seun Kuti and his legendary big band Egypt 80 of Nigeria will fire up the stage, as will some of New Zealand’s biggest names including soul superstars Fat Freddy’s Drop, world-respected harmonica genius Brendan Power and icon of staunch New Zealand-ness Shona Laing.

The brilliantly eclectic bill for WOMAD 2009 includes unique splashes of quirk with the irresistible collision of Jamaican ska & Cuban mambo from Ska Cubano, Tibetan Gyuto Monks and The Mobile Sewing Company - a theatrical pair of seamstresses re-inventing spectators’ clothes, with the audience pedalling the power to their vintage machines!

TAFT Chief Executive Suzanne Porter says “WOMAD 2009 carries some of the biggest names we’ve had. With the confirmation of the line-up we’re offering some of the most interesting talent in the world, a very high standard.”

She adds “On top of the great music, you can eat and shop your way around the world in the famously popular Global Village, enjoy the new Sustainable Village and let children get creative at Kidszone.”

If the previous two WOMADs are anything to go by, WOMAD 2009 earlybird tickets will be expected to sell out within two weeks, so festival-goers are advised not to delay in purchasing their tickets to avoid the disappointment that many experienced when earlier WOMAD tickets have sold out.

WOMAD’s New Zealand Artistic Director Roger King says “WOMAD offers a unique environment to savour such a colourful array of music, arts and dance. I’m really very proud we’ve been able to once again achieve a programme of such great quality and diversity.”

WOMAD New Zealand has become an annual event and in 2009 introduces a new concept, the Sustainable Village, which showcases sustainable practices and merchandise. This adds to the already hugely successful Global Village (international food, arts & craft) and Kidszone.

THE ARTISTS - INTERNATIONAL

Arte Kanela (Australia / Spain) – the most dynamic force in Australian flamenco dance.
Bedouin Jerry Can Band (Egypt) – musicians, poets, storytellers and coffee grinders tell their tales from the Egyptian Sinai desert.
Dengue Fever (Cambodia / USA) – psychedelic Cambodian / LA pop.
Dona Rosa (Portugal) – blind world-travelled songstress discovered on the streets of Portugal.
Geoffrey Gurrumal (Australia) – formerly with band Yothu Yindi, the most revered voice in Aboriginal music.
The Gyuto Monks (Tibet / Australia) – The monks conduct tantric arts programmes around the world showcasing the intense colour, beauty & complexity of their endangered rituals & traditions.
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara Trio (UK) - With an encyclopaedic knowledge of Blues & African music, Adams has been referred to as ‘the Ry Cooder of the UK’ and with the Trio play an electrifying set. Adams is also the Musical Director of the All Stars Gala for WOMAD 2009.
Lo Cor De La Plana (France) – six male voices combine harmonies with boisterous percussion.
Mercedes Sosa (Argentina) – the doyenne of Latin American musical folklore, Sosa’s contralto voice is greatly admired for its depth and beauty.
Mikidache (Mayotte, near Madagasgar / Paris) – one of the hottest new singer/guitarist talents from this tiny country, Mikidache has made a name for himself in Paris by holding tight to his roots, believing “Madagascan music is complete in terms of its harmonies and rhythms.”
The Mobile Sewing Machine (Netherlands) – travelling ‘ateliers,’ audience members take off their clothes & allow the ladies to customise, decorate and revolutionise them, each vintage machine powered by bicycles pedalled by the audience!
Natacha Atlas (Egypt / UK) – chanteuse bridging Egyptian & Western R&B & pop styles with her soaring voice.
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset (UK) – one of the Britain’s newest shining lights in the folk scene.
Russ Jones – Future World Funk (UK) – DJ with a uniquely eclectic mash-up of cultural styles.
Sa Dingding (China) – the first Chinese artist to sing in Sanscrit, boldly combining traditional Chinese folk with Western electronica.
Seckou Keita SKQ (Senegal) – hailed as ‘the Hendrix of kora,’ the rocking repertoire of southern Senegal, its members bring their roots to the mix from Senegal, Italy, Egypt and The Gambia.
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria) – Fiery & frenetic Nigerian Seun Kuti (pron. “Shayoon Kooti”) and his family has stood opposed to the murderous and corruptive regimes in Africa for generations and brings his uniquely resolute, defiant and historic music to the stage. Together with Egypt 80, the legendary big-band of his late father Fela, Kuti brings an explosive brew of Afrobeat for the 21st century to WOMAD 2009. Fans include Barack Obama, who notoriously helped the band gain visas to play in the US. http://www.myspace.com/seunkuti
Ska Cubano (Cuba / UK) – an irresistible, fanciful combination of Jamaican ska & Cuban mambo.
Speed Caravan (Algeria / France) – amping up the ancient fretless lute, making traditional Arabic music rock.
U Shrinivas (India) – using the electric mandolin to offer a dazzling blending of Western jazz and sophisticated classical Indian music.

THE ARTISTS – NEW ZEALAND

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Fat Freddy’s have won an obscene number of Tuis (NZ Music Awards), awarded the People’s Choice award 2 years in a row. Debut album ‘Based On A True Story’ was #1 for 11 weeks (a record for a NZ album) & NZ’s highest selling album of 2006, now 8 x Platinum. Their highly anticipated second album is due for release late 2008. Live, Fat Freddy’s present a hybrid of dub/reggae, soul, funk, hip-hop and techno, marinated in jazz and served on Island Time.
Brendan Power – acknowledged as one of the most creative & skilled harmonica players in the world, lending his talents to the recordings of Sting, Van Morrison, Paul Young & many more, WOMAD welcomes this outstanding Kiwi to the lineup.
Shona Laing – her songs have become part of the fabric of New Zealand’s growing up, an essential part of our sense of place. Her piercingly insightful music will be right at home on the WOMAD stage.
Hinemoana Baker – published & celebrated poet, fiction writer, playwright and performer of song & spoken word, with a voice some have compared to Joan Baez and Cleo Laine. Those who love language - in particular Te Reo - and the impactful, no-waste language of poetry will love her performance. Winner APRA Silver Scroll Award (Maioha category, 2005) & NZ Music Awards finalist (2004).
Mihirangi – the sheer strength of her a capella vocal performance “absolutely blew us away” (Beat Magazine, 2006). Mihirangi takes soulful world roots to a new level, layering & looping her voice with ska chops, sensuous jazzy riffs & strong bass beat.
Moana and the Tribe – ancient yet timely messages, fusing taonga puoro, haka, chants with soul, reggae and classical, respectfully and gracefully blending the traditional with the contemporary. Moana draws on her identity as a Maori woman, with a background in traditional performing arts, to write songs that resonate with global audiences.
Little Bushman - four jazz school grads, influenced by Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and The Who, with some seriously bent psychadelic sonic sounds, a 5-Star review in the Dominion Post and a magnificent live show.
People In Your Neighbourhood - a British Council-led project, featuring a line up of musicians from diverse Kiwi communities and members of UK's acclaimed string collective Urban Soul Orchestra to create a dynamic collaboration of live electronic soul. Expect Korean rap, Maori toanga puoro, Fijian percussion, Nuiean soul, Chinese strings and more.

WOMAD THE FESTIVAL

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival-goers.

WOMAD Earlybird three-day passes are now available from
Ticketek - www.ticketek.co.nz.
3 day pass - $179
3 day pass & camping - $229
3 day pass & Marae-style accommodation - $249
1 day tickets are also available.

The full line-up, detailed information and a media accreditation application are available on the WOMAD website www.womad.co.nz

RE: Official WOMAD 2009 Line Up Announced
Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:44 pm

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WOMAD ADDS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED MALIAN DIVA ROKIA TRAORE TO LINEUP, REPLACING MERCEDES SOSA

Argentinian diva Mercedes Sosa, who was announced as part of the WOMAD NZ 2009 line-up on 29 October, has unfortunately had to withdraw from her Australia-New Zealand tour due to conflicting recording commitments. She will no longer be appearing at the festival. We ask you to please remove any references to Ms Sosa from any articles you may be about to submit.

WOMAD 2009 is excited to welcome Rokia Traore from Mali to join the party. By her own admission, Traore is not a “Malian traditional singer,” instead blending blues, contemporary rock and a hint of rockabilly. But that really doesn’t sum up Traore’s sound. She is regarded as one of the most experimental African singer-songwriters and has really just created her own style.

And the critics give her resounding praise:

“...surely one of the albums of the year.” - Robin Denselow, The Guardian / BBC Newsnight, London, February 2008

“An intriguing, sophisticated and often intimate set… that manages to sound contemporary but still distinctively African. Traore has become the experimental diva of Africa.” Guardian

“Arguably the most adventurous African artist around strikes gold with a huge musical leap into the guitar-driven bluesy territory usually reserved for Salif Keita. Terrific.” Mojo

“It's the delicate tracery of her unique arrangements, in which Gretsch guitar, n'goni and classical harp discreetly impose themselves on silence, that make this exceptional.” Independent on Sunday

WOMAD THE FESTIVAL

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival-goers.

New Zealand’s pre-eminent celebration of music, arts & dance takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl 13-15th March 2009. The Festival also features a new Sustainable Village, which showcases sustainable practices and merchandise. This adds to the already hugely successful Global Village (international food, arts & craft) and Kidszone.

WOMAD Earlybird three-day passes have sold out. Standard tickets are now available from Ticketek - www.ticketek.co.nz.

3 day pass - $209
3 day pass & camping - $259
3 day pass & Marae-style accommodation - $279
1 day tickets are also available.

For more information on WOMAD09, check out www.womad.co.nz

RE: Official WOMAD 2009 Line Up Announced
Posted: Mon Dec 8, 2008 2:47 pm

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THE WEATHERS GETTING HOTTER, WOMADS GETTING CLOSER AND THE LINE-UPS GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME

Hot on the heels of last weeks announcement that Malian Rokia Traore will join the WOMAD 2009 bill, comes the confirmation of Kiwi audience favourites Anika Moa & band, The Sami Sisters and Andrew White to the line-up.

Anika Moas honest and heart wrenching voice, her energy and cheeky wit bring together a live show that is a myriad of beautiful melodies and amazing musicianship.Moa has clearly become one of New Zealands best-loved troubadours and this is a not-to-be-missed experience to see her live in the unique WOMAD atmosphere.

The Sami Sisters are a singing, guitar-playing, gorgeous coffee-coloured trio of Irish and Indian descent, reigning from Aucklands Onehunga. Madeleine, Anji and Priya Sami are each accomplished entertainers in music & film and were met with high expectations when they decided to merge their collective talents to form the Sami Sisters. Their shows are sell-out and they live up to whats expected, and then some.

Andrew White was once busking the streets of Auckland.But fate had other plans for him and concert and festival audiences across Canada, Europe and the South Pacific have been amazed by his technically brilliant finger-style guitar playing and soulful songs. This year White has toured Canada and the UK coast to coast with the critically acclaimed production International Guitar Night and has just recorded his tenth album to date, Traces of Silver.

WOMAD THE FESTIVAL

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival-goers.

New Zealands pre-eminent celebration of music, arts & dance takes place at New Plymouths Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl 13-15th March 2009.The Festival also features a new Sustainable Village, which showcases sustainable practices and merchandise.This adds to the already hugely successful Global Village (international food, arts & craft) and Kidszone.

WOMAD Earlybird three-day passes have sold out.Standard tickets are now available from Ticketek - www.ticketek.co.nz.
3 day pass - $209
3 day pass & camping - $259
3 day pass & Marae-style accommodation - $279
1 day tickets are also available.

For more information on WOMAD09, check out www.womad.co.nz

RE: Official WOMAD 2009 Line Up Announced
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:36 am

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TASTE THE WORLD - WOMAD'S ARTISTS COOK LIVE ON STAGE!

Experiencing cultures from around the globe encapsulates what WOMAD is all about.Now you can eat your way around the globe too without leaving WOMADS back yard.Musicians and artistic guestsare lining up to share their foods and recipes from home and will cook live on theTaste the World stage at WOMAD 2009.

Taste the World presents food as a universal language that everyone can enjoy, explains WOMAD foundation director Annie Menter, much like the diverse range of music, arts and dance at WOMAD.

"Having worked and travelled with many of our artists for a number of years, we hadbecome very aware of the important role that food played in the lives of musicians who are touring and often away for long periods of time says Mentor. Food and music sit side by side in their lives, and we discovered that many of them were great cooks, hence the advent of Taste the World!

The Taste the World programme is still under development, but nine artists will present and cook recipes from their native lands while engaging in on-stage conversation about the role that food and cooking play in their lives. Each session produces enough food for 40-50 audience members to sample, with free recipe sheets available.

Taste The World adds to the already hugely successful Global Village at the heart of the festival, made up of more than 80 stalls trading a vast range of international food, beverages, arts and crafts.WOMAD has made a strong commitment to sustainable livelihoods for farmers in developing countries by being the first festival in New Zealand to exclusively use Fairtrade certified coffee throughout the festival.

WOMAD THE FESTIVAL

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival-goers.

New Zealand's pre-eminent celebration of music, arts & dance takes place at New Plymouth's Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl 13-15th March 2009. The Festival also features a new Sustainable Village, which showcases sustainable practices and merchandise. This adds to the already hugely successful Global Village (international food, arts & craft) and Kidszone.

WOMAD Earlybird three-day passes have sold out. Standard tickets are now available from Ticketek - www.ticketek.co.nz

3 day pass - $209
3 day pass & camping - $259
3 day pass & Marae-style accommodation - $279
1 day tickets are also available.
For more information on WOMAD09, check out www.womad.co.nz

RE: Official WOMAD 2009 Line Up Announced
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:59 am

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