With much excitement UK 2 Tone and Ska legends The Specials were the first announced to play WOMAD NZ 2017.
Now, WOMAD NZ is over the moon to announce that joining them are: from Brazil, Grammy-nominee Bebel Gilberto, daughter of renowned singer João Gilberto performing her own laidback style of bossa nova; the French-Chilean musician, Ana Tijoux, whose sound captures where the street meets tradition; Vietnamese musicians Hanoi Masters who use half-forgotten traditional instruments to convey deep, personal connections to the upheavals of the Vietnam War; the New Orleans brass group Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), who will bring their signature blend of hip-hop, jazz and funk; “The Songbird of Wassoulou” Oumou Sangare (Mali) who is known for her seamless mix of old and new sounds that create a haunting backdrop for political lyrics, making her passion clear in any language and Sudha Ragunathan (India) who will take you to the heart of Carnatic music with her voice of gold.
Local artists include Wellington producer and multi instrumentalist Lord Echo who blends boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Reggae, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms. Hailing from Auckland is Mt Eden, expect them to fire up their trademark extended build-ups, drum solos, double and triple drops and Auckland based Sons Of Zion whose fusion of reggae, heavy rock, dub and funk will get you dancing.
There are many, many, more exciting artists to discover at the WOMAD 2017 Festival, more below.
Full artist listing alphabetical order: 9Bach (Wales), Ana Tijoux (Chile), Archie Roach (Australia), Aziza Brahim (Western Sahara), Bebel Gilberto (Brazil), Brushy one string (Jamaica), Emir Kusturica & the No Smoking Orchestra (Serbia), Hanoi Masters (Vietnam), Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), Inna Modja (Mali), La Mambanegra (Colombia), Lord Echo (Wellington/Aotearoa), Mercedes Peón (Spain), Mt Eden (Auckland/Aotearoa), Oumou Sangare (Mali), Rob Ruha (Matakaoa (Gisborne)/Aotearoa), Sinkane (Sudan/USA), Sons Of Zion (Auckland/Aotearoa), The East Pointers (Canada), The Soil (South Africa), The Specials (UK), The Swan Sisters (Christchurch/Aotearoa), Sudha Ragunathan (India), Swamp Thing (Tauranga/Rotorua/Aotearoa), Warsaw Village Band (Poland)
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WOMAD 2017 sees the festival celebrate its 13th anniversary in the stunning 55-acre Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth. Over the years, WOMAD NZ, has rightfully gained a reputation as one of the most beautiful outdoor festivals in the world.
The main stage is set at the base of a natural amphitheatre and not only provides a stunning setting, but an acoustic experience second to none. The other three stages are located throughout Brooklands Park, with every square inch oozing the vibrancy of WOMAD.
The maximum capacity for WOMAD is 15,000 ticket holders per day so you’ll never feel like you are in a mosh pit – in fact bring a blanket and enjoy refreshments in stylish chill out areas, watch a cooking demonstration or explore the stalls and workshops, the kids will be entertained at Kidzone with workshops especially for them spread over the weekend. WOMAD’s not just music! There’s plenty of other things on site to discover, come along and soak up the warmth of the WOMAD vibe.
The WOMAD campsite is situated next to the festival within the New Plymouth Racecourse and TSB Stadium. The festival site is also located a short distance from New Plymouth’s centre, if you book early you could even get a motel or hotel or house close enough to walk.
9Bach (Wales)
nine bark
Lisa Jên’s ethereal vocals in Welsh and 9Bach’s exquisite arrangements, fusing traditional harp, dulcimer and guitar with heady bass, saw them take out the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Album in 2015. With three albums under their belt, 9Bach’s moody, otherworldly sound has also seen them win a big fan in Peter Gabriel.
Ana Tijoux (Chile)
Ah-nah tee-joo (soft ‘j’ as in ‘nbonjour’)
Ana Tijoux is the standard bearer for rap en Español, breaking down barriers between generations, voices and cultures and speaking out against injustice. Her hybrid sound captures where the street meets tradition, tough yet tender, political yet celebratory. Since the late 1990s, she has won acclaim throughout Latin America and Europe, especially for her signature albums 1977 and Vengo.
Archie Roach (Australia)
In a voice rich with humanity, filled with joy, pain, love and longing, Archie Roach traces the journey of his people, and gets to the heart of what it means to be human. He is one of Australia’s most treasured performers.
Aziza Brahim (Western Sahara)
Ah Zee Zah Bra heem
A singer from the disputed territory of Western Sahara, now based in Barcelona, Brahim’s recent work most strongly echoes the raw passion of blues and flamenco. Aziza uses haunting melodies to draw attention to the plight of her people.
Bebel Gilberto (Brazil)
beh-belle jeel-BER-toh (soft ‘j’ as in bonjour)
Grammy-nominee Bebel Gilberto, daughter of renowned singer João Gilberto, has forged her own distinctive, laidback style of bossa nova since she began performing in her twenties from her home base of New York City. Her synthesis of electronica with classic Brazilian beats and melodies floating atop modern bossa-tinged arrangements have positioned her among the best-selling Brazilian artists in the USA.
Brushy one string (Jamaica) The King of the one String, that’s right; there’s just one string on his guitar, but Jamaican songman Brushy conjures a universe of music. His plucking is ingenious but it’s his voice that sets him apart; deep and soulful one moment, sweet and soaring the next. Thanks to Luciano Blotta’s cult reggae documentary RiseUp, Brushy is now an international touring sensation.
Emir Kusturica & the No Smoking Orchestra (Serbia)
eh-meer koo-stoo-REE-tsah
Fronted by controversial filmmaker Emir Kusturica, who has twice won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, this feisty 11-piece Serbian band couples anti-globalist messages with wild, eclectic music. Drawing influence from frantic Balkan rhumba and hot gypsy rhythms, the No Smoking Orchestra’s loveable, dishevelled sound fuses dancing with passionate beliefs.
Hanoi Masters (Vietnam)
ha-noy masters
Among the few local recording artists to have survived the Vietnam War, the Hanoi Masters’ defiant and poignant songs deal with the conflict’s aftermath, rather than the bombs of the time. Using traditional Vietnamese instruments, and led by their Vân-Ánh Võ (Kronos Quartet), Masters Quô? Hùng and Ph?m M?ng H?i reveal not only their talent and immense resilience but also their sense of joy and humour.
Hot 8 Brass Band (USA)
The New Orleans based brass band bring passion and noise through a bevy of trombones, saxophones, trumpets, snare and bass drums that blend hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. It’s feel good music, music with a message. It’s life music.
Inna Modja (Mali)
Innah mojja
Having been encouraged to sing by Salif Keita, the multi-talented Inna Modja is carving out a unique path on the world stage. Her music is an alluring mix of desert blues, electronica and hip-hop with hard-hitting lyrics, set to a flawless groove. She is outspoken on many of the injustices facing African women but, ultimately, hers is a powerful and positive vision for the future.
La Mambanegra (Colombia) lah mah-bah-NEH-grah La Mambanegra (The Black Mamba) is a mighty salsa orchestra bubbling over with sophisticated musicianship, spicy rhythms and an unbeatable energy brought to you straight from the nightclubs of Cali. This electrifying nine-piece band combines funk, hip-hop and the salsa of 1970s New York; a combination guaranteed to have you dancing.
Lord Echo (Wellington/Aotearoa)
New Zealand producer and multi instrumentalist Lord Echo (aka Mike Fabulous) has been flexing his dual-mastery of 60’s production techniques and modern dancefloor aesthetics for over a decade now, through a flowing blend of boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Reggae, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms.
Mercedes Peón (Spain)
mehr-se-dess PEH-on
Mercedes Peón is a one-woman musical hurricane who has single-handedly revived the traditional music of Galicia in northern Spain. A true original, Peón has painstakingly collected the songs of the region and experimented with them, unleashing them live in a dramatic solo show on stage, with an armoury of instruments and effects on hand.
Mt Eden (Auckland/Aotearoa)
Out of their teenage bedrooms, Mt Eden are now working with some of the biggest artists and producers in the game. Expect them to fire up their trademark extended build-ups, drum solos, double and triple drops as Mt Eden take crowds to the peak and tip them over the edge again and again.
Oumou Sangare (Mali) Ew mu Sang ga-ree
“The songbird of Wassoulou” is renowned for writing and singing lyrics that specifically addresse concerns of women in modern West African society. Listeners will be drawn in by her mellifluous vocals and smooth, circular compositions.
Rob Ruha (Matakaoa (Gisborne)/Aotearoa) Multi award winning M?ori musician Rob Ruha’s unique style of music is an eclectic mix of soul-roots-reggae with RnB licks, laced with rock-blues and bohemian-jazz-fusion accents. Grounded on a bed of the tribal rhythms and the pulse of haka and m?teatea, Rob explains his brand of music as “Haka-soul”.
Sinkane (Sudan/USA) sin-kain With a falsetto voice drifting over driving beats and layered synth lines, the compelling sound of Sinkane defines Ahmed Gallab’s journey from a childhood in London and Sudan to Brooklyn, where his music took flight. His style-hopping sonic influences embrace Afrobeat, pop and soul grooves and the result is a seamless and seductive cross-cultural mesh.
Sons Of Zion (Aotearoa)
With their unique fusion of rock, dub, RnB with the foundation of reggae, stand out from the rest. From humble beginnings, a drive to create, perform, tour, make music & a commitment to their fans & followers SONS OF ZION have gained huge popularity.
Swamp Thing (Tauranga/Rotorua/Aotearoa) Longtime John Butler Trio drummer Michael Barker and Grant Haua make up the two man Blues/Roots juggernaut Swamp Thing. These two unique musicians come together bringing a wealth of experience, passion and love for their craft to make blues flavoured music with a deep groove and soulful spook.
Sudha Ragunathan (India)
soo–dah rah-goo-nah-thahn
As the most celebrated of south India’s devotional Carnatic singers, Sudha Ragunathan has a captivating voice that soars above the music’s strict rhythmic system. The agility and dexterity of her astonishing vocal control enables her melodies to bend and quiver like vibrating strings, underscored by lively percussion and violin accompaniment.
The East Pointers (Canada)
The freewheelin’, roof rattlin’ trio of Tim Chaisson on fiddle, Jake Charron on guitar and Koady Chaisson on banjo inject traditional folk with a bolt of youthful energy, verve and raucous step dancing. The East Pointers’ first release Secret Victory features energetic jigs, stomps, reels and heart-breaking harmonies that have made them torchbearers for a new wave in traditional music.
The Soil (South Africa)
South Africa’s great a cappella harmony singing tradition is given new life with The Soil’s bold contemporary style. Defined as Kasi Soul, the young trio’s music is an eclectic mix of township harmonies, soul, jazz, beatboxing and deep gospel. It’s the crossroad where generational and stylistic inspirations collide, and the sound is nothing short of joyous.
The Specials (UK)
In 1979, The Specials ushered in the modern era of British ska; a danceable mix of Jamaican Bluebeat and punk known as 2 Tone. They were political, nattily dressed ‘rude boys’ whose songs – such as the iconic Gangsters, Ghost Town and A Message to You Rudy – pulled no punches and captured the world’s imagination.
The Swan Sisters (Christchurch/Aotearoa)
Award-winning singer-songwriter Amiria Grenell and accomplished professional actor & musician Amy Grace are The Swan Sisters. Theirs is a delicate blend of music styles: alt. folk with beautiful harmonies, a touch of country, a bit of dreamy pop and a dash of swingin’ blues. It encapsulates their friendship and love of storytelling.
Warsaw Village Band (Poland)
Formed in 1998 as a defiant musical gesture against mass market mentality, this wild and adventurous seven-piece group proudly embraces Polish folk traditions, but with a thrilling and raw edge. Using old instruments rarely heard in modern music, their most recent album also draws influences from India, Persia and Spanish Galicia.
WOMAD THE FESTIVAL
WOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance – the world’s festival is held once again at The stunning Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth, which is frequently described by visitors and performers as one of the most beautiful venues in the world. The New Zealand/Aotearoa festival is being held 17-19 March 2017.
WOMAD – World of Music, Arts and Dance the internationally established festival, brings together artists from all over the globe. The central aim of the WOMAD festival is to celebrate the world’s many forms of music, arts and dance.
As an organisation, WOMAD now works in many different ways, but our aims are always the same – at festivals, performance events, through recorded releases and through educational projects, we aim to excite, to inform, and to create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society.
Since the first festival in the UK in 1982, WOMAD has held more than 160 festivals, creating events in 27 countries and islands all over the world. Womad internationally has presented more than one thousand artists at the festivals, bringing the expression of more than 100 different countries to a live audience of over one million people.
First created in the UK by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman over 30 years ago, WOMAD was first presented in Taranaki in 2003, and celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2017. In its tenure the WOMAD festival in Taranaki has had 150’000 visitors through its gates and generated over 100 million dollars for the local economy.
WOMAD in New Zealand is presented by TAFT – Taranaki Arts Festival Trust.
CEO – Suzanne Porter
WOMAD Event Director – Chris Herlihy
WOMAD Programme Manager NZ – Emere Wano
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