Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA) * DakhaBrakha (Ukraine) *Lankum (Ireland) *Moonlight Benjamin (Haiti-France)* Rei (Aotearoa/NZ) * Strawpeople (Aotearoa/NZ)
15-17 March, 2024
Brooklands Park and the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Ngāmotu (New Plymouth)
Tickets on sale now from www.womad.co.nz
In a lineup that embodies the festival’s spirit of diversity and musical exploration, WOMAD NZ is thrilled to announce six new talented acts to perform at the award-winning Brooklands Park and the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Ngāmotu/ New Plymouth in March 2024.
From the fusion of neo-Sufi, classical minimalism, jazz, and electronic music by Arooj Aftab to the innovative “ethno-chaos” sounds of DakhaBrakha, the fresh perspective on Irish folk music by the 2023 Mercury Prize nominees Lankum, the mesmerizing blend of rock and Haitian voodoo rhythms by Moonlight Benjamin, the genre-blending talents of rising artist Rei in hip-hop and R&B, and the nineties cool electro-pop contributions of Strawpeople. It’s a musical journey that offers something extraordinary for everyone.
These six eclectic and exciting acts will join the previously announced eight-time Grammy Award-winning, socially conscious, reggae world music sensation Ziggy Marley at the festival in March, with more acts to be announced in October.
Music enthusiasts can look forward to immersing themselves in a rich tapestry of sounds and cultures while enjoying the natural beauty of the surroundings. It’s an event that promises to celebrate both the universal language of music and the unique flavours of each artist’s cultural influences.
WOMAD NZ 2024 is poised to be an unforgettable event and undoubtedly the must-attend festival of the season.
Tickets on sale now from www.womad.co.nz
Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA)
Winner of the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance, Brooklyn-based musician Arooj Aftab draws on a deep well of musical influences, transcending boundaries from jazz to minimalism to Urdu poetry. Her spellbinding performance style has earned her a place on the New York Times best concerts list, & appearances at Coachella, Primavera Sound &Glastonbury.
DakhaBrakha (Ukraine)
Formed in Kyiv in 2004, Ukrainian ‘ethno chaos’ quartet DakhaBrakha creates unexpected new sounds that are contemporary, cosmopolitan and intimate, with the soul and vocal power of Ukrainian folk. With a strong visual and theatrical element to their shows, DakhaBrakha experiments with the instruments and rhythms of other cultures through the lens of Ukrainian tradition.
Lankum (Ireland)
Contemporary Irish quartet Lankum has won wide acclaim for its radical and distinctive breakout from the folk genre. The Dublin band makes bold, experimental music fashioned from traditional elements, creating something that is altogether new and refreshing. In 2018, they were named Best Folk Group at the Irish national broadcaster’s (RTÉ) Folk Music Awards.
Moonlight Benjamin (Haiti-France)
Nicknamed the ‘Caribbean Patti Smith’ by The Guardian, voodoo queen priestess MoonlightBenjamin plays raw, heavy blues rock inspired by Caribbean melodies and artists Dr John, Alabama Shakes and Oumou Sangaré. Moonlight’s deep and expansive vocals in Creole, backed by raging electric guitars and thunderous drumming, turns voodoo trance into a new and explosive style.
Rei (Aotearoa/NZ)
Oozing good vibes and belting out bilingual bangers, Rei embodies a new generation of globally aware artists. His exuberant live shows blend hip hop, pop and te reo Māori, while amping up the atmosphere with kapa haka-inspired modern dance. Clocking up more than nine million Spotify Streams, this charismatic musician has become an empowering force for showcasing the unique culture of Aotearoa.
Strawpeople (Aotearoa/NZ)
As masters of musical alchemy, Strawpeople are electro-pop royalty and the epitome of nineties cool in Aotearoa. Their trailblazing creations exude atmospheric charm, soaring with entrancing vocals and pulsating with a sonic palette of electronic beats. With iconic hits such as Sweet Disorder and Taller than God, this award-winning powerhouse has carved out a legacy of unforgettable innovation.
Ziggy Marley (Jamaica)
Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for nearly 40 years. The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues rock and other elements through mindful songcraft. Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing, alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.
WATCH: WOMAD New Zealand 2023 Highlights
“Womad leaves you with much more than just three days in the sun. It leaves you with new food, new artists, and sometimes even new genres you never knew you loved” – NZ Herald, 2023
“Summer finally gets a festival worth shouting about”
– The Spinoff, 2023
“I strolled through rivers of teenagers, young adults, families and elderlies, all moving their limbs with rhythm and enjoying the peaceful and spacious event” – Stuff.co.nz, 2023
“It’s really amazing to come to a festival where you are constantly surprised by the diversity of and intensity of music”
– Radio NZ National, 2023
“To fully appreciate the spirit, it is best to spend the three days here in the magical botanic gardens. To experience the WOMAGIC” – 13th Floor, 2023
“WOMAD is still a place for all ages and all people. We still want to hear the stories, sing the songs and fight the battles on behalf of the downtrodden, celebrate music and cultures in all their forms, just as Peter Gabriel envisaged” – Ambient Light, 2023
WOMAD THE FESTIVAL
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. Still, the aims are always the same – at festivals, performance events, recorded releases, and through educational projects, WOMAD aims to excite, inform, and create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society.
WOMAD NZ is part of a festival family that has seen over three hundred festivals worldwide, with over ten thousand artists performing across six continents to an audience of millions over the past four decades. WOMAD UK has celebrated 40 years, WOMADelaide has celebrated 30 years, and 2024 will see WOMAD NZ celebrate the 21st anniversary of WOMAD NZ at the award-winning Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth.
First presented in Taranaki in 2003, over its 20 years, WOMAD NZ has presented over 500 acts and 1500 performers from 95 countries. the festival has had 150,000 visitors through its gates and generated over 100 million dollars for the local economy.
The festival’s success could not have occurred without the long-term support of Event Partner TSB whose continuous commitment has strengthened Taranaki’s position as the home of WOMAD.
Support at the local government level is vital to WOMAD NZ. Host City Partner, the New Plymouth District Council and Regional Partner – Venture Taranaki, are committed to the ongoing support of the event since 2003. Toi Foundation, as Community Partner, has contributed to the event thriving in the region through grant access.
WOMAD NZ is also fortunate to have Programme Partners, Tui Ora, BOON, OMV, Taranaki Offshore Partnership, and several Media Partners and Event Supporters, allowing the festival to present a world-class event to the people of Aotearoa.
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