WOMAD NZ has revealed the 2024 Artist Play Day Schedule, maintaining the cherished pre-Christmas tradition, enabling festival-goers to plan their WOMAD weekend early and enjoy both one-off performances and repeated sets for a complete and unforgettable musical journey.
Friday night features exclusive festival appearances from bosanova legend Gilberto Gil (Brazil), the high-octane DJ skills of Lady Shaka (Aotearoa/NZ), and the cool electro-pop vibes of Strawpeople (Aotearoa/NZ).
Saturday continues the extraordinary experience with exclusive sets from Aotearoa/NZ performers Fin Rah Zel, Rei, and Te Kaahu, and peaks with the socially conscious reggae world music sensation Ziggy Marley (Jamaica) making his only appearance in New Zealand.
Sunday unfolds with exclusive performances from storyteller Baaba Maal (Senegal), the soulful Bailey Wiley (Aotearoa/NZ), the dynamic duo Braxe & Falcon (France), alt-pop artist Theia (Aotearoa/NZ) and the dreamy trip-hop institution Morcheeba (UK)
As Rosie Morrison from The Spinoff stated, “WOMAD would never be so cruel as to only play things once, so most acts put on repeat performances over the weekend, allowing you the chance to customise an itinerary that would rival an around the world music trip.”
WOMAD NZ 2024 promises an exhilarating three-day experience with double festival performances from an eclectic lineup of artists. Zamrock icons WITCH (Zambia), high-energy genre-blurring Dubioza Kolektiv (Bosnia & Herzegovina), pop kuduro sensation Pongo (Angola – Portugal), and afro-funk Ibibio Sound Machine (UK). Classical artists Tejendra Majumdar & Ambi Subramaniam (India), singer-songwriter Tio (Vanuatu), the folk fusion quartet Equus (Mongolia/Australia), and folk sensations Lisa O’Neill & Cormac Begley (Ireland) will offer double sets.
Festival-goers can enjoy repeat performances from the award-winning folk duo Good Habits (UK), Taite Music Prize winner Anthonie Tonnon (Aotearoa/NZ), Grammy-awar winning jazz-minimalist Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA), ‘ethno-chaos’ quartet DakhaBrakha (Ukraine), pansori ensemble Leenalchi (South Korea), folk artist Mari Kalkun (Estonia), and Moonlight Benjamin (Haiti-France), known for their mesmerizing fusion of rock and Haitian voodoo rhythms.
The groundbreaking fusion of Mexican folk traditions and modern innovation from Son Rompe Pera (Mexico), composer Nitin Sawhney (UK) with his mesmerising fusion of electronic, jazz, and classical will also contribute to this diverse and thrilling musical journey with repeated sets.
From when the gates open at 4.30 pm on Friday, March 15th, until the last act finishes at 11.45 pm Sunday, March 17th, the stunning 55-acre Brooklands Park and the Bowl of Brooklands are filled with thousands of happy people for a late summer indulgence in world music, food and dance.
The entire stage schedule will be released in January 2024, including the World Of Words, Taste The World, OMV STEAM Lab, Te PaePae, Kidzone and on-site performance schedules.
Anthonie Tonnon (Aotearoa/NZ) * Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA) * Baaba Maal (Senegal) * Bailey Wiley (Aotearoa/NZ) * Braxe + Falcon (France) * DakhaBrakha (Ukraine) * Dubioza Kolektiv (Bosnia & Herzegovina) * Equus (Mongolia/Australia) * Fin Rah Zel (Aotearoa/NZ) * Gilberto Gil (Brazil) * Good Habits (UK) * Ibibio Sound Machine (UK) * Lady Shaka (UK/Aotearoa/NZ) * Leenalchi (South Korea) Lisa O’Neill & Cormac Begley (Ireland) * Mari Kalkun (Estonia) * Moonlight Benjamin (Haiti-France) * Morcheeba (UK) * Nitin Sawhney (UK) * Pongo (Angola – Portugal) * Rei (Aotearoa/NZ) * Son Rompe Pera (Mexico) * Strawpeople (Aotearoa/NZ) * Te Kaahu (Aotearoa/NZ) * Tejendra Majumdar & Ambi Subramaniam (India) * Te Kaahu (Aotearoa/NZ) * Theia (Aotearoa/NZ) * Tio (Vanuatu) * WITCH (Zambia) * Ziggy Marley (Jamaica)
Caroline Barron (Award-winning Author, Story Coach, Presenter, and Manuscript Maestro) * Dame Gaylene Preston (Trailblazing Writer, Director and Producer) * Helen Lehndorf (Wordsmith And Forager) * Kate Evans (Rockstar Journalist) * Kura Forrester (Actor, Writer, and Comedian) * Dr. Monty Soutar (Teacher, Soldier, Historian, and Novelist) * Nick Bollinger (Writer, Broadcaster, and Critic) * Tom Sainsbury (Actor, Comedian, and Social Media Sorcerer,)For three days in March, the award-winning Brooklands Park and the TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Ngāmotu/ New Plymouth, will be home to this incredible melting pot of musicians, artists, writers, performers and forward-thinking academics.
Offering something for everyone, WOMAD NZ vows to be an unforgettable event and undeniably the must-attend festival of the season.
Tickets on sale now from www.womad.co.nz
“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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