Womad 2011 announce more Artists
Womad have just released details of some more artists due to appear at this year's Charlton Park festival (29-31st July).
First off, Booker T Jones - soul music godfather, leader of the MG's and organist supreme. This is the man who gave the world Green Onions, Time Is Tight and, most famously (to cricket fans at least), the irresistible sunshine grooves of Test Match Special theme tune Soul Limbo.
Next up, New York's Gogol Bordello. Always an extraordinary spectacle, these gypsy punk pirates will be making their Charlton Park debuts, filling the air with the weekend's most raucous, anarchic sounds.
A more stately, but no less thrilling, affair is AfroCubism, the wonderful Malian/Cuban crossover project that's had critics and punters purring with approval. This all-star, cross-continental meeting of minds will be a red-letter moment for many at this year's Charlton Park.
While we're talking West Africa, an appearance from Ebo Taylor is sure to also be among the highlights. This Ghanaian bandleader, an old student pal of the mighty Fela Kuti, is one of the forgotten men of Afrobeat and highlife. Expect that wrong to be righted come July.
Being the festival that travels furthest in pursuit of music excellence - one that leaves no stone unturned, no CD unheard - WOMAD is always happy to handle the introductions to music you've yet to encounter.
So set your audio sat-navs in the direction of these future favourites: Samuel Yirga, a young Ethiopian pianist with an extraordinary improvisational flair; singer Nathalie Natiembe whose intense, musically impure sound mirrors the ethnic complexity of her native Reunion Island; the rhythmic elasticity of Indian percussive force Dhols of Jaipur; and the spellbinding lute-and-flute combination of Japanese duo Shunsuke Kimurax Etsuro Ono.
The French Connection . . .
Womad has also announced a new collaboration with the French Music Office to introduce a load of French and French-produced performers to the Festival.
For UK bands there is also a competition with the prize being to play at this year's festival!
WOMAD Band Competition -
Calling all unsigned bands and musicians... Winners to perform at WOMAD Charlton Park 2011.
Very shortly WOMAD will be inviting all unsigned bands and musicians to partake in the WOMAD Band Competition. The winner, chosen entirely by the WOMAD public, will be performing on a stage at WOMAD Charlton Park 2011!
"The competition will take place on the Official WOMAD Charlton Park Facebook pages. Keep an eye on the WOMAD Charlton Park Facebook and Twitter pages, WOMAD newsletters and www.womad.org for all competition information. In the meantime get your music videos ready to upload and badger your talented friends to do the same."
Finally, WOMAD at Bristol Zoo.
WOMAD at Bristol Zoo is all geared up to be a cracker of an event. On the evening of 11 June 2011, surrounded by the wildlife at Bristol Zoo, Muntu Valdo - the ultimate Cameroonian one-man band, Scotland's fastest fiddler - Rua Macmillan and the enthusiastic, enigmatic Siyaya from Zimbabwe will all be there to bring your dancing feet to life. More artists to be announced soon!