UK: International celebration of world music, WOMAD, turns into mud-bath after torrential rain soaks south-west of England

Record ID: 452741

  • Title: UK: International celebration of world music, WOMAD, turns into mud-bath after torrential rain soaks south-west of England
  • Date: 30th July 2007
  • Summary: MAAL AND BAND PERFORMING ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0QH7E6U036D01QRIVW7W7KUD
  • Story Text: The 25th anniversary World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival might be remembered as the 'WOMUD' festival after two days of intermittent rain turned the new Wiltshire location into a mass of sticky muck. The state of the Charlton Park grounds did little to dampen spirits on the festival's final day on Sunday (July 29) as African music stars brightened the mood with stirring performances.
    South Africa's Sam Tshabalala played as the sun broke through the clouds and Mali's Tinariwen brought their brand of desert music to the damp English countryside, thrilling world music enthusiasts before Baaba Maal stormed the stage with his high-energy headlining act.
    The festival, was headlined by original co-founder, British artist Peter Gabriel and performers from 42 countries world-wide, who despite the exceptional conditions kept their spirits high alongside the audience.
    "Because there is African music with all its rhythms you know, we also bring a little bit of sun," Tshabalala told Reuters before his performance.
    Tshabalala hit a note with the audience who danced en masse to his performance.
    "I think it's really, really lovely, it's perfect for this kind of sunny, like sunny happy afternoon music," festival participant, Claire Palmer said about Tshabalala's music.
    Marketing and media co-ordinator of the "WOMAD" festival, Alan James, said the conditions demonstrated how people at British festivals pulled together to make the best of the situation.
    "There is that thing of just rising above it and working together.
    And obviously you know, it, this is not been the best of conditions, but here the sun is shinning," James said.
    Headliner at this years special anniversary festival was Senegalese star Baaba Maal, who has braved muddy conditions on the British Isles previously this summer, performing at the Glastonbury festival.
    "Down in Glastonbury with Damon and all the others I was forced to wear wellies to go on stage," Maal told Reuters referring to his jam with British artist Damon Albarn.
    "But today I think I will be dancing without wellies because this is the proper show of my band," Maal added.
    Maal also said "WOMAD" was a good platform for African music, which should be brought back home.
    "I think it is important for African music to have a platform or to have some platform where they can melt together outside of the continent.
    But like I said, you need to have them also on the continent. We need have "WOMAD" in the African continent or a festival like that," Maal said.
    In collaboration with the 25th anniversary of the "WOMAD"
    festival, the organisers have released a three CD box set with musical highlights from its history.
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