News: WOMAD – Soul Legends & Gypsy Punks Gather for WOMAD

WOMAD – The World’s Festival

Charlton Park 28-31 July 2011

SOUL LEGENDS AND GYPSY PUNKS GATHER FOR WOMAD

The growing suspicion that this summer’s WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park in Wiltshire is set to be an out-and-out classic is further strengthened by the announcement of the latest additions to July’s bill.

First off, welcome to the bandstand, none other than 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.

You can bet your bottom rouble that the hallowed turf of Lords or The Oval will never ever resonate with the sound of New York’sGogol 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. And 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.

And, 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 Natiembewhose intense, musically impure sound mirrors the ethnic complexity of her native Reunion Island; the rhythmic elasticity of Indian percussive force the Dhols of Jaipur; and the spellbinding lute-and-flute combination of Japanese duo Shunsuke Kimura x Etsuro Ono.

But, while scouring its well-thumbed world atlas, WOMAD also never ignores the treats and treasures sat on its own doormat. From London Town, we’ve got the commendably mongrel sound of Alejandro Toledo and The Magic Tombolinos, a five-piece carrying Argentinian, Portuguese, Italian and Costa Rican passports who cross-pollinate their gypsy sound with jazz, tango and punk. Another crew from the capital, the hard-blowing collective Brassroots, will surely put in one of the more populist turns of the weekend, their impeccable playing unleashed on a series of covers from Crazy In Love to Karma Police. Even more curiously, the all-female Boxettesare completely instrument-free; they simply use their voices to astonishing effect and include a world champion beatboxer in their ranks.

There’s plenty of representation from north of the border, too. Edinburgh’s folk three-piece Lau have a formidable pedigree, combining absorbing stories with fiery, deeply committed playing. By contrast, their compatriots Mungo’s Hi-Fi ply a decidedly un-Scottish trade. This dub sound system has rearranged the internal organs of Glaswegians for many years now and heads south in the company of MCs Soom T and Kenny Knots.

This summer sees a new collaboration between WOMAD and the French Music Office, the organisation that acts as a conduit between the UK and French music industries. WOMAD, in association with the FMO, has programmed several French-produced performers for the festival.. These performers include two French/Malian collaborations: the delicate kora-and-cello partnership of Ballake Cissoko and Vincent Segal, and the distinctly noisier Paris/Bamako electronica project Donso. There will also be performances from Timbuktu diva Khaira Arby and the Palestinian oud trinity Le Trio Joubran with more to be announced very soon.

The Paris-based organisation is clearly chuffed to be on board. “We’re delighted to be working with WOMAD on a clutch of brilliant French-produced artists in 2011. France has produced some of the most startling, adventurous and ground-breaking world music of recent years and to be working hand-in-hand with WOMAD is an honour and a privilege.”

Artists confirmed for WOMAD up to date are: Afrocubism (Mali/Cuba), Alejandro Toledo and The Magic Tombolinos (UK), Aurelio (Honduras), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Ballake Cissokho & Vincent Segal (France/Mali), Bomba Estéreo (Colombia), Booker T Jones (USA), Brassroots (UK), Danyel Waro (Reunion Islands), Dhols of Jaipur (India), Donso (Mali/France), Ebo Taylor (Ghana), Gogol Bordello (USA), I Am Kloot (UK), Khaira Arby (Mali), Lau (UK), Le Trio Joubran (Palestine), Mungo’s Hi-fi (UK), Nathalie Natiembe (Reunion Island), Nidi D’Arac (Italy), Nomfusi & The Lucky Charms (South Africa), Pacific Curls (New Zealand), Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico), Samuel Yirga (Ethiopia), Shunsuke Kimura & Etsuro Ono (Japan), The Boxettes (UK)

But this is far from the whole story. Keep your eyes peeled for further announcements about the 80-odd acts delivering the sound of the planet to a country park in deepest Wiltshire.

WOMAD – explore the world in 80 hours.

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