Ooooooo.... we're off!!!!
womad.co.uk/first-womad-2018-artist-announcement/Amadou & Mariam are one of the most prolific and thrilling acts to come out of Mali over the last two decades. The couple made a name for themselves with their irresistible swinging Malian blues before venturing into soul and have since collaborated with the likes of Manu Chao and Santigold in the process, while French artist Camille’s diverse artistic career spans from performing Benjamin Britten, to providing the soundtrack for Pixar’s Ratatouille, to reinterpreting Joni Mitchell songs.
Django Django are arguably the most inventive art-rockers around, and their pop-edged psychedelia proved as fresh and dynamic as ever on last month’s critically acclaimed new release Marble Skies. Sharon Shannon, the Irish accordion master has ploughed her own very distinctive furrow but is always eager to explore new styles from around the world as her latest album Sacred Earth takes on an African vibe. It was co-produced by WOMAD veteran and African music expert Justin Adams.
With her explosive mix of hip hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae, the Cuban singer, flautist and percussionist Yaite Ramos Rodriguez, aka LA DAME BLANCHE will, this year, make her WOMAD UK debut delivering her powerful, compelling and extraordinary sound fusion. Born in Havana, she grew up in the heart of an awe inspiring musical cauldron that included her father, Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos; an exceptional trombonist and the artistic director of the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club.
Amongst those kicking off the festival on the Thursday night will be the Jamaican reggae musical titan Ken Boothe, whose mellifluous voice topped the UK charts in the 70’s with Everything I Own and who was, of course, namechecked by The Clash on (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais. He will be joined by celebrated nu-jazz collective from Berlin, Jazzanova Live featuring Paul Randolph, whose impeccable Latin-tinged sound has led to collaborations with Gilles Peterson and remix commissions for MJ Cole, 4Hero, and Fat Freddy’s Drop.
More announced today;
Aeham Ahmad (Palestine/Syria)
Songs of hope from the refugee pianist, now living in Germany.
Afro Cluster (UK)
A brilliant fusion of the deepest Afrobeat and the sharpest hip-hop.
Colectivo Danza Región & Cámara de Danza Comunidad (Colombia)
Innovative dance company exploring the rhythms and traditions of the Afro-Colombian underground.
Dobet Gnahoré (Côte d’Ivoire)
Angel-voiced acoustic majesty from Abidjan via Marseille.
Electric Fields (Australia)
Where 21st-century soul, electronica, and Australian indigenous traditions meet.
Ezra Collective (UK)
Zero-gravity cosmic jazz with a tasty Afrobeat undertow.
Federspiel (Austria)
How the brass band tradition is interpreted in Vienna – tender and playful in equal measure.
Gasper Nali (Malawi)
Tremendous one-man band – and internet sensation – producing irresistible grooves from his homemade instruments.
KermesZ à l’Est (Belgium)
Leather jacket-clad gang delivering the most raucous klezmer/Balkan riot imaginable.
KOKOKO! (Democratic Republic of Congo)
The junkyard angels apply the DIY ethic to create the funkiest sounds coming out of Kinshasa.
LADAMA (Brazil/Colombia/Venezuela/USA)
Powerful and groove-heavy pan-American sound from this dynamic all-female quartet.
Malmesbury School Project: a tradition of Thursday’s entertainment is a performance from local schoolkids in collaboration with Kafou Music, a project led by Senegalese kora player Diabel Cissokho.
Papaya (Gran Canaria)
Gloriously noisy, electronica-edged indie pop rocky three-piece with a particular mix of Latin 80’s pop, new wave, exotic beats given extra flavour by a discernible appreciation of ’60s beat-pop
Pixvae (Colombia)
Unlikely – but thrilling – mash-up of math rock and traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms.
Tal National (Niger)
Tremendously lithe outfit upholding the West African big band tradition.
WOMAD’s Global Festival Director Chris Smith said:
“We are delighted to make our first announcement for WOMAD UK 2018. This comes just after our fourth WOMAD Chile, where a record 50,000 people turned out, and just before our festivals in Australia and New Zealand which promise to sell out. We believe passionately that exploring cross-cultural tolerance and understanding through the sharing of great music, arts, and dance is the way to a better world. And, in a time when the leader of the most powerful nation on earth is advocating arming school teachers, we need this spirit, and events like WOMAD, more than ever.“
WOMAD is about so much more than incredible music; as well as these brilliant artists (with many more to come), it also boasts a cornucopia of activity; live literary events and conversation at the World of Words; mind-expanding talks, experiments and performance at the Physics Pavilion; pampering and relaxation at the World of Wellbeing and WOMAD Spa; an exclusive installation in the World of Art; fantastical activities and interactive workshops in the World of Children; and the only stage in the world where instead of performing the artists cook for the audience: the legendary Taste the World.
More artists for WOMAD UK 2018 will be announced soon, alongside further details of exciting partnerships with BBC Radio 3 and Ecotricity.
