Highlights

[Deleted]

My Highlights La Dame Blanche  coming on with Cigar in hand , handing round the beer bottle , crowd invited on at end 

Evie Ladin & Keith Terry well polished routine , saw them twice 

BCUC Rockin ' the SIAM Tent

Aeham Ahmed the refugee Piano player

Daniel Haaksman in The Big Red  , 

Maalem Hamid El Kassri in the Siam

Hashmat Sultana in the Siam

Lian Music on BBC 3 Stage

Owiny Sigoma DJ Set and Mitu in the D & B

missed loads this year as well , you cant be in two places at once

A Great and varied Womad Festival this year.

[standing stone]

Mine:- in date order

Hanggai
Omar Souleyman
Erland Cooper
Talisk - both workshop and stage performance
Jiggy
Chris Watson

[Purpledawn]

Omar Souleyman
The Real Gypsies
Too Many Zoos
Kokoko!
Catching part of Amadou & Mariam's set whilst on Ferris wheel with grandson

[olirow]

There were loads of musical highlights this year but special mention to Korrontzi, who were on first on Sunday. A combination of wind and a broken tent pole meant Saturday night was spent in my Corsa, and I was seriously thinking of driving away. The effect of their music, and the beauty of the dancers, changed my mood entirely and I went on to have a fantastic day.

[olirow]

Another highlight were Hashmat Sultana. The first time I heard them was on Radio Womad on the drive in to the site, a fantastic introduction to the festival.

Their late night Siam slot on Friday was cancelled without any notification from the App and I thought we wouldn't see them at all, but they did 45 minutes on Sunday. They're the classic 'small town girls entered a music competition and are now on a world conquering tour' situation, and although the music is wonderful, I got concerned about the morals of it all. Sultana in particular looked quite confused, and didn't seem very happy, either on stage or at the signing afterwards.

Anyone else notice, or just me being a bit soft?

[mikey]

Jul 30, 2018 21:13:54 GMT olirow said:

Another highlight were Hashmat Sultana. The first time I heard them was on Radio Womad on the drive in to the site, a fantastic introduction to the festival.

Their late night Siam slot on Friday was cancelled without any notification from the App and I thought we wouldn't see them at all, but they did 45 minutes on Sunday. They're the classic 'small town girls entered a music competition and are now on a world conquering tour' situation, and although the music is wonderful, I got concerned about the morals of it all. Sultana in particular looked quite confused, and didn't seem very happy, either on stage or at the signing afterwards.

Anyone else notice, or just me being a bit soft?

They actually did two slots on Sunday, after they filled in for Sabry Mosbah (another cancellation due to visa problems).  Must have been pretty tough on th3m, long journey, held up in immigration and then having to set up for two performances within hours of each other.
local news has covered the frustration for festival organisers over visa issues.  It is also getting around performers, hearing about the way others are getting treated and that it will probably get steadily worse with Brexit.
womad could be looking a lot different in a few years time.

[grey]

Abatwa (the Pygmy) - Beautiful and what WOMAD is all about. Once again Ian Brennan brings us the real deal.
Too Many Zooz
BCUC - the best jump jump of the weekend.
KOKOKO! - just fab.
That in correct play order was up with the best WOMAD and it all happened on Sunday between 3.00 till 8.15

other highlight
Tal National. Their workshop was really informative but I cant say I enjoyed the show so much.
Camping in Gloucestershire for three night before WOMAD, could be a permanent plan for future WOMAD's

New finds thanks to Elaine da missus.
K.O.G and the Zongo Brigade (Sadly I have to wait till the end of the year for their album)
Whiskey Shivers - Never thought I'd enjoy Country Blue Grass but those guys knew how to make a party)

Down side
Smashed tent poles and flapping tent.
Kimmo Pohjonen being held back by his kids.
Quiet Indian Man closing set.

roll on next year

[currygoat]

Hanggai singing their Mongolian drinking song and the Lizard tent where Trump supporters and social workers bopped together after hours drinking oatmeal chai with whisky.

[sc]

No particular order

Greenpeace Virtual Reality Headset - awesome, never used one before
Leftfield
Left field - the voice of John Lydon singing out "Open up, make room for me, Now open up, make room for me" perfect as the clouds parted to show the partial eclipsed Blood Moon. Wonderful moment.
La Dame Blanche
My Baby
Tal National
Cheese and Port party and all you lovely people, love your sense of humour, perfect meet up xxx
A perfectly timed, Cheese and Ham Toastie
Goan Curry as usual
Bollywood Brass Band
Ken Boothe – I was really surprised how good he was, I don’t usually like the “old” stars being rolled out ever since seeing a very embarrassing set from James Brown at Glastonbury, I just wished one of his mates had had the guts to say “Jim it’s time to look after the tomato plants in your garden”
Omar Souleyman – saw the last bit, wished I’d seen it all
Erland Cooper – laid down in D&B and let it wash over me - beautiful
KermesZ a I'Est


When packing up realized the top of my flag pole had snapped, ho hum, it’s been doing Glastonbury’s and Womad’s since 2002 so we’ve had our monies worth out of it

No Wow Moments such as seeing Su:m for the last 2 or 3 years, wondering if we should move on to something new……….

[olirow]

Next highlight was Camille.
I feel I've benefited from seeing her, but not sure I ever want to do it again!
Ultimately self-indulgent, quite often banal, but occasionally moving, and entertaining throughout.
I'd say it was a risk to book her, but worked for me.

[olirow]

And another one - this time Rafiki Jazz, one of the most underrated bands. Some genius booked them for the final set in Siam on Saturday night, and predictably they had to play a curtailed set because the set-up overran. By which time it was clear they were tired and increasingly irritated.

However by the end of the set, they had found that fantastic relaxed groove that makes them so good to listen to. Plus I love what they represent, 'five continents and five religions (plus none at all)' and I particularly love Sarah Yasheen, almost everything she says is inspirational.

[sc]

Jul 31, 2018 18:10:15 GMT olirow said:

And another one - this time Rafiki Jazz, one of the most underrated bands. Some genius booked them for the final set in Siam on Saturday night, and predictably they had to play a curtailed set because the set-up overran. By which time it was clear they were tired and increasingly irritated.

However by the end of the set, they had found that fantastic relaxed groove that makes them so good to listen to. Plus I love what they represent, 'five continents and five religions (plus none at all)' and I particularly love Sarah Yasheen, almost everything she says is inspirational.

Saw them a number of years ago at Womad and bought their CD from the side of the stage.  The CD has never worked!  Not been able to play it once  

[calndel]

Paul's face when Del showed him the Tardis top

[jimhxn]

Here are my highlights, in order of time:

• Not going to WOMAD on the Thursday for the first time ever - okay, this isn't a WOMAD highlight as such, but it was with a heavy heart that I didn't make it on Thursday, but not one regret. The gig I went to instead, The Como Mamas, was simply outstanding (I got to interview them too, lovely people, I want to adopt them as my three nans).
• Leftfield - I'd never seen them before, and I've glad I made this last foray into Leftism. Hypnotic.
• Ustad Haji Ameer Khan Qawwals - replaced Hashmat Sultana on Friday night, last thing in the Siam (I got it in my app, olirow ...) and I'm glad for it. Much more mood-appropriate, and always up for a bit of qawwali, this hit the spot perfectly.
• KermesZ a l'Est - great fun, and very high-class musicianship. Amazing electro-sax solo.
• Edmar Casteñada - played solo as his singer/wife couldn't make it, but wow. Did things with a harp I never thought were possible and sounded like a whole band at once. Just one small guy on a stage on his own and it was utterly virtuosic. Baffled by the bloke behind me that were chunnering that he was better with his trio (maybe so, but come on!).
• House of Waters - I wouldn't have gone to these if it weren't for a last-minute recommendation from a friend, but it was wonderful, the six-string bassist was one of the best I've ever heard.
• Yazz Ahmed's Hafla Band - I really dug how much jazz there was this year, and Yazz Ahmed's was probably the most straight-ahead, and very well done too.
• Pixvae - very stirring. Mad complex rock rhythms with beautiful Afro-Colombian harmonies over the top. Must try to find the album.
• Too Many Zooz - bounce bounce bounce.
• Thievery Corporation - felt like being in the early 2000s world dubtronica scene again, lovely.
• Kimmo Pohjonen - I thought I finally found something in common with you grey , for ages of not enjoying Kimmo's stuff, I finally got it this time, only for you to say it was crap! I thought it was a great show and a great closing to the fest.

And some disappointments:

• Omar Souleyeman - Great music, bit of a bald stage show but that's fine, but I think the problem was the venue. Much better to be a late-night Big Red Tenter I think. As it was, it just didn't vibe with me. A shame.
• Amadou & Mariam - They were fine. A bit less punchy than when I've seen them before, and Amadou (one of the best guitarists in the world, for me) never really got the chance to let rip. Not a headline-worthy performance for me.
• Rafiki Jazz - I'm honestly baffled with the amount of love that they're getting here. I saw them back the first time they played and was disappointed, but I thought I'd give them another go as it had been so long. But it was the most trite, bland approximation of 'world music' that tried to add so many colours that it just came out as a grey-brown boring sludge. No-one needs kora, tabla, berimbau, steel-pan and oud in one band. I was beyond disappointed, I was embarrassed. I had to leave about half way through, and that was being generous. It's quite amazing how far 'different strokes for different folks' applies, huh?
• BCUC - Very hyped up in my circles, but they played the same song three times and then I left.

All in all, a great time!

[grey]

Aug 1, 2018 8:34:41 GMT jimhxn said:

• Kimmo Pohjonen - I thought I finally found something in common with you grey , for ages of not enjoying Kimmo's stuff, I finally got it this time, only for you to say it was crap! I thought it was a great show and a great closing to the fest.

Sorry Jim but to see Kimmo back in 2012 with featured artists DakhaBrakha and better still the same year seeing his one hour solo show is just up there on my finest WOMAD moments. One man wrestling and at times fighting an Accordion on stage was just amazing and I have to thank him for introducing us to DakhaBrakha who blew up the Siam tent some years later.
Don't get me wrong I enjoyed his show but it didn't really start till near the end when he got his grunting a groaning going.
I have to say I was surprised at the small crowd but maybe thats down to the storm and sleep shortage.