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Post by beef on Jul 29, 2024 20:08:29 GMT
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Post by olirow on Jul 29, 2024 22:06:17 GMT
It was another fabulous festival, nothing not to like. Emel was the standout act for me, but many other great performances too, Young Fathers, the Spanish numbers group, the Georgian sisters, it's a very long list.
The weather was kind if a bit too hot for my liking. The crowd behaved themselves, if a bit chatty at times. Everything was extremely well organised at all times. Numbers felt a bit down, would be interesting to know if that is true.
Quite tired now, might post some more tomorrow.
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Post by watergirl on Jul 29, 2024 22:46:53 GMT
Almost in Holyhead..... Long journey back. Gogol Bordello on the iPod!
Had a great festival. Thursday a bit miserable (weather-wise and poor headliner in my view) but three great days. Gogol Bordello were my favourites. Other standouts: Justin Adams & Mohamed Errebbaa, Ndox Électrique, Faiz Ali Faiz, Ars Nova Napoli, Leyla McCalla.
I was volunteering with Oxfam so didn't get to see everything I would like to have seen.
Agree with previous poster about the chatty crowd. It forces you to choose. Go to the front and stand amongst folks who genuinely want to be there but where the sound isn't the best. Or further back where the sound is way better, but you have to endure the talkers and instagrammers....
Looking forward to listening to my CD purchases once I get home.
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Post by mikey on Jul 30, 2024 14:36:59 GMT
Vary enjoyable weekend, did it rain or drizzle on Thursday? Seems so long ago now I cannot remember. Thought the Thursday headline was extremely disappointing if not inappropriate (imho) with his faux Jamaican accent (might as well have had Mike Read singing his UKIP Calypso).
Lots of highlights from Friday onwards, with Orange Blossom being my pick of the best (Siam on Sunday afternoon).
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Post by digitalmonkey on Jul 30, 2024 16:54:48 GMT
It was another fabulous festival, nothing not to like. Emel was the standout act for me, but many other great performances too, Young Fathers, the Spanish numbers group, the Georgian sisters, it's a very long list. The weather was kind if a bit too hot for my liking. The crowd behaved themselves, if a bit chatty at times. Everything was extremely well organised at all times. Numbers felt a bit down, would be interesting to know if that is true. Quite tired now, might post some more tomorrow. Emel was amazing. What a transformation from her previous performance in 2013, I think. And yes the Georgians were very enjoyable to |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Jul 30, 2024 16:59:20 GMT
Vary enjoyable weekend, did it rain or drizzle on Thursday? Seems so long ago now I cannot remember. Thought the Thursday headline was extremely disappointing if not inappropriate (imho) with his faux Jamaican accent (might as well have had Mike Read singing his UKIP Calypso). Lots of highlights from Friday onwards, with Orange Blossom being my pick of the best (Siam on Sunday afternoon). Yay regarding Orange Blossom. Good o have them back. Played some older stuff which I knew. Can't wait until I see them again later in the year. I was jumping up and down like a mad thing. The only time all weekend but that is not necessarily a bad thing! The drummer from The Magic Numbers (and part of Two Canoes) was standing near me during the gig. |
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Post by digitalmonkey on Jul 30, 2024 20:59:44 GMT
So my musical highlights -
Friday -
New Regency Orchestra a great way to start the proceedings. Aris Nova Napoli were so much fun. Got my Fado fix with Lina and a special guest appearance by Justin "WOMAD" Adams. Really enjoyed Duo Ruut too.
The evening was the weak point for me of the whole weekend (wasn't there Thursday). Felt tired and was back at my tent by 10.30.
Saturday.
Tough choice to decide between Sekou Keita and Genticorum but as the former is playing Purbeck Valley I could see him then so went for the Canadians. So glad I did, my highlight of whole weekend.
Only just. The Taiwanese for Saulaljui ran them close. They really did get the crowd going. Brilliant. Justin Adams was good, Emel fab. Sat evening better than expected as took in abit of Gogol Bordello. Didn't like start of their set but soon warmed to them. Glad I left O who weren't my cup of tea at all.
Two Canoes were a nice way to end festival. Nice cover of Kinks' Days. And another guest appearance by Mr Justin Adams.
Sunday.
Mangrove Steel and were fun. Pankisi Ensemble were so lovely. Nice outfits as well. And then the annual Ian Brennan project of Bhutan Balladeers. They were an absolute delight.
Orange Blossom were a must for me although I'm seeing them in France in November. The only fusion band I saw all weekend, a change from previous years.
Ended it all with Leyla McCalla although not before spending an hour at Molly's Bar taking in some sea shanties
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Post by jimhxn on Jul 31, 2024 20:41:34 GMT
Just put this up on the WOMAD Community facebook group, but thought you might get a small kick out of it here... and digitalmonkey your comment about O. made me want to get my thoughts out too  Basically a bit of a run through of some special moments: O. – The group I was most intrigued by beforehand, and my overall highlight of the whole festival. The made so much sound, of so much complexity, out of just baritone sax, drum kit and a pantheon of effects. Their music contained so many influences, even managing to cycle through dub, psytrance, jazz and metal all in one piece. Always fun to have a moshpit at WOMAD too. I was sceptical that the Ecotricity would be the wrong stage for them, but the intimacy of it actually turned out to be perfect. A wonderful performance, grabbed the CD afterwards, definitely going to keep an eye on them in the future. Gonora Sounds – I reviewed their debut album a couple of years ago and it was a delight, so I was chuffed to see them as a last minute addition to the programme. And their performance was just lovely. Proper sunny sungura music. Felt very old-school WOMAD, just don’t seem to hear much of that style any more (but then I’m not sure it really exists in any big way in Zimbabwe either). Not as tight as the old Four Brothers etc, but just a great, jolly time anyway. Only improvement is, I’d have put them on Open Air Stage at 3pm for maximum sunny vibes. The 79ers Gang – I think it took about 15 minutes for them to hit their stride, but once they hit it, they hit it hard. Afro-New Orleanian music seems to be having a vogue in the UK/Europe at the moment and I’m all here for it. Those Mardi Gras rhythms are just so infectious, and they were one of the few bands over the weekend that felt like once they’d found their groove, they could stay on it all afternoon and I’d dance the whole time. Dizraeli – I’ll admit I’m a superfan, so if he’s on, I’ll be there. Great to see him in a now fairly-rare spoken-word(ish) set, including a couple of very new pieces. Incredibly moving meditations on genocide, environment, family, life and times, all delivered with stunning wit and incisive turns of phrase. Bhutan Balladeers – I’ve got my own problems with Ian Brennan and his way of working, but I gotta admit, he works with some wonderful musicians. I’d heard Bhutanese music before, but never live, and I’m fascinated by how bluesy the sound it. Very chill performance that came at exactly the right time. Pankisi Ensemble – Hearing beautiful Georgian harmonies intoning ‘la ilaha illa la’ was confusing at first, until I read that the group are actually Chechen. Never heard Chechen music before, so that’s a plus. But it’s so rare to hear Islamic music in a polyphonic style, absolutely fascinating. Another lovely chilled set. Also had lovely times at Cerys Hafana, Faiz Ali Faiz, John Metcalfe, Noriko Tadano, Mestizo and a bunch more besides, but if I typed up a paragraph about everything I liked, I’d be here forever and you’d care even less than you do now. I’d say it was a bumper year, but I think that every year. Music good, WOMAD good also! |
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Post by Rendrags on Aug 1, 2024 8:56:05 GMT
Just put this up on the WOMAD Community facebook group, but thought you might get a small kick out of it here... and digitalmonkey your comment about O. made me want to get my thoughts out too Basically a bit of a run through of some special moments: O. – The group I was most intrigued by beforehand, and my overall highlight of the whole festival. The made so much sound, of so much complexity, out of just baritone sax, drum kit and a pantheon of effects. Their music contained so many influences, even managing to cycle through dub, psytrance, jazz and metal all in one piece. Always fun to have a moshpit at WOMAD too. I was sceptical that the Ecotricity would be the wrong stage for them, but the intimacy of it actually turned out to be perfect. A wonderful performance, grabbed the CD afterwards, definitely going to keep an eye on them in the future. Gonora Sounds – I reviewed their debut album a couple of years ago and it was a delight, so I was chuffed to see them as a last minute addition to the programme. And their performance was just lovely. Proper sunny sungura music. Felt very old-school WOMAD, just don’t seem to hear much of that style any more (but then I’m not sure it really exists in any big way in Zimbabwe either). Not as tight as the old Four Brothers etc, but just a great, jolly time anyway. Only improvement is, I’d have put them on Open Air Stage at 3pm for maximum sunny vibes. The 79ers Gang – I think it took about 15 minutes for them to hit their stride, but once they hit it, they hit it hard. Afro-New Orleanian music seems to be having a vogue in the UK/Europe at the moment and I’m all here for it. Those Mardi Gras rhythms are just so infectious, and they were one of the few bands over the weekend that felt like once they’d found their groove, they could stay on it all afternoon and I’d dance the whole time. Dizraeli – I’ll admit I’m a superfan, so if he’s on, I’ll be there. Great to see him in a now fairly-rare spoken-word(ish) set, including a couple of very new pieces. Incredibly moving meditations on genocide, environment, family, life and times, all delivered with stunning wit and incisive turns of phrase. Bhutan Balladeers – I’ve got my own problems with Ian Brennan and his way of working, but I gotta admit, he works with some wonderful musicians. I’d heard Bhutanese music before, but never live, and I’m fascinated by how bluesy the sound it. Very chill performance that came at exactly the right time. Pankisi Ensemble – Hearing beautiful Georgian harmonies intoning ‘la ilaha illa la’ was confusing at first, until I read that the group are actually Chechen. Never heard Chechen music before, so that’s a plus. But it’s so rare to hear Islamic music in a polyphonic style, absolutely fascinating. Another lovely chilled set. Also had lovely times at Cerys Hafana, Faiz Ali Faiz, John Metcalfe, Noriko Tadano, Mestizo and a bunch more besides, but if I typed up a paragraph about everything I liked, I’d be here forever and you’d care even less than you do now. I’d say it was a bumper year, but I think that every year. Music good, WOMAD good also! Jim, will you be writing a Womad review for Songlines? |
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Post by jimhxn on Aug 1, 2024 9:00:29 GMT
Jim, will you be writing a Womad review for Songlines? Nope, that's it I'm afraid! I've tried in the past, but no-one has been interested in publishing my review of the fest - most places have their go-to writers that do it every year. |
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Post by Rendrags on Aug 1, 2024 9:13:43 GMT
Well that was a blooming good Womad!
Apart from Thursday - annoyingly persistent drizzly rain and underwhelming artists - the weekend was thoroughly enjoyable. I can't remember the last time we had such good Womad weather. Such a huge difference between this year's Sunday and last year's Soggy Sunday!
I wasn't terribly excited about seeing anyone in particular this year, and I can't say I was blown away by anyone, but there were a lot of memorable moments - Taste the World with Kumbia Boruka, Norika Tadano, Amadou and Mariam, Saigon Soul Revival, Gogol Bordello (despite their overly sweariness!) and Orange Blossom all spring to mind.
I took a few videos over the weekend and I'm looking forward to playing them back and reliving the memories! 
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Post by beef on Aug 3, 2024 20:11:22 GMT
Jim, will you be writing a Womad review for Songlines? Nope, that's it I'm afraid! I've tried in the past, but no-one has been interested in publishing my review of the fest - most places have their go-to writers that do it every year. I always enjoy your reviews jimhxn - the way that you achieve the difficult balance between objective/subjective. I still go back to your year of 365 reviews for a re-read... thanks for posting here for us FB luddites. |
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Post by dorsethelen on Aug 3, 2024 20:48:53 GMT
A different sort of WOMAD for me. My arthritis is now too bad to stand at a stage or sit on the ground ( or lug a chair all the way from the purple car park and back again each day - struggled to walk it, let alone carry something!) so for the first time ever I saw no music on any of the main stages which was hugely disappointing. Stephen keeps waxing lyrical at the fantastic music acts he saw and I really feel I missed out this year. Having said that I did have a great time doing the things I could still do. On Friday and Saturday I most of my time at Taste the World which was truly amazing and I enjoyed everyone I saw, particularly Duo Ruut, Ars Nova Napoli and Saigon Soul Revival. It’s long been my favourite Womad venue! If you get there half an hour early you can usually get a seat. The buckwheat risotto Duo Ruut cooked was lovely - a winter dish to try making at home.
I watched the whole of Lemn Sissay - what an incredible, entertaining performer - and caught some other acts at the Poetry Shack, including a friend who performed on Sunday. I’d go there again in future. The Rioghnach Connolly workshop at All Singing All Dancing was wonderful and I could lean against a tent pole! I did sit on a bench outside the Disco Bear Tent to hear some of The Breath which was the act I had most wanted to see - the tent was packed out. The music was wonderful. Then on Sunday afternoon, badly needing to sit down out of the sun, I went to the Literary Death Match at World of Words because I had noticed this tent was usually very quiet and had chairs! I actually quite enjoyed it, it was light hearted and fun - otherwise I thought the Worlds of Word programme was far too depressing for a festival. Last years programme with Glen Tilbrook and Michael Rosen was so much more fun. Food and drink wise it was the Madras Cafe and Tony Tea Tent all the way, with crepes from the Lush Crepe Company in the evenings.
My WOMAD highlights - Lemn Sissay and the Riognach Connolly workshop. Took hundreds of photos which are up on our Dorsetbays Flickr & Facebook pages.
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Post by digitalmonkey on Aug 4, 2024 20:51:10 GMT
A few more thoughts -
Toilets best condition in years but understand the accessibility issues some folk may have. Only on Monday did I visit one without loo roll.
Not inspired by World of Words line up. Did catch the talk on how to get young people to vote. Unfortunately the Q&A session developed into people offering their comment rather than actually asking any questions!
The "What is not in the News" was mainly a fun and light-hearted review and obviously had a political anti Tory edge to it. Can't recall the speakers other than Otto English.
The food was excellent. The Japanese and Senegalese stalls were my highlight. Possibly be nice to have a few more sweet options. This is not just at WOMAD specifi but as much as like Churros it would be nice to have less at a cheaper price.
I guess the sign that numbers appeared down that there was still real ale available at Real Ale on Sunday evening. Although the initial stock had sold out it was nice they had ales held back in reserve. However it was bit disappointing that the cask sold out as early as it did at Ecotricity. Beer was in excellent condition and nice variety of ale types as usual.
What's happened to the WOMAD shop? It seemed more of a cafe than a shop. CD availability very low but I guess that is the sign of the times.
I went for a run Saturday morning into Malmsbury. Not particularly long route. There are some quite pretty footpaths surrounding the village with good views of the Abbey. One of these days I will satisfy my morbid curiosity try and find the grave/memorial of the only known person to be killed by a tiger in this country.
Think I'm almost certain to attend next year
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Post by olirow on Aug 5, 2024 6:48:09 GMT
Nice review and must admit I haven't got round to exploring Malmesbury but I think your tiger stat may be a bit off given what happened at Hamerton Zoo just a few years ago...
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Basically a bit of a run through of some special moments:
