Seems that all the world’s roads lead to the United Kingdom this weekend. You know about that little sports gathering they’re throwing in London. Overshadowed just a tad (but a bodacious event in its own right) is WOMAD UK. WOMAD is short for World of Music, Arts and Dance, and its central aim is to celebrate the diversity and depth of all three. This year WOMAD is set for Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. It begins Friday, July 27 and finishes up Sunday, July 29.
Make no mistake, multiculturalism is the main course on this menu. Peter Gabriel frames the purpose of WOMAD this way: “The festivals (there are a number of WOMADs across the planet) have…allowed many different audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. Music is a universal language, it draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism.”
Gabriel has performed at a number of WOMAD festivals over the years.
Among the folks who will be performing during this 30th anniversary year are South Africa’s Hugh Masekela, the United States’ Soul Rebels, Canada’s The Wilderness of Manitoba, Scotland’s Peatbog Faeries, Jamaica’s Ras Happa and the UK’s Patrick Wolf.
It’s the performances that draw people to WOMAD, but what sets it apart from a lot of other festivals is its participatory workshops – workshops where the audience has an up-close-and-personal opportunity to meet the artists and learn about their music. Because it’s important that we all teach our children, there are special events at WOMAD UK designed specifically for kids.
One of the best ways to get to the festival is via train. There are local stations at Chippenham and Kemble.
(Image: dorsetbays)
