WOMAD is back – and world famous in Aotearoa! First performers announced!
After a year’s hiatus because of you-know-what WOMAD is back in full force with all boasting eight stages, featuring close to 100 hours of music. This will be the 17th iteration of the Taranaki version, planned to commence over three days in March 2022 at Ngāmotu’s stunning Brooklands Park and the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.
A unique opportunity has presented itself with the constraints caused by the global pandemic as WOMAD programmers have dug into the wealth of Aotearoa’s musical talent to present a unique array of artists that will deliver the sense of discovery the festival is so well known and loved for.
WOMAD – THE WORLD’S FESTIVAL
18th – 20th March 2022
Brooklands Park, New Plymouth
Feat. Avantdale Bowling Club, Deva Mahal, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shades Of Shakti, Dr. Siouxie Wiles, Dick Frizell MNZM, plus much more to be announced…
Tickets are on sale NOW from womad.co.nz
This first announcement includes a collaboration of New Zealand and Indian musicians, Shades of Shakti combining traditional Indian music and jazz. Festival favourites, Fat Freddy’s Drop return for the first time in 12 years along with WOMAD first-timers; modern R&B extraordinaire, Deva Mahal and jazz-hip-hop mastermind Avantdale Bowling Club.
WOMAD International’s Head of Programming, Paula Henderson says, “For WOMAD, we are usually very spoilt, we have the whole world at our fingertips in terms of programming. When we first thought about doing WOMAD with a mainly national event over a year ago initially, I thought no way… but, I was wrong. It will sound a little strange, but, although challenging (as there were no gigs to go to), spending hours scouring the internet to find new artists that would suit the festival has been really exciting and I am confident that we have a programme that our audience will be overjoyed with.”
In addition to the musical line up, the increasingly popular offerings of the World Of Words stage and STEAM Lab return. Iconic kiwi artist, product designer and author, Dick Frizzell makes his performance debut at WOMAD. As does now household name, microbiologist and science hero, Dr Siouxsie Wiles who leads the line up for STEAM Lab. Taste The World, Kidzone, and Te Pae Pae will also return with programming to be announced. The full artist announcement is scheduled for October 20, 2021.
WOMAD NZ’s Associate Programmer, Josie Hunter Annand adds “As a festival attendee next March, you can definitely expect that, despite the current global restrictions we’re all facing right now, WOMAD will take you on a journey outside of these confines, with a much-needed chance to reconnect to the people, places, tastes and sounds of our world, right here in Aotearoa!”
Everyone has their fingers and toes crossed that we’ll all be out of Lockdown for the summer. You can help. Follow the guidelines from the Ministry of Health. Wear a mask. Wash your hands regularly. Get tested if you suspect symptoms. Get vaccinated.
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