Womad New Zealand 2007 Line Up Announced 31 Oct

NEWS RELEASE – 9 OCTOBER 2006

Womad New Zealand 2007 Line Up Announced 31 October

The line up for WOMAD New Zealand 2007 will be announced on Tuesday 31 October and tickets go on sale on Wednesday 1 November.

Prime Minister Helen Clark will launch the 2007 programme at Parliament and organisers are keeping tight-lipped about the line-up until then.

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 will be held from March 16-18 at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl. Tickets for the three-day festival go on sale from 9am on Wednesday 1 November and organisers expect the 2007 event to sell out quickly, following the hugely successful sold-out event held in March 2005.

“Last year was incredible with a sold out crowd of more than 30,000 enjoying 30 hours of non-stop live music,” says TAFT – Taranaki Arts Festival Trust artistic director Roger King.

“We’re advising people to buy their tickets early to be certain of a spot at WOMAD 2007. Last year we turned away a large number of disappointed people who left it until too late to buy tickets to the festival.”

WOMAD 2007 promises to be an even bigger event with expansions to the festival site and a stunning line-up of performers from 19 different countries including Australia, UK, Mali, Nigeria, China, France, Portugal, Niger, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, Tibet, New Caledonia, India, and the United States, together with outstanding performers from New Zealand.

WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) also features artist workshops, an expanded Global Village, and the highly successful Kidzone, as well as the option to camp or stay in marae style accommodation at the adjacent racecourse.

“Since the first WOMAD was held in Taranaki in 2003, we’ve been astonished at the range of people who come along to WOMAD, and enjoy the range of performances. WOMAD truly is an event for everyone,” Mr King says.

Mr King adds that launching WOMAD 2007 at Parliament is a reflection of the national recognition given to this multi-cultural international event.

“Last year 61% of WOMAD festival goers came from outside Taranaki, more than half of whom were from either Auckland or Wellington, and the event was a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards.”

WOMAD is an international festival which was created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers. Peter Gabriel says its aim was to bring together and celebrate many forms of music, arts and dance.

“The festivals have always been wonderful and unique occasions,” Mr Gabriel says, “and have succeeded in introducing an international audience to many talented artists.

“Equally important, the festivals have also 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.”

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2007 go on sale at 9am on Wednesday 1 November through Ticketek. The line-up, ticketing and accommodation information will be available on the WOMAD website - www.womad.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media