Music From Six Continents At WOMAD

NEWS RELEASE – 27 OCTOBER 2010

Music And Performance From Six Continents Of The World For Womad New Zealand 2011

300+ PERFORMERS 20 COUNTRIES 6 CONTINENTS 30 HOURS OF MUSIC

A world music super group, an acclaimed duo from Africa, giant puppets from France, a Calypso queen, Sudanese voodoo and the leading voice in Brazilian soul music are among the stunning line-up of artists heading to New Zealand from every corner of the globe for WOMAD New Zealand 2011.

The programme for WOMAD New Zealand 2011 was launched at Parliament and with more than 300 performers from 20 countries, artistic director Drew James says it is the best yet.

“This year’s line-up is sensational,” Drew says. “It really is a who’s who of world music complemented by fantastic New Zealand acts to create an extraordinary festival.” And, Drew adds, there will be a couple more acts added to the programme which will be announced very soon.

WOMAD New Zealand 2011 takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl of Brooklands from 18-20 March. Tickets are on sale now.

With artists hailing from the six continents and every corner of the globe – Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Zealand – WOMAD New Zealand 2011 is truly an international event.

Heading the line-up of music for the three-day festival is a group hailed as “a world music supergroup” – Afro Celt Sound System. This collaboration of artists from Ireland, England, Kenya, Guinea and Senegal burst onto the world music scene 15 years ago, winning numerous awards, selling two million albums and picking up two Grammy nominations. They played at the first WOMAD in New Zealand in 1997 and after more than three years apart, the band has reunited and is looking forward to returning to New Zealand in 2011.

"It will be great to return to New Zealand with Afro Celt Sound System, says vocalist Iarla O'Lionaird. “What always strikes me about the Australian and New Zealand WOMADs is the great sense of openness and fun that both countries provide the festival.”

Blind Malian singers Amadou and Mariam are acclaimed throughout the world and make their long-awaited debut at WOMAD New Zealand. They’ve played at Glastonbury, recorded the 2006 FIFA World Cup anthem ‘Celebrate the Day’, have played support for Scissor Sisters, Blue and Coldplay, sang at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and feature with The Magic Numbers on the soundtrack of hit cult movie The Twilight Saga:New Moon.

Trinidad and Tobago’s calypso ‘queen’ Calypso Rose is also confirmed for WOMAD New Zealand 2011, along with United States guitar guru Bob Brozman and Brazil’s soul Seu Jorge who heads this way with the highly respected Brazilian trio, Almaz.

Hailing from the Sudan and Egypt, Rango uses ancient folk instruments to revive the sounds of darkest Africa, while from Pakistan, Faiz Ali Faiz mesmerises as a new principal voice of exalted qawwali singing.

Australia’s The Cat Empire will show why they are one of the world’s favourite live acts and also from Australia come gypsy punksters The Barons of Tang and Dva – a wind/percussion duo inspired by the traditions of Macedonia and South India.

Heading to WOMAD New Zealand from the UK is Grammy Award-winning DJ Don Letts Ireland’s Luka Bloom and multi-instrumentalist and composer Nitin Sawhney performing a DJ set and directing the All Star Gala.

Cuba serves up two acts in this year’s line-up – the 10-voice Creole Choir of Cuba and the iconic Juan De Marcos Afro Cuban All-Stars, while American guitar guru Bob Brozman, China’s Hanggai, Horace Andy and Dub Asante from Jamica and the UK, Canada’s extraordinary throat singer Tanya Tagaq and Indian flute and shehnai exponent Pandit Rajendra Prasanna also feature for the festival.

Compagnie Ekart from France brings giant puppets to roam among festival goers while the popular Taste the World will be hosted by New Zealand’s own gastro nomad, Peta Mathias.

The New Zealand music line-up features Trinity Roots; award-winning vocalist Maisey Rika; electronic musician Paddy Free; Carolina Moon; Rhombus with Michel Tuffery; Sola Rosa; Nga Tae – a project with Richard Nunns, Paddy Free, Waimihi Hotere and Horomona Horo; and the Topp Twins Summer Hoe-down with guests, the legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, fiddler extraordinaire Marian Burns and award-winning country music singer Tami Neilson.

WOMAD New Zealand 2011 is the seventh WOMAD to be held at the stunning New Plymouth site. Now an annual festival, WOMAD 2010 was attended by more than 35,000 people across the three days.

As well as 30 hours of music on the seven stages, WOMAD New Zealand 2011 features artists in conversation, live cooking demonstrations and workshops by artists, a global village, sustainable village, Kidzone and the option to camp at the adjacent racecourse or stay marae-style in the TSB Stadium, and seniors have special viewing platforms at the three main stages with seating, shade and free water sponsored by TSB Bank.

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 27 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers.

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2011 are now on sale through Ticketek. Limited early bird three-day adult tickets are available for $195 with early bird youth tickets for $149. Day tickets are also available for Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Sunday night only. Camping tickets and marae accommodation are also available including Ezicamp options which include rental of a tent and air bed for $130 (including camping fee). Tickets are available through Ticketek on 0800 TICKETEK (842 538) or www.ticketek.co.nz. The full line-up and detailed information is available on the WOMAD website www.womad.co.nz

ENDS

Interviews with artists are available. Images and biographies are available. A full media kit is available.

WOMAD NZ 2011 LINE-UP

THE INTERNATIONALS

Afro Celt Sound System (Africa/ UK): Afro Celt Sound System pioneered an ambitious fusion of West African rhythms and traditional Irish melodies. Since then they have toured internationally and sold more than two million albums. Now, after five years apart, this world music supergroup has reunited.

Amadou & Mariam (Mali): Singer Mariam Doumbia and guitarist/singer Amadou Bagayoko met at Mali’s Institute for the Young Blind in the 1970s and forged a unique and exciting sound. It originates from Malian folk, but their dazzling brand of ‘Afro Blues’ is a distinctive new groove embracing rock, blues, jazz and Cuban influences.

The Barons of Tang (Australia): The Barons serve up their self described ‘gypsy death-core’ – lashing tango, rockabilly, metal and gypsy feels together with hard hitting guitar riffs, double kick blast beats, and massive horn arrangements.

Bob Brozman (USA): With guitar in hand, Bob Brozman is a musicologist who is both student and participant. Since his first solo blues album in 1981, Bob has travelled the world to perform and discover ancient roots music, from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea. This melds with his own sound, which embraces everything from calypso and gypsy swing to the blues.

Calypso Rose (Jamaica): A long-time superstar and ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, Calypso Rose captivates audiences from her signature tune Fire in Meh Wire, recorded in 1965, to her self-titled 2009 album – her first international release. Now, at the age of 70, Calypso Rose is enjoying a new peak of popularity, delivering her saucy and sprightly music with an international touring band that boasts musicians from Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Ireland and Nigeria.

The Cat Empire (Australia): The Cat Empire has risen to be one of Australia and indeed the world’s favourite live acts through sheer musicality and the power of their interaction on stage. Their music which defies definition has amassed a huge worldwide following.

Compagnie Ekart (France): Skilled puppet master Tarek Messamer makes a valiant effort to tame his two giant robots in two delightful roving shows, Maurice & Jules (an inseparable rooster and master), and Not So Beastly, where Mario the anthropologist tries to teach Hector the monkey how to behave politely in a crowd.

Creole Choir of Cuba (Cuba): In Cuba, this sensational 10-voice choir is called Desandann – the Descendants, heralding its origins from Haiti migrants. Formed in 1994, the choir preserves rare musical treasures from Haiti, Dominica and Cuba. On stage, these rich cultural traditions are brought to life with vibrant dancing and spectacular harmonies that are romantic, robust and celebratory.

Don Letts (UK): Having turned London’s punk rock scene onto dub reggae in 1977, Don Letts became the influential godfather of high energy club crossover music. A former member of Big Audio Dynamite, film-maker and DJ extraordinaire, Don has stretched his talents from seeding the Rock Against Racism movement to UK radio and club DJ sets.

DVA (Australia): DVA is the Macedonian word for two – and this duo featuring Tunji Beier and Linsey Pollak use wind and percussion instruments to create improvisations and compositions that draw on the traditions of Macedonia and South India. At WOMAD Linsey Pollak and Tunji Beier will also appear as their fun, alter egos Shopska in a late night upbeat Macecdonian gypsy set.

Faiz Ali Faiz (Pakistan): After the loss of iconic singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a new and powerful voice in qawwali has emerged in the young and talented Faiz Ali Faiz. Hailing from a family that has produced qawwali singers for seven generations, Faiz remains true to the deep, devotional core of traditional qawwali repertoire.

Hanggai (China): The big grasslands and bigger skies of Mongolia inspire Hanggai’s sprawling crossover style. While born from the Chinese punk scene, this six-piece band remains true to its Mongolian roots. Traditional songs now boast programmed beats and electric guitars beneath tsuur flute, horsehead fiddle and the chilling drones of overtone singing.
Horace Andy & Dub Asante (Jamaica/UK): One of Jamaica’s most distinctive vocalists, Horace Andy has released hit songs since 1971. From Jamaica he moved to the US in 1977, and then reached a new generation after moving to England in 1990 and collaborating with trip hop pioneers Massive Attack, the Mad Professor and Easy Star All-Stars on their Radiodread album.

Juan De Marcos Afro-Cuban All Stars (Cuba): Born out of the late-1990s Buena Vista Social Club recording sessions, this 15-piece big band is devoted to the full range of Cuban music and spans generations and musical styles from rumba to son montuno to bolero.

Luka Bloom (Ireland): Passion surges when Ireland’s great modern troubadour takes to the stage. Perennial favourite Luka Bloom is a compelling solo performer, he mesmerises with thunderous acoustic guitar playing, sweet, lilting voice and engaging song stories.

Nitin Sawhney (UK): Everything is possible in Nitin Sawhney’s rich musical world; orchestral meets hip-hop, jazz and electronica fuse with intricate Asian influences. Prolific as a solo artist and producer, he has also collaborated with artists as diverse as Paul McCartney and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. At WOMAD he will play a DJ set and be the Musical Director of the All-Star Gala.

Rajendra Prasanna (India): Only one Indian musician excels in playing both the flute and shehnai, an ancient oboe-like instrument – Pandit Rajendra Prasanna. His delicate, song-like playing style is extraordinarily beautiful. At WOMAD, he will be accompanied by his two sons.

Rango (Egypt/Sudan): Sonic voodoo from Sudan. The Cairo-based Rango use ancient folk instruments to revive the sounds of darkest Africa, rooted in warfare, slavery, mystic conflict and powerful spirits. Pounding, relentless songs from healing ceremonies and wild wedding dances meld elements of trance, ritual, exorcism, invocation and delirious celebration.

Seu Jorge & Almaz (Brazil): Seu Jorge, who grew up in a favela, has been a leading voice in Brazilian soul music and an accomplished actor for the past decade. Citing influences from samba school to Stevie Wonder, he has released a searing covers album with Almaz, putting the samba into Kraftwerk, Michael Jackson and more.

Tanya Tagaq (Canada): She has a voice like no other – “the Jimi Hendrix of throat singing,” says David Harrington of Kronos Quartet. Hailing from Nunavut in Canada, Tanya Tagaq brings a raw contemporary edge to Inuit throat singing traditions. With collaborators including Bjork and Kronos, she has pushes the boundaries of vocal performance.

THE NEW ZEALAND ACTS

Carolina Moon (New Zealand): Carolina Moon’s 'Mother Tongue' is a journey that begins in the heartland of medieval Spain and flows through rivers of Indian time – exotic grooves and the sensual, haunting melodies of the Spanish Judeo Sephardic lands. Soothed by the luscious strings of Nigel Gavin on guitar, electric oud and mandolin, and soulful sounds of Roger Manins on bass clarinet and soprano sax and set to the visual backdrop of sound artist Maree Quinn.

Maisey Rika (New Zealand): Maisey Rika performs stripped-back, acoustic melodies with a spine-tingling fusion of English and Maori lyrics. Her hauntingly beautiful vocals have been described as a blend of Sade, India Arie and Tracey Chapman. At this year’s Waiata Maori Awards Maisey won Best Female Solo Artist; Pop Album; Maori Song; and Best Maori Songwriter.

Nga Tae (New Zealand): Richard Nunns, widely considered to be the living expert on Ngā Taonga Puoro unites with Paddy Free, one of New Zealand’s best-known electronic musicians to create a uniquely Aotearoa sound, rounded out by Horomona Horo and renowned singer Waimihi Hotere.

Paddy Free (New Zealand): Paddy has been performing a live solo set of Pacific-influenced electronica since 1999. At WOMAD he will mix his new collaboration entitled Karekare – Te Reo o te Whenua (language of the land)… presenting a uniquely New Zealand sound.

Rhombus with Michel Tuffery (New Zealand): Aotearoa's premier dub and bass electronic soul, funk, hip-hop band. At WOMAD Rhombus will collaborate with special guest and visuals from New Zealand artist Michel Tuffery.

Sola Rosa (New Zealand): Fusing elements of diverse genres with skewed soundtracks… rubbing shoulders with elements of dub, hip hop, lounge and jazz along the way. Sola Rosa’s diversity walks an ever-erratic line between organic and electronic elements bewitching and beguiling ears in equal proportion.

Taste the World: New Zealand's own gastro-nomad, chef author and broadcaster, Peta Mathias takes the helm of Taste the World as WOMAD artists cook up an international storm of music, food and conversation.

Topp Twins Summer Hoe-down (New Zealand): Bringing the best of New Zealand’s country-roots flavoured music, The Topp Twins headline are joined by the legendary Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, fiddler extraordinaire Marian Burns, and Best Female Artist 2010 Country Music Awards, Tami Neilson. This fun concert will have the whole crowd stomping!

Trinity Roots (New Zealand): Featuring three of New Zealand's most acclaimed artists – Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, and Riki Gooch, Trinity Roots created a large and loyal fan base in Aotearoa’s roots scene. After five years apart the group is reforming for a handful of summer gigs and WOMAD is delighted to be one of them. Expect evocative rhythms and harmonies steeped in a lineage of soul, reggae and roots.

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