WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, the festival returns for its third year to the picturesque site at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire. The dates are confirmed as Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July.
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The full line-up will feature around 100 artists from 40 countries performing over the festival weekend. There's also a full programme of adult and childrens workshops (limited spaces available - turn up early!), a cabaret tent, fun fair, comedy, DJ sessions and live performance in the late night 'CLUB WOMAD', as well the normal festie fodder, and a huge market of world crafts.
On Thursday for 'early bird' ticket holders The Open Air Stage is expected to once again offer live music from 7-11pm with Malmesbury schoolchildren with Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra, Colores De Mi Tierra, The Skatalites, and in the Red Tent Music from the Penguin Café.
There is a 'teenager special' discounted ticket available to those aged between 14-17. Adults will be able to take an unlimited number of children aged 13 and under to the festival for free. There are also more 'SN16' tickets available for local residents, and a limited number of 'Park and Camp' tickets are on offer priced at £48.92 enabling festival goers to park their car near their tent.
There were a limited number of Early Bird Weekend Tickets. The standard price of £122.34 per weekend ticket now applies.
Tickets are priced as follows:
Adult weekend ticket is priced at £122.34.
Saturday or Sunday day ticket £60.
Disabled weekend ticket is priced at £122.34 (a free 2nd ticket for assistant or carer).
Weekend SN16 resident ticket is priced at £73.37.
Teenagers (aged 14-17) weekend ticket is priced at £58.70.
All those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday camping ticket is priced at £24.46.
This gives entry to the festival campsite from 8am and the arena from 2pm on Thursday 23 July.
Children 13 and under can come free with each adult ticket holder, but need a free child ticket.
All children must hold their own ticket and must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday tickets do not need to be purchased for children aged 13 and under.
Campervan ticket £39.13.
To buy tickets, click here.
Weekend tickets include access to the campsite and festival arena from 8am on Friday 24th July through to Monday 27th July. Free camping in the festival disabled campsite from 8am Friday 24th July until Monday 27th July for up to a maximum of 3 people per disabled customer (including your personal assistant/carer). Disabled tickets bought now include a free ticket for your personal assistant. However, tickets will not be sent out until the registration form has been filled in and sent with the necessary documentation.
Tickets are also available for the WOMAD Spa with dedicated private restrooms and showers and jacuzzis with make-up mirrors and hair dryers. The spa has on hand staff, café, cocktail bar and rest areas and offers luxury treatments available. A Weekend Spa Ticket includes access to the Backstage Bar, and is priced at £7.50, to buy a ticket click here.
WOMAD's famous Global Village offers a dizzying choice of over 40 types of food from all over the globe and the Real Ale Bar is expected to return. As will the 'Taste the World' tent where some of the artists will show off their cooking, and usually stage an impromptu gig.
For younger chefs, Kitchen Academy will keep young minds and stomachs happy with hands on healthy cookery sessions in the Children's area.
Music Workshops for adults, will include participatory sessions with WOMAD artists such as the Portico Quartet, Oumou Sangare, Rokia Traoré, the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan and the Ethiopiques. Festival goers will be able to immerse themselves in the stories behind the music, learn the origins of rare and unusual instruments, and more.
The 'Drum and Dance Tent' will also return with early-bird yoga sessions to salsa lessons to night owl happenings. Sing-Up in the Arboretum will host a celebration of songs from across the globe.
Woodland Gamelan will return to this year's festival bringing their unique tools, tents and imaginations back to the arboretum, ready to convert the smallest piece of wood into the simplest instrument or create a full gamelan.
Young festival goers will be able to create a unique record of the weekend with Big Street Video. The Opening Show for the festival will include children from seven local primary schools performing with world artists Colores de mi Tierra (Colombia) and Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra (UK) on the main stage.
The festival is aimed at the whole family, and allows all children aged 13 years and under, in for free. WOMAD promises even more stuff for kids and young people than ever before. 'The World of Kids' will have the usual comprehensive programme of workshops, entertainment and activities. These include the opportunity to create a range of art including masks, flags, giant structures, costumes and junk instruments. They are held throughout the weekend culminating in the Children's Parade which starts from the Children's area at 6pm, Sunday 26 July and winds it's way through the main arena.
For more information about the work of the WOMAD Foundation both in the UK and around the world, festival goers will be able to visit the Friends of WOMAD stall onsite over the weekend.
WOMAD festivals are held all over the world, in countries including; Australia, New Zealand, Sicily and Spain. In 2009 there will be WOMAD festivals held in 5 countries around the world, including for the first time ever, the capital city of UAE, Abu Dhabi. They allow audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. WOMAD aims to excite, to inform, and to create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society. It has a friendly and family-safe atmosphere, as well as fantastic music from all around the globe.
More information will be here when available.
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