The net is cast wide for the 27th WOMAD at Charlton Park and the festival signposts ensure that we don't get hot under the collar trying to find the event. Not only that, they advertise the festival's own radio station, which as well as airing blissful world beats, keeps us posted on the travel situation and warns of the expected delays getting onto site.
Our arrival is relaxing and trouble free, the box office is slick and even informs us that family camping is looking pretty full. With that in mind (and our 8 and 3 year old in tow), we seek an alternative site for our weekend home. The brief downhill followed by short incline approach to the camp site feels a little more severe when carrying the world on our backs so we soon settle on an area outside of family camping and build our nests.
As our party grows, we take a wander around the site and even early on it becomes evident that a huge number of changes have been made to last years site layout. The entrance to the main arena still provides us with the same feast of the senses. The beautiful flags swarm the site, drummers sit and pound on drums and the aroma of food from around the globe tingles in the nose and teases the taste buds.
WOMAD and the events team seem to have taken note of last years feedback about sound bleed between the covered Siam stage tent and the main open air stage. At a first glance it seems bonkers, but they've moved the two stages to be adjacent to one another. A quick look at the programme reveals the programming of alternate bands on either stage so all things being equal; it should work out quite nicely!
Cups from the bar are recycled again and a 10 pence deposit is redeemable on each one. This news delights our eldest and also keeps the site looking spotless. It's a beautiful site and the mature trees and arboretum are a sanctuary from whatever the elements throw at us but other than the natural delights, there seems to be a lot less site art than in previous years.
Having been impressed by Rokia Traore recently, we opt for something different and catch the end of The Mad Professor Dub Show. He is on great form with his twisted reggae beats and added bleepiness but it reaches a finale all too soon so in search of more entertainment, we find The Black Arm Band. With indigenous Australian roots, The Black Arm Band's sounds are not as predictable as originally anticipated, their mood lifting tunes and ditties are as rousing as the deep guttural and organ vibrating sounds of their expertly wielded didgeridoo solos. Not just that, their sound-craft and energy translates brilliantly to their story telling.
I wish I could say the same for Solomon Burke. Don't get me wrong, his voice is amazing and the punchy soul he delivers is masterful, but I don't think I've ever been loved so much by someone I've never met before. It gets a bit too much being told between every song "I love each and every one of you". Unfortunately, we have a buggy with us and although we’re a fair way back in the field we are powerless to escape the love through the tightly packed crowds. In that situation, what else can we do but 'get on down'. This we do as he languishes in his throne which has more bling than Mr T.
The walk back to the campsite is a great time for reflection and as we amble through the woods, a lack of toilets seems pretty evident by people disappearing into hedges – something I've never seen at WOMAD before. Back at the tent, we hear great things about the RSD featuring Joe Peng set but no regrets, we've had a great laugh.
review by James Tayler photos by Andy Pitt / Phill Bull
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As well as being the UK's most popular festivals website, eFestivals sells its own range of clothing and other goodies. There's a range of t-shirts and vest-tops, and hoodies and fleeces, all featuring the eFestivals 'dancing man'.
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