Angelique Kidjo and Salif Keita top a bill of musical highlights on Saturday at WOMAD
WOMAD 2010 review
Thursday 29th July 2010
Saturday offers a day of quality world music which starts with Rango who are a full compliment of eight rather than the reduced numbers we saw the weekend before they sound much better for it, and we're even treated to some traditional dancing in full Sudanese ceremonial dress, it takes a while but once again the win the crowd over, pointing at the 190 year old xylophone and chanting, "Rangoo!" Great stuff.
Stage swaps meant Rango, Toubab All Stars, and Gilzene and the Blue Light Mento Band had switched and I end up seeing the latter - good choice. Jamaican mento from a band bedecked in Jamaican shirts and boasting an 80 year old banjo player, their sound has an instant groove. Aussie Dan Sultan plays some recognisable rhythms in the Siam, before we reach Dobet Gnahore who has the kind of voice that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Her movements, music, and vocals are all sublime, but the music ends up a little too easy listening. Maybe it’s just me, because the WOMAD institution that is the Chai Chapel drummers also really sound really flat as I walk passed.
My intention was to watch The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain to show our Kiwi friend their musical stylings for the first time, and then nip off to see Krystle Warren but a switch from main stage to Siam by LaBrassBanda, means I decide to watch them instead. Wow! A brass quintet doing proper arms in the air techno, pot fuelled dub, and mariachi! Cheesy Euro trash Bavarian brilliance that makes you smile with songs you won't forget like 'Hey Mr Batty Boy, Batty Me Banana' to songs you already know like 'I Like To Move It' - you can't go wrong watching this lederhosn wearing lot.
World music heavy weights Angelique Kidjo, and Salif Keita bookend the mellow vibes of Orchestre National de Barbes, and Imogen Heap. The latter has lovely songs, but irritating chit chat. Don Letts proves to be the liveliest session of the weekend with a crowd friendly DJ set of big tunes that really showcases the soundsystem in the Big Red Tent. The throat singing shamanistic sounding guttural utterances of Canadian Inuit Tanya Tagaq is desribed by my daughter as "Manateewhale", and quite enthralling to watch, and with that it's time to see the bright lights of the steam fair and then head for bed.
review by Scott Williams photos by Karen Williams / Phil Bull
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