WOMAD 2010

Bringing together many forms of music, arts and dance from countries and cultures around the world on seven separate stage and workshop areas.

WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, the festival returns to the picturesque site at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire. The dates for the 22,500 capacity event are provisionally expected to be Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th July 2010.

Line-up

Headlining this year's festival is Malian afro-pop star Salif Keita, the world-famous Drummers of Burundi, and the legendary Gil Scott-Heron.

Also performing are Congolese street musicians Staff Benda Bilili, Jamaican star (and Massive Attack collaborator) Horace Andy with reggae group Dub Asante, Australian/Anglo institution Rolf Harris and his band, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, and many more.

For the full line-up details, stage and day splits, click here.

The full line-up features 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.

Tickets

Early bird weekend tickets are priced at £120 (full price £135). Weekend ticket for children age 13 and under are free. They must hold their own ticket and be accompanied by a ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21. One ticket holding parent or guardian can only accompany up to 4 people under the age of 18.

Other ticket prices & options:-
Teenage Weekend Ticket aged (14-17) - £70
Early Bird Disabled Weekend Ticket - £120
Thursday Ticket (for those arriving on Thursday) - £25
SN16 Resident Ticket - £85
Campervan Ticket - £40

To buy tickets, click here.


Weekend tickets include access to the campsite and festival arena from 8am on Friday through to Monday. Free camping in the festival disabled campsite from 8am Friday until Monday 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.

The Barrow Boys

The Barrow Boys will be onsite this year providing a rental service of wheelbarrows to help lug your gear to your camping area for a small fee. Rental points will be scattered throughout the park as well as at the main entrances.

Art @ WOMAD

For the first time WOMAD offers audiences an opportunity to enjoy the work of leading contemporary artists. Six sea containers take their place in the World of Art site and act as viewing stations for a programme of artists' films. The chosen films bring to a few acres of parkland in Wiltshire the stories of a life in a few acres of space in sites around the world, told through portraits of groups and individuals. These portraits reveal as much about the place in which they are set as they do of the people themselves. The well-known artists are; Jananne Al-Ani, Dryden Goodwin, Melanie Manchot, Rosalind Nashashibi, Imogen Stidworthy and Matt Stokes, who all work in a global context. The programme includes films that focus on group activity, and others where the life of a single street is told over a period of time.

Roots Architecture

Whilst the festival is on a stage will be constructed out of sustainable materials and festival goers will be able to watch musicians perform on the completed stage as a Sunday night festival finale.

Global village

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.

Workshops

Music Workshops for adults, will include participatory sessions with WOMAD artists. 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.

Gamelan

Woodland Gamelan are expected to 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.

Children

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 traditionally at 6pm on the 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

WOMAD festivals are held all over the world, in countries including; Australia, New Zealand, Sicily and Spain. 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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