Rock El Casbah at WOMAD in Wiltshire

French-Algerian musician Rachid Taha who masterfully mixes street music, rock and techno is the latest artist to be added to WOMAD's line-up this year. West country folk duo Show of Hands, classic sixties American rockers Little Feat, and blues, jazz and folk and 'Jefferson Airplane' members Hot Tuna are just some of the latest names added to WOMAD's line-up heading for Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire this summer.

The world music, dance, and arts festival has also announced the following acts will also be appearing. American rhythm and blues singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples, drum n bass mix master DJ Marky, Senegalese laid-back superstars Orchestra Baobab, Ladino singer Mor Karbasi, North African nomadic music from Hamid Baroudi, and young urban Cubans Asere.

This year WOMAD has various theme nights over the weekend of Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July with an early bird day on offer on the Thursday. More details have been released of Friday night's Irish Ceilidh in the Siam Tent. The artists who will be playing that evening include Sharon Shannon, Damien Dempsey, and Shane MacGowan. Sharon will be singing and playing the accordion and will be joined by an assortment of top musicians who’ve played with the very best. Damien Dempsey and Shane MacGowan will also be stopping by to give her a hand. The night of Irish Ceilidh runs from 11pm – 1am. A ceilidh (pronounced key-lee) is a party, gathering, or the like, at which singing and storytelling are the usual forms of entertainment. A knees up is promised with cheerful, lively, and upbeat music and a few basic dance steps which can be learned easily.

Other artists appearing over the festival weekend include Chic, Adrian Sherwood & OnU Soundsytem, Transglobal Underground, Boy George, Eddy Grant and His Frontline Orchestra (Bahamas), Michael Brook with Special Guests including Djivan Gasparyan (USA/Armenia), Lo Cor de la Plana (Corsica), Altai Kai (Altai Republic, Inner Mongolia), Bedouin Jerry Can Band (Egypt), David D'Or (Israel), Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan (India), Dulsori (South Korea), Ernest Ranglin (Jamaica), Andy Palacio and Garifuna Collective featuring Umalali (Belize), Altai Kai (Mongolian), Kora (New Zealand), Kenge Kenge Orutu Systems (Kenya), The Kasai Allstars, Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara (UK/Gambia), The Taiko drummers Gocoo (Japan), Devon Sproule (USA), Cara Dillon (Ireland), Bill Cobham (USA), Beat Bristol (UK/Brazil), Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba (Mali), Melbourne meets Kingston from Mista Savona (Australia), and Agricantus (Sicily). For the line-up details as available please click here

More acts will be confirmed over the coming months, with the full line-up expected to 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!), the cabaret tent, 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.

'Early bird' tickets are on sale until 29th February (tonight) then tickets will be available at full price. The early bird offer is priced as follows: £115 for the three days, or available at £100 for those who purchased a ticket in 2007. Campervans cost £25. Camping from Friday to Monday is included in the ticket price - if you wish to camp on the Thursday there's an extra charge (£10 in 2007). To buy tickets, click here.

WOMAD festivals are held all over the world, and 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.

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