Senegalese star Cheikh Lo for WOMAD

plus Ngawang Lodup, Nazim Ziryab, Kakatsitsi, Olcay Bayir, & more

By Scott Williams | Published: Tue 19th May 2015

WOMAD 2015 - Cheikh Lo
Photo credit: Andy Pitt

WOMAD 2015

Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th July 2015
Charlton Park , Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9DG, England MAP
£165 for three days
Daily capacity: 40,000

Senegalese star Cheikh Lo headlines the line-up on the Charlie Gillett Stage at this summer's WOMAD happening in the Wiltshire countryside at the picturesque site in Charlton Park, near Malmesbury from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July 2015, with early entry available on Thursday.

This is the first year that world music has been included as a category in BBC Introducing, the BBC’s emerging talent finding scheme, which has found some of the acts also announced for the same stage.

One of the first world music talents to be discovered by BBC Introducing is Tibetan singer and ex-monk Ngawang Lodup. Lodup grew up being carried on the back of his mother while she tended yak and sheep herds, learning the unique Tibetan folk-songs passed down through his family from a long line of famous Nomadic singers. His repertoire includes haunting tales of noble Tibetan warriors, warlords, and the snow mountains of Tibetan legend, paired with his unique artistry of the Dramnyen six-string lute.

Also discovered is Nazim Ziryab, an Algerian singer, songwriter and guitarist who fronts a band of expat Algerians with musicians from Italy, France and the UK. He describes his music as “traditional Berber music fused with Afro-Blues, reggae, Jazz and raw psychedelic sounds that will transport you into the heart of the Sahara."

Also confirmed for the stage are Kakatsitsi, Olcay Bayir, Kapela Maliszow, and The Egyptian Project, Ezza.

WOMAD stands for World of Music, Arts and Dance, and brings together many forms of music, arts and dance from countries and cultures around the world on seven separate stage and workshop areas.

De La Soul, Tinariwen, Bellowhead, CW Stoneking, 47soul, AcholiMachon, Aurelio Martinez, Banda Magda, veteran Brazilian singer Dona Onete, Eska, Ester Rada, Kim Churchill, L'Hijaz'Car, Molotov Jukebox, Orange Blossom, Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Japanese funk from Osaka Monaurail, Sagapool, Sona Jobarteh, and Swindle.

Also confirmed are Laura Mvula, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Mahmoud Ahmed, Ghostpoet, Souad Massi, The Correspondents, Count Drachma, Delaney Davidson, Hossam Ramzy and his Egyptian Orchestra, Ibeyi, Jambinai, King Naat Veliov's Original Kocani Orkestar, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Luke Vibert, Luzmila Carpio, Noura Mint Seymali, Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics, Orquesta Tipica Fernandez Fíerro, Red Baraat, Lokkhi Terra & Shikor Bangladesh All Stars, Spiro, The Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Tigran, Tulegur, and The Very Best.

For early bird arrivals, Thursday night offers Shantel & Bucovina Club Orkestar, and the colourful Kala Chethena Kathakali Theatre Company, as well as the traditional curtain-raising local The Malmesbury Schools Project collaboration with this year's partners Tomorrow's Warriors.

The full line-up features around 100 artists from 40 countries performing over the festival weekend.

For the line-up details as available see the WOMAD line-up page.

BBC Radio 3 will broadcast some of the most exciting artists live from the leading annual celebration of world music, WOMAD. This year Cerys Matthews for the first time presents her BBC Radio 6 Music show live from WOMAD on Sunday 26 July (10am-1pm). She will present her Sunday morning show in a live simulcast with BBC Radio 3’s World on 3, presented by with Mary Ann Kennedy and Lopa Kothari.

BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews said, "The different scales and rhythms heard on the stages of WOMAD are a refreshing change from the 1,2,3,4 rock n’ roll beat and chords we've enjoyed for more than 60 years. I'm a lifelong fan of all genre music, and dive in to these warm waters every Sunday on my radio show; come and celebrate the world's rich musical tapestry by joining me on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 26 July as we broadcast live from WOMAD 2015."

buy tickets now >

Weekend tickets - which are valid from the Friday until Sunday are priced at £165 (Thursday arrivals will also need a Thursday camping ticket costing £30).

Other ticket prices & options available will include:
Teenage Weekend Ticket (aged 14-17)  £80
Disabled Weekend Ticket  £165
SN16 Resident Weekend £115
A campervan ticket is priced at £65
Spa Ticket £120
Park & Camp £70
La-Di-Dah Loos £20

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 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. Thursday tickets do not need to be purchased for children aged 13 and under.




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