Afro Celt Sound System & more for WOMAD 2017's BBC Radio 3 Charlie Gillett Stage

By Neil Greenway | Published: Thu 4th May 2017

WOMAD 2017 - Afro Celt Sound System
Photo credit: Karen Williams

WOMAD 2017

Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th July 2017
Charlton Park , Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9DG, England MAP
£210 for four days
Daily capacity: 40,000

WOMAD - World of Music, Arts and Dance - held at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, in Wiltshire from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th July 2017 has announced the line-up for the BBC Radio 3 Charlie Gillett Stage.

With Radio 3 returning for it's 18th year, the Charlie Gillett Stage will be broadcasting on Radio 3 more than ever across the weekend, with Cerys Matthews doing a Sunday morning simulcast on 6music and Radio 3, with the stage hosted by World on 3 presenters Lopa Kothari and Kathryn Tickell.

Performing over the weekend on that stage will be Afro Celt Sound System, as the Saturday night headliner, Don Kipper a seven-piece ensemble with a sound rooted in Jewish klezmer, BBC Radio 3 World Music Award winner Ghada Shbeir, Ghana's King Ayisoba, Khmer Rouge Survivors led by Amnesty International activist and flautist Arn Chorn Pond, Kourelou who combine well-known Greek folk songs with the twentieth-century café tradition of ‘rembetika’, Leyla McCalla, Tanzania's Msafiri Zawose, Nile Project which brings together artists from the countries the river runs though, Italian folk styles from Officina Zoe, Parvathy Baul, Portuguese singer Raquel Tavares, Greek singer Savina Yannatou, Estonian power-folk from Trad Attack!, Italian roots music from Vesevo, and fresh Spanish folk from Viguela.

Controller of BBC Radio 3 Alan Davey said: "World and roots music has always had a place in the Radio 3 schedule and continues to play a key part in our exploration of amazing music and culture. WOMAD is going from strength to strength, as one of the only festivals with every genre from every country in the world. We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership this year with the BBC Radio 3 Charlie Gillett Stage, bringing a glorious array of international musical talent to audiences both at the festival and through Radio 3, with more hours of live broadcasting than ever before."

Festival director Chris Smith said: "There has always been a synergy between WOMAD and Radio 3 to discover and present the best music from around the world unrestricted by genre or demographic. Our partnership enables the spirit of the festival to flourish way beyond the four days of the festival and the boundaries of our beautiful site."

These join the acts previously confirmed, who include Goat, Oumou Sangare, Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Benjamin Zephaniah & The Revolutionary Minds, Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, Shobaleader One, Alsarah & the Nubatones, Bixiga 70, Inna De Yard All-Stars, Bokante, and many more. Please see the line-up page for the details so far.

The full line-up will feature around 100 artists from 40 countries performing over the festival weekend. Many more acts are still to be confirmed - expect the most eclectic line-up anywhere in the UK.

buy tickets now >

Weekend tickets - which are valid from the Friday until Sunday are priced at £175, or a four day ticket for Thursday arrivals is £210.

Other ticket prices & options available include:
Teenage Weekend Ticket (aged 14-17)  £85
Disabled Weekend Ticket  £175 (£210 for 4 days)
SN16 Resident Weekend £140
A campervan ticket £70
Spa Ticket £105 
Park & Camp £75
La-Di-Dah Loos £25
Children 13 and under can come free with each adult ticket holder, but need a free child ticket.




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