WOMAD 2007

United Kingdom | | 31 July 2007

It could have been much, much worse had the world music festival not moved to its new site, Charlton Park in Wiltshire, with its former home at Reading's Rivermead still saturated by the recent floods.

Stars, organisers and around 25,000 festival goers alike all put the black clouds and high winds behind them and got into the festival groove, enjoying some of the best world music on offer from around the globe, as the pioneering festival celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Young and old alike gladly took on the challenge of negotiating the hazards of a waterlogged site, sadly bereft of helpful metal and wooden walkways, to enjoy over 100 artists from five continents on ten stages.

This year, the festival returned to its West Country roots, at a new 270 acre site in Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, north Wiltshire.

Folk singer and left-wing political activist, Billy Bragg, told Virtual Festivals: “The mud is god’s way of telling us that no matter how multi-cultural this festival may be we are still in England.”

In spite of the weather and soggy conditions the crowds enjoyed a varied selection of workshops and perused the many market stalls, as well as enjoying artists dozens of countries around the world. 

Cape Verde diva, Cesaria Evora, said: “You cannot tell nature what to do. It happens. We have to accept it. The festival goes on.”

Long-time WOMAD fan, Susan Opie, from Hackney in London, who with partner Andrew Law boogied the days and nights away to the likes of Samba Mapangala and Seth Lakeman, said: “We had to put our tents up in downpours and high winds. We were feeling miserable and then the Blind Boys from Alabama came on and really lifted our spirits and got us into the festival groove.”

And Henry Jacob, on-site press officer and world music fan, said: “This has given us a chance to show the British spirit, the WOMAD spirit.”

Co-founder and dedicated rocker Peter Gabriel headed up the line-up on Friday. Saturday night saw '60s soul idol Isaac Hayes sock it to ’em and on Sunday Sheila Chandra, who gushed into the top ten in 1982 with Ever So Lonely, made a timely anniversary appearance.

As Billy went on to say: “Twenty-five years of beginning to push against the tide to being the tide itself; that is what WOMAD is.

“This is the way all festivals are going. Even folk festivals are like WOMAD. You don’t see folk festivals which don’t have some element of world music.

“And WOMAD even allows English music now. That is how far they have gone.”

The festival has also received a number of birthday wishes from some absent friends...

"For 25 years WOMAD has been a royal gift to the world, what a fantastic achievement, congratulations and here’s to 25 more, Love, Sting" - Sting
 
"It’s hard to hate somebody when they are dancing, singing or playing… you can laugh, you can roll your eyes, but you can’t hate… I want to salute a great instrument of peace – WOMAD" - Bono

"Thank you for opening up my ears to a new world of music. With Love, Michael Stipe" - Michael Stipe 

"Happy 25th to WOMAD!" President Carter – Former US President 
 
"God bless you on your 25th anniversary" - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"In this 25th anniversary of WOMAD we are all to be applauded – the project itself for the culture generously distributed throughout this troubled world, and all of our countries for benefiting from this labour of love" - Gilberto Gil – Minister Of Culture for Brazil 
 
"I would like to congratulate WOMAD for briging musicians and people together from around the globe for the last 25 years – a powerful force to promote harmony and understanding in the multicultural society we live in, warm regards" - Muhammad Yunus – Nobel Peace Price Laureate 

"Warm congratulations to WOMAD on your 25th anniversary.  Think of the joy and pleasure you have given to so many, and the opportunities WOMAD has provided to talented artists around the world.  Enjoy the well deserved celebration" - Mary Robinson – Former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner For Human Rights

Article by Steve Ward