WOMADelaide 2014 to host more than 500 artists
The full program for WOMADelaide 2014 has been released and true to form it includes returning stars like Billy Bragg, Femi Kuti and US rap royalty Arrested Development alongside a massive list of debut acts from every continent on the planet.
While Femi Kuti and the Positive Force will play an exclusive show in Adelaide, and New Zealand dub-reggae stars Fat Freddy’s Drop return to the city after a five-year hiatus, Aboriginal band Colored Stone celebrate their 35th anniversary at the international festival, which was founded by British musician Peter Gabriel in 1982. It came to Australia in 1992.
Debut acts include Scandinavian stars Ane Brun and Mikhael Paskalev, Portuguese fado singer Carminho and Beuna Vista Social Club piano prodigy Roberto Fonseca.
As well as the live bands, revellers will be treated to a some of the world’s most eclectic DJs.
Japan’s DJ Muro, reputed to have one of the world’s best record collections, will grace the decks playing a selection of his rarest 7” singles, while British expat DJ Quantic will bring a latin American flavour to the event, and cut-up specialist DJ Yoda will deliver his unique brand of genre-defying hip hop.
As usual, the 2014 edition offers much more than music. Organisers say Adelaide Botanic Park will “host a myriad of off-stage events including the Australian premiere of one of the world’s most stunning and large scale contemporary art installations – David Michalek’s Slow Dancing”.
Those after a quieter, thinkier experience can attend The Planet Talks, which will feature some of Australia’s most thought-provoking speakers. The roster includes ABC journalist Annabel Crabb, GetUp!’s Simon Sheikh, environmentalist Tanya Ha, sustainability writer and former Greenpeace CEO Paul Gilding, Peter Garrett, futurist Dr Richard Slaughter and political journalist Tory Shepherd.
In all, ticketholders will have the chance to sample the cultural offerings of 500 different performers and speakers from 25 countries.
The 2014 event kicks off on Friday, 7 March and concludes on Sunday, 10 March. Visit the Womadelaide website here. Click here for the full program. Ticketing information is available here.