WOMAD 2024 - 18 new artists added to the Line Up

 More news from our WOMAD Taranaki whānau

We’re thrilled to share the details of EIGHTEEN more artists performing at WOMAD 2024 in March! Featuring Grammy winning heavyweights and newly discovered wonders from all corners of the globe. It’s a melting pot of genre-defying beats and vivacious voices, where musical exploration and diversity unite in dizzying displays of cultural celebration! Scroll on to see the incredible line-up. Few forge the kind of paths that Anthonie Tonnon has. Winning the Taite Music Prize for his album, Leave Love Out Of This, Tonnon masterfully creates a hybrid human-electronic form that combines the control and connection of technology with the physicality of a live rhythm section. From a family of griots – travelling poets, musicians and storytellers from West Africa - Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal’s distinctive sound ingeniously fuses traditional African instruments and rhythms with a dramatically modern electronic approach. In a musical journey from small town Hāwera to the electrifying nightlife of Berlin, this RnB songstress has woven neo soul beats and silky melodies into firecracker creations. Capturing the realities of love, and redefining retro rhythms, Bailey Wiley is as fresh as she is funky. DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV is an anarchic, must-see live act! A high-energy mix of influences, their music is based in Balkan traditions with injections of ska, punk, reggae, electronica and hip-hop.  Although deeply serious and political in their lyrics, their songs are also loaded with black humour and irresistibly danceable rhythms that keep audiences on their feet. Mongolian throat singing fuses with the melodies of enchanting folk to create a sound that is a masterpiece of world music. Embodying the spirit of a thousand generations, the textural soundscape of Equus is a bewitching blend of traditional Mongolian folk, ethereal lullaby and uplifting rhythms. A pioneer of the Tropicália movement, singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil has had a career spanning six decades and enjoyed hits in each one. Known for his musical innovation and political activism, the multi-talented 81-year old’s farewell tour will showcase his extensive repertoire of folk, samba, bossa nova, reggae, disco and funk. These charming nomadic storytellers playfully meld alluring vocal harmonies and intricate musicianship into an action-packed adventure of musical magic. Hailing from the UK, but forged under lockdown in Aotearoa, the duo are fresh from an energetic and euphoric performance at Glastonbury. Fronted by Nigerian singer Eno Williams, this eight-piece ensemble is a clash of African and electronic elements inspired in equal measure by the golden era of West-African funk, disco, modern post-punk and electro. Formed in London in 2013, they took club culture by storm, and have released four albums including the highly acclaimed Electricity (2022). This vibing DJ has amassed a cult following who rave about her high-octane shows. Celebrating her queer identity and taking inspiration from the music of her Afro Pasifika and Māori ancestry, she personifies what contemporary electronic music can be when the source is indigenous Alternative pop band Leenalchi plays a genre-defying style of music that feels familiar, unfamiliar and wildly danceable all at once. The group sings verses from a traditional Korean tale, while the background beats and bass draw inspiration from ‘80s new wave. Formed in England in the mid 1990s, Morcheeba’s atmospheric ‘trip-hop’ and the soulful vocals of SKYE quickly made them a household name. Ten albums and 10 million sales later, with big tracks such as Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day and The Sea under their belt, they still exude an effortless cool. Musician, producer and composer, Nitin Sawhney is a formidable talent across many genres, from his own brand of British electronic and fusion music, to composing for orchestras and artists such as Paul McCartney and Sting. He has recorded more than 20 solo albums and is a passionate cultural and political commentator. Heralded as the new diva of Kuduro, a dance music genre that emerged from the civil unrest in Angola in the ’80s, singer-dancer Pongo is breaking down musical barriers. Connecting Kuduro to Afrobeat, funk to dancehall, she aims to make music that feels intimate but also shares a universal message, inviting listeners to escape any feelings of sadness and despair. Born and raised deep in the outskirts of Mexico City, the Gama brothers are keeping alive the rich legacy of marimba music by taking it from the garage/punk world of urban misfits into the 21st Century, via punk, rockabilly and ska. Son Rompe Pera’s authenticity shines through in energetic live shows that are a joyful, sweaty mess of dancing fans. Echoed by ancestral sounds and wrapped in angelic vocals, TE KAAHU is a stirring homage to the beauty of Māori songwriting. Exploring cultural identity and weaving in messages of hope and peace, these dreamy waiata are the latest visionary work from critically acclaimed artist Theia. Birthing his music from a bamboo hut nestled among the roots of a sprawling forest, Tio is Vanuatu’s treehouse troubadour. With a breathtaking blend of violin, skin drum and hypnotic vocals this thoughtful artist reaches into your soul, invoking the fragile beauty of the environment. A spellbinding jugalbandi performance in the Indian classical tradition, featuring one of the most celebrated sarod players of our time, Tejendra Majumdar, and Ambi Subramaniam, the new king of Indian violin. Majumdar’s brilliance as a classical artist is legendary, and Subramaniam has been enthralling audiences since an early age. Dubbed ‘the Beatles of Zambia’ because of their popularity, WITCH’s brilliant garage, blues and psych-rock was at the centre of the explosive music scene in Zambia in the mid-’70s. Now, with a new lineup that is international and inter-generational, they are reviving and re-invigorating ‘Zamrock’, a riotous rock’n’roll sound infused with heavy African percussion. We’ve made it easy for you to get to know our incredible line-up of 2024 artists! A haven of harmonies, a vortex of voices, a song for every member of your family. Turn up the volume, let your spirit roam and let the rhythms of WOMAD transport you to a musical utopia! Buy Now, Pay Later for WOMAD! Secure your tickets now with our PayPlan system and spread your payments out over weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. We’re on the hunt for enthusiastic people to join our festival volunteer programme. Volunteers play an essential role in the delivery of WOMAD. From stage runners to traffic control and zero waste superstars; we’ve got a bevy of roles to be filled! Copyright (C) 2023 Taranaki Arts Festival Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive updates from WOMAD New Zealand Our mailing address is: Taranaki Arts Festival Trust Cnr Powderham & Brougham Sts New Plymouth, Taranaki 4310 New Zealand Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe