Womad NZ 2005 To Feature On BBC World Service

Womad New Zealand 2005 To Feature On BBC World Service

WOMAD New Zealand 2005 will be broadcast around the world on the BBC’s World Service.

Leading world music broadcaster Charlie Gillett will be attending WOMAD in March 2005 to produce two special features on the event.

National Radio Music Production Manager John Pilley has co-ordinated the visit by UK-based Charlie Gillett and says it is a major coup for New Zealand.

“Charlie is an ethnomusicologist and it is very prestigious to have him come down to New Zealand.

“Charlie is very interested in Pacific Rim music and WOMAD New Zealand gives him the opportunity to come and experience and record a large body of work in a very short period of time.”

In the past, the BBC World Service has broadcast National Radio coverage of WOMAD, however this is the first time a BBC crew has attended the event.

WOMAD New Zealand 2005 takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl from March 11-13 and features more than 375 performers from 15 countries delivering musical styles from folk to hip hop, classical to reggae beats, gospel to ska and everything in between.

The line-up includes American Richie Havens, who 35 years ago opened Woodstock with a marathon three hour set, Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet, Grammy Award-nominated reggae artist Alpha Blondy and his 16-piece band The Solar System, Senegalese hip hop sensation Daara J, Aboriginal rock music pioneer George Rrurrambu and his new rock reggae band Birdwave, UK folk musician Jim Moray, France’s Les Yeux Noirs and Lo ‘Jo, Indian vocalist Rashid Khan, Israeli composer, violinist and oud (Middle Eastern lute) player Yair Dalal, celtic musicians Capercaillie, Zap Mama from Belgium and the Congo, Vusi Mahlasela from South Africa, Drum Drum from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and the Gyuto Monks of Tibet.

A solid line-up of New Zealand performers also features and includes Mahinarangi Tocker, Rick Bryant’s Jubilation choir, Bravura with Jackie Clarke and Te Matarae I Orehu.

Further international and New Zealand acts will be announced on January 13.

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2005 are on sale through Ticketek. The three-day ticket costs $120 if purchased before Christmas. For more information visit www.womad.co.nz

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