NEWS RELEASE – 28 OCTOBER 2009

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE FOR WOMAD NEW ZEALAND 2010

FESTIVAL FEATURES 250+ PERFORMERS FROM 19 COUNTRIES

An African music legend, funky French punksters, an original member of the Buena Vista Social Club, eight horn-playing brothers and “the voice of the Sahara” are among the stellar line-up of artists heading to New Zealand for WOMAD New Zealand 2010.

The programme for WOMAD New Zealand 2010 was tonight (SUBS: 28 October) launched at Parliament and includes more than 250 performers from 19 countries.

WOMAD New Zealand 2010 takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl from 12-14 March. Tickets are on sale now.

With artists hailing from almost every corner of the globe – Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand – WOMAD New Zealand 2010 is truly an international event.

Heading the line-up of music for the three-day festival is Ethiopiques featuring Ethiopian music legend Mahmoud Ahmed (2007 BBC Radio World Music Award – Africa winner) together with a 10-piece band.

Star of the Buena Vista Social Club, Eliades Ochoa from Cuba is also confirmed for WOMAD New Zealand 2010, along with French gypsy dancehall punksters Babylon Circus; America’s Hypnotic Brass Ensemble featuring eight horn-playing brothers and “the voice of the Sahara”, Mariem Hassan.

Also from Africa comes Dub Colossus, an Ethiopia/UK project featuring Ethiojazz star Feleke Hailu, while from Palestine/Israel comes one of the most beautiful voices in the Middle East, Amal Murkus.

Eclectic American band Calexico, Scottish singer Eddi Reader (ex Fairground Attraction), legendary accordion player Mairtin O’Connor (Ireland) and Spain’s vibrant Ojos be Brujo also feature for the festival.

Other international acts include Australia’s Blue King Brown, Dutch theatre with De Stijle, Want; Gochag Askarov from Azerbaijan (recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the world’s verbal and non-verbal heritage); Algeria’s Kamel al Haraachi Chaabi Music; Finnish master musicians Lepisto and Lehti, Mexico-based Nortec Collective; seminal ska group Skatalites (Jamaica); Ross Daly and Ensemble from Greece, and DJ Nickodemus (USA) and the Gyuto Monks from Tibet/Australia return to WOMAD.

A solid line-up of New Zealand performers includes the acclaimed NZTrio, collaborating on a special project Lepisto and Lehti exclusively for WOMAD; along with Northland reggae band 1814; songstress Anna Coddington; The Bellbirds (featuring Don McGlashan and Victoria Kelly together with Sandy Mill and Sean Donnelly); House of Shem; Iva Lamkum; LA Mitchell; Ladi6; Pacific Curls and kapa haka performance from Te-Whanau-A-Apanui.

Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) Chief Executive Suzanne Porter says WOMAD is a true celebration of world music, arts and dance and an opportunity to recognise the diversity of performance art in the world.

“The performances on stage at WOMAD are like nothing else you will see again.”

WOMAD New Zealand 2010 is the sixth WOMAD to be held at the stunning New Plymouth site. Now an annual festival, WOMAD 2009 was attended by more than 38,000 people across the three days.

As well as a stunning line-up of music on the seven stages, WOMAD New Zealand 2010 also features artists in conversation, live cooking demonstrations and workshops by artists, a global village, sustainable village, Kidzone and the option to camp at the adjacent racecourse or stay marae-style in the TSB Stadium. New in 2010 are special seniors viewing platforms at the three main stages with seating, shade and free water sponsored by TSB Bank.

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 27 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers.

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2010 are now on sale through Ticketek. Limited early bird three-day adult tickets are available for $188 with early bird youth tickets for $142. Day tickets are also available for Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Sunday night only. Camping tickets and marae accommodation is also available and new for 2010 is Ezicamp which includes rental of a tent and air bed for $130 (including camping fee). The full line-up and detailed information is available on the WOMAD website www.womad.co.nz

ENDS