WOMAD NZ 2013 Lathered In Praise

WOMAD NZ 2013 Lathered In Praise

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WOMAD NZ 2013 Lathered In Praise

The 2013 WOMAD festival last weekend was hailed as the "best ever" by artists, concert go-ers and event organisers.

Artists and audience alike have flooded the WOMAD NZ Facebook page with photos, messages and memories marking the 2013 WOMAD as a very special year.

TAFT CEO, Suzanne Porter says, “This has been one of the best WOMADS yet. We are delighted with audience numbers, operationally and with our amazing audience who continue to support us.”

Having impressed the WOMAD international organisation with the continued high standard delivery of the festival, Taranaki Arts Festival Trust have secured the event for Taranaki for the next three years.

WOMAD 2014 dates have already been set as March 14th -16th, 2014. Planning for the next festival is starting with a survey for festival go-ers to place their feedback and suggestions with the sweetener to go in the draw to win two 3-day tickets to WOMAD 2014. http://www.taft.co.nz/womad/left-menu/sign-up.html

For a more up close and personal look at the event, there was some great coverage by media present including:
TV One News
The NZ Herald
Taranaki Daily News
and our very good friends Radio New Zealand National who will be producing extended coverage for broadcast later in the year also...

Over 400 performers from over 20 countries performed over three days and five stages to an enthusiastic crowd of 40'000 people watching and dancing to the music, participating in artist workshops and cooking demonstrations.

Over 3’500 camped at this year’s WOMAD, an increase on previous years helped by the addition of sell out high-end features of Glamping and Gomad Teepees.

The Angus Watt flags adorned the beautiful Pukekura Park creating the various spaces and Interactive Light Totems transformed from day to night and after dark, luminescent Galactic Stingrays glided about the venue mesmerising kids of all ages.

The music focus of the weekend did not disappoint with alluring & captivating performances from Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita and Jimmy Cliff. Magic was found around every corner as some of the lesser known artists inspired, surprised and floored many. Italian’s Nidi D’Arac, Melbourne Ska Orchestra and The Correspondents were among the most buzzworthy. Overall however, it was the diversity of the acts of the weekend that was the highlight for most.

Musical families from the U.S.A. and Israel, The Savoy Family Cajun Band and The Alaev Family stole audience hearts with their passionate and vibrant music making alongside cooking traditional dishes of Cajun Gumbo and Bukharian Polov respectively at the Nova Energy Taste the World Stage.

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman in 1982. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers.
"Pure enthusiasm for music from around the world led us to the idea of WOMAD in 1980 and thus to the first WOMAD festival in 1982. The festivals have always been wonderful and unique occasions and have succeeded in introducing an international audience to many talented artists.

Equally important, the festivals have also allowed many different audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. Music is a universal language, it draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism."

- Peter Gabriel

ENDS

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