8 FEBRUARY 2007 12 NOON

Womad Three Day Tickets Sold Out – Sunday Night Tickets Available

* FESTIVAL TO BE ANNUAL EVENT *

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 three day tickets have sold out, but those who have missed out will only need to wait one year before the next WOMAD festival.

WOMAD co-founder and international artistic director Thomas Brooman has today announced that WOMAD in New Zealand will be annual from 2007 onwards.

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 takes place at New Plymouth’s Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl from 16-18 March and until this year was a biennial festival. All three day tickets to the event have sold out, however a limited number of tickets are available for Sunday night only.

“New Zealand has taken WOMAD to its heart and we are just delighted to bring the festival and its collaborative spirit to Taranaki every year,” says Mr Brooman.

“WOMAD has found a true New Zealand home in New Plymouth – the artists love coming here and in our experience this one of the most beautiful festival sites to be found anywhere in the world.”

Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) Board Chairperson Elaine Gill says WOMAD in New Zealand will continue to present the very best of international world musicians.

“WOMAD is an exceptional event and we’re thrilled to be hosting the festival every year.”

Ms Gill adds that the event has a significant economic impact for the Taranaki region – in 2005 WOMAD generated a total regional expenditure of $4.5 million.

“WOMAD acts as a showcase event for Taranaki with festival goers coming from all over the country and many from overseas.”

This year is the third time WOMAD New Zealand has been held in New Plymouth and Ms Gill says demand for tickets to WOMAD has been phenomenal.

“We sold out of early bird tickets within 12 days and now have completely sold out of three day passes. There are a limited number of tickets left for Sunday night.

“We are looking forward to an incredible weekend of music in March and then we will be starting to plan for WOMAD 2008.”

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 features a stunning line-up of more than 400 performers from 21 countries featuring sensational tango music ensemble Gotan Project, Academy Award-nominated Mexican singer Lila Downs, Israel’s incredible Yasmin Levy, world-renowned Chinese bamboo flute virtuoso Guo Yue, the Gyuto Monks from Tibet and Australia, afro-pop sensation Salif Keita (Mali), Nigeria’s award-winning Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti and his band The Positive Force, stunning Portugese fado singer Mariza, Etran Finatawa from Niger, the exceptional Mahotella Queens from South Africa, legendary American percussionist Bill Cobham, Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu, British DJ and acid jazz musician Mr Scruff, Kaneka band Celenod (New Caledonia), traditional Kanak dance group WETR from the Lifou Islands near New Caledonia, Australian artist Lior, Shivkumar and Rahul Sharma from India, 17-piece ensemble SambaSunda from Indonesia, Iran’s Ensemble Shanbehzadeh, and the mesmerising French performance group Quidams.

A solid line-up of New Zealand performers also features and includes APRA Silver Scroll Award winner Don McGlashan with his new band The Seven Sisters, Porirua-based Maori electronica group Wai, roots ensemble dDub, electro/dub/jazz act The Mamaku Project, a musical project being developed by Wellington-based musician Jonathan Crayford and featuring Grammy nominees Jay Rodriguez and Chris Theberge from New York’s Groove Collective, the premiere of Capital E National Theatre For Children’s musical theatre production Spinning Mountain, together with the sublime voices of Hollie Smith and Whirimako Black.

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers.

Tickets for Sunday night are available from Ticketek at www.ticketek.co.nz. Sunday night tickets are valid for entry from 6pm and performances include the All Star Gala (led by Bill Cobham), Yasmin Levy, Don McGlashan, Guo Yue, Mariza, Mahotella Queens, Lila Downs, Wai and Mr Scruff.

ENDS