Review by Sarah Steele
THE sun finally appeared on Saturday at Charlton Park, and waterproofs were quickly exchanged for sequins and flowery headdresses – definitely the WOMAD 2023 look, regardless of age and gender.
With a breeze rippling the signature colourful flags, regular visitors to what must be the most family-friendly festival around will have felt instantly at home amongst the thrumming of drum workshops, scream of the funfair and the smorgasbord of top-class world music emanating from the many stages around the site.
As if to emphasise WOMAD’s global credentials, food stalls offered delicacies from Tibet, Greece, Mexico and everywhere in between.
As ever, there was something for everyone, and those who wanted a quiet space could relax in the arboretum, listening to some of more intimate sets, browsing the book shop, watching a cookery demonstration or exploring the wellbeing tents.
That reiki massage might have been a little less relaxing, however, when Michael Rosen appeared, encouraging a huge crowd of young would-be poets to roar his poetry with him.
Elsewhere, in the main arena it was Bristol-based Mesadorm who kicked off Saturday’s music with their lyrical electronica, followed by the magnetic jazz\funk\afro beats of the Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra.
The day then took music fans from Puglian folk to Sufi, from Angolan kuduro music to Portuguese fado and Palestinian hiphop and so much more.
It’s rare to come to WOMAD and know many of the acts in advance, but impossible not to discover something that will blow your socks off, and 2023 was no exception!
This year’s biggest UK world music festival opened with the New York City hip-hop pioneers the Jungle Brothers.
Friday saw the Bombay Bicycle Club take the stage.
On Saturday Reis Nunes aka Mariza, queen of Portugese Fado wowed the crowd in the sunshine with a stunning performance followed by the fiery 47Soul.
Sunday, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force jazz-funk band shook the audience.
Early bird yoga sessions, workshops, spas, food from around the world, a poetry corner, well-being areas, cafes, taste of the world tent, the world of children area, exciting traders and artists, offered a wonderful variety of opportunities to visitors during a full-on packed weekend of global experiences not to be missed.
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