WOMADelaide announces first round of artists for 2017

WOMadelaide Carabosse - Exodus Of Forgotten PeoplesWOMADelaide has announced the first round of 21 stars who will celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary festival over the weekend of 10 – 13 March 2017 in Adelaide’s stunning Botanic Park.

After numerous international number one hits and top ten singles, including Ghost Town and A Message to You Rudy, and nearly 40 years since they first hit the stage, The Specials return to Australia after a five year absence to deliver their instantly recognisable British ska and Bluebeat.

Joining The Specials is one of the world’s most successful Brazilian artists, Grammy-nominated bossa nova singer, Bebel Gilberto. The daughter of singer Miúcha and bossa king João Gilberto, Bebel keeps the family tradition alive with a modern electronic twist on the laidback sound that her father pioneered.

Also announced is the return of France’s Cie Carabosse for their fourth WOMADelaide creation, a nightly fire installation housed within Frome Park, The Exodus of Forgotten Peoples. Exploring themes of global migration, The Exodus of Forgotten Peoples is an elemental work mixing fire, video projections and performance conjuring an alternative view of the world’s political and environmental concerns.

The Philip Glass Ensemble founded by the world’s master of minimalist composition Philip Glass in 1968, will present KOYAANISQATSI LIVE – Life out of Balance, marking the composer’s 80th birthday. The live musical accompaniment to the screening of Godfrey Reggio’s ‘environmental masterpiece’, the 1982 film KOYAANISQATSI – an apocalyptic vision of the collision of two worlds – urban life and technology versus the environment, is an extraordinary musical and cinematic experience.

Highlighting the Manganiyar musical traditions of Rajasthan, The Manganiyar Classroom by Roysten Abel features a theatrically inspired staging where 35 boys aged 8-16, all inheritors of threatened musical traditions – battle hilariously with the rigid conformity demanded of the classroom but where a joyous and exuberant musical celebration triumphs.

Other program highlights include Australia’s favorite folk trio The Waifs, returning after 12 years and also celebrating 25 years; Jamaica’s one-stringed guitar phenomenon Brushy one string; National Treasure Archie Roach who performed at the inaugural WOMADelaide in 1992 – and the feisty political hip-hop artists Inna Modja (Mali) and Ana Tijoux (Chile).

“It seems like yesterday but in the 25 years since 1992, WOMADelaide has brought together a diversity of artists and audiences and evolved into a completely immersive, welcoming and accessible cultural experience where art matters and is celebrated,” said Director Ian Scobie.

“Over that time we have been fortunate to be able to share some unforgettable musical memories with literally hundreds of thousands of festival-goers who have helped make the event an important part of Adelaide and the nation’s cultural life. It truly has become ‘the world’s festival’, all within one park, over a glorious long weekend.”

WOMADelaide runs 10 – 13 March 2017. For more information, visit: www.womadelaide.com.au for details.

Image: Cie Carabosse – Exodus Of Forgotten Peoples (supplied)