first acts for WOMAD

WOMAD, which takes place from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 July on the banks of the River Thames at Rivermead in Reading, Berkshire has announced the first acts for this year, a day before tickets go on sale tomorrow.

They'll be a total of over 70 artists from 30 countries performing over three days on seven outdoor and indoor stages, and the following are confirmed now:- Batucada Sound Machine (New Zealand); Bellowhead (UK); Calypso All Stars (Trinidad); Cherifa (Morocco); Toumani Diabate & Symmetric Orchestra (Mali); Gotan Project (France); Nanci Griffith (USA); Diana Hamilton (Bahamas); Joji Hirota, Kenny Endo & John Kaizan Neptune (Japan/USA); Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (USA); Salif Keita (Mali); Femi Kuti (Nigeria); Los De Abajo (Mexico); Marcelo D2 (Brazil); Mitsoura (Hungary); Enrique Morente (Spain); Dennis Rollins' Badbone & Co (UK); Anoushka Shankar (India); Spanish Harlem Orchestra (USA); Trilok Gurtu & The Misra Brothers (India).

WOMAD offers more than just live music, with hundreds of participatory workshops for adults and children; late night dance, DJ's and grooves at 'Club WOMAD'; a brand-new Tri-Span stage; a spectacular sound and light experience on Thursday evening; the kids' procession; a traditional funfair; a weekend of shopping in the 'Global Village' with over 250 international food, drink, arts, craft and merchandise stalls - plus sumptuous site deco featuring hundreds of flags, projections, visual art & temporary structures, all adding to the anbience for the 27,000 attendees.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, priced at £100 for the first 5,000 tickets, and then £110. Day tickets cost £35 for Friday, £55 for Saturday, and £45 for Sunday. All Weekend tickets include free camping, and families are entitled to savings as two children aged 13 and under can come free with each adult ticket buyer. To buy (from tomorrow) click here.

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