WOMADelaide

series of music festivals. Womad events are a showcase of all different sorts of music, arts and dance. They encourage people to experience the music of cultures other than their own as a way of developing global understanding. [ [http://womad.org/about/about.lasso?-session=womad:A1DEACD56BB55FC366F5BFED379A708C WOMAD - World of Music, Arts and Dance] , "About Us", Accessed 26/2/07] The WOMADelaide festival aims to entertain all age groups and people from all backgrounds.

History

WOMADelaide was first run in 1992 as part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts. From 1993 it was run every two years in odd-numbered years so as to not conflict with subsequent editions of the Festival which runs in even-numbered years. From 1996 the management of the festival was taken on by the Adelaide based arts company, Arts Projects Australia. In 2003, WOMADelaide became an annual festival. In 2004 the WOMADelaide Foundation was set up as a non-profit body to present the festival and special projects for remote Indigenous arts communities. [http://www.womadelaide.com.au/info/history/WOMADelaide_history.pdf WOMADelaide History] , Womadelaide Foundation Limited, Accessed 26/2/7]

Festival site

The WOMADelaide festival is held in Botanic Park, which is situated just north-east of the Adelaide CBD, between the Adelaide Zoo and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. The 34 hectare park is fenced off for the duration of the festival, providing an enormous amount of space. The main stages are set up around a backstage compound with Stage 1 in the middle and Stages 2 and 3 on either side, all facing out from the backstage area. There are an additional three smaller stages (Zoo Stage, Moreton Bay Stage and Speakers Corner) and three stages operate at any one time. There is also visual arts exhibitions, a KidZone, a Global Village market area with over 100 food, crafts and display stalls, as well as several bars. All front-of-stage areas, the KidZone and the food and drink area are designated smoke free, although this is not heavily policed. WOMADelaide currently leads the way in Waste Minimisation working closely with Zero Waste SA. After the 2005 festival some six tonnes of compost from WOMADelaide waste were returned to the Botanic Gardens in an effort to preserve the delicate ecosystem in which the event is located. In 2007, WOMADelaide joined forces with Greening Australia, Australia’s largest environmental organisation, to remove the global warming impact of the event. The carbon generated through artists’ travel, and the festival site lighting, power etc was offset through the revegetation of native bushland in SA, which also helped to restore native habitat for rare and endangered species and reduce the effects of salinity.

Programming

WOMADelaide draws its performing artists from all over the world. A specific emphasis is placed on traditional music and performances of various cultures although some more contemporary, popular acts are included. The festival runs from 6pm to 1am on Friday, from 12noon til 1am on Saturday and from 12noon-12midnight on Sunday. Artists also lead workshops demonstrating and/or discussing aspects of their performances on the smaller stages. There are also artists who do 'roving' performances through the park and installation pieces, such as La Compagnie Carabosse who set up large fire installations at the 2005 festival.

More than 300 groups from 80 countries have appeared at the festival since 1992, including:

* The Cat Empire
* The Beautiful Girls
* Sarah Blasko
* Peter Gabriel
* Shooglenifty
* Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
* Gil Scott Heron
* Master Drummers of Burundi
* Salif Keita
* Baaba Maal
* Midnight Oil
* Afro Celt Sound System
* John Butler Trio
* Tiddas
* Zap Mama
* Leningrad Cowboys
* Not Drowning, Waving
* Yungchen Lhamo
* Ozomatli
* Paul Kelly and the Stormwater Boys
* Crowded House
* The Dhol Foundation
* Miriam Makeba
* Jimmy Cliff
* Kev Carmody
* Lior
* Fat Freddy's Drop
* The Waifs
* Blue King Brown
* Xavier Rudd

Future dates

* 6-8 March 2009
*5-7 March 2010
*4-6 March 2011
*9-11 March 2012 [ [http://www.womadelaide.com.au/info/index.html WOMADelaide] Accessed 26/2/7]

References

External links

* [http://womadelaide.com.au/ Official Site]
* [http://womadforum.eamped.com/ Unofficial WOMAD forum]