Womad

Our mum about town Kelly Jobanputra checks out the 2016 festival near Swindon

 

More than 80 musicians from over 50 countries recently descended onto Charlton Park near Malmesbury for the forever popular world music festival Womad.

The event, which started on Thursday the 28th of July and ran until Sunday the 31st, was heaving with deep beats and calm weather for most of the duration and was giving off the usual happy and relaxed atmosphere.

 

With last year's wet forecast still on a lot of people's minds, many turned up in coats and wellies but the weather turned out to be so glorious that a vast amount of people sunbathed whilst listening to some of the acts.

One example of this was when the sensational 'Meta and the Cornerstones' did their set in the open air on the Saturday. The crowd were so chilled and into their lyrics of 'peace, love and harmony' that they simply led down and sang as they did so.

The whole festival really felt like it first kicked off when 'Asian Dub Foundation' did a stripped back set on the Thursday evening, most unlike their usual explosive performances. It was definitely different but it was just as entertaining and enticing.

 

Rapper and poet 'Akala' was a late booking for Womad and he delivered an extremely powerful performance on the Saturday, despite some technical issues that were not of his making.

'George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic' did a hard rolling set with no breaks on Saturday night and had everyone dancing like nobody was watching. An unforgettable performance.

This is a festival that gives you everything. The many different types of music, the various foods from around the globe and a 'world of wellbeing' field that is full of relaxing treatments and drink/food stops.

It's also the perfect place for young ones as there is a 'world of children' area that is full of free entertainment - such as painting, circus skills practice and hat making. An absolute lifesaver for when the little ones had enough of watching a performance or walking around the immense open spaces.

Womad held its first festival in 1982 at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset - and for the tenth time, its flagship UK festival was held in Wiltshire. It doesn't seem possible but every year. this festival really does get bigger and better. Long may it continue.

 

Review by Kelly Jobanputra

 

Womad 2016

Pictures by Vikesh Jobanputra