Thursday, July 12, 2018
WOMAD 2018 Must-See Acts
We've compiled a shortlist of our WOMAD 2018 must-see acts, from Afro-pop to reggae and plenty more in between!
Malian power couple Amadou & Mariam
Amadou & Mariam
This Malian husband and wife duo met at a centre for the blind, and there was no turning back. Having taken the world music scene by storm, the couple are still going strong!
Ezra Collective
This London band are a marvel. Their energetic sound is indebted to Fela Kuti yet offers a refreshing and exhilarating take on Afrobeat, jazz and hip-hop.
Gaye Su Akyol
The Turkish singer with a voice to die for who is sure to bring some seriously funky Anatolian vibes to Charlton Park.
Hashmat Sultana
This sister duo hailing from the Punjabi city of Hoshiarpur turned their lives around after winning TV talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Their influences range from the music of Sufism to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Havana Meets Kingston
An innovative collision of two contrasting styles with an all-star line-up, this project is a must see for fans of Cuban and Jamaican music.
Ken Boothe
Performing on the Thursday night, a set from this 70-year-old Jamaican legend is a great reason to arrive early. Check out this classic video from an ancient Top Of The Pops!
KermesZ à l’Est
This WOMAD necessity are the wildest Balkan band on the planet – you can definitely tell from this crazy cat-filled video!
Kojey Radical
The London-bred rapper and London College of Fashion graduate making reified masculinity in hip-hop look and sound great. His album 23Winters draws on the life of his Ghanaian grandfather.
Moonlight Benjamin
An intense fusion of voodoo, blues and rock music, Moonlight Benjamin’s powerful voice will send you into a different kind of voodoo trance.
Orchestra Les Mangelepa
Transport yourself to 1970’s Conga and Kenya with this guitar-heavy big band. A new arrival on the European scene, fans of Orchestra Baobab or Bembeya Jazz need look no further.
Owiny Sigoma Soundsystem
An unmissable shangaan electro party. When you’re all partied out, the new d&b Soundscape Stage will be a welcomed addition to the festival.
Viewer's discretion is advised, may be unsuitable for younger viewers (and some older ones!)
Whiskey Shivers
After seeing the hilariously bizarre video for ‘Cluck Ol’ Hen’ from this bluegrass quintet, I expect the live set will be weird, wild and wonderful.
WOMAD 2018 takes place July 26-29, check out the full line-up here.
