Hip-hop group Arrested Development have been added to the full, confirmed line-up for New Plymouth's Womad festival, set to be held in March next year.
The Atlanta-based band (pictured above), known for their hits Tennessee and Mr Wendel, join previously announced acts Kimbra, Buika and Pokey LaFarge for the festival's10th anniversary, on from March 14 to 16 at one of the best concert venues in the country, the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.
The full line-up for the festival's seven stages was confirmed overnight and is typically eclectic, from the sample-based turntable skills of Brit DJ Yoda, to Breabach, a Scottish folk band that includes two bagpipers in its line-up.
Along with Kimbra's soaring pop, Arrested Development are likely to draw a large crowd to the venue's main stage, a grassed arena in which the stage is surrounded by water.
Their debut album 3 Years, 5 Months and Two Days in the Life, sold four million copies thanks to their catchy, sing-along singles, but the band's "spiritual guru" Baba Oje won't be making the trip after suffering a stroke.
Also coming to Womad, which attracts up to 12,500 punters on each of its three days, is respected Spanish harmonica player Antonio Serrano, Tunisian protest singer Emel Mathlouthi, Spanish instrumental rockers Los Coronas, one-man Hawaiian band Makana and Zimbabwe's Mokoomba, who delve into social issues amid their dancefloor-friendly fare.
Tunisian protest singer Emel Mathlouthi.
Then there's Weird Together, Dick Johnson and Nick Dwyer's all-in global collaboration that has racked up festival appearances at Splore and Rhythm & Vines. Their show includes mystery guests and never performs exactly the same set twice.
This being Womad, it's not just about the music. Punters can grab a massage or indulge in some acupuncture in the Village of Wellness, grab a bite to eat or take a relaxing stroll through the Kunming Garden, participate in one of nine workshops being chaired by artists on the bill, or browse through some books in the Living Library.
There are also cooking classes being hosted by MasterChef runner-up Jax Hamilton, in which artists swap instruments for kitchen utensils and attempt to create something edible.
No doubt there'll be plenty of hacky sack games and hula hoop demonstrations worth joining in too. And if it ever gets too hot, there are plenty of trees for shelter, and a serene lake nearby. Just watch out for the duck poo.
More details, including the full line-up and ticket deals, are available through womad.co.nz.
