Even Taranaki's under pressure cow cockies had a happy Womad week, as overdue downpours fell on their dry pastures.
And then the sun shone on schedule for a weekend of music, dance, and colourful experiences at New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands.
Womad at the Bowl has become an essential destinationfor many over recent years, and 2016's performances again demonstrated why it's so popular.
Friday night's acts set the scene for a full-on weekend of high calibre music. After a lengthy hiatus Ludovic Navarre's alto ego St Germain blew the crowd away with a stage-full of musicians delivering his latest African influenced set with energy to burn.
Calexico's genre-bending set was highlighted by a Mexican influenced horn section, while Katchafire proved just how familiar Kiwi audiences are with their music.
On the Dell stage, Friday's highlight was, without question, another Kiwi act, as Hollie Fullbrook's Tiny Ruins had their audience spellbound. Hollie also guested with Calexico as the night's finale on the Bowl's main stage.
The weather gods continued to cooperate on Saturday for Womad, with tough decisions to be made as to which artists you wanted to check out.
Fortunately the schedule is extremely well organised so that you able to pretty much check out every act, with careful planning of course.
Thomas Oliver's set with his trusty Weissenborn slide guitar was a pleasant surprise amongst the big names.
Colombian harp player Edmar Castaneda's trio was sublime, while Songhoy Blues reminded us just how the fusion between the blues and Mali's traditional music is a match made in heaven. Desert blues understates the power of their sound.
Also from Africa is Sean Kuti now leading his father's band Egypt 80 and they scored a huge impact with the sold-out audience at the Bowl on Saturday.
Saturday night was all about two very diverse performances. The first show prompted a rare standing ovation as No Man's Land brought together a potent mix of live and pre-recorded sounds and incredible cinematography to capture the feeling experienced by World War One combatants on both sides of the conflict.
The crowd went wild for Saturday night's headline act De La Soul, New York's hip-hop pioneers. Since they created De La Soul while still at school, Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicur and Vincent Mason have set the standard for a music genre mash-up that's unique and spellbinding. They had their Womad audience in the palm of their hands on Saturday night.
Lanterns light up the night sky at Womad 2016.
Day three at Womad was a picture perfect Taranaki Sunday with a challenging choice of performances to experience. The beautiful Israeli singer Esta Rada led her band through an impressive set, with a hot horn section punctuating the melodies.
Pass the Gat was a real highlight with original tracks by Thomas Oliver, Louis Baker and Warren Maxell of Trinity Roots fame.
John Grant was something else. A big pure voice channelling Frank Sinatra and the Big O, over a minimalistic back-up with a classical feel.
Hazmat Modine delivered a heady and authentic New Orleans and dub sound featuring tuba, trumpet, sax, fiddle, and harmonica.
Image 1 of 7: Eight year old Reid Penwarden spars with his brother Roam; 6 yrs at the camp ground at Womad 2016 held at at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. Photo / Glen Jeffrey
Once again Womad has demonstrated its ability to raise the bar, as there were many other acts of an impossibly high standard.
