New acts announced for Womad 2016

De La Soul

The thousands who attended this year's annual Womad festival in New Plymouth were almost unanimous in their declarations that it was the best yet in the years that the Bowl of Brooklands has hosted this international event. Chances are they'll be saying the same around March 20 because 2016's Womad is shaping up to eclipse any of the previous incarnations. This week the organisers have announced the latest tranche of performers.

su:m

Asha Bhosle

From the USA comes the highly acclaimed progressive jazz rap trio De La Soul. On the back of his new album electro-gem pioneer St Germain flies the red white and blue flag of France, while genre-forming su:m (pronounced "soom") bring a Korean flavour to the Bowl's stage.

And to top it off India's Asha Bhosle brings her reputation as a Hindi film payback singer, and her claim to be the most recorded person in the world.

St Germain. Photo Kevin Davies

Hark back a few weeks and the initial line-up was a stellar selection highlighted by the likes of South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mali's Songhoy Blues.

As of now Womad 2016 draws its programme from just about every corner of the world. Palestine, India, Greece, the USA, Israel, Canada, South Africa, France, Egypt, China, and the biggest ever contingent of Kiwi acts.

Ticket sales are already busy according to the organisers and there's more information available on the Womad website. Sounds like all roads will lead to New Plymouth next March 18-20 .