Womad 2016 stage schedule released

De La Soul

You can say one thing about the Womad crew. They never rest on their laurels.

While 2015 was a sellout and a surefire artistic success, 2016's event is set to raise the bar yet again.

Click to enlarge FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY schedules

Over three nights and two days between March 18 and 20 New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands will host more than 400 artists from 23 countries, promising memorable experiences and then some.

The music starts at 6pm on the Friday with a double-banger line-up of nu jazz pioneer St Germain and his crew and Tex Mex Americana dudes Calexico.

St Germain's performance promises to be a major highlight of the weekend on the back of his first album in years, while the rich and uptempo approach to the Tex Mex genre by Calexico will dazzle.

Saturday night's undoubted highlight will be the high energy approach of De La Soul, with Sunday night welcoming the amazing harmonies of South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the truly unique vibe of Asha Bhosie, the most recorded female musician in history.

Spiro. Photo York Tillyer

This year's Womad programme also has a strong Kiwi contingent, including Bic Runga, Julia Deans, Katchafire, Tiny Ruins plus Tami Neilson and her band.