Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Citizens of Womadia gathered, danced, ate, sang and departed

New Plymouth hosted WOMAD over the weekend, and it was our third return to the festival where we became citizens of Womadia. It's such a great site, spread over the beautiful Brooklands park with 3 main stages and 2 smaller stages so there is always something worth seeing and a chance to talk to the artists during the workshop/chat sessions. More than ever the audience was mixed of all generations from babes & toddlers to grannies with walking frames -  a real family gathering.


Saturday was only dampened slightly by a feint sprinkling of rain and did not diffuse the joy and energy from the crowd or the bands.  Sunday the sun shone all day and I could see large doses of sunscreen being applied along with beer and other substances.

Best acts for me were Calexico from Tucson Arizona (saw them twice), Babylon Circus (France) and House of Shem (NZ). Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Chicago) looked interesting but we missed their performance and saw their workshop where they played a little bit of music. It was hypnotic though.


Babylon Circus made the crowd dance and forget the light shower of rain... (I am near the front of this bouncing crowd)
 

Calexico rocked with Southern US and Mexican flavours...

Luckily we were able to stay with the lovely Patricia and Richard who looked after us splendidly. A good weekend all round. And the wonderful Mount Taranaki shed its usual veil of clouds for us ...

3 comments:

mariSh said...

I couldn't find you in that mass of people! :-)

Richard said...

The "lovely Patricia" and Richard really enjoyed seeing you and John again. We always feel a bit enriched when you've visited, not just the supplies from the big smoke!

And the Womad festival is great. We are so lucky to be the hosts to such a cool event.

See ya'll next year maybe?

Amanda said...

Correction: the lovely couple, Richard & Patricia :)

Yes, could be on for 2011. Hoping to see you here in the 'smoke' before that though. Get those donkeys and chickens a babysitter, they'll be fine.

PS I posted that packet Tuesday so you should get it today or tomorrow.