Murray Bramwell previews CDs for Womadelaide 2009

Now in its annual cycle, it seems no time at all before the next Womad program appears. Opening on March 6, the 2009 version is the thirteenth full-scale festival and again the program looks both recognizable and entirely unfamiliar. This is the paradox of the event and an important part of its success. There are few fixtures as pleasingly ritualized as Womadelaide and that is a strong reason why the numbers returning remain …

Womadelaide 2008
Botanic Park
March 7 – 9

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

Womadelaide this year will be remembered because the weather was seriously hot – and so was the music program. When even the usually green swath of Botanic Park is looking parched and dusty we know that climate change is not just an Al Gore lecture and the current drought is getting very worrying. The temperatures climbed into the forties and day time sessions tested even the young and …

Murray Bramwell previews CDs for Womadelaide 2008

Now in its annual cycle, it seems no time at all before the next Womad program appears. Opening on March 6, the 2009 version is the thirteenth full-scale festival and again the program looks both recognizable and entirely unfamiliar. This is the paradox of the event and an important part of its success. There are few fixtures as pleasingly ritualized as Womadelaide and that is a strong reason why the numbers returning remain …

Womadelaide : Sounds of the Planet 2007
March 9 -11.

Murray Bramwell samples some recent CDs from this year’s Womadelaide artists.

It is now only a week away. Well established in its annual cycle, Womadelaide, follows the seasons back into the Adelaide autumn. And, after such a parched summer, the cool green expanse and easy shade of Botanic Park seems more beguiling than ever. This year’s is the eleventh event and marks the fifteenth anniversary of this “world of music …

Womadelaide
Sounds of the Planet 2007
March 9 -11. Botanic Park, Adelaide.

Murray Bramwell

Womadelaide has celebrated its fifteenth birthday in high style. With record attendances and nudging the crowd capacity of twenty thousand on Saturday night, it is still, along with Big Day Out, Adelaide’s favourite music event. But unlike BDO, which sweats it out at the Wayville Showgrounds, Womad’s access to the splendid green sward of Botanic Park makes it especially favoured. If it hadn’t been for that …

Womadelaide 2006

Murray Bramwell

As the fourteenth Womadelaide has demonstrated, not even 37 degree heat on Saturday and steady rain on Sunday night can keep a good show down. This highly ritualized event even drew increased attendances this time around, claiming 75 000 attendances overall. This is a relief for those who wondered how Womad would continue to stack up against the ever-expanding Fringe, the Festival, and even the Crows’ good run in the NAB Cup. But, we can also …

Womadelaide 2006

Murray Bramwell previews some recent CDs from this year’s Womadelaide artists

With Womadelaide, these days, it is never very long between drinks. Hardly have we absorbed the pleasures of the three day festival and we are offered the blandishments of the next one. Since going annual two years ago this festival of world music and dance continues to surpass itself – which is no mean feat, given that it began, back in 1992, as an already top-notch event. …

Womadelaide 2005
Botanic Park

Murray Bramwell

2005 will probably be known as the Wet Womadelaide. But only because – apart from some passing morning showers in 1992 – the event has been long blessed with ideal weather. Not that the Friday night rains this year proved especially irksome, especially since most of us had umbrellas amongst our kit. And, as a reward for audience loyalty perhaps, the first evening also provided some of the best music of the weekend.

The …