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 …

Murray Bramwell , Rodger Lee and David Sly preview recent releases from artists appearing at Womadelaide 2005

Now an annual fixture, Womadelaide comes round faster than Christmas. Hardly have we absorbed the sights, sounds and general bouquet of last year and we are presented with enticements for the next one. And, with the festival’s emphasis on new and different programming, each year brings a fresh list of unfamiliar names and musical styles. Having acquired some grasp of tuva and son, …

Womadelaide 2004

Murray Bramwell

This year was going to be a testing one for Womadelaide. It was the beginning of annual stagings of the event and the first time, since inception in 1992, that it had been re-incorporated into the Adelaide Festival. Attendance figures show that Womad this year has been the best ever with figures of 70,077, up by several thousand on 2003 and around six thousand from 2001.

It is certain proof of the durability of the event …

Womadelaide 2004 Previewed

Womadelaide will soon be upon us: from 5 -7 March, to be exact. And, yes, it does seem like only a year ago. Now an annual fixture, Womad, this year, is tucked under the wing of the Adelaide Festival- as it was for its inaugural presentation back in 1992.

The appeal of this event is hardly a mystery – a diverse program of splendid music, impeccable production values, the green sward and shady Moreton Bay figs of …

Womadelaide 2003
Botanic Park

Reviewed by Murray Bramwell

Womadelaide is not just a highly successful musical occasion, it is a key fixture in the Adelaide cultural calendar. That is made clear enough at the afternoon press call before the Friday night opening. All the major players are there. Kate Brennan, on behalf of the Adelaide Festival Centre, is taking a last opportunity to claim sovereignty over Womad in Adelaide now that the Trust is relinquishing its executive management role to …

Murray Bramwell previews Womadelaide 2003

Womadelaide celebrates ten years next month and it is now a leading fixture on the city’s cultural calendar. So much so, in fact, that Premier Mike Rann recently negotiated keenly to keep the event in Adelaide despite counter bids from Sydney and Melbourne. Womad UK director Thomas Brooman drove a hard bargain – as well he might, to secure one of the more successful Womad festivals anywhere – by insisting that Adelaide become an annual …