WOMADelaide today announced the final 35 artists for its 10-13 March 2023 festival in Adelaide’s Botanic Park. Adding to the 35 artists already announced, the program now includes an exclusive performance by Colombian supergroup Ondatrópica, plus Grammy Award-winning American blues artist Fantastic Negrito, as well as the Australian premiere of German ‘techno marching band’, MEUTE.
Founded by Latin Grammy Award winner Mario Galeano and English DJ-producer Will Holland (AKA Quantic), Ondatrópica revives the tropical musical heritage of Colombia with some of the region’s greatest performers from the ‘60s alongside a generation of young musicians.
Their Australian exclusive show on Sunday 12 March commemorates not only the success of their ground-breaking 2012 debut album – favoured by DJs across the world – but also pays homage to the late salsa king Michi Sarmiento, who was their spiritual and artistic guide on-and-off stage.
The Grammy Award-winning and 2015 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, American blues and roots artist Fantastic Negrito will perform two shows off the back of his critically acclaimed 2022 studio album, White Jesus Black Problems. The record explores the illegal, interracial romance of his seventh-generation grandparents – a white indentured servant and an enslaved black man – in 1750s Virginia.
Making their Australian debut with three performances at WOMADelaide will be Germany’s self-described ‘techno marching band’, MEUTE. The eleven drummers and horn players transcend musical barriers with high-octane shows that redefine the concept of a brass band. Since gaining worldwide notoriety with their remix of Flume’s You & Me,which has gone on to amass more than 57 million views on YouTube, the group has played concert halls in Vienna and coveted festivals including Coachella.
Taraf de Caliu, a spinoff of the globally acclaimed gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks, is the last generation of traditional Romanian folk musicians known as Låtari. Under the lead of iconic violinist Georghe ‘Caliu’ Anghel, these legends of gypsy music have entertained thousands of people across the world, with fans and collaborators including the late Yehudi Menuhin and Kronos Quartet. The Guardian described them as a “thrilling, virtuoso blend of rapid-fire duelling violins and cimbalom.”
Fresh from the release of their debut album Could We Be More, London jazz collective Kokoroko will play their first Australian shows in March 2023. They have been described by The Guardian as “a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come for British music.”
Iconic Jamaican dancehall DJ, Sister Nancy (AKA Muma Nancy), performing with Legal Shot, will make her WOMADelaide debut. Her best-known release Bam Bam, released in 1982, has stood the test of time with Billboardmagazine naming it “a strong contender for the title of most sampled reggae song of all time.”
The international program also includes Argentinian Tango 5-piece, Quinteto Astor Piazzolla; Tibetan singer and humanitarian Yungchen Lhamo, returning after 24 years; Maori singer Ria Hall, Ukrainian/Canadian electro-folk trio Balaklava Blues, and from France – dance ensemble Cie Didier Theron and a beguiling site installation work fromGalmae.
Australian artists include the exhilarating Ghanian-Australian Asanti Dance Theatre; neo soul from Melbourne’s Izy; rollicking blues from The Lachy Doley Group and traditional Ghuzeng player Mindy Meng Wang 王萌, performing solo and also with electronic artist Tim Shiel.
The program also includes a contingent of South Australia’s finest, including 2 emerging acts from the WOMADelaide x NSS Academy, Hip Duo from the APY lands DEM MOB, and NZ born rapper TAIAHA.
“We are thrilled to be able to reveal the full program, which features the very best in music arts and dance from around the world and cannot wait for audiences to join us next year. It will be a WOMADelaide not to be missed,” said WOMADelaide Festival Director, Ian Scobie.
The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, said the WOMADelaide 2023 line-up offers the talent and diversity that keeps audiences coming to this iconic event.
“As WOMADelaide gears up for its return as a truly global festival, the wide range of acts and genres from all around the world and closer to home, will deliver a wonderful four days at Adelaide’s Botanic Park/ Tainmuntilla,” said Premier Malinauskas.
“Events such as WOMADelaide are a cornerstone of the South Australian economy and provide a vital boost to hotels, restaurants, bars and retail around the city and beyond.”
Joining previously announced artists including Youssou N’Dour, Florence + The Machine, Bon Iver, Gratte Ciel’s Places des Anges, AURORA, Billy Bragg, Sampa The Great and, the artists announced today:
Ailan Songs Project(AUS)
Alexander Flood(AUS)
Asanti Dance Theatre(Ghana/AUS)
AuroraVocal Ensemble (AUS)
Balaklava Blues (Ukraine/Canada)
Bandaluzia(AUS)
Beckah Amani(AUS)
Cie Didier Théron La Grande Phrase / The Big Phrase (France)
DEM MOB (AUS)
Didier Kumalo(AUS)
Dili Allstars(Timor Leste/AUS)
Fantastic Negrito (USA)
Galmae c’est pas là, c’est par là / it’s not that way, it’s this way (France/South Korea)
Gosti (AUS)
Grace Cummings (AUS)
GUTS (DJ) (France/Spain)
Izy (AUS)
Julian Belbachir (AUS)
Jyoty (UK)
Kokoroko (UK)
Ku Arts Connecting To Country (AUS)
The Lachy Doley Group (AUS)
MEUTE (Germany)
Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 and Tim Shiel (China/AUS)
Ondatrópica (Colombia)
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla (Argentina)
Ria Hall (NZ)
Richard J Frankland (AUS)
Sister Nancy & Legal Shot (Jamaica)
Sons Of Zöku (AUS – Adel)
TAIAHA (AUS/NZ)
Taraf de Caliu (Romania)
Tarobeat x MzRizk (Lebanon/AUS)
Tiana Khasi (AUS)
Yunchen Lhamo (Tibet)
WOMADelaide, 10-13 March 2023, Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla, Adelaide, South Australia