"WOMADelaide did not disappoint."
WOMADelaide has been bringing people together from all over the world for years, of all different ages and demographics, to share not only world music but food and good vibes.
This year WOMADelaide did not disappoint, as usual, and despite the unideal weather Saturday provided an entire day of lounging, dancing and eating. Stages spread out all over the park allowed people to enjoy the array of attractions on offer and in between acts the market and food stalls provided a vast range of products. As usual the food was a highlight. The choice was beyond difficult, but the line stretching from Yaman seemed promising and as suspected their traditional Yemen fare was not only delicious, but something totally new to the WOMAD experience.
The diverse range of acts that were on display brought crowds together to share their energy and connect with the music. BaBa ZuLa seemed to truly embody the idea and vibes of WOMAD. Founded in 1996, the psychedelic Turkish rock'n'rollers got the crowd moving to their intense beats and mesmerised with their extraordinary instrumental breakdowns. Their rhythms made it impossible not to dance.
Moving onto a different sound the Moreton Bay stage was drawing people in with WOMAD newcomers Mane. They provided mellow tunes and a powerful voice paired with a charming, raw stage presence. It was hard to look away. Hit song Bitter was a clear crowd favourite.
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L-FRESH The LION provided an unmissable performance, with rapid-fire lyrics backed by strong, catchy rhythms. One of the driving forces behind the new stance on hip hop, L-FRESH's tracks tackled contemporary issues and pushed a message of unity that resonated deeply with onlookers. At 7.00pm Angus Stone's latest project Dope Lemon caught the crowd's attention from the start with Honey Bones' opener Marinade. The dreamy, slacker-soul tracks became a bit repetitive however, and people seemed to filter out by the end. Despite this Stone provided an enjoyable experience and good vibes, giving people a chance to relax and re-energise.
Not only does WOMAD give people the opportunity to experience world music, but also world dance. Indonesian outfit EkosDance Company engaged the audience, encouraging people to join in their exquisite contemporary take on Javanese dance as they performed. By the end of the festival it's safe to say everyone was exhausted. This, however, did not stop people from filtering over to the Novatech stage to see the DJ set from Skratch Bastid. Young and old, everyone transformed during this set. The crowd seemed to find a newfound energy dancing and grooving to the Bastid's mix, fuelled by hip hop, funk and club bangers.