WOMAD Charlton Park
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Womad Charlton Park is the name given to the World of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival held in Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, since 2007. It is the direct successor to Womad Reading, which was held in the town of Reading each year from 1986 to 2006.
The Womad festival is held on the last weekend of July, and currently lasts three and a half days, stretching from the Thursday evening to early Monday morning. The line up is predominantly World Music, but Blues, Jazz, Hip hop and Rock artists also appear.
WOMAD origins
WOMAD was pioneered by various artists - notably Peter Gabriel in Shepton Mallet, in 1982.
WOMAD Reading 1986 - 2006
Reading became the regular site for WOMAD in the UK four years after its inception, and the festival became established there over 20 years. The first Womad Reading was held in 1986, and the last festival was held in 2006.
The festival took place every year on the last weekend of July, at the Rivermead Centre and Little John's Farm in Reading. By the end of its run in Reading, the festival had three stages:
- The Open Air (or Main) Stage
- The Siam Tent Stage
- The Village Stage
WOMAD Charlton Park 2007
In light of the mud caused by poor weather prior to the first festival in its new location, and on the Saturday night, many festival goers nicknamed the festival WOMUD.[1]
Artists who performed can be seen here.
WOMAD Charlton Park 2008
WOMAD 2008 was luckier - a weekend of blistering sunshine in an otherwise poor summer. The 2008 festival was well received and reviewed for its broad lineup and inclusive atmosphere. Mercury Prize-winner Roni Size Reprazent said: "What makes this festival different from every other festival that I've been to is when you walk into the tent. It's filled up with kids and buggies and their mothers and their fathers. Now that is an unbelievable sight." [2]
Arena:
The format has evolved and expanded since 1986. Stages in 2008 included
- Open Air Stage
- Sometimes referred to as the Main Stage, it is one of the two stages sharing headine acts, along with the Siam Tent. This stage hardly ever double books with the Siam Tent, as all the biggest artists usually appear on either stage.
- Siam Tent
- Introduced in 1998 as an alternative to the Open Air Stage
- Big Red Tent
- The third main stage
- Little Sicily
- A quieter haven for acoustic acts and conversation, with tables and chairs.
- Dance Tent & Drum Tent
- Two alternating venues of workshops featuring mainly African and Latin acts.
- BBC Radio 3 Stage
- Set outside the main arena, featuring many artists who also played the main stages, and broadcasting live on Radio 3.