Live Review

Womad 2012

I can't remember how many Womad's I have been to. It is less than the 20, but may be close to ten. This year was easier than the last few I can remember. The weather this year payed along for the crowds. The last few years have been HOT or WET. And the capitals tell you that I'm talking uncomfortable. This year the crowd still chased the shade of the beautiful trees in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, but with less desperation than previous years.

Womad is more than a music festival, it is the bringing together of ideas and ideals for a sustainable earth with equality for all. From the Global village, where all sorts of ideas and charities present the good work that they do, to the zero waste policy of the festival, all of which makes you think about why this cannot be the way the rest of the world operates.

Discovering new music to listen to is my main reason for going to Womad. I love the sound of the big party bands, but often listen to the odd bands just to find out what their music is trying to say, just to hear their interpretation of music. I love the unknown, and finding that one band that blows you away. This year I was not disappointed. Every band has its story, from the singer from the Cambodian Space Project for whom this was her first trip to Australia, to the Bearded Gypsy Band local to the Adelaide Hills, they all have a story to know and appreciate but I found a few bands to really get into. The Bombay Roylae were a great party band and I went out of my way to see them a second time. However the highlight of the festival for me was Kimmo Pohjonen from Finland. Kimmo presents like a strange man, entering stage in what looked to be a cross between a kimono and bib and braces overalls. Attacking his music with gusto and composing sound scapes with his accordion and samples. Industrial dance fused opuses with a tinged of northern European crazy. I fell in love with the feel of his music.

But Womad is never just about the music or the wonderful ideals. It is about the people enjoying great music in one of the best settings. With large well established trees to provide shade, and stages nestled in various pockets of the shaded beauty of the Morton Bays figs or the large pines. My friends and I often play a game of people watching. The rules are undefined but simple. If you spot someone enjoying themselves so much that they start dancing like nobody is watching you must point them out to your friends. I know I have been both spotter and spotted, but this is the beauty of Womad.

The diversity of people, looks, beliefs and lifestyles all coming together to celebrate music and a better world. To leave no mark. To take nothing that cannot be returned to the earth. A renewable festival. This is what Womad is and what it will remain. An example of what we can and should be.

Below are the short reviews of the bands that I saw enough of to have an opinion. There is only so many adjectives you can use and so some are over used. But three days in the sun will do that to you.

Pascals Stage 1 Saturday 12am Japanese country band with some characters. The banjo player was in full cowboy regalia and the percussionist was wearing red board shorts and a see through garbage bag. With guitar, violin percussion, drums, mouth organ, recorder and more Pascals put together music allowing the mind to drift to images of mountain ranges and flowing streams. Images of the the high Blue Ridge mountains in southern America, yet some how in Japan at the same time.

Anda Union Stage 3 Saturday 1pm How did any society come up with throat singing. It is so different to what the rest of the world know as singing. Beautiful and evocative with the sound of the singing/whistling amazing.

The Bombay Royale Stage 2 Saturday 1pm Take a Bollywood score, then add a pinch of funk, then say “screw it” and dump in the whole spice jar of funk, then and only then will you have the recipe for The Bombay Royale.

Jay Hoad Band Speakers Corner 7 Saturday 3pm With the probability of being like so many others, being a travelling multi-instrumentalist, Jay Hoad is different in that he eagerly opens his singular skill to be enhanced by others. With his band the simple lyrics talking of love and mother earth take on a larger sound that means so many forms of sound can be used. From island influenced melodies to Spanish trumpet blasts Jay Hoad is happy to share his stage to make his music more that the original seed.

Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain Stage 1 Saturday 4pm Not great music, but great entertainment. Playing music we all know with a tongue in cheek attitude and ukuleles. Great to sing along to.

First Aid Kit Stage 3 Saturday 5pm After a few tasty beverages I fell asleep to First Aid Kit. Nothing against their music, while I did find it a bit repetitive tonally, I was not even sure I had been to sleep as the song I woke up to sounded the same as the one I fell asleep to.

Pajama Club Stage 2 Saturday 7pm With bass driven grooves and electronic bleeps which bring you back to the sound of 60 pop rock Pajama Club are a throw back that execute so well that you cannot help but love it and move to the driving bass lines. But from the whole Finn family could you expect less. Expectation met, and exceeded.

Bonobo Stage 3 Saturday 9pm With a live drummer, flute, sax, keys, bass, samples and singer, Bonobo play smooth funky grooves, and with the combination of the players changing from all to just the sax and drummer and everything in between my interest was always kept. Bringing the head nod to the groovers of Womad.

The Dirty Three Stage 1 Saturday 10:15pm Loud and raucous The Dirty Three broke many a Womad punter. With the almighty sound being generously amplified by the PA The Dirty Three brought their brand of improvisation to Womad. After the quiet day of music that had proceeded them the majority of punters were not ready fro the aural assault the The Dirty Three brought.

The Master Drummers Of Burundi (Workshop) Speakers Corner 7 Sunday 12am Passion and energy pulsing through the drums combined with energetic dancing and leaping. With an explanation of the symbolism of the drum and its component parts this was a enthusiastic start to the day.

Chris Finnen Zoo Stage Sunday 1pm Playing various kinds of blues Chris shows he is a master of the guitar. From Indian inspired to slow delta blues Chris plays it all with passion and skill.

Mahala Rai Banda Stage 3 Sunday 2pm It would not be Womad without a gypsy/polka band. These guys are from Romania and they are tight and fun filled. Never say you don't like gypsy music, if you think you don't, you just haven't heard the right kind. This is the right kind. Mamala Rai Banda get your hips swaying and body rocking.

Frigg Stage 3 Sunday 4pm Fiddling of the highest quality. Any Bluegrass band would be happy with this sound (And as I found out from another performer later, bluegrass came from the Irish and European reels.) With a sound that feels like a mix between an Irish reel and a high country sound, Frigg have a wonderfully melodic sound. Watching four fiddlers play at the same time is great and seeing the bowing all in sync is mesmerising.

Sharon Shannon Big Band Stage 3 Sunday 6:20pm Bringing cool to Irish Reels dancing was a must as Sharon and her band jaunted through their set bringing the energy level up for the evening.

Blue King Brown Stage 1 Sunday 7:30 Funking up the night with their infectious rhythms and political lyrics sung with passion by a soaring voice Blue King Brown are a perfect match for Womad. They started the night off perfectly with their soulful grooves.

Kimmo Pohjonen Speakers Corner 7 Sunday 8:30pm Awesome. Undoubtedly, totally and perfectly awesome. Kimmo is a one man feast for the concert goer. Using his accordion as a midi trigger, drum kit and as an accordion. With loops, reverb and other technological goodies Kimmo creates a sound-scape to blow your mind. Looking like a samurai on stage Kimmo uses his accordion instead of a katana to cut his way through the night and to aurally assault you with his majestic music.

The Barons Of Tang Zoo Stage Sunday 9:30pm Frenetic and excited the Barons Of Tang were having issues with the sound, or at least from where I was standing. Of the seven players on stage I could only hear three. This makes it hard to judge a band. The crowd at the front were having a great time of it, so if they were anything to go but it must have been a good show.

Staff Benda Bililli Stage 1 Sunday 9:45pm As I wandered out of Womad for Sunday at about 10:15 I mused that Staff Benda Bililli were what I wanted out of an African band. With the driving African beat but with a melody that grabbed you and got you excited. They delayed my departure by a half an hour with their passion and energy.

Narasirato Stage 1 Monday 1pm I could have sworn these guys had a drum on stage, but on closer inspection it was just a massive pipe set being struck by what looked from the distance I was like thongs. Performing tribal traditional music on an all pipe band interspersed with vocals they are an easy start to the day. Energetic dancing and swaying while playing the pipes brings music that belongs in the open air.

Frigg Speakers Corner 7 Monday 2pm So I have seen these guys before, you going to make something of it? I like them, so I saw them again.

The Bearded Gypsy Band Zoo Stage Monday 3pm Gypsy music has a large following at Womad. This is another gypsy band drawing a huge crowd. Strangely the younger members of the crowd seem to like this modern Australian twist to gypsy music and not the “original”. A classic sound with the fiddle singing out over the melody provided by the guitar.

Penguin Cafe Stage 3 Monday 4pm Soulful melodies easing the afternoon away. With cute pipes and lamenting strings to ease your pain.

Jinja Safari Morton Bay Stage Monday 4pm Bringing an indie rock sound that is so popular at the moment Jinja Safari fit in to Womad with their African inspired beats.

Cambodian Space Project Speakers Corner 7 Monday 4pm 60s GI infused rock with a hint of dirty country and a dash of surf rock thrown in for good measure, but lifted by the beautiful vocals of the Cambodian singer.

Groundation Stage 1 Monday 5pm A slow reggae band, and a good exponent.

The Bombay Royale Speakers Corner 7 Monday 6pm Stuff you, they are silly and I like them.

Tete Zoo Stage Monday 7pm Somehow this Frenchman has a North American twang to his singing. Simple delivery with a great voice. A music to be enjoyed in a park, as it was.

Matt Gray

Reviews

Quick Listens

Les Jobson from Dreamkillers - teaser interview

Sasha Čuha: about 'Svetozar!' & electric gusle

4ZZZ's interview with Kevin Borich

4ZZZ's radio drama 'Connie' by Joel Quick

4ZZZ's radio drama 'Morph' by Kathryn Rothe

Opera at 4ZZZ with Milijana Nikolic, mezzo-soprano & Rosario La Spina, tenor

SuburbiaSuburbia: Rock MUSIC, ART and SATIRE from the AU Suburbs

Eurovision Song Contest 2021 - review by Blair Martin

Gina Vanderpump - Miss Sportsman Hotel

4ZZZ's 45th Birthday special by Alex Oliver

Jack Vidgen - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Jaguar Jonze - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Mitch Tambo - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

Didirri - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

iOTA - Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020

RICHARD BELL The Venice Biennale EMBASSY 2019 4ZZZ Radio

OZONE Radio Play #001: Dog Park

Bloods Interview

Christopher Port on the New Releases Show

Didirri on Zedgeist

FRIDAY NEON - DOUG PARKINSON DEAR PRUDENCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR MARCH 2018

TRAILS takeover 4ZZZ Alphabet Soup PART 2

TRAILS takeover 4ZZZ Alphabet Soup PART 1

Port Royal performing "One of a Kind" live on 4ZZZ Alphabet Soup

Port Royal on Alphabet Soup

FRIDAY NEON THE EISTEDDFOD INTERVIEW METRO ARTS MARCH 2018

Dark Essence interview with Pop Will Eat Itself

Marc of Fingerless interview with Linda Dark on Alphabet Soup Pt 2

Marc of Fingerless interview with Linda Dark on Alphabet Soup Pt 1

FRIDAY NEON SUPERCELL INT_18

LIVE
100