About WOMAD 2021
WOMAD, World of Music, Arts and Dance, is an internationally established Festival bringing together artists from all over the globe. WOMAD continues to present music of excellence, passion and individuality, regardless of musical genre or geographical origin, to thousands of festival goers everywhere.
As an organisation, WOMAD now works in many different ways, but its aims are always the same - at festivals, performance events, through recorded releases and through educational projects, the aim is to excite, to inform, and to create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society.
WOMAD provides the opportunity to tour the world in 80 hours, as bands and artists from the four corners of the globe adorn the stunning Charlton Park locale. With the chance to hear music from bands you've never heard before, take in cultures from the world over, and with free entry for kids, WOMAD generates an unparalleled opportunity for those that want to explore and enjoy a welcoming, relaxed, inclusive atmosphere at their choice of festival.
2019 line up announced so far...
Ziggy Marley / Orbital / Anna Calvi / Salif Keita / Cymande / Tshegue / Brushy One String / Delgres / Petite Noir / Les Filles de Illighadad / Dhafer Youssef / Nadine Shah / DakhaBrakha / Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino / Liniker e os Carmelows / Ustad Saami / Meute / A Change is Gonna Come / Soothsayers / Orquesta Akokan / Channel One Sound System / Saint Sister / Kraftwerk re:werk with the Paraorchestra / BaBa Zula / Kokoroko / Vaudou Game / Jungle by Night / Nimba / Victoria Hanna / Hejira / Château Rouge / Soham De / Maija Kauhanen / Rura / Maysa Daw / Szun Waves / Kim So Ra / Vula Viel / Macha y el Bloque Depreseivo / Marja Mortensson / Lindigo / The Lemon Bucket Orkestra / Fofoulah / Gili Yalo / Madalisto Band / Malawurr
WOMAD information & FAQs
Carers are admitted free with a disabled person. Please visit our tickets page for more information on how to go about obtaining this.
There is a disabled camping area but spaces are limited. In order to guarantee a camping space in the disabled camping area you must pre book by returning the registration form to us. Please carefully read the information and fill out the form:
Disabled viewing platforms are located in from of the main stages for wheelchair users and other disabled people who need them. A viewing platform wristband is required in order to access the platform (see below). Capacity on the platforms is very limited so only one carer/assistant can accompany each disabled person.
The viewing platform wristband is a voluntary system for wheelchair users and those who have difficulty standing for long periods. These wristbands are available from the stewards at the disabled camping area.
Disabled toilets are available throughout the festival arena and in the Disabled Camping area.
Disabled showers are available in the Disabled camping area and at the British Red Cross.
Wheelchair battery re-charging will be available at the Disabled camping area.
Electric scooter/manual wheelchair hire will be available from Fair Mobility at the Festival. You can pre book the hire of an electric scooter/manual wheelchair by calling 01949 845 189 or online at www.fair-mobility.org.uk.
The Red Cross can store medicines that need to be refrigerated.
Large print information and Braille timetables are available to use at the Information Tent.
BSL Signers are available free of charge.
By Road: Charlton Park is situated just off the A429 between Cirencester and Chippenham, close to Malmesbury. The site is 7 miles from Junction 17 off the M4, approximately 100 miles from London, 80 miles from Birmingham, and less than 30 miles away from Bath, Bristol and Swindon. Please follow the yellow AA signs for WOMAD.
* From the North: Exit M5 J11a, take first exit A417 towards Cirencester. Before Cirencester take A429 southbound towards Malmesbury. Turn left onto B4040, follow signs into the festival.
* From the West: Exit M4 J17, take A429 north towards Cirencester. Turn right onto B4040, follow signs into the festival.
* From the East: Exit M4 J17, take A429 northbound signposted Malmesbury. Turn right onto B4040, travel for around half a mile and follow signs into the festival.
* From the South: Take A350 northbound towards Chippenham. At the M4 J17 roundabout, take second exit A429 northbound towards Malmesbury. After Malmesbury turn right onto the B4040, travel for around half a mile and follow signs into the festival.
By train: Customers travelling from the Cheltenham & Gloucester direction, including those from the Midlands and the North, should travel to/from Kemble Station. Customers travelling from London, the Home Counties, South East England, South West England and Wales should travel to/from Chippenham Station.
World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) is an organization founded in 1980 by Peter Gabriel, Thomas Brooman, and Bob Hooton. It was founded on the basis that many others would share their enthusiasm for music from other cultures, if only they had the opportunity to listen to some of the global sounds. The concept evolved from an idea Gabriel had at a concert involving an African group. This then developed into a much larger event incorporating music from all over the world. Despite a considerable lack of enthusiasm from most of the music business, the team gathered together a group of people who could create an event which would present music and dance from all over the world together with rock, jazz, and folk music from the West. In addition, the organisation evolved to provide a periodic showcase of world artists, in the form of a newsletter accompanied by a vinyl record.
The financial realities of running the organisation meant that one-off events were unreasonable, thus the idea for a festival was born. Indeed, the level of investment required from Gabriel had resulted in his suffering considerable financial hardship as early as 1982, with the result that he reunited with his former bandmates in Genesis in order to raise additional funds, by staging the Six of the Best concert.
The first WOMAD festival took place in 1982 in Shepton Mallet, England. Nowadays, a typical festival will include varied live musical performances, workshops, stalls and events for children.
WOMAD currently holds festivals in over 20 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, UK, U.S. and many European countries. The last USA concert was held on July 27 - 29, 2001 in Redmond, Washington. The 2002 and 2003 USA concerts were cancelled due to the financial consequences of 9/11 and difficulties in obtaining visas for international performers.
WOMAD has pioneered the growing acceptance and enjoyment of World music by western society. The festival now draws crowds of over 80,000 people per event, and competes on equal terms with other mainstream western festivals globally.
Over the years, WOMAD has helped launch, boost or revive the careers of many world music (and other) artists, including the Master Drummers of Burundi, the Afro Celt Sound System, the Dhol Foundation, Ozomatli and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
A feature of all the festivals are the flags, which are made by Angus Watt especially for Womad, with designs being loaned to such festivals as the Glastonbury Festival, and such places as the Eden Project.
WOMAD festivals are held all over the world, in countries including; Australia, New Zealand, Sicily and Spain. In 2009 there will be WOMAD festivals held in 5 countries around the world, including for the first time ever, the capital city of UAE, Abu Dhabi. They allow audiences to gain an insight into cultures other than their own through the enjoyment of music. WOMAD aims to excite, to inform, and to create awareness of the worth and potential of a multicultural society. It has a friendly and family-safe atmosphere, as well as fantastic music from all around the globe
Explore similar festivals to WOMAD
Find similar festivals by exploring the categories and classifications below:
Categories: Family Friendly festivals
Type: Family Friendly festivals
Size: Medium sized festivals
Accommodation: Campervan facilities, Luxury / VIP Camping facilities, Standard Camping facilities
Amenities: Luxury Showers, Toilets, Luxury Toilets, Showers
