Womex 2013

[Globaltruth]

Well, they found the right person to open it...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-24636232

and here's the link to what is described as an 'untapped musical goldmine'

http://www.womex.com/virtual/piranha_womex_ag/news/womex_13_cardiff_24

er - just one slight problem...can anyone actually spot a LISTEN button?

Here's the showcase selection, usually the people we'll be hearing from during the next 12 months

http://www.womex.com/virtual/artists/

it seems if you click on the little crochet icon next to their name you get to hear a track or two via mixcloud. Luckily I clicked on one which gave me...

Mr Toubab and Cucurucho cooking up an ancient-futurist groove-heavy hot-pot from Latin, African and tropical melodies to Arabic, Balkan and Indian beats, mixed with with their own productions and mash'ups.

I'm fairly sure Lopa will have booked them already.

Then I nipped over to Ms Emily Portman

http://www.womex.com/virtual/furrow_records/emily_portman_trio

- that's herself alright.

Finishing off with the April Verch Band

http://www.womex.com/virtual/near_north_music/april_verch_band

Phew, that's Oilrig sorted then for at least one show.

[Honoured Guest]

The opening concert is being broadcast live tonight at 8.30pm on BBC Radio Wales - Land of Song, a journey through 30,000 years of Wales's story, music and culture in an hour.

Then, three nights of Showcases of 49 world music performing groups, all open to the public. The advertised headliners of Lopa's live highlights programme have been refused visas by the UK Border Agency.

Wales Millennium Centre and two adjacent temporary WOMEX tents will be my home for the next four nights.

[Globaltruth]

The opening concert is being broadcast live tonight at 8.30pm on BBC Radio Wales - Land of Song, a journey through 30,000 years of Wales's story, music and culture in an hour.

Then, three nights of Showcases of 49 world music performing groups, all open to the public. The advertised headliners of Lopa's live highlights programme have been refused visas by the UK Border Agency.

Wales Millennium Centre and two adjacent temporary WOMEX tents will be my home for the next four nights.

Thanks for this, v.interesting, I'll find the programme you mention - I'm hoping you may see fit to post some more...

here's a bit more about the Syrian musicians
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/h...-uk.1382451488 - the very whirling musicians I've been desperate to see for years (as per other thread)

[MrGongGong]

OH yes indeed with the totally wonderful Radik Tueluesh

http://www.womex.com/virtual/inner_asian_music/radik_tueluesh

(how was the gig Beefy ? )

[Honoured Guest]

First Showcase night tonight - four and a half solid hours of 15 performances across five stages (45 mins each). Ran like clockwork. In place of Ensemble El-Kindi live (refused visas by UK Border Agency) they showed a short video of their performance in Paris three nights ago. They play Helsinki on Sunday before returning, via Beirut, to Damascus. My personal highlight tonight was the headline group Debademba in the Twin Stage Tent.

[Paul Sherratt]

What are the odds for Debademba appearing at the next WOMAD, Honoured ?

[Honoured Guest]

I should explain I'm an off-the-street member of the public, not a WOMEX delegate, and not knowledgeable. Debademba, particularly the lead singer, is extraordinarily charismatic and the live performance adds a dimension to the sound of their music. They give a main stage performance, but a big part of it is the detailed gesture, posture, movement and facial expression of the lead singer and so that might be best experienced at close quarters on a club stage.

The WOMEX Showcase is a slightly surreal experience because each showcase plunges straight into the real deal of the music with no preamble. And most of the audience has seen it all before and is just observing or being aware, and not playing the role of an audience who's come out for a good time. So it's like a dream where you can wander through a series of full-on perfectly performed gigs all at once. But with none of the physical ordeal of a WOMAD festival of sweat and rain and jostle and exhaustion.

[Globaltruth]

I should explain I'm an off-the-street member of the public, not a WOMEX delegate, and not knowledgeable. Debademba, particularly the lead singer, is extraordinarily charismatic and the live performance adds a dimension to the sound of their music. They give a main stage performance, but a big part of it is the detailed gesture, posture, movement and facial expression of the lead singer and so that might be best experienced at close quarters on a club stage.

The WOMEX Showcase is a slightly surreal experience because each showcase plunges straight into the real deal of the music with no preamble. And most of the audience has seen it all before and is just observing or being aware, and not playing the role of an audience who's come out for a good time. So it's like a dream where you can wander through a series of full-on perfectly performed gigs all at once. But with none of the physical ordeal of a WOMAD festival of sweat and rain and jostle and exhaustion.

I'd never considered the aspect you describe in the 2nd para - how do you think that affects the performers?

Oh, we're mainly members of the public here ('civilians' as the late Bob Brossman used to describe us) & not particularly knowledgable, rather enthusiasts.

[johncorrigan]

Lopa was there for last night's Wo3 - haven't heard it yet but notice that two of my favourite twosomes of the last couple of months are pictured - Winston McAnuff and Fixi, and Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita...so I look forward to that.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03f2c13

[johncorrigan]

here's a bit more about the Syrian musicians
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/h...-uk.1382451488 - the very whirling musicians I've been desperate to see for years (as per other thread)

Following the difficulties that bands from some parts of the world face getting entry to UK, Sachal Jazz Ensemble played Cerys yesterday with a four-piece - flute, table, bass - no sitars; they had to draft the flute player in - a very muted 'Take Five' - strangely troubling - kept thinking of Paul Robeson.