12 minute read
Artists
ARTISTS A-Z
Image: Robert Charles
9BACH (WALES)
Lisa Jên’s ethereal vocals in Welsh and 9Bach’s exquisite arrangements, fusing traditional harp, dulcimer and guitar with heady bass, saw them take out the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Album in 2015. With three albums under their belt, 9Bach’s moody, otherworldly sound has also seen them win a big fan in Peter Gabriel.
Fri, 9.15pm, Nova Energy Taste the World Sat, 12pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sat, 9.15pm, Dell Stage Sun, 3pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
ANA TIJOUX (CHILE)
Ana Tijoux is the standard bearer for rap en Español, breaking down barriers between generations, voices and cultures and speaking out against injustice. Her hybrid sound captures where the street meets tradition, tough yet tender, political yet celebratory. Since the late 1990s, she has won acclaim throughout Latin America and Europe, especially for her signature albums 1977 and Vengo
Fri, 7.15pm, Nova Energy Taste the World Sat, 6pm, TSB Bowl Stage Sun, 7.45pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
ARCHIE ROACH (AUSTRALIA)
Archie Roach remains the definitive voice of indigenous Australia and a national treasure. His poignant songs reflect his many varied life experiences and gift for storytelling. Three decades after releasing Charcoal Lane, Archie continues to explore universal themes of love and sorrow, friendship and family, country and community.
Fri, 6.15pm, TSB Bowl Stage • Sat, 4pm, Te Paepae Stage (World of Words interview) • Sat, 6pm, Gables Stage
AZIZA BRAHIM (WESTERN SAHARA/SPAIN)
Voiced with deep passion and grace, Aziza Brahim’s music adeptly travels the expanse between her Western Saharan roots and Barcelona, the European cosmopolis where she now lives. Aziza is both a contemporary sonic poet and an eloquent spokesperson for the Saharawi people and their ongoing struggle for recognition and justice.
BAYNK (NZ/AOTEAROA)
Baynk has been credited with being the sound of a new generation. His bass-heavy electronic tunes and stage presence get even the most sedentary bodies dancing. His premiere performance was at St Jerome’s Laneway festival in February 2016 and he’s since garnered a staggering online following in NZ and overseas.
Fri, 10.15pm, Gables Stage
Grammy-nominee Bebel Gilberto, daughter of renowned singer João Gilberto, has forged her own distinctive, laidback style of bossa nova since she began performing in her twenties from her home base of New York City. Her synthesis of electronica with classic Brazilian beats and melodies floating atop modern bossa-tinged arrangements have positioned her among the best-selling Brazilian artists in the USA.
Sun, 2pm, TSB Bowl Stage
BRUSHY ONE STRING (JAMAICA)
That’s right; there’s just one string on his guitar, but Jamaican songman Brushy conjures a universe of music. His plucking is ingenious but it’s his voice that sets him apart; deep and soulful one moment, sweet and soaring the next. Thanks to Luciano Blotta’s cult reggae documentary RiseUp, Brushy is now an international touring sensation.
EMIR KUSTURICA & THE NO SMOKING ORCHESTRA
(SERBIA)
Fronted by controversial filmmaker Emir Kusturica, who has twice won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, this feisty 11-piece Serbian band couples anti-globalist messages with wild, eclectic music. Drawing influence from frantic Balkan rhumba and hot gypsy rhythms, the No Smoking Orchestra’s loveable, dishevelled sound fuses dancing with passionate beliefs.
Among the few local recording artists to have survived the Vietnam War, Hanoi Masters present defiant and poignant songs that deal with the conflict’s aftermath, rather than the bombs of the time. Using traditional Vietnamese instruments, and led by Vân-Ánh Võ who regularly performs with the Kronos Quartet, Masters Quôć Hùng and Phạm Mộng Hải reveal not only their talent and immense resilience but also a sense of joy and humour.
INNA MODJA (MALI)
Having been encouraged to sing by Salif Keita, the multi-talented Inna Modja is carving out a unique path on the world stage. Her music is an alluring mix of desert blues, electronica and hip-hop with hard-hitting lyrics, set to a flawless groove. She is outspoken on many of the injustices facing African women but, ultimately, hers is a powerful and positive vision for the future.
Fri, 9.15pm, Dell Stage Sun, 4pm, Te Paepae Stage (World of Words interview) Sun, 8.45pm, Gables Stage
LA MAMBANEGRA (COLOMBIA)
La Mambanegra (The Black Mamba) is a mighty salsa orchestra bubbling over with sophisticated musicianship, spicy rhythms and an unbeatable energy brought to you straight from the nightclubs of Cali. This electrifying nine-piece band combines funk, hip-hop and the salsa of 1970s New York; a combination guaranteed to have you dancing.
Fri, 9.15pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage Sat, 2pm, TSB Bowl Stage Sun, 3pm, Nova Energy Taste the World
Producer and multi instrumentalist Lord Echo has been flexing his dual-mastery of 60’s production techniques and modern dance floor aesthetics for over a decade now, through a flowing blend of boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Reggae, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms. Maybe best known as guitarist and producer for The Black Seeds, he has also written and co-produced music with Lawrence Arabia under the name ‘Fabulous Arabia’, and collaborated with international DJs.
MARLON WILLIAMS (NZ/AOTEAROA)
Described by The Guardian as delicious, oddly uplifting misery, Marlon William’s is New Zealand’s critically acclaimed folk and country singer making deep waves overseas. A veteran singer songwriter at the age of 25, Williams found his calling as child growing up in Lyttelton, New Zealand. Marlon is known for his ability to truly inhabit his material blurring the distinctions between classics and his own works.
Fri, 8.15pm, TSB Bowl Stage
MERCEDES PEÓN (SPAIN)
Mercedes Peón is a one-woman musical hurricane who has single-handedly revived the traditional music of Galicia in northern Spain. A true original, Peón has painstakingly collected the songs of the region and experimented with them, unleashing them live in a dramatic solo show on stage, with an armoury of instruments and effects on hand.
Fri, 6.15pm, Gables Stage Sat, 7pm, Dell Stage
MT EDEN (NZ/AOTEAROA)
New Zealand’s own dub step and electronic dance music production duo is comprised of Jesse Cooper and Harley Rayner. They’re known for breaking barriers and have gained millions of fans with much critical acclaim from all corners of the globe. Expect filthy resonating bass lines, stomping drums, eerie vocals and a bit of hip hop flavour.
Sat, 10.15pm, Gables Stage
OUMOU SANGARÉ (MALI)
Respected as one of the greatest African stars of her generation, the majestic and gifted Oumou Sangaré is endearingly referred to as the ‘Songbird from Wassoulou’. Her music is funky and vibrant but her lyrics open people’s consciousness by challenging convention; from bold expressions of sensuality to advocating for women’s rights.
Best known as the dynamic front woman of roots favourites Blue King Brown, the ever-evolving Nattali heads up a new-conscious reggae project. With a renewed focus and energy after spending time living in Jamaica, Nattali and her Jamaicaninternational band are ready to unleash their debut album of uplifting and thought-provoking music.
Fri, 8.15pm, Gables Stage Sat, 1pm, Nova Energy Taste the World Sun, 1pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
Austria’s electro-swing band Parov Stelar, fronted by magnetic singer Cleo Panther, make their NZ debut at last! Their insanely catchy music that has been used in advertising campaigns across the world with joyous horns and sophisticated style, has the sass and panache of 1920s cabaret, with modern-day dance floor appeal.
ROB RUHA (NZ/AOTEAROA)
With his award winning music and soul stirring performances, Rob Ruha champions the voice and stories of his indigenous nation. An acclaimed ambassador of Ma -ori Music, Rob is in demand all over the globe to share his unique brand of home-grown Aotearoa music he describes as “Haka Soul.” Rob is renown for his powerful embodiment of lyric, fusing classic Ma -ori poetry with the magnetic sounds of today.
Sat, 5pm, Dell Stage Sun, 12pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sun, 5pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage
SINKANE (USA)
With a falsetto voice drifting over driving beats and layered synth lines, the compelling sound of Sinkane defines Ahmed Gallab’s journey from a childhood in London and Sudan to Brooklyn, where his music took flight. His style-hopping sonic influences embrace Afrobeat, pop and soul grooves and the result is a seamless and seductive cross-cultural mesh.
SONS OF ZION (NZ/AOTEAROA)
From humble beginnings, a drive to make music, perform, and a commitment to their fans, Sons of Zion have become known for captivating audiences with their lively stage presence. Since their 2007 debut they’ve continued to build momentum in the NZ music industry and have stamped their unique sound, a fusion of rock, dub, and RnB with a reggae foundation on festivals and audiences both in New Zealand and across the globe.
Sun, 6.30pm, TSB Bowl Stage
SUDHA RAGUNATHAN (INDIA)
As the most celebrated of south India’s devotional Carnatic singers, Sudha Ragunathan has a captivating voice that soars above the music’s strict rhythmic system. The agility and dexterity of her astonishing vocal control enables her melodies to bend and quiver like vibrating strings, underscored by lively percussion and violin accompaniment.
Fri, 7.15pm, Dell Stage
SWAMP THING (NZ/AOTEAROA)
Known for playing every show like it’s their last, multi-instrumentalist Michael Barker (ex John Butler Trio & Split Enz) and singer guitarist, Grant Haua are the power blues duo Swamp Thing. Sharing a wealth of experience, they craft blues- driven songs with a deep groove and soulful spook, creating a sound that reaches far back into the musical DNA of roots music.
TAGO means ‘lighting up the world by beating drums’, and this young ensemble achieves it with a breathtaking mixture of Korean traditional instruments, from gigantic drums to small percussion, spiced up with extravagant martial arts movements. TAGO’s performances are a masterful display of thrilling percussion and precision movement.
Sat, 12pm, TSB Bowl Stage Sat, 8pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sun, 4pm, TSB Bowl Stage
Part of Center Stage Korea, with the support of Korea Arts Management Service
THE EAST POINTERS (CANADA)
The freewheelin’, roof rattlin’ trio of Tim Chaisson on fiddle, Jake Charron on guitar and Koady Chaisson on banjo inject traditional folk with a bolt of youthful energy, verve and raucous step dancing. The East Pointers’ first release Secret Victory features energetic jigs, stomps, reels and heart-breaking harmonies that have made them torchbearers for a new wave in traditional music.
THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND (USA)
Direct from the streets of New Orleans, the raucous and joyful Hot 8 Brass Band has re-cast traditional marching band jazz with funk, R&B and hip-hop. Over 20 years of leading community parades, funeral processions, street parties and concerts, the band has endured great tragedies, including the violent deaths of several members and Hurricane Katrina, but they have emerged triumphant. Sat, 4pm, TSB Bowl Stage • Sat, 7pm, Nova Energy Taste the World • Sun, 4pm, Gables Stage
THE SOIL (SOUTH AFRICA)
South Africa’s great a cappella harmony singing tradition is given new life with The Soil’s bold contemporary style. Defined as Kasi Soul, the young trio’s music is an eclectic mix of township harmonies, soul, jazz, beatboxing and deep gospel. It’s the crossroad where generational and stylistic inspirations collide, and the sound is nothing short of joyous
Sat, 3pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage Sun, 6.30pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sun, 10pm, Dell Stage BROUHAHA (NZ/AOTEAROA)
Following sold out seasons and standing ovations at every show in Germany and at the prestigious Holland Dance Festival and a North Island Tour, The New Zealand Dance Company proudly takes the stage at WOMAD with the outdoor stage adaptation of Brouhaha; a double bill of contemporary dance spearheaded by pioneers of artistic vision.
Fri, 6.15pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sat, 2pm, Gables Stage Sat, 6pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sun, 2pm, Gables Stage
THE SPECIALS (UK)
In 1979, The Specials ushered in the modern era of British ska; a danceable mix of Jamaican Bluebeat and punk known as Two Tone. They were political, nattily dressed ‘rude boys’ whose songs – such as the iconic Gangsters, Ghost Town and A Message to You Rudy - pulled no punches and captured the world’s imagination.
Fri, 10.15pm, TSB Bowl Stage
THE SWAN SISTERS (NZ/AOTEAROA)
The Swan Sisters are award-winning singer/songwriter, Amiria Grenell, and accomplished musician, Amy Grace. Their music is a delicate blend of styles including folk, country and dreamy pop, with a dash of swingin’ blues. It encapsulates their friendship and love of storytelling.
Sat, 1pm, Dell Stage • Sun, 3pm, Dell Stage
WARSAW VILLAGE BAND (POLAND)
Formed in 1998 as a defiant musical gesture against mass market mentality, this wild and adventurous seven-piece group proudly embraces Polish folk traditions, but with a thrilling and raw edge. Using old instruments rarely heard in modern music, their most recent album also draws influences from India, Persia and Spanish Galicia.
With support from Fri, 10.15pm, Te Paepae Stage (workshop) Sat, 3pm, Nova Energy Taste the World Sat, 7pm, Todd Energy Brooklands Stage Sun, 12pm, TSB Bowl Stage
