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THE WORLD OF WOMAD RETURNS FOR ITS NINTH YEAR
21 June 2006, Singapore…The music of the world in the garden city at the crossroads of the world, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts & Dance), one of the world’s premier music festivals, returns to Singapore from 25 to 27 August 2006 for the ninth consecutive year. The three-day event will present a fantastic line-up of artists from thirteen countries around the world, bringing a captivating experience for fans of real music — from wherever in the world it may come. FESTIVAL LOCATIONS
WOMAD is a crucial Singapore experience and part of its magic is in the setting, Singapore’s historical hilltop garden, Fort Canning Park. Fort Canning is Singapore’s best outdoor location for music and it has been WOMAD, in part, that has helped to put it on the map for music lovers. The park’s lush flora and tropical fauna create an ideal backdrop for the WOMAD spirit – a celebration of the world’s diversity through music, art and dance. The WOMAD organisation, based in United Kingdom, presents festivals worldwide in an array of beautiful venues – from verdant parks in Australia and New Zealand, beaches in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, the historical backdrop of Sicily and Madrid, to the banks of the River Thames at Reading, UK. The location of WOMAD Singapore – a garden in the heart of the city of the world’s most famous Garden State – provides yet another stunning location in which to present the WOMAD philosophy. WOMAD SINGAPORE GROWS
WOMAD Singapore 2006 features two large outdoor stages and three smaller, more intimate spaces for performances and workshops. The Subaru Groove Tunnel at Fort Gate provides an atmospheric club setting which will be rocking till the early hours! Once again, the site will feature a Global Village of some 30 traders selling a diverse range of unique local and international crafts and foods.
And fresh for this year, a number of artists appearing at WOMAD Singapore will be dipping into their recipe books and cooking up their favourite dishes from South Africa and China in our Taste the World festival kitchen. “Tantalising tastes and succulent samples will be on offer at WOMAD’s new fifth stage.
It gives the chance to hear how these artists connect music and food,”
says Ms Sarah Martin, Festival Director, WOMAD Singapore 2006. Throughout the weekend, in familiar WOMAD style, there will be many opportunities for festival-goers to meet the artists in a series of workshops for children and adults. On stage the Festival will be presenting sounds from Peru to Korea, from Australia to Nigeria — and all points between. “Whether your thing is serene folk song or thumping beats, tradition as old as the hills or innovations as new as today, WOMAD Singapore offers a joyous celebration of all that is best in the World of Music Arts and Dance. It is our pleasure to offer you this
superb feast of music, food and love,” adds Ms Sarah Martin THE LINE-UP
This year’s WOMAD Singapore line-up is as follows: Bukky Leo & Black Egypt (Nigeria); Chico Cesar (Brazil); Risenga Makondo (South Africa); Dulsori (Republic of Korea); Guo Yue (People’s Republic of China); Jimmy Cliff (Jamaica); Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan (India); Radio Mundial (Puerto Rico); Association of Capoeira Argola de Ouro (S) (Singapore); Sam Tshabalala (South Africa); Soul Jazz Soundsystem (UK); Stevie Goldsmith (Australia); Movida DJs Marvin Kam & Adrian Wee (Singapore); Susana Baca (Peru); T-Bone (Thailand); Kng Mian Tze & Dahlia Osman (Singapore) This year the festival is delighted to present Jamaican reggae legend, Jimmy Cliff who has enjoyed worldwide acclaim since his 1969 hit Wonderful World, Beautiful People; and his starring role in the 1972 movie The Harder They Come. Every song of his is a classic and his performance unmissable.
Among South Korea’s most renowned drumming ensembles, Dulsori produce acrobatic, elemental performances — raw, passionate affairs — that never fail to thrill and excite.
Risenga Makondo is a talented, versatile percussionist and dancer from South Africa. He has performed around the world with his special fusion of marimba and British dance sounds, played on traditional African instruments and those that he has found on his travels.
World-class Nigerian saxophonist and protégé of Tony Allen and Fela Kuti, Bukky Leo & Black Egypt have a distinct style which introduces traditional Afrobeat to its close relation, jazz–funk.
Songwriter Chico Cesar has an uncompromising social conscience alongside the gift to create infectious melodies – a quality that has made him a superstar in his home country of Brazil. Pure pop poetry. Guo Yue is a world-renowned virtuoso of the Chinese bamboo flute. Guo Yue puts not just his breath but his whole body into his playing — creating curvaceous notes that bend and swoop to form an astonishingly gentle and beautiful sound. Singapore’s very own Association of Capoeira Argola de Ouro (S) led by Master Ousado who has 35 years practice of Capoeira from Singapore will merge music, rhythm and dance in this Afro-Brazilian martial artform. Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan – a group of Indian musicians, dancers and fakirs – create an ethnic, spiritual music where ancient Gypsy, Hindu and Muslim cultures and traditions join together. South African Sam Tshabalala sings defiant, upbeat songs, which are sung in various languages — Zulu, Shangaan, Tswana and English — and speak about loss of home and exile. Serving up the finest moments of Jamaican music history, London DJs Soul Jazz Soundsystem also dish out a generous side order of funk, soul and hip hop. Rocksteady grooves, reggae mayhem and original disco! Movida DJs Marvin Kam and Adrian Wee from Singapore will play host to soulful rhythms and delightful vibes at the Groove Tunnel. Hailing from Puerto Rico, Radio Mundial blend African-rooted Caribbean and Latin rhythms, funk, soul, reggae, and rock to create lush, danceable harmonies and exciting percussive grooves. Stevie Goldsmith is a Narrunga, Kaurna and Ngarredjeri descendant from Adelaide, Australia whose work is rooted in his people’s powerful, complex oral and dancing traditions. His son Jamie will join him for a spellbinding performance on the didgeridoo. Susana Baca sings the long-forgotten sound of black Peru — African rhythms with Spanish and Andean song. Her pure, haunting vocals soar over panpipes and congas. Susana’s is a music of spiritual regeneration. Young and energetic, Thailand’s T-Bone is a 10-piece band that take reggae, ska, jazz and add a dash of humour and Thai spice to the tried and tested recipe. Their performances are dazzling and should not be missed! Beside the music, festival-goers can have the chance to contribute their marks to the rainbow colours of WOMAD with Singaporean artists Kng Mian Tze and Dahlia Osman. Join the fun in this rare chalk-art opportunity to draw on festival grounds! ASIAN SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE
For the first time this year, WOMAD Singapore will proudly present a showcase of Asian short films. The showcase will provide a platform at the festival for both budding filmmakers and newcomers to the scene from all over Asia including, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia. This new element of the festival is presented in partnership with the following organisations: the Asian Film Archive, whose mission is to preserve the rich film heritage of Singapore and Asia; The Substation, whose work aims to nurture and challenge Singaporean artists as well as fostering regional and international arts networks; and nuSTUDIOS Film Productions, a member of NUS Centre For the Arts dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of film-making.
BEYOND THE FESTIVAL GATES
Together with the North East Community Development Council, the festival presents another night of WOMADNESS with WOMAD in the Heartlands! This year will be the fourth edition of the festival’s outreach programme and will take place in Hougang (Blk 814, Hougang Ave 10) on 19 August from 7pm. The WOMAD artists, flags and global village of international food and craft stalls will all appear and help bring the spirit, music and colour of WOMAD and the world to Hougang. WOMAD in the Heartlands will feature artist Stevie Goldsmith, who will present a series of workshops that share the movements, stories and music of Aboriginal culture with the school children of Hougang, culminating in a short performance piece. In collaboration with NUS Centre For the Arts, WOMAD Fringe at the University Cultural Centre Theatre on 24 August at 7.30pm will showcase a performance by India artist group Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan followed by an intimate workshop session with South African artist Risenga Makondo.
THE TOTAL WOMAD EXPERIENCE
An integral part of the WOMAD experience is the programme of workshops, led by the festival artists offering opportunities for the audience to share ideas and experiences. In a relaxed and informal setting, audiences are invited to explore and share musical journeys with many of the international artists, including Singapore’s Kng Mian Tze and Dahlia Osman who will produce beautiful chalk art with the audience on the festival grounds. “WOMAD workshops offer you a chance to get involved...be part of the mix. Dance the dance, sing the song and have your say.” states Sarah Martin, Festival Director, WOMAD Singapore 2006 The festival’s Global Village features some 30 different trading cultures. The food will range from Spanish to Turkish cuisine, and Indo-Chinese palatables to perfect Singapore festival foods like ‘Kong Ba Paus’. There are opportunities to have your fortune told, your hair braided at the Afro Shop, join a drumming circle, or do some early Christmas shopping with the most amazing range of ethnic jewellery, vintage clothes, and bohemian bags to name a few! This year, experience the CHIVAS LIFE onsite with a specially created lounge bar and limited kegs from Heineken.
The delectable range of food, craft and holistic treatments will be as rich and diverse as the music on offer.
“The idea of discovery goes beyond what happens on the stages at WOMAD – that’s the beauty of the festival for many people...” adds Ms Sarah Martin. And if that isn’t quite enough and you still have some energy left, the WOMAD Club at the Subaru Groove Tunnel kicks off on the Friday and Saturday of the festival. This year’s club area features London’s Soul Jazz Soundsystem and Thailand’s T-Bone who promise to entertain you until the early hours of the morning! Festival-goers can take a piece of the festival home with a copy of this year’s WOMAD Singapore compilation CD, ‘WOMADness 2006’. This is in addition to the festival t-shirts and other merchandise available at the WOMAD Shop on the festival grounds. THE PARTNERS WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN
WOMAD Singapore is pleased to welcome some new festival partners onboard including Chivas, Keppel Off-Shore & Marine Limited, and Asia’s largest online and mobile music company, Soundbuzz, who will be WOMAD Singapore’s official online music store. All of our artists will be flown on our official airline, Singapore Airlines, and all of the international visitors will stay at the Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore. The word of WOMAD will be spread through our official media partners, Frequent Traveller, MTV Asia, Yahoo! Singapore and I–S Magazine. This year’s WOMADness 2006 Compilation CD will be sold through our supporter, Gramophone. At home base in Singapore, WOMAD extends itself beyond the festival gates to reach a wider community with WOMAD in the Heartlands. This element of WOMAD Singapore is aided by our partnership with the North East Community Development Council. We welcome back for the second year, Subaru and the Lee Foundation.
WOMAD Singapore returns to its home at Fort Canning Park with the aid of the National Parks Board.
The festival also continues to be supported by its longtime partners and friends; Singapore Tourism Board, the National Arts Council, and the Australian High Commission. WOMAD’s success is also shared by Heineken who will once again act as our official beer sponsor. Says Oliver Chong, Director, Cluster Development (Events & Entertainment),
at the Singapore Tourism Board,
“As a partner and friend of WOMAD since its inception in Singapore, we are happy once again to welcome audiences, as well as some of the best performers from all over the world, to WOMAD Singapore. We hope they will have an exhilarating time at the festival and find time to experience the host of exciting entertainment options our city offers, including its pulsating nightlife, dusk-till-dawn parties and vibrant arts scene.” “Apart from adding to Singapore's annual calendar of signature events, WOMAD Singapore continues to profile the city as the Entertainment Capital of Asia, an exciting lifestyle destination brimming with quality leisure options,” Chong adds. Further to this, the NUS Centre For the Arts, will be hosting the WOMAD Fringe event on 24 August. ~ End ~ WOMAD SINGAPORE 2006 DETAILS DATES: Friday 25 to Sunday 27 August 2006
VENUE: Fort Canning Park
TIME: Gates Open at 6pm on Friday and 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
“Live” performances on Friday begin at 7.30pm, 7.00pm on Saturday and
6.30pm on Sunday. Check out our website regularly for performance updates: www.womadsingapore.com
TICKET PRICES
ADVANCE (ON OR BEFORE 11PM, THURSDAY 24 AUGUST)
Adult 1 Day $35
Adult 2 Day $57
Adult 3 Day $84
Students / Senior Citizens $26
Family Pass $82
Kids Under 7 FREE
Groups 10% off purchase of min 10 Adult single day tickets
10% off purchase of concession tickets per groups of 5 (for NUS students only)
SALES AT THE GATES (25 – 27 AUGUST)
Adult 1 Day $40
Students / Senior Citizens $26 Above ticket prices inclusive of $2 handling & administrative charges.
Please note that only Adult 1 Day and Concession tickets will be on sale at the gates. Tickets available from
SISTIC www.sistic.com.sg; Hotline (65) 6348 5555
Gramophone record stores located at Paragon, Centrepoint, Parkway Parade, Capitol Centre, OUB Centre, Scotts Shopping Centre, International Plaza and Ngee Ann City. WOMAD Essentials Package is available only on the WOMAD Shop www.womadshop.com. It comprises of a 3-Day Adult Pass, a festival t-shirt, the WOMADness 2006 Compilation CD, a souvenir programme, a choice of 1 beer or soft drink, collected in a limited edition WOMAD cloth bag! All this for only 130 SGD or 41.77 GBP (based on exchange rate 1 SGD = 0.321 GBP). For more information on WOMAD Singapore 2006 Festival, visit www.womadsingapore.com. (information provided by the organiser)
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