An uninvited band, mixed messages, and a closed stage: the WOMADelaide festival dancing through its challenges.
There was a lot to be concerned about in the lead up to this year’s WOMADelaide festival. There was the looming prospect of a heatwave, memories ofOnce through the gates, however, those concerns began fading into the background as four days of music and arts unfolded.The festival’s program had some last-minute shifts and changes due to extreme heat.
Like the heat-stressed bats, most festival patrons chose to avoid too much activity during the day. It didn’t matter how strong the talent on the stage, most of us tapped our toes madly from shady spots under distant trees, though Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon managed to coax a handful of dancers into the stinging afternoon sun.
Seun Kuti, Baaba Maal and Angelique Kidjo all fronted dazzling bands, and radiated vitality along with a fierce commitment to the search for peace, tolerance and respect for all. Their music may have been irresistibly upbeat and optimistic, but their lyrics and between-song exhortations urged us to look after our planet and one another, and reminded us that “we still have a lot of work to do”.
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