WOMAD 2017 Line-Up announcement

With much excitement UK 2 Tone and Ska legends The Specials were the first announced to play WOMAD NZ 2017. 

Now, WOMAD NZ is over the moon to announce that joining them are: from Brazil, Grammy-nominee Bebel Gilberto, daughter of renowned singer João Gilberto performing her own laidback style of bossa nova; the French-Chilean musician, Ana Tijoux, whose sound captures where the street meets tradition; Vietnamese musicians Hanoi Masters who use half-forgotten traditional instruments to convey deep, personal connections to the upheavals of the Vietnam War; the New Orleans brass group Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), who will bring their signature blend of hip-hop, jazz and funk; "The Songbird of Wassoulou" Oumou Sangare (Mali) who is known for her seamless mix of old and new sounds that create a haunting backdrop for political lyrics, making her passion clear in any language and Sudha Ragunathan (India) who will take you to the heart of Carnatic music with her voice of gold.

Local artists include Wellington producer and multi instrumentalist Lord Echo (Craig Pearce) who blends boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Reggae, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms. Hailing from Auckland is Mt Eden, expect them to fire up their trademark extended build-ups, drum solos, double and triple drops and Auckland based Sons Of Zion whose fusion of reggae, heavy rock, dub and funk will get you dancing.

There are many, many, more exciting artists to discover at the WOMAD 2017 Festival, more below.

In alphabetical order: 9Bach (Wales), Ana Tijoux (Chile), Archie Roach (Australia), Aziza Brahim (Western Sahara), Bebel Gilberto (Brazil), Brushy one string (Jamaica), Emir Kusturica & the No Smoking Orchestra (Serbia), Hanoi Masters (Vietnam), Hot 8 Brass Band (USA), Inna Modja (Mali), La Mambanegra (Colombia), Lord Echo (Wellington/Aotearoa), Mercedes Peón (Spain), Mt Eden (Auckland/Aotearoa), Oumou Sangare (Mali), Rob Ruha (Matakaoa (Gisborne)/Aotearoa), Sinkane (Sudan/USA), Sons Of Zion (Auckland/Aotearoa), The East Pointers (Canada), The Soil (South Africa), The Specials (UK), The Swan Sisters (Christchurch/Aotearoa), Sudha Ragunathan (India), Swamp Thing (Tauranga/Rotorua/Aotearoa), Warsaw Village Band (Poland)

Tickets on sale from the WOMAD site, for ticketing options click here.  

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2016 APRA SILVER SCROLL AWARDS

Wellington singer-songwriter and internationally acclaimed musician Thomas Oliver (Cushla Aston) has won the 2016 APRA Silver Scroll Award with his captivating love song ‘If I Move To Mars’.
 
Thomas Oliver accepted the prestigious award at a ceremony held at Vector Arena in Auckland tonight. The accolade acknowledges excellence in songwriting and has in the past been awarded to some of the most recognisable names and songs in New Zealand music, from the Swingers’ ‘Counting The Beat’ and Bic Runga’s ‘Drive’ to Scribe and P Money’s ‘Not Many’ and Lorde and Joel Little’s ‘Royals’.
 
A sweet and simple, yet compelling, love song, Thomas Oliver says, “On the surface, it's a light-hearted song about taking someone to Mars and lying in the dirt, drinking Cognac and listening to records. But at its core, it's a love song and I meant every word."
 
“It’s a wonderful thing to recognise talented and hardworking songwriters like Thomas” says Anthony Healey, Head of NZ Operations for APRA AMCOS. “The acclaim of your peers is special, it’s the highest praise and in this case a well-deserved accolade.”
 
Critically acclaimed musician and songwriter Sean James Donnelly (SJD) was the musical director of tonight’s 51st APRA Silver Scrolls ceremony, which saw a host of other Kiwi songwriters collect awards.
 
The incomparable Rob Ruha (Cilla Ruha) took the esteemed APRA Maioha Award, recognising exceptional waiata featuring te reo Māori, for his stirring battle anthem ‘Kariri’. The East Coast singer-songwriter is now a two-time recipient of the award.
 
Wellington composer and violinist, Salina Fisher, won the SOUNZ Contemporary Awardfor her exquisite composition ‘Rainphase’, inspired by the beauty and chaos of rain in the capital.
 
The APRA Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award was won by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper and Tama Waipara for their work on the Lee Tamahori-directed movie Mahana.
 
One-time Supergroove frontman and well-known composer of music for film and television, Karl Steven, received the APRA Best Original Music in a Series Award for the drama 800 Words.
 
Rounding off the evening was the induction of Moana Maniapoto into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. As one of the most recognisable and important voices in Aotearoa, Moana Maniapoto was honoured for the significant impact she has had on the New Zealand life and culture through her music.