For the fist time in six years, Peter Gabriel will take the stage at WOMAD (World of Music Arts and Dance), the annual world music festival he co-founded. This year's event is set for July 27-29 at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington.
In addition to Gabriel, who will sing with the Afro Celt Sound System, this year's WOMAD boasts forty acts from twenty-two countries, including Robert Plant with his Strange Sensations Band, Asian Dub Foundation, Aaron Neville, Youssou N'Dour, Transglobal Underground and Steel Pulse. WOMAD also features dance as well as music performances and the usual batch of vendors selling crafts and food.
"A WOMAD festival is a celebration of the diversity of the globe," said Gabriel. "I challenge anyone to come to WOMAD USA and not be inspired by something they see there. I make a new discovery each time I attend."
Aside from the concert experience, WOMAD provides festival-goers with an intensive three-day music and dance education. The festival offers workshops, master classes and participatory sessions with the artists. Tickets for WOMAD go on sale May 4th.
CHRISTINA SARACENO
(May 2, 2001)