| WOMAD! March 12-14 |
| Written by Amy Donohue |
| Monday, 15 March 2010 09:51 |
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Words by Amy. Photos by Paul. It is official. I have dipped my toes in all the major NZ festivals and WOMAD is my utter, absolute, complete favourite. I am in love.  For starters, Taranaki itself is beautiful. We stayed just out of New Plymouth, on a little property amongst fields of cows. Cows are awesome. They eat grass all day and do not seem to warm to beards - the neighbouring farm’s cows are apparently usually friendly. They ran away from bearded companion and I. It was definitely his beard.  The festival itself is located at the Brookland Bowl within the stunning Pukekura Park, which is quite literally a big grassy bowl with a lake at the bottom. The stage is located across the lake. Lifeguards were located by this lake allll weekend to save anyone who jumped into the lake. The flags placed all around the bowl made it look like a sort of medieval fort. I think this factor makes the whole trip worth it in itself.  Flags aside though, the crowd was not what I was expecting. I had images of a convergence of musk-smelling, hairy-armpitted hippies. Thankfully, everyone seemed well-shaven and no one came near me who smelled funky. Instead, WOMAD was full of young families (NOT the place to go if you’re clucky!) and people my mother’s age. No pushing, no shoving, no drunken abuse - just lying on the grass, soaking up the Taranaki sun and enjoying the lush surroundings with an enlightening soundtrack. There are a tonne of diverse acts, all vying for your attention. Acts that don’t charm you over don’t present much of a problem though - there are seven stages altogether, with at least three performances occurring at once. Plus roving entertainers, a large and fascinating market, and an even more intriguing food village - there is plenty to keep even the most restless person entertained. And did I mention how beautiful the park is?  Favourite act of the festival was definitely, unquestionably CALEXICO though. Frontman Joey Burns is a major babe, with just the right amount of bravado and humility. Their Saturday afternoon set in front of the lake was fun, mixing Mariachi Tejano music with alt-country influences. Oh, and CHECKED shirts. Swoon. You might know them from their EP ‘In the Reins’ with Iron & Wine, but on their own, they more than shine. Their Sunday set on a different stage was even better, the band’s closer proximity to the crowd creating a more lively and intimate performance. Both times, their 2005 song ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ was my favourite although the whole thing has turned into a happy, fuzzy memory. Also good were Eddi Reader, who is Scottish and red-headed and quipped about how much she disliked Paul Henry. Eliades Ochoa, one of the founding members of the Buena Vista Social Club, was adorably Cuban and also had a maraca player who danced like a drunk uncle at a wedding. The Bellbirds were also delightful, but as the new project for Sean Donnelly (SJD) and Don McGlashan this was probably a given. In addition to these acts, there were also nearly thirty other performers across the three days. Each act played at least twice, as well as several holding workshops for budding musicians or cooking demonstrations for culinary buffs. There was even an outdoor cinema, showcasing world films under the pretty trees that lined the park. Our days were filled, yet I’m sure we didn’t see half the things we would have liked to.  Mainly because I was distracted by the markets, full of weird instruments and flowing clothing and friendship bracelets and hair braiding and all sorts of delights. The inner earth mother in me rejoiced, especially because they provided some much needed shelter from the wind in the evenings.  WOMAD in all sorts of ways exceeded my expectations. It was relaxing but exciting, weird but comfortable. We bussed down for the low price of $100 each, although it is definitely driveable. Plus, it is a good excuse to enjoy the last of summer before winter raises its chilly head! And if you need any more convincing that WOMAD is where it’s at, Taranaki’s Festival of Lights is still on during March. Check out the pretty!   *Thanks to Sally and her team for being understanding and generous! |
