The WOMADelaide 2018 lineup is here and we are again bringing a swathe of artists Down Under for the very first time, with another tonne on Adelaide debut!

Acquaint yourself with some of the acts that we're super excited to welcome to the WOMADelaide stages and check out the full list of first-timers below.

View the full lineup

Blick Bassy (Cameroon/France)

Saturday + Sunday

Born in Cameroon, then packing his bags and moving to France, Blick Bassy describes himself as “a citizen of the world”, with musical influences referencing blues, bossa nova, folk and the sounds of New Orleans.

At the root of Bassy’s eclectic style are nods to his Cameroonian upbringing; his music flourishes with the lyrical workings of the Bassa language - one of 260 spoken in Cameroon. Expect a dreamy performance from a truly unique voice in African music.

Daymé Arocena (Cuba)

Saturday + Monday

Daymé Arocena is an artist that can just about do it all. One of a vast range of Cuban artists growing internationally since the country normalised relations with the USA, Daymé showcased her vibrant and mature style to NPR in 2016 with this extraordinary Tiny Desk Concert:

YID! (Australia)

Saturday

YID! take centuries old Yiddish songs, throws them in a pot with the sounds of Ellington big band, a dash of 60's free jazz and the saltiness of late 70's New York avant-garde funk, and creates a daring new fusion.

Featuring some previous favourites Husky (WOMADL16) and members of Tinpan Orange (WOMADL14), amongst a collective of in-demand Melbourne musicians, YID! has completely recast the mould of traditional Yiddish music.

Jojo Abot (Ghana)

Saturday + Monday

Treating creativity as a way of life, Jojo Abot holds a covert political ethos in all of her writing. A fusion of traditional acoustic melodies and Afro-hypno-sonic sounds form just one element of Abot’s overarching creative vision. Abot’s feminine strength is a recurring theme, celebrated throughout her music, identifying the spirit of all women, love and defiance.

Tank and the Bangas (USA)

Friday

The reason Tank and the Bangas haven’t made the trip to Australia before is due to their extremely fast rise to stardom. A year ago, the band had yet to make their presence known on the international stage, however taking out the NPR’s Tiny Desk contest in 2017 saw a huge rise in popularity. They’ve shown the world how good they can be in a confined room (below) but what we’re most excited about is Tank’s love for a festival stage - “there’s just something about the sound and the energy when you’re playing outside.”

AUSTRALIAN DEBUTS

Bedouine (USA / Syria)
Bixiga 70 (Brazil)
Cie Bivouac (France)
Chico Trujillo (Chile)
Constantinople & Ablaye Cissoko (Canada / Iran / Senegal)
Elephant Sessions (Scotland)
Francois Knoetze (South Africa)
Ghada Shbeir (Lebanon)
Havana Meets Kingston (Cuba / Jamaica)
Jojo Abot (Ghana)
Noura Mint Seymali (Mauritania)
Pat Thomas and Kwashibu Area Band (Ghana)
Cie Pernette (France)
Rahim Alhaj Trio (Iraq)
Rajab Suleiman & Kithara (Zanzibar)
Tank & The Bangas (USA)
Victoria Hanna (Israel)
Violons Barbares (France / Mongolia / Bulgaria)

ADELAIDE DEBUTS

A Bit na Ta (PNG / Australia)
Baker Boy (Australia)
Dustyesky (Australia)
Gogol Bordello (USA)
Gratte Ciel (France)
Jazz Party (Australia)
Kamasi Washington (USA)
Mama Kin Spender (Australia)
The Manganiyar Seduction (India)
Moussa Diakité and Wassado (Mali / Australia)
My Bubba (Iceland / Sweden)
POW! Negro (Australia)
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mexico)
Thievery Corporation (USA)
YID! (Australia)
Yirrmal & the Miliyawutj (Australia)