30 “must see” acts to celebrate 30 years of WOMADelaide!
8 February 2022
This year we celebrate 30 years of WOMADelaide with a festival bursting at the seams with acts and experiences that encapsulate the essence of three decades of WOMAD in our beautiful city of Adelaide.
Music is a universal language and we’ve upped the ante with incredible performances from some of Australia’s finest acts, a small but stellar contingent of internationals and an abundance of truly inspiring speakers and installations.
To help you navigate the mammoth program we’ve picked out 30 “must see” events that you may not have come across yet, that will make you think, feel, and (of course) dance!
THINK
If you enjoy being challenged, learning something new, or reflecting on the world as it was, is, or could be, you’ll love these ten experiences that will make you think.
1. Jane Goodall’s Survival Guide for Troubled Times (Planet Talks)
An inspiring pre-recorded conversation with the Gorilla whisperer herself.
2. Courtney Barnett
Watch one of Australia’s finest songwriters as she translates the chaos of the world into indelible, sparkling poetry.
3. Future Forward: meet the changemakers (Planet Talks)
Get thinking about the future of the planet from a powerful panel of its future residents.
4. The Minefield: Should Children Get the Vote?
A high-profile panel debate whether or not young Australians should have the right to vote.
5. Eddie Betts (KidZone)
To inspire kindness and literacy, AFL superstar Eddie Betts will share stories from his Eddie’s Lil’ Homies book series.
6. Jerome Farah
Politically charged R&B-meets-funk, navigating themes such as culture and identity.
7. Uncle Stevie's Kaurna Classroom (KidZone)
Have fun learning about Kaurna culture and language, with Kaurna educators, on Kaurna country.
8. Electric Future Now (Planet Talks)
A panel discussion about how “electrifying everything” could get us to 80 per cent emissions reductions by 2035.
9. A.B. Original
Listen to Australia’s finest, most outspoken, and proud Indigenous hip-hop artists, as they bring attention to injustices on their home turf through music.
10. Bug Life: How insects rule our world (Planet Talks)
Learn about the essential role insects play in our lives, and how resilient they are in the face of catastrophic change.
FEEL
For many of us, WOMADelaide isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. Rather than rushing from one stage to the other, we encourage you to take in the atmosphere and discover some new artists and experiences for the first time!
11. Nature Yoga
Introduce your kids to the hidden treasures that can make a big difference to our environment and ourselves, through the practice of yoga.
12. SILENCE: The ASO
Meditate to the sounds of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in a silent, peaceful, and brand new indoor setting.
13. Parvyn
Welcome Punjabi-Australian singer Parvyn as she returns to the WOMAD stage 30 years after her WOMADelaide debut (with her father’s band) at age six.
14. Gaby Moreno
Be taken in by soulful Guatemalan singer-songwriter, guitarist, and film and TV composer, known for writing the theme song for Parks and Recreation.
15. Grace Barbé
Take a trip to the Seychelles with tropical rhythms, psychedelic rock, Afrobeat, reggae and pop.
16. Dhungala Baarka
Experience local song women, Nancy Bates and Allara, as they explore Songlines belonging to the Dhungala (Yorta Yorta) and Baarka (Barkindji) rivers.
17. Cathedral of Light
Marvel at this structure illuminated by tens of thousands of LED light globes, inspired by the traditional arched windows found in historic churches.
18. Floating Points
A neuroscientist-come-musician performs chilled electronic, symphonic, jazz inspired tunes that will make you feel like you’re floating.
19. Paul Kelly
A welcome return to WOMADelaide from Australia’s most iconic singer, songwriter and storyteller, who performed at the inaugural festival 30 years ago!
20. Gordon Koang
A South Sudanese refugee known as the “king of music” in his home country performs uplifting, inclusive and positive music about hope and love.
DANCE
Kick off your shoes and dance like no one (and everyone) is watching! For many of us, WOMADeaide is all about letting new rhythms seep into your veins, so check out the next ten acts and let the music take over, body and soul.
21. Restless Dance Theatre
Audience members are invited to share a three-minute choreographic exchange with some of Australia’s leading dancers with and without disability.
22. Goanna
Standing on solid rock and sacred ground, Goanna will celebrate the 40 year anniversary of their iconic album “Spirit of Place”.
23. Jayda G
With a Masters degree in environmental toxicology, Jayda will get you moving to her intoxicating electronic pop sounds.
24. Elsy Wameyo
A graduate of the WOMAD x NSS Academy artist development program, Elsy is a Nairobi-born, Adelaide-based artist who intertwines soulful rhythms with Gospel music and contemporary RnB to create music that will move you.
25. Electric Fields
Merging living traditional culture with electronic music to create breathtakingly beautiful music, this performance will feature the Antara singers and the Tjarutja First Nations Dance Collective.
26. Shaolin Afronauts
This 11-piece collective of local artists combines West African, Ethiopian and avant-garde jazz with a heavy dose of Afro-funk, in their first performance at WOMADelaide in 11 years.
27. Baker Boy
Proudly rapping in English and the Yolngu Matha language of his Arnhem Land family, Danzal Baker will get you moving with his high-energy music and dancing.
28. The Cat Empire
For their last hurrah in South Australia (with the original lineup), expect an extravaganza of music from The Cat Empire's entire catalogue, sure to induce a dance-floor frenzy!
29. Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Get up and groove to Stax-era classic American soul-funk and the protest music of Indigenous Australia.
30. Dancenorth
A 100-strong battery of drummers will accompany six Dancenorth performers, to a score by Costa Hagiaglou, in a catchy, powerful and thunderous work of epic proportions.
Inspired? View the full program and filter by day to start planning your WOMADelaide experience.
Written in partnership with
