Allison O'Donoghue. Editor. Journalist. Travel Writer. Blogger. ABN: 49 619 105 040: WOMADelaide 2014

WOMADelaide 2014

World Music Festival

7-10 March - Botanic Park – Adelaide

Review & Pics by Allison O’Donoghue

90,000 people turned up for another successful 4-day long weekend celebration of WOMADelaide. And what a weekend it was. Instead of being part of the media pack, I volunteered this year for Front of House duties, scanning peoples wrist bands - 4 hrs a day for a free 4 day pass. It was more fun than I anticipated and I got to see all the bands I had on my list, except for Arrested Development, missed them, and a few others.

Sadly, next year WOMADelaide is reverting to its original 3-day format due to a clash with the Adelaide Cup Carnival. Really? Let those who like World music go to festivals and those who like horses, go to the races. You can’t keep everyone happy. Surely it’s a choice.

If you want to go shopping then there is plenty to choose from. Heaps of stalls offering anything from massages, jewellery, clothing, and more. If you want to join a worthy cause then that was on offer too in the charity section, save the whales, save the forests, save the boat people or join a green group. You’ll find it here at WOMADelaide. I always gravitate toward the international food quarter and as usual the many dishes on offer are overpriced - delicious nonetheless. Well, no matter how new-age they’re capitalists after all, whinge - whinge! On the last night you can get a bargain as they have to toss the food, so hightail it to the food stalls after the last gig on closing night.

Food stalls.

Great selection of international food.

This year the weather wasn’t too bad, apart from two oppressively humid, sweat soaked days. The nights were cool and pleasant, except for Monday night, which can only be described as hot, no breeze, and close to the body. Since they levelled many (12) Morton Bay Fig trees there isn’t as much cover, and those who were lucky enough to get in early marked their spot and stayed put for the duration. Its always an issue when the sun comes out to play. Maybe there could be more places to actually sit, like a few more benches. Maybe WOMADelaide could donate a bench or two to the Botanic Gardens in thanks for allowing them to use the site each year. Just a thought. I watched many an oldie struggle to get up off the ground, awkwardly rolling over onto one side, hoping to get pulled up, but often they were on their own. WOMAD is a place you can come alone and still be involved. That’s another great thing about this festival, you can meet up with friends or go it alone and make new connections.

Yes, for all you diehards, I should have blogged each day/night the minute I got home, but was too buggered and then real life took over, so I am a tad late in my offering. I am to be forgiven for real life interruptions.

So here we go…

Opening night - Friday 7^th March

Los Coronas - Spain

First up was Spanish band Los Coronas, they got the party started with a great set of tongue-in-cheek Spaghetti Western instrumental numbers. They donned white cowboy hats, black boots, blue jeans and denim shirts, danced in unison and played brilliantly. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Think Quentin Tarantino meets Clint Eastward, and you’ll get the picture. Hailing from Madrid, they formed in 1991 and have built a steady fan base with their surfs-up, rock ‘n’ roll medley of great recognisable tunes. They paid homage to the maestro Ennio Morricone and his unique instrumental western playbook and left us with the theme from Once Upon a Time in the West, directed by the brilliant Sergio Leone. In fact, I think it was the theme music for the Jason Robards character. If you’ve seen the film, (I strongly urge you to - classic) then you’ll know that each character has they’re own theme music, so you know who is about to enter the scene. It’s a very clever device, and used well to end a great set by Los Coronas. If they ever come near your neck of the woods, check them out. Great fun.

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Los Coronas - Spain

Jason Robards & Claudia Carnevale'.

Henry Fonda.

Charles Bronson.

Then on Stage 2, Brooklyn based New York band Red Baraat kept the party going with an infectious set of funky, soul drenched North Indian Bharanga rhythms. These guys are great. Formed in 2008 by Dhol player Sunny Jain, this 8-piece ensemble has quickly risen to the top of the funk, soul, hip-hop, go-go, dance scene. They cover a lot of ground and attract all generations with their powerhouse performances. Sunny Jain (Dhol/MC) says he started the band to spread joy and empowerment through music, and he has succeeded. Joining him on stage is Rohin Khemani (Percussion), Tomas Fujiwara (Drums), Sonny Singh (Trumpet/vocals), MiWi La Lupa (Bass trumpet/vocals), Ernest Stuart (Trombone), John Altieri (Sousaphone/rap) and Jonathon Haffner on Soprano saxophone.

Red Baraat - New York

They played a set full of energy thumping sounds, mixing up genres, throwing in jazz and Punjabi traditional music, turning the volume and bass up while spreading joy. I looked around a saw a sea of hands in the air, youthful faces filled with glee and the grey army on the fringes bopping where they stood. At one stage the power went out, so they improvised until the sound guy got it together, then launched straight back into it and keeping the energy high. Their debut album Chaal Baby went viral boosting their profile, and has kept them busy ever since, doing over 200 dates around the world annually. We’re lucky to have them here at WOMADelaide. They’ve got a winning formula that draws you in and keeps you dancing. And they make it interactive as well, Sunny gives you the Indian pronunciation and we, the crowd, sing along, not quite getting it right but it doesn’t matter, it’s the vibe that counts. There's always some tall dude blocking the view for us of small stature. Go to the back, you can still see. Ugh.

Hands in the air - oh yeah.

Red Baraat - New York.

And we're jumping.

Great vibe.

Spreading the joy.

The next night I walked past the Tastes of the World cooking tent and saw Red Baraat chow down on a dish Sunny Jain’s cooked up called Chana Marsala. I noticed soprano saxophonist, Jonathon Haffner standing nearby and I asked him what they were cooking, but he didn’t know. While he looked it up on his phone, I snapped a couple of photos of him and the band. Pity my camera is broken (fell down the Spanish Steps in Rome, its never been the same since. And I still regret not getting it fixed via insurance). Red Baraat pulled a full tent too. I would have loved a taste, I was starving, but had to get back to work.

WOMADelaide is an all-inclusive festival, everyone contributes a little bit to make it all work.

Cooking curry. Sunny Jain. Red Baraat. NY.

Jonathon Haffner. Sax. Red Baraat. NY.

Topping the party off on the Main Stage were New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop. I’ve heard a lot about this band but never seen them. They enjoy a huge following and stellar reputation around the globe and drew a young crowd tonight, who were getting ready to pump. You could feel the vibe intensify as the heavy deep bass started and the crowd surged forward, screaming. Woohoo, this is going to be good.

And the crowd goes wild.

Fat Freddy's Drop.
Wobbly video.

As the crowd grew bigger it appeared get younger than usual. Actually, this year WOMADelaide demographic appears to have changed. They've captured the youth market. I think its great the youngin's are embracing world music. This is an all ages, genders, status gig. We're the same. Music is the great unifier. Young or old, we bopped together to the brilliant Fat Freddy's Drop. I tried my hand at recording this year, it gets a little wobbly at times, coz I'm dancing, but if you turn the music up you'll get a pretty clear idea of how these guys play live.

Getting ready to pump.

These three girls actually paid for the first time in 4 years. They've been jumping the fences since they were 16, but now they have full time jobs they can afford to buy a ticket. Good on ya girls. I saw many jumpers this year. No way of policing it, they take off like rockets and quickly merge with the crowd. Although the security guards managed to grab a few of them and escort them out the gates, no mean feat amongst 90,000 punters. My son used to jump but now he's a drummer and plays the other side of the stage, he doesn't have to. Some of my friends get very frustrated with their kids as they've got the money to buy tickets for them, but they still prefer to jump the fence. It's a right of passage.

Fat Freddy's Drop - NZ.

Forming in late 1999 in Wellington, NZ with various band members over the years, Fat Freddy’s Drop now a 7-piece with current line up - founding members Dallas Ramaira (guitar/vocals), Toby Laing (trumpet), Chris Faiuma “DJ Fitchie” (Percussion), with Tehimana Kerr (guitar), Joe Lindsay (Trombone, tuba), Scott Towers (Saxophone) and MC Slave (rap). They specialise in dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm & blues plus techno fusion beats, quite a combo. They get you up on your feet and keep you there. I defy anyone not to gyrate to Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Scott Towers. Sax. Fat Freddy's Drop. NZ.

Their sound is so primal and deep; it gets you in the nether regions. Phat, loud, deep, strong, primal sounds come out of those instruments, coupled with the beautiful dulcet tones of singer Ramaira. The set was heading for a big crescendo. I started on the outside and ended up in the middle of the mosh pit, such was the movement of the audience.

Saxophonist Scott Towers was the man to watch. He got right into it and couldn’t hold himself back. He leapt from one side of the stage to the other. He was infectious. He started of in a three-piece suit and ended up in shorts & glitter top. Loved his performance, couldn’t take my eyes off him. Great energy. Then suddenly, another glitch in the sound department. Dead air. Towers tried to keep the vibe going but the lull lasted too long and the crowd started to disperse. Which is a real pity, coz these dudes were building up to a really big finish. Nonetheless, they were fantastic and I’m definitely checking them out next time they come to town. Absolutely fantastic!!