主播大秀

Womad... Or Wo-Mud?

• Pathaan
• 2 Aug 07, 02:23 PM

Phew! Just got back and what a crazy MUD-fuelled fun weekend it was too! :-)

The drive to the site on Friday was picturesque, especially when I came off the motorway and had to drive through Malmesbury to get to the new site. WOMAD had moved to Charlton Park in Wiltshire to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the festival, in the glorious English countryside.

When I arrived, I had an incline it was going to be a wet affair. But I had no idea over the course of the weekend, WOMAD (my favourite festival) would be renamed WO-MUD!

The 主播大秀 Asian Network station wagon was positioned in between the Main Stage and the Siam Tent. Myself and Sonny Ji entertained the crowds on Friday night, whilst on Saturday and Sunday, Nerm joined me.

I must say, Sonny Ji and Nerm did a great job in spinning eclectic beats and bangers. Bobby Friction and Nihal had a great gig too on Friday night at “The Big Little Top” as did many of the other acts, considering the conditions were very tough.

My heart goes out to all those people who had difficulties getting on and off the site. I certainly know what it’s like being towed off site as it happened to me this year at the Glastonbury and Glade Festivals.

When the weather conditions are so terrible that it becomes hard to get around the site, I think it’s great to see people make the most of a tough situation.

I got to hang out with Chandrasonic and Martin (Asian Dub Foundation) before their performance. I met Susheela Raman, Mari Boine and Simon Emmerson (Afro Celt Soundsystem). Simon told me about his new project, The Imagined Village.

Candi Staton, Balkan Beat Box, 3-D, Mariza, Baaba Maal, Toumast, The Toots, Tinariwen, Kronos Quartet, The Dhol Foundation and Sheila Chandra were some of the acts that had great gigs and no doubt made a few more fans!

In short, it was another festival of the summer that will be remembered more for the weather than anything else. It was obvious to us at the 主播大秀 Asian Network that we should not only enjoy ourselves but provide a soundscape for the lovely audiences of WOMUD to escape the conditions. Collectively we certainly did that and I for one can’t wait for WOMAD 2008. In it’s 2nd year at WOMAD the 主播大秀 Asian Network certainly created a nice buzz and more than ever, is creating a growing listening family.

If this whets your appetite, I’ll be doing a WOMAD special as part of my show this weekend and 主播大秀 Radio 3 has many highlights too, on ‘Listen Back’.

Here’s hoping the land will have had ample time to breathe again and get back to its’ former glory. Next stop, the London Mela. :-)