WOMAD, the premier world music festival, will take place in Chile for the first time in 2015. Sinead O’Connor will headline the three-day open-air world music festival taking place in the Recoleta District of Santiago in Plaza La Paz on February 13-
Over 100 international artists from 42 different countries took to the WOMAD Charlton Park stages last year for an unforgettable few days. This year South American music aficionados will be able to experience the musically adventurous selection of performers fit for everyone’s tastes.
Artists from all over the world will travel to South America to present the best music straight out of Africa, Europe and Latin America.
Twenty five years since her last visit, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor will return to Chile, alongside artists such Systema Solar [Colombia], Novalima [Peru], Brushy One String [Jamaica], Yusa [Cuba], and the likes of Mahotella Queens [South Africa], Chad Diabo [Canada], Vox Sambo [Haiti].
Sinead said: “There is so much to look forward to - being back in Chile again and playing at the first WOMAD festival there! I can't wait!”
This is the first time the iconic festival has taken place in South America, with Chilean organisers citing the arrival of the spiritual home of world music as affirmation that the country, and the continent, can produce world class cultural events.
Chris Smith, Director, WOMAD International, said: "It's an exciting first step into both a country and a continent that WOMAD has never visited before; a continent that has a rich musical and cultural history where we hope to discover new talent and bring the very best music from around the world to an enthusiastic audience."
WOMAD Chile will also feature a range of the on-site activities for which its international counterparts have become renowned, including the Corazón de la Chimba tent, a unique audiovisual experience directed by Martin Erazo of renowned installation art collective “La Patogallina”, and visits to the Cementerio General de Santiago, renowned worldwide for its beauty.
In addition to these unique experiences, WOMAD Chile will offer a range of free workshops for all ages, introducing festivalgoers to dance, arts, crafts and cuisine from both the local region and around the world.
Published on 02 February 2015 by Ben Robinson