STUNNING LINE-UP FOR WOMAD NEW ZEALAND 2007

Multi-award winning performers, the world's hottest tango music ensemble and virtuoso musicians are among the stellar line-up of artists heading to New Zealand for WOMAD New Zealand 2007.STUNNING LINE-UP FOR WOMAD NEW ZEALAND 2007

Multi-award winning performers, the world's hottest tango music ensemble and virtuoso musicians are among the stellar line-up of artists heading to New Zealand for WOMAD New Zealand 2007.The programme for WOMAD New Zealand 2007 was launched by Prime Minister Helen Clark at Parliament on October 31 and includes more than 300 performers from 16 countries.

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 takes place at New Plymouth's Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl from 16-18 March. Tickets go on sale 1 November at 9am and festival-goers should not delay in purchasing their tickets to avoid the disappointment that many experienced when WOMAD 2005 sold out.

Sensational tango music ensemble Gotan Project, hailing from France and Argentina, has been confirmed for the three-day festival and joins a stunning line-up of international performers including Academy Award-nominated Mexican singer Lila Downs, Israel's incredible Yasmin Levy, world-renowned Chinese bamboo flute virtuoso Guo Yue and the Gyuto Monks from Tibet and Australia.

From Africa comes the 'Golden Voice of Africa' afro-pop singer Salif Keita (Mali), Nigeria's award-winning Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti and his band The Positive Force, Etran Finatawa, a group combining the cultural richness of two of Niger's nomadic peoples, and the exceptional Mahotella Queens from South Africa.

Other international acts include Kaneka band Celenod (New Caledonia), Australian artist Lior, Portugese fado singer Mariza, Shivkumar and Rahul Sharma from India, and 17-piece ensemble SambaSunda from Indonesia.

A solid line-up of New Zealand performers also features and includes APRA Silver Scroll Award winner Don McGlashan with his new band The Seven Sisters, Porirua-based Maori electronica group Wai (currently performing at Womex Spain), together with the sublime voices of Hollie Smith and Whirimako Black.

Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) Artistic Director Roger King says WOMAD is a true celebration of world music, arts and dance and an opportunity to really recognise the diversity of performance art in the world.

"The performances on stage at WOMAD are like nothing else you will see again."

WOMAD New Zealand 2007 follows the hugely successful sold-out 2005 event, which was nominated for a New Zealand Tourism Award. The 2007 festival features an expanded site with additional room, as well as regular features including artist workshops, a global food village, Kidzone and the option to camp at the adjacent racecourse or stay marae-style in the TSB Stadium.

Another new feature for 2007 is Taste The World - an opportunity to sample dishes from around the world cooked on site by WOMAD artists.

"Last year was incredible with a sold out crowd of more than 30,000 enjoying 30 hours of non-stop live music.

"We're advising people to buy their tickets early to be certain of a spot at WOMAD 2007. Last year we turned away a large number of disappointed people who left it until too late to buy tickets to the festival."

WOMAD is an international festival created by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Brooman 24 years ago. Since then 21 countries have hosted the festival and entertained millions of festival goers.

Tickets for WOMAD New Zealand 2007 go on sale through Ticketek from 9am Wednesday 1 November. Limited early bird three-day tickets are available for $145. The full line-up and detailed information is available on the WOMAD
website.

Image: The Gyuto Monks from Tibet and Australia.