GUEST WRITER GARETH SHUTE suggests five acts to check out at Womad 2025

WOMAD has evolved over the years to serve a dual purpose: curating diverse and fascinating international acts for adventurous listeners whilst also embracing its role as one of a key festivals in central North Island and therefore expanding its line-up to appeal to a wide range of attendees. 

This has resulted in a line-up for this year’s event that has something for everyone, whether you want to see rock (The Beths), indie music (The Veils), hip hop (CHAII and Who Shot Scott), reggae/dancehall (Trinidad & Tobago’s Queen Omega and Jamaica's Protoje and the Indiggnation), soul/R’n’B (Jordan With A Why), dance music (O. from the UK), or heavy funk (Laughton Kora’s Black Comet).

Dance music in particular has shown to be popular at previous WOMADs, with late night sets by Lady Shaka and Half-queen drawing enthusiastic crowds last year. This has led to the decision to make the “Tui” lake-side stage (formerly Dell stage) into a chill out/food area during the day and then switching it up to become a dance zone at night, with sets by some of NZ’s finest, including Pixie Lane and Poppa Jax. 

However, it’s the overseas acts bringing unique sounds that are at the heart of WOMAD, so here’s five that seem particularly intriguing:

1. Etran de L’Aïr

   Tuareg desert blues from Niger

The Tuareg guitar sound has become renowned throughout the world following the breakthrough of acts like Tinariwen and Bombino.

Etran de L’Aïr bring a rawer sound, that relies on hypnotic, almost psychedelic guitar solos.

The drumming has a wildness to it and the beats feel as if they are rushing ahead of the rest of the band, which gives their sound a frantic energy. 

. 

2. Ana Carla Maza -

   Latin rhythms from a Virtuoso Cuban cellist

This one might seem to come a bit out of leftfield, but that’s the whole point of WOMAD isn’t it?

Oftentimes, Maza plays Latin jazz music with a full band and the cello blends in with the sultry horns and groovy percussion.

However, to really appreciate her fascinating way of plucking and strumming the cello to play in a Latin rhythm, then it’s worth watching a clip of her playing. 

. 

3. Nana Benz Du Togo

   Electro-voodoo-soul 

The sound of this female-fronted band is hard to describe.

The vocals certainly sound like the call-and-response traditional style of singing you might hear in Togo.

However underneath it is a raw rhythmic beat, punctuated by punchy synth lines, which make it sound like a no-wave band from the 80s.

That may not be the best description, but all you need to know is that it looks like a whole lot of fun and is sure to make you want to dance. They’re also doing a workshop in voodoo chants, which seems unmissable too!

. 

4. 47Soul

   Levantine folk dances turned into electronic beats

This group are from Palestine/Jordan, but I’m not picking them for any political reasons. They’ve been making a worldwide impact for at least five years, after they did both a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR and a live session for KEXP.

The shamstep sound (a mix of traditional Dabke instrumentation and electronic beats) is incredibly popular in the Arab world and a few minutes of listening to their music will make you understand why.

They’re also doing a workshop which will both explain their use of traditional instruments in their music and will show the audience some classic Dabke dance moves.

They were previously dropped from the lineup for WOMADelaide because of their support of the Palestinian cause, or because they and their audience couldn't be guaranteed a safe environment according to the organisers (who also dropped an Israeli artist for the same reason).

Therefore it's interesting to see them back this year and no doubt they'll have something to say about being previously being bumped!

. 

5. Bala Desejo

   Modern Tropicália with a psychedelic twist

Last year, WOMAD attendees got a lesson in the history of Brazilian Tropicália through a performance by Gilberto Gil.

Now they have a chance to bring their knowledge of the genre up to date, with this uber-talented, but super-fun contemporary group.

If this live video doesn’t get you excited to see them perform, then you must have ice running through your veins!

And they’re even doing a cooking lesson on how to make Brazilian shrimp stew. 

. 

For tickets and further information on WOMAD AOTEAROA 2025 held in New Plymouth, Taranaki March 14-16 go to the website here

.

Gareth Shute is the author of five books, including Hip Hop Music In Aotearoa (which won an award at the 2005 NZ Book Awards). He is also a musician who has toured overseas as a member of The Ruby Suns and The Brunettes. He is currently a member of Thee Golden Geese, regularly contributes to www.audioculture.co.nz and has a new book coming out in August.

.

Other Voices Other Rooms is an opportunity for Elsewhere readers to contribute their ideas, passions, interests and opinions about whatever takes their fancy. Elsewhere welcomes travel stories, think pieces, essays about readers' research or hobbies etc etc. Nail it in 1000 words of fewer and contact graham.reid@elsewhere.co.nz.

See here for previous contributors' work. It is wide-ranging