World music festival WOMADelaide has announced its first round lineup for 2015. Headlining the Adelaide event is Senegalese singer and composer Youssou N’Dour, who’ll be joined by Rufus Wainwright, The Gloaming, and South African jazz vanguards the Abdullah Ibrahim Quartet.
N’Dour first graced a WOMADelaide stage back in 1992 and has since gone on to become of the most influential cultural figures in Africa, with a career spanning three decades, countless critically lauded albums and guest appearances, and time spent serving as Senegal’s Minister for Culture and Tourism.
WOMADelaide can’t wait for his return, either. “Youssou’s long standing relationship with WOMADelaide and its fans is something we hold very dear,” said WOMADelaide Director Ian Scobie. “He is a true leader on and off the stage and it’s a privilege to again exclusively host him at WOMADelaide in 2015.”
Other acts slated for the bill include Boston indie soul-jazz band Lake Street Dive, Israeli group Balkan Beat Box, and acclaimed Nigerian guitarist Bombino. In total, over 25 international acts from across the globe will be attending WOMADelaide 2015, including respected Swedish-born singer-songwriter and rapper Neneh Cherry, who famously collaborated with N’Dour on the timeless 1994 single 7 Seconds.
WOMADelaide 2015 will run over four days from Friday, 6th March to Monday, 9th March at Adelaide’s Botanic Park. The festival is a family-friendly event with children under 12 admitted for free. Limited discounted early-bird tickets are currently available via the festival’s official website.
Full first lineup and ticketing details below.
UPDATE 28/10/14: WOMADelaide’s second lineup announcement has arrived, and features big-name acts such as Sinead O’Connor, First Aid Kit, Sharron Van Etten and Gruff Rhys. View the updated lineup in full, below.
Watch: Rufus Wainwright- Hallelujah (Live)
WOMADelaide 2015 Lineup – Second Announcement
Astronomy Class feat. Srey Channthy
Myele Manzanza & The Eclectic
Typhoon
Toumani & Sidiki Diabate
Tjintu Desert Band
Timberwolf
The Painted Ladies
Tara Tiba
Soley
Sinead O’Connor
Sharon Van Etten
Robert Forster w/ Jherek Bischoff & The Zephyr Quartet
Nick Waterhouse
Willow Beats
Max Savage & The False Idols
Margaret Leng Tan
Kamerunga
Julia Henning
Gruff Rhys
FourPlay
First Aid Kit
Robyn Hitchcock & Emma Swift
Emma Donovan & The PutBacks
Depedro
Buffy Sainte-Marie
…joining
WOMADelaide 2015 Lineup – First Announcement
Youssou N’Dour
The Gloaming
Abdullah Ibrahim Quartet
Balkan Beat Box
Bombino
Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino
Charlie Musselwhite
Che Sudaka
Criolo
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Flavia Coelho
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys
Jambinai
Jupiter & Okwess International
Lake Street Dive
Live Live Cinema
Luzmila Carpio
Marrugeku
Cut The Sky
Malawi Mouse Boys
Meeta Pandit
Neneh Cherry With RocketNumberNine+
Public Service Broadcasting
Ramzi Aburedwan And Ensemble
Dal ‘Ouna
Rufus Wainwright
Soil and ‘Pimp’ Sessions
WOMADelaide 2015
Friday, 6th March – Monday, 9th March 2015
Botanic Park, Adelaide
Tickets: WOMADelaide
