Womad 2024 cemented its position as one of the most underrated festivals in the UK’s packed summer schedule. You’ll struggle to find a more inclusive, friendly and chilled out event. Set in the idyllic Charlton Park near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, it boasts 4 days of top-notch food from all over the world, real ale tent with 12 excellent local beers, cider bar, well-being forest, outdoor spoken word stage, science activities… Plus an area dedicated to children – with a mix of art, crafts, music and circus equipment to keep the kids occupied.

But the jewel in Womad’s crown, as always, is the wonderfully eclectic music that covers everything from jazz, rap, reggae, rock, Afrobeat and house but with the scheduling staying true to Womad’s origin as a world music festival with a dizzying array of acts from across the globe. As is traditional, the Malmesbury schools Project kicked off proceedings with a highly percussive blast of music, and their cheerful vocals seemingly caused the late afternoon rain clouds to disperse.

The musical highlights across the weekend were plentiful but included Portuguese vocalist LINA_ and her heart stoppingly emotive fado and the angular Korean rock meets traditional music of Sangjaru. Whilst Palestinian hip hop group DAM drew one of the biggest crowds away from the main arena, with their mix of tough beats, soulful vocals, flowing rhymes and calls for protest and an end to the death and destruction in their homeland. Performed in front of a flurry of Palestinian flags and save Gaza signs.

Young Fathers lit up the main arena, as did Ghana Special – Soundway Records’ supergroup featuring artists from the Ghanaian diaspora, who appear on their excellent Ghana Special 2 comp. The tight Afrobeat grooves, funky horns and on point vocal delivery from Pat Thomas and Charles Amoah, sent the crowd into raptures in the July sunshine. The joyful performance was indicative of another fantastic Womad, which just seems to be going from strength to strength.

Review by Jon Griffiths