Review – WOMADelaide: Day 2

The highlight of day two was undoubtedly a flawless performance by US hip hop act Arrested Development on the main stage. They were loud, energetic and engaging, with 10,000 plus responding in kind to every request of “Jump! Jump! Jump!” Lyrics were clever and discernible with a rejection of ‘Blacksploitation’ a recurring theme.

Buika gave a crowd-warming exposition of her Latina style. Singing Bossa-Nova-beat love songs and jazz-edged cool numbers, she drew everyone closer with a repeated cry of “You’re ALL my family.”

Back in the 1980s FourPlay were a favourite acoustic act on the Sydney scene. What a pleasant surprise to see Lara Goodridge teaming up with well-known rocker Abby Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride) to give a tribute to French songwriters and performers. From Piaf and Bardot to Francoise Hardy – it was a treat!

As was Megan Washington whose range from pop to jazz proved why she is a two-time ARIA winner. Another Australian songbird to thrill the crowd on the more intimate Moreton Bay (fig tree covered) Stage Five was Adelaide Hills local Loren Kate whose 2013 album Moving On was crowd-funded by 200 diehard fans. She has won approval nationally on Triple J and Radio National for her emotional and honest song writing. She appeared with backing from cellist Mel Robinson and others.

Fusion bands proliferated at Womadelaide. Usually traditional music ensembles added a brass section and became jazz or R ‘n’ B or even rock-influenced. Sometimes it more closely degenerated into a cacophony of sound with lyrics usually in Indigenous languages. Hanggai from Mongolia or North Indian style Bhangra musicians Red Bareet from the USA and Rachid Taha from Algeria come to mind. Admittedly they all had their fans.

The suit-clad boys from Japan’s Osaka Monorail on the other hand were purists, pure James Brown and American funk and soul. Zimbabwean Mokoomba were distinctively Afro-beat with lots of regional sounds. Makana was a distinctive Hawaiian ‘slacky’ guitarist with a unique voice and playing style. The classical Persian, now Melbourne-based, Mehr Ensemble had the full range of traditional instruments on show through their 2012 album Love and Devotion.

Australian indigenous performer Kutcha Edwards gave a great bracket while his audience fought off the heat of the day even at five in the sweltering evening. Thankfully the Botanic Gardens setting was generous with shade and the balmy evenings were magical for what was autumn. (JL)

WOMADelaide, Mar 7-10, Botanic Park, Adelaide, womadelaide.com.au

BY JEFFERSON LEE