Perfect Saturday afternoon for Wiltshire's WOMAD (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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Perfect Saturday afternoon for Wiltshire's WOMAD
5:29pm Saturday 25th July 2009 in Leisure By Alana Lewis
Crowds basking in the sun at WOMAD
Under a nearly cloudless sky hoardes of campers made their way out of their tents and down to the many stages at the WOMAD festival in Charlton Park.
Celebrity spotters have been out in force during the opening days, with Prince Harry seen enjoying a drink in the back stage Pink Flamingo bar and actor Jude Law spotted among the crowds.
The Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan opened the main stage at 1pm with an up-beat high energy set, which got the crowd dancing almost instantly.
Due to play at the festival last year fans of Indian desert music considered it worth the wait.
Engineer John Clark said: "I came last year and I was quite disappointed that they couldn't play but I really enjoyed seeing them today.
"There is a great mix of people in the crowd, which is what WOMAD is about."
Children climbed up poles holding brightly coloured flags, while uninhinbited parents danced in the sun.
Following on the blue-topped Siam tent was Chinese musician Mamer, whose noted fans include Stephen Fry, while in the All Singing All Dancing arena Enk Jargal and Wang Li wowed crowds with a set played on tiny instruments and a horse fiddle.
Speaking to his audience after he said: "It is not hard to play the hoho, but I can't explain it.
"I did not practise seriously so it took a long time."
Entertaining the afternoon crowd was Etran Finatawa, whose desert blues played on electric guitars and traditional Nigerian drums, matched the soaring temperatures perfectly.
Student Jessica Thomas is celebrating the end of the college year with her friends. She said: "This is not the music I usually listen to but it's nice to chill out in the sun.
"Everyone is really friendly and really chilled here so there's a nice happy vibe."
Indie fans have been left disappointed after Mongrel, with Reverand and the Makers frontman and former Babyshambles and Arctic Monkeys stars, cancelled their early evening gig.
They will be replaced by The Black Swan Effect, with Peter Gabriel heading up the festival tonight in his only European gig this year.
