WOMAD USA 1999
WOMAD USA at Marymoor Park
This marked the second year that WOMAD USA took place at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington. WOMAD stands out among world music festivals by providing unique opportunities for audiences to engage with legendary musicians through both performances and workshops, held across eight vibrant venues.
Celebrating Global Collaboration
At the heart of WOMAD USA is collaboration—demonstrating that music can bridge even the most unexpected cultural divides. A prime example is Afro Celt Sound System, a group that masterfully blends electronic and acoustic music with West African and Celtic influences. Their live shows bring their albums Sound Magic, Volume 1 and Volume 2: Releases to life with unmatched intensity. The band was conceived when guitarist Simon Emmerson, while producing a record for Senegalese artist Baba Maal, was struck by how a traditional Mbaalax song sounded like a Celtic lament.
Geoffrey Oryema: A Voice in Exile
Ugandan-born singer Geoffrey Oryema, who lived in exile in Normandy for 20 years, exemplifies the fusion of cultures. His debut album was produced by Brian Eno, and he sings in both English and French. Oryema’s music creates an ethereal, international soundscape, often reminiscent of WOMAD founder Peter Gabriel. His latest album, Night to Night, pairs his soothing, high-pitched voice with grand drumbeats and ambient electronics.
A three festival pass was $75.00
Bernard Kabanda and the Streets of Kampala
In contrast, fellow Ugandan Bernard Kabanda draws directly from his roots, performing kadongo kamu—Kampala’s street music genre. Meaning “just a single guitar,” the style is raw and reflective, often including political and social commentary. With handmade guitars fashioned from car brake lines and the occasional use of makeshift percussion, Kabanda’s music echoes the simplicity of Irish folk and American country traditions.
The Guo Brothers and the Seattle Creative Orchestra
Multicultural fusion reaches new heights when the Guo Brothers, a Chinese instrumental duo, collaborate with the 28-piece Seattle Creative Orchestra. Playing the sheng (a bamboo flute) and erhu (a two-string violin), the brothers bring to life the sounds of both Northern and Southern China. Their music crosses cultural and linguistic barriers even within their own country, and the SCO’s experimental approach provides an ideal complement.
WOMAD USA 2001
WOMAD Peter Gabriel Sound Check
Michael Brook and Djivan Gasparyan’s ‘Black Rock’
Renowned producer Michael Brook, known for introducing non-Western sounds to broader audiences, teamed up with Armenian duduk master Djivan Gasparyan to create Black Rock. Inspired by Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, the album captures natural rhythms and moods. The interplay between Brook’s restrained guitar work and Gasparyan’s soulful duduk creates a soundscape that shifts from soothing to sorrowful with grace.
The Legacy of Qawwali: Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali
Brook also worked with the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a master of Qawwali, the devotional music of the Sufi tradition. Today, Ali Khan’s nephews Rizwan Mujahid Ali Khan and Muazzam Mujahid Ali Khan carry on the family legacy. Performing with a chorus, harmoniums, and tabla, they deliver electrifying interpretations of these spiritual love songs, recently debuting at WOMAD Reading.
The Drummers of Burundi: WOMAD’s First Inspiration
According to founders Gabriel and Brooman, The Drummers of Burundi were the original inspiration for WOMAD. Their powerful performances, combining energetic drumming and dancing, left an indelible impression on the two visionaries. From that moment, the idea for WOMAD took root.
