WOMAD USA 2001
The 2001 WOMAD festival in Redmond transformed the local park into a vibrant global celebration, despite being slightly more scaled back than previous years. Organizers carefully curated the musical experience by strategically limiting performances to just two of the four main stages simultaneously, aiming to prevent sound bleed and create a more focused atmosphere for performers and attendees.
A World of Music, Arts and Dance
The festival maintained its characteristic energy, showcasing a rich tapestry of international musicians, artists, and dancers who brought diverse cultural expressions to life. However, the best-laid plans occasionally met spontaneous musical moments – such as enthusiastic encores that would momentarily overlap with the start of another stage’s performance, adding an unpredictable element of musical serendipity to the event.
Colorful and dynamic, the festival continued to be a global village in miniature, where world music and cultural exchange thrived, demonstrating that even a leaner event could still pulse with extraordinary creative spirit.
WOMAD’s organizational prowess shone through in the festival’s seamless infrastructure. Efficiently positioned staff members guided attendees with precision, ensuring smooth operations throughout the venue. The parking situation was particularly well-managed, with a streamlined system that minimized confusion and wait times for arriving festivalgoers.
A three festival pass was $75.00
On Site Camping
The camping experience emerged as a highlight, transforming the festival grounds into a vibrant, round-the-clock musical community. As day faded into night, impromptu drumming circles and spontaneous musical gatherings sprang up across the campsite. Musicians from diverse backgrounds shared melodies and rhythms, creating an immersive atmosphere where the boundaries between performers and audience blurred. Campers found themselves naturally absorbed into the festival’s pulsing, communal energy – not just spectators, but active participants in a living, breathing musical ecosystem.
This approach to festival camping went far beyond mere accommodation, offering instead a deep, participatory experience that captured the true spirit of WOMAD’s global music celebration.
WOMAD USA 2001
WOMAD Peter Gabriel Sound Check
Musical Diversity
The 2001 WOMAD festival showcased the remarkable musical diversity of its lineup, with festival founder Peter Gabriel at the heart of the celebration. Gabriel delivered a captivating performance that bridged his musical past and present, accompanied by his longtime collaborators Tony Levin and David Rhodes. The highlight of his set came during a memorable Sunday night collaboration with the genre-defying Afro Celt Sound System, which electrified the audience with its fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds.
The festival’s global lineup was truly extraordinary, representing 22 countries through 40 diverse artists. Musical legends like soul icon Isaac Hayes, reggae pioneers Steel Pulse, and the iconic Neville Brothers shared the stages with world music luminaries Youssou N’Dour and the innovative Baka Beyond. Each artist brought a unique cultural perspective, transforming the event into a vibrant musical mosaic that celebrated international artistic expression.
From soul to reggae, traditional world music to innovative crossover sounds, the festival offered a rich, immersive experience that reflected the borderless nature of musical creativity.
