photos: Kerrie Geier
@kerriegeier
words: Jess Bendle

Across this long weekend the WOMADelaide festival unfurled its colourful sails once again, inviting music lovers to brave the heat and venture into a hidden world at Adelaide’s Tainmuntilla/Botanic Park. This year, the festival curated a vibrant tapestry of artists and performers under a blazing sun and a sky full of bats to celebrate global art, music, culture like only WOMADelaide can.

Heading along to the festival on Saturday, we were welcomed to Country by Jack Kanya Kudnuitya Buckskin of Kuma Kaaru and his young daughter Mahleaha on the Foundation Stage. They were followed by Japan’s O.TA.I.KO ZA MYOJIN, a taiko drumming troupe who blend modern and traditional sounds perfectly in their energetic performance full of colour and beats which was a perfect way to get the day started.

Exploring all that WOMAdelaide has to offer (incredible stalls, food, bars and more) you often stumble across the unexpected, and as I wandered past the Zoo Stage I soon found myself dancing along to the early seventies classic rock sounds of the sensational Saigon Soul Revival, whose music is like a time and space machine, taking us back to a place in Vietnamese music history.

As the warm air hung into the afternoon, festivalgoers grabbed their cold drinks and headed over on the Foundation Stage to bask in the vocal stylings of Mariza, who enchanted the crowd with her unique take on the traditional Portuguese Fado. Her voice conjured intense emotions and conveyed a sense of longing through her beautiful melodies.

In addition to the fine musical guests on the line-up, WOMADelaide always showcases top talents in the performing arts space, and this year we were treated to an astounding acrobatic dance production from Yoann Bourgeois Art Company. Focusing on the physical aspects of perpetual movement and the force of gravity, they wove a narrative that left spectators with a sense of emotional gravity.

As afternoon ran into the evening, the crowd immersed themselves in Palestinian electronic hip-hop collective 47SOUL who took to the Foundation stage to deliver an energetic set that blended the traditional with the contemporary, electrifying their enraptured audience with their infectious energy.

It was a change of pace on Stage 3, where I discovered the unique song stylings of Iceland-based American singer John Grant. Grant started his set by mentioning that he was having a “Wake in Fright” moment, having woken up late and missed his shuttle. Referencing the iconic Australian cult film was an early cue (for those of us unfamiliar with Grant) that his songs are often darkly humorous and contemplative. His performance combined classical piano with electronic sounds and his introspective and observational lyrics, allowed a glimpse of what a unique cocktail of a musician Grant is.

As 7:15pm rolled around, the crowd were ready to witness the remarkable Australian-based Papua New Guinean singer Ngaiire who graced the Foundation stage for her only performance of the weekend. Emerging in vibrant red, and flanked by a number of dancers, Ngaiire was instantly captivating. With multiple costume changes to match the stunning visual and vocal presentation, she delivered a dynamic and commanding performance of her unique blend of electronic soul. Her powerful voice and entrancing stage presence made her performance one of the highlights of the weekend.

As night fell, the heat remained, and a large crowd seated themselves in front of Stage 2 for another unmissable performance from Bangarra Dance Theatre. An exceptional highlight to the festival’s line-up, this year the company's performance of ‘The Light Inside’ was a cross-cultural collaboration by Māori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson and Bangarra senior choreographer Deborah Brown. The phenomenal performance elicited audible gasps from the enthralled crowd and demonstrated that Bangarra are unmatched in their originality and ability to weave stories through movement.

Shortly after the dancers had left the stage, we were treated to The Dream Engine’s ‘Heliosphere’ art piece. Lifting our gaze skyward, an ethereal, silvery dancer smiled down at us from where she was suspended beneath a luminous helium balloon. Floating gracefully above the upturned faces and outstretched hands of the mesmerised onlookers below, this performance embodied the childlike wonder that WOMADelaide brings to festival goers.

The day came to its final crescendo with headliner Róisín Murphy at 11:00pm. The Irish singer-songwriter transformed Adelaide's botanic park into the hottest club in town with her eclectic fashion (including some incredible headwear) and infectious energy compelling the crowd into a frenzy. Opening with “Pure Pleasure Seeker” Murphy set an energetic and joyous tone for her set. Dazzling the audience with a selection of her best tracks, including “Overpowered”, “Murphy’s Law” and some early Moloko crowd pleasers, “Time Is Now” and “Sing It Back”. Murphy's cheeky spirit was met with joy and enthusiasm by her Adelaide fans, whom she took the time to greet as she walked the barrier dishing out hugs. A perfect encapsulation of the spirit of WOMADelaide: the spirit of love, joy and culture celebrated through music and art.