WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL REVIEW:

WOMADelaide 2007 Sounds Of The Planet

Proving the doubters wrong, this year's festival showed that people do want an annual World music event in South Australia, and the quality of the programme certainly has not suffered by its change from a biennial happening. The celebration of global cultures began with an opening ceremony conducted by the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains area, the Kaurna people involving Paitya from the Four Directions, a group of 10 young performers. Their contemporary indigenous dance piece formally welcomed the artists and the audience to the 15th anniversary festival. A statement in the programme says, "The WOMADelaide Foundation Ltd is a non-profit body established to present the annual festival, and to foster and develop long term educational activities and cultural exchange through the festival program. The Foundation has identified as one of its main goals a desire to focus on and develop art and cultural projects with indigenous artists." To fulfil this aim renowned songman and elder Kev Carmody worked with musicians from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and showcased the Nganampa Music Project, and Adelaide-based visual artist Sandy Elverd, worked with indigenous women artists from the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands on the Tjanpi Desert Weavers Project. Other aboriginal artists included on the bill were the traditional Mornington Island Dancers, soul singer Emma Donovan and dancers with the Snuff Puppets. Kev Carmody is probably in his final year as a live performer, due to a debilitating back problem, so the solo recital I witnessed at the Zoo Stage was a rare treat. Referring often to the brand new Paul Kelly produced tribute album Cannot Buy My Soul' he performed all his old favourites, several of which have not been recorded by him, and entertained with amusing heartfelt tales from his life. He joined The Waifs during their second gig to sing an unrehearsed but stirring and emotional From Little Things, Big Things Grow'.

Quality Aussie musical acts included funk-reggae band Blue King Brown, which had everyone dancing despite the Saturday afternoon heat with Latin-ska saturated songs covering diverse themes, such as land rights and the environment. The band's Sunday set included a guest spot from Emma Donovan on Water', plus a frantic percussion jam involving Ben Walsh and Yanya. The Waifs have recently come together after an extended lay-off,

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