I was lucky enough to go to the Womad World music festival last weekend. For anyone that hasn’t heard of this event, it is renowned as the most musically varied festival in the World, musicians from the highlands of Northern China, to the deserts of the Sahara gather together in the English countryside and strut their stuff. The result is an electric atmosphere where music is the priority and diversity is celebrated.

This is how the organizers describe the festival:

‘The WOMAD Festival experience is not about the familiar, the tried and tested; its essence is in the discovery and enjoyment of a totally unexpected artist or a style of music which would never otherwise have been encountered. It’s a magical, musical melting pot, enriching all who experience it.’

Chilling in the woods under an umbrella listening to hypnotic Chinese chants, dancing to Nigerian Kora funk, and scoffing food I never even knew existed was definitely a good way to spend the weekend. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t got the time to do a World music trip, but wouldn’t mind soaking up some of the flavour.

Here are some of my highlights:

ROKIA TROARE – MALI

THE HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE – 9 BROTHERS FROM CHICAGO