Australian folktronic act Amaru Tribe will be playing at Womad 2025 in New Plymouth. Photo: Erin Lee
Womad New Zealand is rebranding as Womad Aotearoa ahead of next year's festival at Brooklands Park in New Plymouth.
The rebrand was made official as 13 new artists were unveiled at the festival's programme launch tonight.
Event director Suzanne Porter said it was time to embrace the name change.
"We are all about diversity and very much our partnership with iwi and Māori is has been really really sacrosanct for us and what makes us unique in the world of Womads is Aotearoa New Zealand.
"So, we decided to just take the leap just go with Aotearoa. It is being more commonly used, it's more recognised as our point of difference. So, yeah, it was a no brainer for us really."
Porter said there had been a mixed reaction to the name change on social media.
"On the whole it was really good. I personally believe in freedom of speech and everybody is entitled to their opinion, but when it gets nasty, vicious and racist we just remove those, but actually the debate online was really good and healthy and it's something that will continue to be debated as move to using more Māori word - I'm not saying Womad - but our society in general."
Meanwhile, Womad Aotearoa was promising to once again transcend geographical and musical boundaries with a lineup bringing together artists from Aotearoa to Scotland, Brazil to Palestine, and Cuba to Niger.
A further 13 artists were unveiled which blended traditional and contemporary sounds, ranging from classical to electronic and desert rock to folk.
Palestinian / Jordanian electronic group 47Soul are pioneers of the Shamstep dance movement. Photo: Eric Oliveira
Palestinian / Jordanian electronic group 47Soul are considered pioneers of the Shamstep dance movement, which combines traditional Middle Eastern music with electronica.
Cuban cellist and composer Ana Carla Maza will bring her soulful cello and emotive songwriting, which seamlessly merges classical training with the rhythms of her homeland.
Scottish folk stars Talisk are among the acts announced for Womad 2025 in New Plymouth. Photo: Womad
Champions of the Brazilian avant garde Bala Desejo will offer a blend of pop and samba, while energetic Scottish folk stars Talisk will enthral with their intricate arrangements.
A name more familiar to New Zealand audiences is multi-award winners the Beths, whose single "Watching The Credits" featured on former US President Barack Obama's 2023 summer playlist and who were crowned best group at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards.
Etran de'Lair infuse traditional Tuareg music with desert rock. Photo: Abdoulmoumouni Hamid
Other likely festival favourites included power trio Delgres, who blend the blues with Caribbean influences, and the hypnotic guitar riffs of Etran de L'Aïr, who infuse traditional Tuareg music with desert rock.
Womad Aotearoa programme director Emere Wano said the 2025 festival would not be business as usual.
"We are always trying to give the punters something different and new experiences that's our core kaupapa.
"But they'll definitely get that difference of genre, of culture, of music from across the globe.
"And whether you are into jazz or into folk or hip hop or funk there is something for everybody but its not just pure jazz or pure folk. They've got twists and kinks in them which makes it even more exciting."
Wano's festvial tip was Trinidadian reggae power house Queen Omega.
"I love Queen Omega just that pure beautiful voice and presence, but I'm just exposed to so much."
France Guadeloupe combo Delgres also got a special mention.
The 13 new acts are:
- 47Soul (Palestine/Jordan)
- Ana Carla Maza (Cuba)
- Bala Desejo (Brazil)
- Black Comet (Aotearoa)
- CHAII (Aotearoa)
- Delgres (France/Guadeloupe)
- Etran de L'Aïr (Niger)
- Goran Bregovic & his Wedding Funeral Band (Bosnia/Herzegovina)
- Satish Vyas & U Rajesh (India)
- Talisk (Scotland)
- The Beths (Aotearoa)
- Ukulele Death Squad (Australia)
- Who Shot Scott (Aotearoa/Iraq)
Queen Omega from Trinidad and Tobago is a powerhouse in the world-reggae scene. Photo: Womad
These new artists join previously announced Queen Omega from Trinidad and Tobago, a powerhouse in the world-reggae scene, and Nitin Sawhney, a celebrated British musician and composer known for his genre-blending artistry.
Also performing are Australian folktronic act Amaru Tribe, and Aotearoa's The Veils, led by the captivating Finn Andrews with the talented NZ Trio. The festival would mark the live debut of The Veils' new album Asphodel.
Womad New Zealand is at New Plymouth's Brooklands Park and Bowl of Brooklands 14-16 March 2025.
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