The Comet Is Coming, Mariza, Femi Kuti and Theon Cross line up for WOMAD Festival 2023

Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire is set to come alive when this year’s WOMAD Festival runs from 27-30 July bringing together African polyrhythms, soaring Asiatic strings, eclectic jazz fusions and some of the finest folk from around the world. Among the headliners announced for this year's tantalising bill are the likes of sax firebrand Femi Kuti & the Positive Force, iconic Portuguese fado vocalist Mariza, acclaimed folk singer Kate Rusby, reggae legend Horace Andy and the Mercury Music Prize nominated trio, The Comet Is Coming.  

Tucked in among the world-class folk, Indian and African sounds are some key names from the UK jazz scene including Friday night shows from the drum-led Balimaya Project, swinging sounds of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys, the danceable New Orleans grooves of Riot Jazz Brass Band, and the funky virtuoso tuba titan that is Theon Cross.

Saturday’s bill is capped by a headline show from the expansive jazz-soul sounds of The Cinematic Orchestra, while saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings’ turbo-charged electro-jazz three-piece The Comet is Coming are sure to get the party started with tracks from their recent album, Hyper-dimensional Expansion Beam. And signing off a weekend packed with diverse sounds will be a Sunday night double header of the incendiary Afrobeat jazz of Femi Kuti and The Positive Force and the classic Brit-soul and hip hop of Soul II Soul.

All this alongside music from all corners of the world, with scheduled appearances from Rokia Koné, Souad Massi, Susana Baca, Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Soumik Datta, Snapped Ankles, Cha Wa, and Nihiloxica among many other musical delights (see below for all the names so far).

For full line-up details and tickets visit www.womad.co.uk