Third WOMAD is July 28-30

The third edition of WOMAD USA at Marymoor Park in Redmond, set for July 28-30, will feature a wide variety of artists from around the globe, including Jimmy Cliff from Jamaica, Ali Farka Toure from Mali, Femi Kuti & Positive Force from Nigeria and, from various parts of America, Bonnie Raitt, Meshell Ndegeocello, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo, the Mickey Hart Band, Paula Cole, and Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie.

It's a crucial year for the annual world music festival. While the event proved popular in its first two seasons, with its diverse music and pastoral setting, crowds have not been sufficient to guarantee its future.

"These festivals take time to establish themselves," said WOMAD artistic director Thomas Brooman yesterday. "They have to grow like plants."

More than 40 individuals and groups will perform, with the full lineup to be announced May 5. Other acts that have been confirmed are Afel Bocoum, Ensemble Tartit and Tama (all from Mali), Barbara Luna (Argentina), Farafina (Burkina Faso), Huun-Huur Tu (Tuva), Ismael Isaac (Ivory Coast), Khac Chi Ensemble (Vietnam), Lama Gyurme & Jean-Philippe Rykiel (Tibet/France), Positive Black Soul (Senegal), Rocky Dawuni (Ghana), Susana Baca (Peru), Jimmy Little (Australia), Tarkika (Madagascar), Te Vaka (New Zealand), Telek (Papua New Guinea), Vera Bila & Kale (Bohemia), Wendo Kolosoy (Congo) and Yair Dalal & the Al Ol Ensemble (Israel).

Tickets are $25 a day, or $65 for three days. (The $25 price will be available until the day before the festival starts). They go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Ticketmaster outlets. For charge-by-phone, call 206-628-0888. To charge via the Internet, log on to www.womadusa.org. Western Washington Starbucks stores will have tickets starting May 5. Camping is available for the first time this year, for $60. The camping deadline is June 16.