WOMAD announces headliners

May 2, 2001

By Paul de Barros

Seattle Times staff critic

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After several months of uncertainty, organizers yesterday announced the program for this summer's WOMAD USA Festival.

Headliners include Youssou N'Dour (Senegal), the Neville Brothers (U.S.), Afro Celt Sound System (Ireland/UK/Senegal), the Blind Boys of Alabama (U.S.), Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation (UK), Steel Pulse (UK) and Yungchen Lhamo (Tibet).

The world-music celebration takes place July 27-29 at Marymoor Park in Redmond. WOMAD is an acronym for World of Music, Arts and Dance.

Peter Gabriel, who co-founded WOMAD in England in 1982, appeared via satellite at the press conference, held at Experience Music Project, an educational sponsor for the event. The rock star turned presenter performs at the festival with Afro Celt Sound System.

WOMAD USA began in 1998 as a collaboration with the Seattle production company, One Reel, which presents Bumbershoot. Last fall, however, One Reel and WOMAD fell out over the terms of their agreement.

Here's the lineup:

Friday, July 27: Baka Beyond, Ballake Sissoko, Blind Boys of Alabama, Chemirani Zarb Trio, David Lindley, El Hadj N'Diaye, Ifang Bondi, Lo'Jo, Raul Barboza, Rennie Harris Puremovement, Savourna Stevenson, Transglobal Underground and Youssou N'Dour et Super Etoile de Dakar.

Saturday, July 28: Barbara Luna, Baul Bishwa, Blind Boys of Alabama, Chemirani Zarb Trio, Daniel Lapp, El Hadj N'Diaye, Iarla O Lionaird, Ifang Bondi, Kathryn Tickell, Lagbaja, Lo'Jo, Neville Brothers, Oyster Band, Puentes Brothers, Raul Barboza, Rennie Harris Puremovement, Robert Plant & Strange Sensation, Savourna Stevenson, Sawt El Atlas, Steel Pulse, Transglobal Underground and Yungchen Lhamo.

Sunday, July 29: Peter Gabriel with Afro Celt Sound System, Asian Dub Foundation, Barbara Luna, Baul Bishwa, Chemirani Zarb Trio, Imbizo, Julien Jacob, Justin Adams & Salah Dawson Miller, La Familia Valera Miranda, Lagbaja, Matapat, Pina, Savourna Stevenson, Sawt El Atlas and Yungchen Lhamo.

Tickets are $65 for three-day passes or $25 per day, through July 26; after that, prices go up to $75 and $35, respectively; 206-628-0888 or www.womad.org.