New site proves lucky escape for WOMAD festival

The WOMAD festival, which will be taking place at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire this weekend, looks like it will narrowly avoid the recent awful weather that has recently caused severe flooding across the UK.

The festival has been based at Rivermead, Reading since 1990 (also the home of Reading Festival), and is moving to Charlton Park for the first time this year. According to the BBC, flooding is predicted to start in Reading and Caversham (where the festival was previously held) this evening.

The festival will go ahead as the new site has been unaffected by the floods. It has a clay soil on limestone brash and is on high ground, which allows for efficient drainage. So the ground, including the camping and parking areas, is still solid.

Posted by Mof Gimmers on July 26, 2025 3:17 PM in WOMAD
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This weekend's festival news update

Fingers are crossed all over the country that the evil weather will quieten down in the next few days to allow this weekend’s festival brood to go on unscathed. We’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, here’s a round up of the latest news on what to expect.

- Global Gathering will defy the weather to stay on this weekend, says the NME. All hail Long Marston Airfield’s drainage system, apparently the reason for the braving of the elements. Basement Jaxx and Faithless will probably not be bothered about the availability of hot showers what with their luxury tour buses, but the punters will be chuffed to bits.

Posted by Sophie Bruce on July 24, 2025 8:42 AM in Cambridge Folk Festival| Global Gathering| Line-up News| Music News| The Secret Garden| WOMAD
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WOMAD announces more acts

WOMAD, which is moving to a new site at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire this year for its 25th anniversary, and is happening from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th July, has announced more acts.

The newbies confirmed are Asian Dub Foundation, Charlie Winston, Christopher of the Wolves, DJ Andy Smith, Dulsori, Guo Yue, Jewels Vass, Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls, Mor Karbasi, N'Faly Kouyaté, Niki Stevens, Russ Jones, The Silk String Quartet, and Trilok Gurtu.

WOMAD has over 70 world-class artists from 40 countries performing over the festival weekend, including The Blind Boys Of Alabama playing a special Thursday night concert. Also playing over the three days of the festival: Peter Gabriel, Baaba Maal, Toots and the Maytals, Isaac Hayes, Seckou Keita Quartet, Taj Mahal, Ben Taylor, Chambao, Tinariwen, Candi Staton, Clube Do Balanço, Calexico, Dhol Foundation, DJ Shantel, Steel Pulse, Seth Lakeman, and more!

Posted by Mof Gimmers on June 22, 2025 3:15 PM in Line-up News| Music News| WOMAD
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