The mystique surrounding WOMADelaide never seemed like my 'scene'. However, after attending this year's event, so many of my preconceived notions were flipped on their head leaving me astounded.
With its roots in activism, inclusivity and experimentation, WOMADelaide screams counterculture more so than other alternative music festivals I've attended. While saying 'WOMAD is punk' maybe a bold statement, it's one I’m sticking to. Let me explain. The word 'punk' often conjures images of white men in leather jackets and spiky hair screaming angrily into the microphone.
While that may be one mainstream perception of what punk is, at its core punk is so much deeper. It's political. It's anti-establishment. It embraces inclusivity, DIY and rebellion. It's about reclamation, bucking the system and ultimately, sticking it to the man.
These are themes that I witnessed the world of music, arts and dance pulsating with at 2023 WOMADelaide.
Image © Mike Lockheart
While attending three out of the four days, I was able to experience diverse acts. Throughout many of the sets, there were discussions about the reclamation of land, language and heritage. Artists like Ria Hall swung effortlessly between speaking Te Maori and English, educating the crowd on the Maori language, concepts and lore.
One of the headlining acts, Sampa The Great spoke of how she returned to her home country of Zambia to connect with her cultural roots and is now breaking new ground with her all-Zambian band.
One of the most magnetic acts, ADG7, whose Korean name is Ak Dan Gwang Chil, spoke of how their name and inspiration come from the liberation of their country.
The emerging artist Kee'ahn along with her band played a set that spoke on colonisation. Songs such as 'Land Back' were clear in meaning. Let's face it, there is nothing more punk than protest.
Kee'ahn - image © Mike Lockheart
Along with the music on the bill, another part of the festival is the talks and workshops. Many of these talks were focused on sustainability and environmental issues. They included panels involving community radio stations.
There was no shying away from the political element. Combine that with the sale of handmade, DIY clothing and art, plus the local food trucks, many of which are vegan, the multitude of those in attendance were screaming with joy.
What took me aback the most, was the true diversity on the bill. While it should go without saying a world music festival would have variety on the bill, the sheer amount of women on the bill outperforms any 'alternative' music festival I've attended the last 12 years.
At other alternative music events over the last few months I've attended, I counted fewer than ten women (combined) on stacked line-ups. Does that really line up with the supposed ethos of alternative subcultures?
In its early incarnation, starting back in 1982 in the UK with Peter Gabriel a driving force, WOMAD was intended to embrace more experimental acts without boundaries. To create enthusiasm for a world where connections are made through music, arts and dance.
As WOMADelaide has grown since first starting in 1992, it has retained some of its rebellious spirit. If you didn't notice the punk themes at the 2023 festival, your head was buried in a pile of feathers.
Image © Mike Lockheart
Speaking of feathers, as much as we can celebrate the highs of WOMADelaide, the lows cannot be ignored. This is why I am especially curious about the future direction of the festival.
On one hand, it's the perfect place to let your 'freak flag fly' and satisfy a rebellious heart. On the other, you cannot ignore the establishment starting to sneak in. The SA State Government hosting a stall spruiking their 'New State Of Mind' campaign is an area of concern.
Another was the inclusion of the Gratte Ciel performance, which raised questions from animal activist groups like PETA about the ethical use of feathers with additional comments online about the damage they can do to the local ecosystem.
Allergies were also an issue I personally experienced and from discussions I had with other attendees, I was not the only one. Other concerns raised were the issues of accessibility of amenities such as toilets, as well as general movement around the festival, especially for disabled patrons. Can you really call a festival inclusive and diverse if it alienates people based on access? That is not very punk.
Ultimately though, compared to many festivals around Australia, WOMADelaide ticks many boxes. As it continues to grow, will money sway ethics? Can the organisers keep WOMADelaide 'punk in nature'?
Time will tell, but until then, I'm calling WOMADelaide a celebration of counterculture.
This article was supplied by The Music Writer's Lab as part of their 2023 South Australian workshop programme. scenestr is proud to provide a platform for this young writer.
