WOMAD: Crowds enjoy 40th anniversary festival

WOMAD is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year

More than 40,000 people are celebrating the return of a long-running music festival.

WOMAD is marking its 40th anniversary after being postponed for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Known as 'the world's festival', bands and singers from all over the globe are performing at Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Visitors streamed through the gates as the festival began on Thursday. It is due to end on Sunday.

Fatoumata played to a packed audience at WOMAD

The Selecter strutted their stuff on stage

The World of Music, Arts and Dance festival, shortened to WOMAD, has always championed music from across the world, and has taken place in multiple countries.

More than 150 music acts will be performing across six stages, and visitors can enjoy 80 free workshops covering subjects including art, yoga and dance.

The festival is popular with families

The event began on Thursday and runs until Sunday

WOMAD was created by British singer Peter Gabriel and began at the Bath and West Showground in 1982.

An album is being released with recordings from the first festival to mark this year's 40th anniversary.

Malmesbury School children were invited to perform

Pupils from Malmesbury School shared the spotlight with bands from all over the world

The festival's director Chris Smith said everyone involved with WOMAD was "so excited" to welcome thousands of fans back after the two-year break.

"WOMAD 2022 will, as always, demonstrate that our communal love of music, arts and discovery of new cultures is more powerful than what divides us", he added.

Mercury Award-nominated band Seed performed

DJs provided live music in Molly's Bar on the WOMAD site

Seed, a ten-piece, Mercury Award-nominated band, were among the musicians to perform as night fell on Friday.

Visitors also enjoyed fairground rides, a big wheel, and live music from DJs performing in Molly's Bar on the festival site.

Freyja and Iona said they were glad WOMAD festival had returned

Friday night crowds soaked up the festival atmosphere

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