So, WOMAD celebrated its 25th Anniversary in the new countrified surroundings of Charlton Park in Wiltshire and I’m already looking forward to many happy returns there in the future because the setting is just stunning. It’s just a shame that, like so many events this summer, the weather had such a detrimental impact. Not only had the area suffered severe deluges in the preceding weeks but with further heavy downpours on both the Thursday afternoon and Saturday evening the water had nowhere to go and a Piltonesque quagmire quickly developed.

It would be very easy to complain about the positioning of toilets & stalls, the chopping & changing line up & the lack of trackways but for WOMAD to put on a festival at all in such challenging logistical circumstances was an amazing feat in itself & despite also suffering an increasingly annoying cold over the weekend my memories of the festival are predominantly very happy indeed.

As far as the stages are concerned things haven’t changed massively from the Rivermead set up. The Main Stage and Siam Tent are as before. The Saddlespan Stage is effectively the old Village Stage and the BBC Radio 3 Stage now has an amazing arboreal backdrop. Club WOMAD has moved into a “Big Red” Tent which is infinitely preferable to the old sports hall and the Little Big Top had a multitude of events running through from mid morning to the early hours. So plenty to see and do despite the fact that the workshops & cabaret on the Meadow Stage, the Craft Tent and the traditional kids procession were all unfortunate victims of the conditions.

As for the entertainment, well I don’t think WOMAD has ever laid on a more impressive or diverse line up of international talent. Peter Gabriel was imperious in his Friday night headline slot, as was Baaba Maal on Sunday. And unexpected gems came thick & fast. Bassekou Kouyate, CJ Chenier, Dulsori, Vieux Farka Toure and Marzoug all stand out for special mention but there were so many more. And The Dhol Foundations 25th Anniversary special was ear-splittingly wonderful. Regrettably I missed Balkan Beat Box due to a line up clash, Toumast due to my own stupidity & Mr Scruff because I was just too full of cold to dance in the mud by then. But this was how my weekend at WOMAD 2007 panned out. Enjoy.