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Womad has made a welcome return to New Plymouth following two cancelled festivals in 2021 and 2022 care of the Covid pandemic.
Wellington’s Narukami Taiko Drumming opened the festival on the TSB Bowl Stage at 6pm on Friday.
Internationally renowned German techno marching band Meute then took to the same stage at 8pm with Kiwi favourites Fly My Pretties following at 10pm.
The Garifuna Collective from Belize got things started on Saturday at noon, with French voice and precussion collective San Salvador on the Todd Energy Brooklands Stage at 1pm.
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Meute plays their second and final set at 7pm on Saturday while Auckland’s Avantdale Bowling Club performs its single gig at 9pm.
While rain made for a damp start to the festival, the sun is out on Saturday with mostly clear skies forecast for the rest of the weekend.
SATURDAY
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Regan Tate and Jazz Gallagher were some of the first arrivals on Saturday.
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Sacha Hickman and Lynsey Ellis came down from Auckland for the festival.
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Future Womad stars often get their start at the festival as kids.
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Water is free at the event, which is lucky because the temperature is on the rise.
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Tony Hansen had the cash but he didn’t have a ticket.
FRIDAY
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Holly Smith was a bit of magic, as usual, for Fly My Pretties.
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ADG7, AKA Ak Dan Gwang Chil, brought a bit of Korean folk funk to the table.
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The nine-piece South Korean ensemble was full of positive energy.
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Fly My Pretties sometimes looked like they were about to fly away.
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The purple people were there en masse.
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German techno marching band Meute had the crowd on their feet when they they played the TSB Bowl Stage.
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There was time in between songs to for a personal pic or two.
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The band is an international phenomenon.
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The sign says it all.
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Kiwi favourites Fly My Pretties hit the TSB Bowl Stage at 10pm.
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The huge variety of food is a hallmark of the festival.
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Even if you’re not a fan of your mum’s taste in music, Womad is a chance to stay up late.
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Alix Tobin and Aria Tobin are at their fourth Womad. No word on how many times they have worn their rain protection garments.
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Crystal Payne, Kere Wylie and Karan Soma get an early Womad selfie.
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Ted Kane from Canberra takes eye protection seriously.
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The Wellington group played on the main TSB Bowl Stage.
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The sound carried around the entire Brooklands Park venue.
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The drummers were having as much fun as anyone at the event.
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The famous Bowl of Brooklands began filling up early.
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The Mudra Dance Company took the chance to look around before their performance on the Gables Stage at 8pm.
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This trio had the luck of the Irish getting this prime spot.
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Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni officially got Womad 2023 underway just before 6pm.
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Nikki Haines, Dee Turner, and Jane Murton, AKA the Courtesans of New Plymouth, came with masks and umbrellas.
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Space fairies Robyn Ross, Sarah Forrest and Rebecca Forrest made sure to arrive in time for the opening acts on Friday night.
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There was still plenty of room to move at 5pm on Friday as early birds nabbed their spots and orientated themselves.
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Dave Lahood was one of the many workers at the New Plymouth site over the last fortnight getting it ready for the festival.
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Keith Rawson and Lahood were in charge of making sure the giant pot of flowers was ready for the weekend.
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