Indian classical luminary Anoushka Shankar is all set to dazzle the Kiwi cultural landscape in March next year when she will be attending the world music festival WOMAD New Zealand 2018.
Ms Shankar, along with Los Angeles saxophonist, composer and jazz superstar Kamasi Washington has signed on to be two of the headlining acts for the popular three-day international music and dance festival.
WOMAD New Zealand is an international festival that brings together artists from all over the globe for a vibrant showcase of the worlds many forms of music, arts, and dance.
The festival will be held in the stunning TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth, which is frequently described by visitors and performers as one of the most beautiful venues in the world.
Grammy-nominated sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar will be one of the headlining acts.
The 36-year-old is the half-sister of American singer and songwriter Norah Jones and is one of the leading figures in World Music today.
Named as one of Time magazine’s Asian Heroes, Anoushka Shankar is a much-lauded musician, author and columnist, as well as a strong advocate for women’s rights.
Taught to play the sitar by her father, the famous Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar has performed with a wide range of artists, including Sting, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ms Shankar, thriving as a composer, has been exploring the fertile ground in the crossover between Indian music and a variety of genres, including flamenco, electronica, jazz and Western classical music, with the aim of bringing together a variety of cultural experiences and attitudes as organically as possible.
Multi-award winning Mr Washington is a jazz giant who has played alongside Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, John Legend and most recently, Kendrick Lamar.
Mr Washington’s contemporary take on jazz has been compared to John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, and he has wowed crowds and critics at both Coachella and Glastonbury.
Hailed as one of the hottest young jazz acts in the world, Mr Washington will perform exclusively at WOMAD New Zealand, alongside his impressive full band.
“These two critically acclaimed artists are leaders in their respective genres, and both artists reflect the strength and diversity that WOMAD New Zealand has become recognised for,” the NZ Programme Manager, Emere Wano said.
“World Music is still our core, and every year we present acts from many corners of the world, including New Zealand and Australia. We aren’t just about being outward looking at what the world can bring to us, but inclusive and showing the world what we have here at home too,” Mr Wano further added.
They join the already announced classic Kiwi band DRAGON.
The official launch and the full lineup announcement of Womad 2018 will be held at Parliament in Wellington on Wednesday, October 18.
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