WOMADelaide @ Botanic Park, Adelaide 8/3/2026
Day three of WOMADelaide delivered one of the festival’s most dynamic days moving effortlessly between political storytelling, gospel power and dance-floor energy.
It was a perfect day and the crowd was large right from the start to catch Meganesia opening proceedings on Foundation stage. A riot of colour and movement pumping out hypnotic percussion and layered rhythms rooted in West Papuan traditions. Through a variety of musicians, dancers and flag wavers their set built into a communal groove, drawing the crowd into a trance-like party atmosphere beneath the trees.
Nearby on Stage 2 the Daughters of Donbas gave one of the most moving performances of the day. In-between haunting folk vocals and string arrangements, the group read many first-hand testimonies from Ukrainian children and families affected by the on-going war with Russia. Their musical project also raises funds and awareness for the estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children abducted each year, giving the performance a powerful sense of urgency and purpose.
There is so much to see at WOMAD and next ducked back to the Foundation stage to catch a little bit of the Macedonian brass ensemble the Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra, an eight man brass dance band. They looked as cool as they sounded with each member sporting the tightest buzz fade haircut! After having a little dance with them it did seem like a very long trek across the WOMAD site to Stage 7 and a much appreciated chill out session in the cool under the trees listening to the folk songs of Los Angeles artist Annahstasia. She was charming, cool and beautiful and since a contrast to the high energy of Dzambo.
After checking out the clothing on offer in the market stalls it was back to the music with yet another change of musical styles. The Annie & the Caldwells Family Band delivered a sincere and powerful gospel set and they were absolutely on fire! Their deep, booming voices felt effortless as they blended gospel with soul, blues and funk influences. The family dynamic and musical legacy on stage was something special to witness and when someone with deep rooted faith calls out God Bless You it really felt like it truly meant something.
Wander the festival stages I came across the live hair art of Osadía that was literally transforming festival goers into new creations through hair colouring and face paint. It was easy to spot people in the crowd who had undergone one of their sessions. Also their were the performers from Born In A Taxi and Born In A Taxi – Illuminati that were regularly seen walking through the grounds.
Australian born and Jamaica based reggae fusion artist Nattali Rize maintained the positivity of the mood as she shifted into high gear with a fiery reggae performance full of heavy basslines, activist spirit and another beautiful positive message. The crowd quickly turned into a dancing sea as her messages of unity and resistance rang out across the park. She closed with a little bit of Bob Marley before she climbed down into the centre of the crowd at the end. Seeing two such positive artists in a row felt really special.
I was sad to miss out on Adelaide based My Chérie but needed to break for food and drink and also some wonderful treats from the Hokey-Pokey artisan ice cream van and also watch a bit of Dutch three piece My Baby from distance. They sounded great but I could only enjoy them from afar as I wanted to get back to the Foundation stage for five time ARIA winner Baker Boy. It was just as well that I got there early because the crowd was huge! Young and old packed into as a great mass of excited revellers that stretched all the back back to well beyond the sound desk. He didn’t disappoint and lifted the energy even further with his infectious mix of hip-hop, Yolŋu Matha language and high-energy choreography. His charisma and positivity had the entire crowd bouncing in a communal celebratory high.
After Baker Boy I joined a fair number of the crowd moving over to Stage 2 for another incredible performance this time from UK based Nigerian artist Obongjayar. Another huge crowd and another huge, high energy performance. The guy was incredible, such energy and power a pure force of nature. At one point he called out “I think just chipped my tooth…oh well rock and roll”. What is his musically genre? Can anyone define it? Multi blending of African rhythm, electronic, soul and indie – pure entertainment.
Hard as it was to top Obongjayar the night wasn’t finished yet and I managed to squeeze myself into the Frome Park pavilion for the last half of Australian / Philippine rapper and beat boxer BVT. Wow what a performer she is! A powerful, sexual queen of the stage. The pavilion was packed and with the heat from the crowd and the heat that she was generating on the stage no one wanted her set to end. It had just been an incredible set of three artists to close out Day 3 of the festival with!
Overall it had been a powerful day that captured the spirit of WOMADelaide — music as culture, protest and pure joy all at once.
WOMAD Review By Julie Reid