Arts Projects Australia. Botanic Park. 6 Mar 2015
As one walks with purpose down to Botanic Park, through the cool, crisp Friday night air drifts the sounds you have been waiting for: drums, brass, roars of appreciation. Yes, it is unmistakably the start of Womadelaide weekend.
The familiar layout invites you in and the music spurs you on. Wandering towards the first act on your schedule, the noise and colour of Artonik's The Colour of Time completely engages and all plans are forgotten. With booming sounds and clouds like a powdered rainbow, you are drawn to follow the cheering, laughing, dancing parade as it follows the moving speakers, powered by The Colour of Time team. They lead the revellers towards a cat walk in front of the Healing Village. The crowd spreads and grows as it goes, swallowing up onlookers and those in its way. It is building to its crescendo: an explosion of sound, dance and giant plumes of colour. Inspired by Indian Holi Festival, a celebration of the victory of good over evil, it is a wonderful concept.
After this unexpected dance party, one seeks a break and decides to indulge in one of the best parts of opening night: exploring the new food and product stalls on offer in the Global Village. Many old favourites are present, Byron Bay Doughnuts, Beyond India and All Fired Up Pizzas, but there is also 15 news food stands to try. Sukhumvit Soi 38 immediately catches the eye with well-priced thai street food. Vegetarian larb is not easy to come by, so their tofu offering is an immediate winner. Some of the newer stalls are definitely challenging the price limit - $20 for a meal likely eaten standing up with plastic fork is a stretch, but for those with cash to splash, it's worth a try.
With a full belly, one’s original intention is forefront in the mind; time to check out some music!
Eager not to miss one of the highlights of this year's festival, it's back to centre stage to see Bueno Vista Sessions. Friday night's performance is a stripped back version of the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club (minus the orchestra). Touring for the final time, these stalwarts of the Latin music scene bring streams of festival goers and don't disappoint. The ever popular style is at its best with these masters whose Cuban soul is still sultry and effortlessly cool. Omara Portuondo blows the audience away with her energy and vocals; at 85, she reminds us all that age is no barrier to getting your cha-cha on.
Sharon Van Etten follows on Stage 3, and her mellow and bluesy pop rock brings you back to earth, and to yourself. The moody, hypnotic sound draws the audience closer: all eyes are fixed on the unstated figure clad in black. Deep bass and echoing vocals drift out from the stage and settle over the crowd like a warm blanket. Van Etten is a perfect contrast.
As the night progresses, the crowds ebb and make their way to the exits, keen not to completely exhaust their reserves on the first night and eager for the new experiences to be explored over the next three days.
Nicole Russo
When: 6 to 9 Mar
Where: Botanic Park
Bookings: womadelaide.com.au
Photography by Aaron Vinall
