It's pretty easy to miss that this is a music festival as commercialism has taken over this 'alternative' event. The acreage devoted to stalls, shops, and eateries vastly overwhelms that devoted to music, arts and dance. In fact, I don't think I saw any arts and dance and there were just three or four stages devoted to music. The stages/tents where music actually is being performed tended to be packed. Probably relecting the lack of choice. There was very little in the way of smaller, periphery acts. On the plus side, access and parking was fantastic. If I had to queue for several hours to get in and get out, it really would have ...  Read the complete review

Where a few years ago this was a relatively small festival with wonderful sounds from around the world, it is now a crowded festival with a lesser quality of music. This year at WOMAD (2000) you could attend to be crushed by middle class wanna-be hippies and their children's buggies. The stages were crowded and the ground is merely dirt now. The quality of the music has, suprisingly, gone down and now the problem of choosing a stage to watch doesn't exist. Stage A has someone good on, most other stuff isn't all that good. In earlier years you would get spontaneous playing on the grass. Now, beacause of the crowds and commercialisation this couldn't ...  Read the complete review

I have been to WOMAD (World Organisation Of Music, Arts, and Dance) festival ever since it first started, and have beautiful memories of the first one ever.... Having recently been to the latest 2000 one, I came back just as mellow and happy as I did the first time! This festival has so many postive attributes, that I could go on forever..here are just a few : WOMAD is very family orientated with plenty for your children to do. I have four children, age ranges from 12 right down to 5 and they all enjoyed it, and the calm atmosphere held there seems to calm the children down somewhat. They have a 'loud' tent for them and a 'quiet' tent.... ...  Read the complete review

I just love this festival, it's soooooo good. I have been three times now and am going for the 4th time in 3 days time - YAY! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to just relax, chill out, sunbathe, get henna tattoos, act like a cool hippy, etc. (!) It's really good. When you are there, you can stick the younger ones on the ferris wheel while you try food from all over the world ( I think this is to match the WORLD music! ) A few things to remember are... bring a couple of bog rolls, bring warm clothes for night time, summery clothes for the day, and if you aren't too keen on spicy/different foods, etc., bring ...  Read the complete review

I can't wait for Womad 2000! This will be my 6th womad and no doubt will be just as good as every other one. Womad is unlike any other festival (and I've been to nearly all the UK festivals). The atmosphere is really relaxed and laid back, the music is always something different and the Whirlygig club nights are amazing (but were better when held in the big top instead of the Rivermead centre - it didn't get so hot). It is a great place to take your family with a special family camping area and activities to keep children entertained all day. The tickets are more reasonably priced than the other festivals with children under 14 admitted for free with a ..  Read the complete review