WOMAD Music Festival

This is my second visit to the festival and I can't stress enough how disappointed I was compared to my first visit, which although not perfect, had a great atmosphere and ethos. In 2023 the artists were amazing, the staff were amazing and helpful but the access was shockingly bad for my power wheelchair. If you get the chance to see Kathryn Joseph and Mokoomba at a more accessible venue, I would definitely go, they were fantastic and for that reason, I've given some stars, I would have given much more if WOMAD had listened to my concerns. It's so sad that The Star Feminine Band who risked their lives to have their music and women's voices heard weren't given the opportunity to reach everyone in the audience: I think I count as a woman but I couldn't see them due to the lack of viewing platforms at all the stages. I could hear them though which was something and I can empathise at some level re. having your voice heard. Having pointed out ways that made WOMAD really difficult for me and other disabled festival-goers to access (having been there the year before) I was so disappointed to find that the points I raised were not addressed despite having been promised by the the Access Team that I wouldn't encounter the same issues again with access. Long story short- I did encounter them and I'm not even sure where to start regarding them: everything from the lack of tracking overlays on difficult terrain to the insufficient number of viewing platforms and I could go on and on. Having asked WOMAD again to please address these issues, in particular the pot-holed disabled entrance (I think they're stretching the meaning of 'Disabled Access Gate' they said exactly the same as they said the year before basically: 'It's all good, access improved and here's 2 carer tickets' to an event they know I can't safely access due to the ironically named 'Disabled Access Gate'. I'm sure many disabled people do access it and I did actually technically access it but you can make up your own mind as to whether you think it safe or not for you in the film I made below. There were other issues I saw with other disabled people that didn't need to happen and they were demeaning to those festival-goers, one of whom our party had to rescue, another who fell flat on his face to name just a couple of examples. I've asked to be allowed to go through a tarmacked gate instead this year but I'm told it's a Health and Safety risk - the irony is hilarious! If the issues had been addressed, especially the 'Disabled Access Gate', I would definitely have given them another chance and a much higher rating. What were the two carer tickets meant to achieve? Were the two PA's meant to carry my powerchair over the pot-holes and into the camp-site? Come on people- it's 2024 and inclusion has changed a lot since WOMAD began 40 years ago. To his credit, the director of WOMAD, Chris Smith has acknowledged to me that WOMAD needs to get with the time we're in more and I couldn't agree more but their solution '(Come in the same gate, it's all better now' ) doesn't fill me with confidence when it's what they said last year and you can see the result in the film and judge for yourself. Even more ironical, the headliners for 2024 Amadou and Mariam are visually impaired- hope backstage is more accessible for them........

This was my first time at the four-day festival Womad (World of Music, Arts and Dance) and I absolutely loved it; It truly is an event for all people in all senses from the music to the diverse audience attending. There was a kind of welcoming, laid-back feel to the festival with music from many countries and people of all ages and cultures and by the end of it it felt as if I'd been abroad without actually having been abroad. I really enjoyed all the acts I saw but I especially loved Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis; they played music originally composed by Dudu’s grandfather which they updated and modernised with electric guitar etc. The mix of traditional and modern music was transportive! There was also poetry, literature, dance, science, food, well-being, chill-out and a children and families section, plus much more. One of the things I noticed about the laid-back atmosphere was that it was a bit too laid back for me on occasion particularly with regard to things that I could have accessed had I known about them in advance, for example, charging points for medical equipment such as ventilators, chill-out areas where I could have stretched out for a while, a mobiloo, the charity Festival Spirit who may or may not have been on-site depending upon who you asked! When asking for directions out of the site in the dark late at night 'Oh it's over there' with a vague arm flourish led to 3 nights comedy moments for us driving around a field in the pitch dark, but I did love it and took it as part of the overall charm and eccentricity! In short, please don't lose Womad's beautiful, accepting ethos, you just need a bit more structure and communication for people with disabilities! I've given 5 stars for the overall experience even although there were a few issues for me as I had such a fantastic time.

Probably the best festival for disabled people and their carers in the world. Free carer tickets, excellent level access disabled parking and campsite, amazingly nice volunteer stewarding, disabled access platforms, the list goes on and on.