WOMEX 2009 Announces First Showcases

WOMEX 09 announced today the first list of artists selected to showcase in Copenhagen this Fall. "We are extremely happy to announce the first WOMEX 09 Showcases," said a press release. "We will be releasing the artist's names in three sittings, but would like to send you some of the first who are already confirmed."

"We'd like to thank the seven Samurai for the hard and dedicated work they have put into this year's selection from over 760 proposals."

Samurai (judge in WOMEX lingo) Michael Orlove, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, says: "I am very satisfied with what we ended up with. The programming is incredibly varied with some real discoveries for WOMEX attendees."

Once again WOMEX used an online tool for the showcase proposal submissions - http://www.sonicbids.com. It gave the WOMEX Jury enough
time to go through all artists' proposals and draw up a personal list of favorites before the actual jury meeting - which still lasted for three days (and nights).

"I think it would be a disaster if we were waiting until the [jury] weekend to start listening to all of these submissions... we would need a week. Sonicbids is a much more efficient way of going through the submissions to advance plan for the jury meeting. I don't see an easier way around it", summarizes Samurai Michael Orlove.

Here are the first showcases who have confirmed:

- Brigada Retro Mishto (Romania)
- Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (USA)
- Deba (Mayotte/France)
- Dulsori (South Korea)
- Kayhan Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider (Iran/USA)
- Kouyaté-Neerman (Mali/France)
- Mamer (China)
- Oreka TX (Spain)
- SpokFrevo Orquestra (Brazil)
- Watcha Clan (France/Algeria)

- DJ: Maga Bo (Brazil)

Photo: Mamer