WOMEX 2008 Announces First Round of Showcases

The world Music Expo, WOMEX, has announcerd the first set of showcases for the 2008 conference.  "I think we have reached very balanced high-profile results. I am totally convinced that it is a great selection for all WOMEX visitors", says one of the members of the panel of judges, Tobias Maier.

For the first time WOMEX used an online tool for the showcase proposal submissions - www.sonicbids.com - which gave the WOMEX Jury enough time to go through all artists' proposals and do a personal list of favorites before the actual jury meeting. "In general Sonicbids gave easy access to all the necessary information. Compared to previous years it seems like a huge step forward. I think the quality of the jury debate and the final decisions wouldn't have been possible without the use of Sonicbids or an alternative but similar system. Now we at least came somewhat prepared and therefore had time left for in-depth discussion", said Maarten Rovers, after the jury marathon in Berlin.

Here are the first showcases who have confirmed:

- A Filetta (France)
- Alex Cuba (Cuba/Canada)
- Bako Dagnon (Mali)
- Bedouin Jerry Can Band (Egypt)
- Caman (Portugal)
- Fatima Spar & The Freedom Fries (Turkey/Bulgaria/Ukraine/Serbia/Austria)
- Jouhiorkesteri (Finland)
- LA-33 (Colombia)
- Liu Fang (China/Canada)
- Mike Marshall & Darol Anger with Väsen (USA/Sweden)
- Mo DJ (Mali)
- Salamat Sadikova (Kyrgyzstan)
- Speed Caravan (Algeria/Morocco/France)
- Tomas de Perrate (Spain)
- Tumi and the Volume (South Africa)
- Zabit Nabizade Trio (Azerbaijan)

More at www.womex.com

Photo: A Filetta