Introducing the Inaugural Selection of Showcase Artists for WOMEX 2023

WOMEX, the preeminent international exhibition event for world music, has disclosed the initial roster of Jury-selected Showcase artists who will captivate audiences during the 29th installment of this grand affair. From the 25th to the 29th of October 2023, A Coruña, Spain will pulsate with a symphony of diverse sounds, rhythms, and cultures, as musicians and music professionals from across the globe assemble to commemorate the richness of diversity and the boundless bounds of musical ingenuity. The 20 artists revealed today, hailing from 25 different countries, indisputably attest to the extensive array of musical styles on offer.

The current lineup announcement boasts an array of remarkable talents, including Cuban-born vocalist and virtuoso cellist, Ana Carla Maza (Cuba/Spain), who seamlessly melds jazz, classical music, and the vibrant hues of Latin America. Joining her is the groundbreaking amalgamation of griot vocals, Burkinabé instruments, and the industrial sonorities of electro-guitar and drums, aptly named Avalanche Kaito (Burkina Faso/Belgium).

Equally captivating is Bamba Wassoulou Groove (Mali), whose electric Afro-pop, laced with psychedelic guitar riffs and irresistibly danceable beats, originates from the southern Wassulu region of Mali. Another act, the Barmer Boys (India), hailing from the Indian desert, effortlessly interweaves organic roots-tradition with the devotional melodies of mystical Sufism, creating an enrapturing synthesis of passionate poetry and mesmeric music that induces a state of ecstatic bliss.

Last but not least, Kutu (Ethiopia/France), artfully fusing Ethiopian rhythms, improvisations, and poetry with the traditional Azmari vocal style, ushers listeners into an electro-mystical Ethio-trance experience. These are merely a glimpse of the exceptional artists gracing the WOMEX stage.

WOMEX has consistently remained devoted to providing an inclusive and equitable platform for artists worldwide, championing diverse musical styles and cultures that transcend geographical boundaries and genres. The current lineup of showcase performances for this year already encompasses an extensive sonic spectrum, and further announcements regarding additional artists are eagerly anticipated.

The first set of Jury-selected WOMEX 2023 Showcase artists are:

79rs Gang (USA)
Ana Carla Maza (Cuba/Spain)
Avalanche Kaito (Burkina Faso/Belgium)
Bamba Wassoulou Groove (Mali)
Barmer Boys (India)
DefMaa MaaDef (Senegal)
Elshan Ghasimi (Iran/Germany)
Erini (Greece/USA)
Francesco Loccisano – Marcello De Carolis “chitarra battente duo” (Italy)
Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys (Canada)
Killabeatmaker (Colombia)
Kin’Gongolo Kiniata (DR Congo)
Kutu (Ethiopia/France)
Liraz (Israel/Iran)
Matt Carmichael (UK)
Puuluup (Estonia)
Roger Damawuzan (Togo/France)
Symbio (Sweden)
Teo Collori & Momento Cigano (Slovenia)
Widad Mjama & Khalil Epi (Morocco/Tunisia/France)

(headline image: Barmer Boys – Photo by Jishnu Chakraborty)

More about WOMEX: www.womex.com