willing to try new and unusual food from around the world . We look for traders who reflect the values of the festival ,” she says .
Among the WOMAD traders that Cowley has a particular fondness for is Madras Café , which started as a chai stall at the festival in 1992 and these days typically serves around 4,000 people with vegetarian Indian meals . Affectionately known as MadCaf , its profits support Action Village India ’ s work to redress deprivation and social injustice in India .
“ The Madras Café make Thali in metal dishes that are reused ,” says Cowley . “ WOMAD has always been greener than many festivals but we just haven ’ t shouted about it . Madras Café is fantastic , they have about 60 people working on the stall and it ’ s always so , so , busy . It is very unique .”
Smith says a focus on sustainability is embedded in the WOMAD organisation : “ It ’ s been part of WOMAD right from the beginning because the event started out as a way to challenge and look at the world differently . It is the same with accessibility , it is at the core of the organisation .”
Key initiatives include working with renewable power supply partner Ecotricity to switch from diesel generators to green power directly from the grid .
“ We have a 15-year lease at Charlton Park and that enables us to make the investment into some real energy infrastructure that will enable us to power key pieces of infrastructure , including stages , from sustainable energy sources that are hard wired in ,” says Smith .
It is not just WOMAD ’ s staff and attendees who have proven loyal to the festival , among the many suppliers to play a key role in the production of WOMAD for years have been Autotrak , Field & Lawn , SES Bristol
Chris Smith , festival director
and Powerline ( see box on the right for full list ).
“ Some event operators go out to tender every year to get the best price , but I think there is so much value in loyalty , and that will come when things don ’ t go your way ,” says Bassadone .
The core festival team of less than a dozen work on the event all year , but once WOMAD is up and running the numbers ramp up to around 3,500 , including crew , volunteer stewards and bar staff .
Says Bassadone , “ The build is as manic as it is for any festival team , but it goes smoothly because the site crew have been working with WOMAD forever and they do it because they love it . That ’ s the same with the stewards and the core festival team .”
WOMAD has come a long way since it nearly came unstuck in Shepton Mallet 40 years ago , but the enthusiasm of the festival team shows no sign of dimming .
Reflecting on WOMAD Cáceres , Mandy Adams says , “ It was the first WOMAD since the pandemic struck and to see that square full with 140,000 people again was so inspiring . The thrill of doing the last WOMAD and my first one are just the same – it never wanes – and I really feel that this year is going to be phenomenal .”
WOMAD SUPPLIERS LIST
Stage production
• PA - Brit Row and Amber Audio
• Stages - SRG , Steeldeck , StageTEC
• Backline - John Henry ’ s
• Lights - GLS
• Video - Video Wall Technologies
Site and infrastructure
• Contractor
• Caravan Hire
• Airstream Facilities
• Complete Caravan Services
• ID & C
• Enterprise
• Wernick
• Festival Gas
• Allens Hire
• U-cool
• Martin ’ s Lights
• GLS
• Planet Gold
• Angus Watt
• Reuben Katz
• Mystic Lights
• Touring Electrics
• Speedy Assets
• Amber Audio
• Mini Excavator Services
• Etherlive
• 1st Office
• MJ Church
• Nurdens
• James Hazell
• Prestek
• Powerline
• DCRS
• Generation
• ISS
• South Western Ambulance Service
• The Event Safety Shop
• CTM
• ITHINC
• Event Mobility
• Radio WOMAD
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