WOMADelaide has lifted the lid on the first names confirmed for its 2027 festival, with three major international acts set to headline the opening announcement.
Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter LEON BRIDGES, British ska legends MADNESS and acclaimed Tuareg group TINARIWEN will all perform at next year’s festival, which returns to Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla from 5th – 8th March 2027.
The announcement comes ahead of the full programme and marks the beginning of WOMADelaide’s 35th anniversary celebrations, continuing the festival’s long-running tradition of bringing artists, cultures and audiences together from across the globe.
LEON BRIDGES will bring his latest musical chapter, Happiness Anytime, to Adelaide. The forthcoming fifth album and accompanying tour see the Texas-born artist exploring the communal energy of Jamaican dancehall, funk and Afrobeat, adding a fresh rhythmic dimension to his distinctive sound.
Since breaking through with his debut album Coming Home in 2015, Bridges has moved effortlessly between R&B, soul, country and contemporary sounds. His collaborations have included artists such as Khruangbin, The Avalanches, Olivia Dean and Shaboozey. For WOMADelaide, he will perform with a full live setup featuring a DJ, horn section and backing vocalists.
Also joining the 2027 line-up are MADNESS, one of the most enduring and recognisable bands in British music. With more than four decades of history behind them, the London group have built a career around their infectious blend of ska, pop and British songwriting.
Songs including Baggy Trousers, One Step Beyond, Our House, House of Fun and It Must Be Love have become part of the musical fabric of the UK, while the band’s live reputation has remained just as strong. Their WOMADelaide appearance will bring the unmistakable Madness energy to the festival stage.
Returning to WOMADelaide are TINARIWEN, the pioneering Tuareg collective whose music draws together Saharan traditions, electric guitar and blues. The group first appeared at the festival in 2004 and have since become internationally recognised for their powerful performances and storytelling.
Formed in northern Mali, TINARIWEN began performing as a wedding band before developing into one of the most influential voices in Tuareg music. Their songs reflect the history, culture and experiences of their people, with music continuing to play a central role in their work.
The three acts offer an early glimpse of what is shaping up to be a typically diverse WOMADelaide programme, with further artists due to be announced throughout October and November.
WOMADelaide has been bringing music, dance and the arts from around the world to Adelaide since 1992!
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