Wales Secures WOMEX Opening Concert

When leading international world music industry delegates arrive in Cardiff this October, they’ll be welcomed to Wales by Cerys Matthews and a host of leading musicians.

The opening concert of WOMEX, the international world music expo, will this year be dedicated to the music of Wales and made in Wales. It will be a celebration of the nations’ unique culture and music, presented at Wales Millennium Centre’s Donald Gordon Theatre.

Each year, the honour of presenting the WOMEX opening concert is a hard fought contest, but Cerdd Cymru and Cerys Matthews’ proposals won through. Around 1,500 international world music agents, producers and festival organisers are expected to attend.

WOMEX 13 Cardiff will take place between 23 and 27 October 2013 and will be focussed around two venues.

The Motorpoint arena will host 2500 international world music delegates for a daytime conference then, by night, focus will turn to Wales Millennium Centre and Oval Basin (Roald Dahl Plas), where WOMEX delegates will be joined by public audiences to roam around six stages and enjoy over 60 showcases of some of the best world music on the planet.

The performance element of WOMEX 13 Cardiff begins with a gala opening concert on Wednesday 23 October. This will be followed by three evenings of world music showcases on Thursday to Saturday and DJ Nights.

Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales spearheaded the successful campaign to attract WOMEX to Wales and is coordinating the local delivery of WOMEX 13 Cardiff.

Eluned Haf, Director of Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales said, "The WOMEX opening concert will be a moment when the world will be listening to the music of Wales. Our anthem proclaims that we are a land of singers but internationally much of our music talent and heritage is yet to be discovered. This is a golden moment to secure a place for Wales' music tradition within the world music family."

Ben Mandleson, WOMEX Founding Director, said, "We see the Opening Concert at WOMEX as a great opportunity to grab in-depth insight into what may be uncharted musical territory for most of the world, even for our WOMEX delegates! It’s also a chance to dispel a few preconceptions. That’s why we are proud to welcome this WOMEX Opening Concert: it will re-imagine and present a spirited music scene in Wales deeply rooted in its traditions and looking boldly into the future."

Public tickets, via Wales Millennium Centre’s Box Office, cost £25.00 / £30.00 per ticket.