WOMAD

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  As a loyal Womad goer of over 25 years this is the first time I've ever disliked anything about Womad. But the awful horrible reverberating dub bass from the Big Red Tent made me very angry and upset. It was very unpleasant and actually a health hazard. It boomed at such a low loud frequency that it boomed not only in the Big Red Tent and outside it but also over half the stall area. I stopped going near the Big Red Tent after that, and curtailed my visits to the stalls near it as I quite simply couldn't stand it. It was totally unnecessary and completely inappropriate as well, as it was not dub techno or other urban music that was playing there (thank goodness). Other festivals may want this. But at WOMAD I enjoy NOT having bass like that, and I go to WOMAD because I like world music - which is essentially acoustic - and the relaxed atmosphere. There was also a tendency to do it on the main stage, but the open stage dispersed it more, although it was stil unnecessary - it was even booming from the bass player during the kids choir on Friday afternoon - I couldn't understand it at all. PLEASE can we stop this awful booming reverberating bass at WOMAD. It spoiled those parts of the festival for me. I also spoke to a friend today, who raised it and said he has had tinnitus since WOMAD. Not only does it damage hearing, I think it potentially could damage health more seriously as it seemed to penetrate your whole body and make it reverberate. Kids may like it (although it can't be good for them). I don't. Neither does my friend. And I found it profoundly unrelaxing and distressing as well. Please stop this tendency now.

  Posted on 13-Aug-2012 3:57pm by Womadgroupie

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  I noticed it during Hollie Cook, but I blamed the sound check/mix, but still enjoyed the reggae regardless and danced through her whole set. I also noticed it when walking around, but when I checked to see who was performing there I think it was Dub FX, so again I thought that's what the style of the music might be, with the dub step, etc....Maybe the speakers at that tent were faulty in some way when the volume easy high, I don't know. I personally liked the differences in styles, not all acoustic. I'm 47 years old, and this was my first WOMAD, so I don't have any others to compare this one to. I loved seeing The Correspondents who were definitely geared to a younger audience. It seemed to me that entire families came to WOMAD, and by having acts that appeal to different styles and age groups would seem the smart thing to do so that all have acts to look forward to. It's all World Music, so it fits in the broad definition of the festival. I stayed at a cottage in Malmesbury, and when I got back Friday night Jimmy Cliff was still playing and we could clearing hear him all the way to the center of Malmesbury. The bass coming out of the speakers at the Open Air Stage was pretty intense during some of the shows there. I was near the stage for the first half of Jimmy C's set, and was literally vibrating from it. I don't know if it's unhealthy to the body, but sometimes at concerts it's like that. I thoroughly enjoyed the festival, and would love to return!

  Posted on 13-Aug-2012 4:13pm by Ela

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  Hi WomadGroupie. There is already a thread running on this subject, if you want to have a look and join the discussion there

  http://www.womad.org/forums/thread/EhI-lB1Z2M6RMHk-_2o.

  Posted on 13-Aug-2012 7:10pm by Nigenet

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  this issue has been raised by a number of people, hopefully someone in the big WOMAD tent is listening

  Posted on 13-Aug-2012 8:14pm by Cal N Del

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  LKJ on Thursday had just perfect sound, but sound engineer destroyed the perfomance of Hollie Cook. Following performances in Red tent has been close to doing harm, a pitty, we missed a lot of acts there due to the bad sound

  Posted on 20-Aug-2012 11:19am by Sicgoe

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  I'm sure Womad will get it sorted for next year . . . they do usually listen! Can't say I noticed the awful bass myself, but I didn't see any shows there. :) x

  Posted on 20-Aug-2012 12:58pm by Yummy Mummy

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  Lots of us complained on here last year about the same problem and nobody at Womad seems to have taken any notice. Lets hope the message gets through this time.

  Posted on 20-Aug-2012 3:38pm by Balafon

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  I tell a lie! I saw Toddla T & Serocee . . .. didn't bother me . . . but that's supposed to be bassy I guess. I don't remember anyone complaining last year.x

  Posted on 20-Aug-2012 4:55pm by Yummy Mummy

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