WOMADELAIDE ADDS ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO TO THE LINEUP

Nitin Sawhney will no longer be able to perform at WOMADelaide due to a medical emergency.

There’s been an unfortunate last-minute lineup change to this year’s WOMADelaide, with Nitin Sawhney no longer able to perform due to a medical emergency. In his place, five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo and psychedelic jazz-fusion four-piece Midlife have been drafted in as replacements. 

“Can’t say what it is, but I’m about to go through something pretty major,” Sawhney tweeted yesterday. “Wish me luck.” This tweet was followed up by a statement from WOMAD organisers who hope to have the DJ and producer back at a later date. “He is deeply saddened not to be able to travel at this time, but hopes to be back in the future,” the statement read. “We wish him a speedy recovery.”

The two replacement acts are pretty handy, with both Kidjo and Midlife fantastic artists who will add another dimension to the already stacked WOMADelaide lineup.

Kidjo, who was already in town and set to appear at the Adelaide Festival on Tuesday, March 12, will now also close out WOMAD on Monday, March 11. This is her first appearance at the festival in five years, with the Beninese-French singer-songwriter celebrating her 40-year career with a performance that will include tracks from her new album Mother Nature along with fan favourites from her amazing career. 

Melbourne jazz fusion collective Midlife is on a roll after the release of their third studio album Chorus last week. Having recently announced a national tour, their WOMAD performance is a chance for Adelaide locals to get a taste of what to expect from their upcoming tour. Midlife will take Sawhney’s opening night slot this Friday, March 8. 

If you’re still unsure of who to see at this year’s festival, be sure to check out our top picks. 

Head to the WOMADelaide website to check out the full lineup and changes. Limited tickets are still available here.