It has hosted the world's top musicians from every continent on the globe, apart from Antarctica. But WOMAD, the West's second biggest festival, is going down some rather familiar cobbles this year – after booking an actor from Coronation Street.
Craig Charles, aka Corrie's big-hearted taxi driver Lloyd Mullaney, is one surprise name on the billing for the WOMAD Festival, as the final line-up is announced today.
As well as being an accomplished TV actor who made his name as Dave Lister in Red Dwarf, Charles is also an in-demand DJ and musician and has turned his love of Northern Soul music into a sideline career, with a regular slot as a presenter on BBC Radio 6Music, and as a touring DJ with the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club.
He has even incorporated his love of Northern Soul into Coronation Street – the character he plays has an extensive record collection.
He will be the first soap star to perform at WOMAD, which takes place at the end of July at Charlton Park in north Wiltshire, but EastEnders actor Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick Trueman, is a regular in the crowd.
Alongside Craig Charles this year will be famous US funk band Arrested Development, Mercury Prize-nominated English pianist Ed Harcourt and ska legends Toots & The Maytals, alongside the usual list of the best music from around th e world.
Last year's festival broke all previous records, with more than 35,000 people attending on the Saturday, and due to the demand for day tickets, organisers have revealed that, for the first time, day tickets will go on sale more than a month in advance of the festival, on June 14.
A spokesman for WOMAD said that while the festival line-up does include some acts most people will have heard of, the point of the festival was to experience something new.
"This being WOMAD, alongside those more familiar names comes music that you don't yet know," he said.
Meanwhile, Stroud-based green energy firm Ecotricity, founded by Dale Vince, has announced it will be starting a partnership with WOMAD, with the firm sponsoring the late-night Molly's Green Bar at the festival. The bar, which stays open all night with a cabaret and DJs, was the spot where Prince Harry partied the night away last year. If he is back this year, he'll be illuminated with renewable energy – courtesy of Ecotricity's wind turbines.
"We're looking forward to being a part of WOMAD," said Mr Vince said: "In all my years as a traveller, I've been to a lot of festivals, but I never made it to WOMAD, so it'll be great to come along."
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