WOMAD acts fail to get visas

United Kingdom | | 25 July 2008

Three acts have been forced to cancel their appearances at this weekend's WOMAD festival after failing to get visas into the UK.

Congolese band Kasai Allstars, India's The Dhoad Gypsies and Pakistan artist Asif Ali Khan will not now perform at the historic world music event, which takes place at Charlton Park, Wiltshire.

According to the BBC, they all failed to meet entry rules despite being exempt from needing work permits.

Another two acts, Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 and TeraKraft, may also miss out due to the visa issues which have proven to be a regular problem for WOMAD.

Every year the festival draws more than 70 acts from more than 30 countries for the four-day event, which opened last night (Thursday).

WOMAD spokesman said: "It's a problem that we always have at Womad as you do at any big festival with so many artists on the bill."

"With Womad, [it is] even more so, because the artists are so much more diverse and from little countries that don't necessarily deal with visas as much as other places.

"It's awful that you can't get to see them because these performers are fantastic."

All the acts had been replaced on the bill and the spokesman insisted the cancellations would not spoil the festival.

WOMAD is already in full flow with dub and reggae sets by Lee "Scratch" Perry and Adrian Sherwood opening proceedings last night.

Other artists appearing include Eddy Grant and The Frontline Orchestra, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Shaun McGowen, Roni Size and Finlay Quaye.