Dub reggae pioneers, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Max Romeo will break their European Tour to perform at this summer’s WOMAD festival.  Veteran, Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Lee 'Scratch' Perry has become a legend of Jamaican reggae, and is acclaimed as a pioneer of dub. He is now well into his 70s, but with no thoughts of retiring, he and long-time collaborator, Max Romeo, are sure to enchant the audience along with their spectacular, soulful band. 

Festival Director Chris Smith said “'We are delighted to be able to host two of the greatest reggae legends, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Max Romeo within this already exciting and unique line-up.  I am positive they will be a highlight of the festival and the WOMAD audience will have them on their must-see list."

Other highlights this year include; Malian star Rokia Traoré, the world-famous Gilberto Gil, the extraordinary Mokoomba from Victoria Falls, everyone’s favourite Afrocentric hip-hoppers Arrested Development,  the irrepressible ska, punk, jazz and swing duo from France Babylon Circus and with their very own brand of Afrobeat, Nigerian’s Seun Kuti, son of the Fela and his band Egypt 80. Line up

And that’s still not all. Those who can make a really long weekend of it can buy a separate Thursday ticket which allows them to catch both that raspy revolutionary of Algerian rai-rock Rachid Taha and the extraordinary spectacle of Italy’s Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio updating Mozart’s Magic Flute by way of mambo, salsa, rock and country-pop. There will also be the traditional Thursday night Malmesbury School Project, a collaboration between local school kids and, this year, Middle Eastern musicians and dancers. 

WOMAD is about much more than the music though. 2013's festival will welcome back the Taste The World stage, where artists performing in the line-up are invited to present and prepare native dishes for audiences, occasionally using techniques not familiar to these shores. Throughout the weekend children of all ages (all children aged 13 and under get into WOMAD for FREE all weekend) are welcome to join the festival's extensive workshops and activities in the World of Children. On Sunday afternoon all the wonderful creations are presented by their makers in the much loved Children's Parade, which snakes its way through the festival site. Festival goers can unwind in the WOMAD Spa, experience the sights, smells and tastes of the festival’s Global Market or simply enjoy the vintage rides at Carter's Original Steam Fair. 

 WOMAD Charlton Park is proud to be media partnered with The Guardian.