WOMAD has announced new artists from around the world for this summer's big music festival.

The festival is set for Thursday 25 to Sunday, July 28 at Charlton Park and bills itself as ‘the world’s festival’ to celebrate many forms of music, arts and dance.

Announced for this year’s festival is the Sicily-born reggae superstar Alborosie from Italy who promises to "absolutely get the party started" on Thursday night. 

The Jamaica-residing singer and producer has collaborated with the likes of the Wailing Souls and King Jammy. 

DJ Paulette has consistently broken the mould as a female DJ, trailblazing the way for others, from ruling the Hacienda in the early nineties to touring the globe many times, she is a true icon.  

Joining them will be the varied musical talents of singer and composer Sid Sriram from India and the USA, who combines Indie and R&B with his native Carnatic music, forming the unique sound he is known so well for. 

Another announcement is that Ghana Special from Ghana will be performing, including an all-star line-up and some bonafide highlife legends; Pat Thomas, Kwashibu Area Band, Charles Amoah and K.O.G.

A spokesperson said: "They’re sure to showcase the rich sounds of this corner of West Africa."

Also announced is LINA of Portugal, regarded as one of the finest interpreters of the Portuguese fado tradition.

Exploring the bluesier influences, Leyla McCalla from USA and Haiti takes her cello into the folk traditions of both North America and the Caribbean, an homage to her mixed heritage. 

Also added is New York-based singer-songwriter Emel of Tunisia and USA, whose barbed political songs have often been banned on the airwaves in her native Tunisia.

Singer Brittany Davis from USA who takes inspiration from Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu, and the all-female Pankisi Ensemble from Georgia, whose stirring four-part harmonies are sure to bring the drama.  

On top of that, Gnawa Blues All Stars of the UK and Morocco join the lineup, bringing together the deep and irresistible grooves of North African Gnawa with the sounds of West Africa, South America, Asia and beyond.

Warm-voiced Asmâa Hamzaoui fronts the bluesy intensity of her all-woman band Bnat Tombouktou from Morocco in a rare female take on the same sound.

As well as music, there will be spoken word, talks, poetry, dance lessons and even science experiments.

And some of the weekend’s performers will get the chance to show off their culinary credentials in the legendary and unique Taste the World stage.  

Tickets for all four days cost £260 and teenagers go free. All children 13 years and under are free. 

Also newly announced

Orange Blossom [France]

Flamingods [UK / Bahrain]

Maria Türme [Spain]

Genticorum [Canada]

Gangar [Norway]

Hack-Poets Guild [UK]

New Regency Orchestra [UK], 

GS Collective [UK]

Levitation Orchestra [UK]

Bixiga 70 [Brazil]

Saigon Soul Revival [Vietnam]

Mangrove Steelband [UK]

TC & The Groove Family [UK]

Skarra Mucci [Jamaica]

Romare [UK]

DJ WBBL [UK]

Mista Trick [UK]

Jason Singh [UK]

O.B.F. [France]

MC Iman [UK]

Sampa The Great [Zambia]

Alison Goldfrapp [UK]

Amadou & Mariam [Mali]

Baaba Maal [Senegal]

Gogol Bordello [USA]

Arabic, DAM [Palestine]