Manchester Music City, the host partner for this year’s WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), has revealed the first batch of official showcase artists for the 30th edition. The 20 artists announced come from 25 different countries, showcasing a vast array of musical styles and cultures.
WOMEX 24 will take place in Manchester between 23-27 October with 2,600 of the world’s music industry from 90 different countries expected to attend. The five-day event is being produced by Manchester Music City. Manchester Central will host the main daytime conference and trade fair, with live music showcases, club nights and films at Albert Hall, Aviva Studios, Manchester Central, O2 Ritz and HOME.
The showcase line-up guarantees to entertain audiences and showcase the incredible talent of emerging and renowned artists. With an inclusive call for proposals that welcomed artists from around the world, the programme has been shaped by an independent jury of music industry professionals from across the globe. Collaborating closely with the WOMEX showcase team, a dedicated curator will put together the Club Summit line-up, which will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
A further announcement in July will reveal the artists from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales who have been selected to play on the Horizons stage. The Horizons partnership was founded over 10 years ago at WOMEX 13 in Cardiff, the last time the UK & Ireland hosted this major event. The Horizons partnership is supported by Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, British Council and British Underground.
In addition, an open call for artists and bands from Greater Manchester to showcase their music at the prestigious opening event of WOMEX 24 at Bridgewater Hall on 23 October is now live on Manchester Music City’s website until 23 June.
The initial wave of public tickets for the WOMEX showcases will go on sale through Manchester Music City’s website later this month.
The first set of Jury-selected WOMEX 24 Showcase artists are:
- Adédèji (Nigeria)
- Ali Doğan Gönültaş (Türkiye)
- Batsükh Dorj (Mongolia)
- BIM (Benin International Musical) (Benin)
- Chakam Ensemble (Iran / Palestine / France)
- Clare Sands (Ireland)
- Cristina Clara (Portugal)
- Ensamble B11 (Venezuela)
- Erol Josué (Haiti)
- Ganna (Ukraine / Germany)
- House of Waters (Japan / Argentina / USA)
- Jonathan Ferr (Brazil)
- Justin Adams & Mauro Durante (UK / Italy)
- Kabaka Pyramid (Jamaica)
- Kamakan (Iran / France)
- Katarina Barruk (Norway / Sweden)
- Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin (Congo / France)
- Pelkkä Poutanen (Finland)
- Sara Curruchich (Guatemala)
- Votia (La Réunion)
