• 
• 
• 

By Claire Cowan and Kiri Schumacher

By Claire Cowan and Kiri Schumacher

A week has passed and we're still recovering from the epic awesomeness that was WOMAD NZ 2012. We danced, we feasted, we paraded, we perused stalls, we basked in the late summer sunshine, and shaded ourselves under glorious greenery, whilst soaking up the sounds from across the globe. From rhythmic and percussive jumping drummers, to quirky French chanson; from Japanese mime to kiwiana waiata, where else but WOMAD could we find such a delicious bag of musical treats.

And with so much top class festivalling under our belts, it is with great pleasure that we present to you, dear readers, the inaugural... Utes And Ukes Womad Awards 2012.

The Napisan Ultra award for Whiter Whites: Joe Lindsay from The Yoots

The Yoots lead man, Joe 'Hopepa' Lindsay for strutting his toosh in well fitting white walk shorts. Worn with pride and panache and a surprisingly wide range of movement for such snug thigh-pipes.

We also award a special mention to Sivouplait for their white matching mime outfits. Pleated, starched and immaculately presented, the pair performed their energetic hilarious sketches under the hot afternoon sun; and still maintained their calm and collected sense of japanese formality - curteous bowing whenever one of them stepped too close to the audience.

The Chatter Box Award for best on stage banter: Mama Kin

Certainly no new-comer to performing, this sassy Melbournite's stage banter gives us a window into her personal life as she chats about how each song came into being. At times disarmingly frank, she assures us of our shared humanity with the discussion of bra strap issues, creative angst, and memories of lovers past and present.

Most worth the wait food: The frozen yoghurt stall

Claire caught up on all her twitter updates in the queue to this popular stand, which weaved it's way around the park like the river nile. She went back twice in one day.

Most impractical souvenir: WOMAD Flags

These fluttering flags have bamboo legs longer than Naomi Campbell on stilts. They wouldn't fit in anyone's ute.

Best dance at WOMAD: Mahala Rai Banda

Like a crowd bewitched, we danced long past the point of exhaustion to the beats of these die-hard Romanian gypsies. After an already long day of boogying, we had no choice but to dance on, with swishing elbows and frenzied kneecaps. These 11 Balkan boys of young and old are serious about delivering relentlessly raucous sounds. As slick and tight as mafioso hit men, they banged out bullets of boppy brass tunes.

JK Rowling Award for most enchanting performer: Dennis Pean

If we could adopt this man as out storytelling grandfather we would. Oh so french, oh so captivating, poet Dennis Pean is the front man for the exotic French/African/Carribean/Spanish 'Lo' Jo' ensemble. When asked about the meaning of his band name, he responds: 'It is the key for the secret of life, it is something mysterious, it is all and nothing, yin and yang, it is a magical sound.'

The Energiser bunny award: Master Drummers of Burundi

This 12 strong African troup certainly ate their baked beans for breakfast, . Even after 40 mintues, they showed no signs of waning. Truly embodying a beat, their whole beings were thrown into the delivery of each strike - creating a ritualistic percussive unison.

Hug a Tree Eco Award: Garbage recycling volunteers

WOMAD wins lots of prizes for well-oiled organisation. But this one takes the cake: eager volunteers posiitioned inside (yes, inside!) each rubbish 'booth', ready and waiting to take rubbish off your hands and ensure it's sorted into the appropriate bins.

Best Cover: Ash Grunwald This May Be The Last Time

In the middle of a refreshing good ol' rock set, this Aussie chap impressed us with a simple but beautiful rendition of a Blind Alabama Boys song. Expressing his life philosphy of living in the moment, he created a palpable audience connection by singing an unaccompanied version of This May Be The Last Time.

Best white guy singing like a black guy: Harrison Staford of Groundation

Looking more like Cat Stevens than Bob Marley, this white dude (with ginger highlights no less) embodies the Rasta vibe to the fullest. With a confident reggae drawl he delivers surprisingly deep and soulful reggae vocals with the faith and conviction of a true believer.

Sellotape award for a stick-in-your-head tune: The Yoots AEIOU

One of many feel good Waiata on the Yoots playlist, this gentle waltz roused the swaying crowd into a singalong anthem, guided by a helpful band member's patu pointer and a giant white school-room song sheet. This is Maori sing star at it's finest. Piiiiiko piko piko piko piko piko toro...