• 1-Night Venue Passes now on sale alongside full Festival Passes
• Manchester icon DJ Paulette to host Opening Night Concert

Manchester Music City, host partner for this year’s WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), is excited to announce the full music and film line-up for WOMEX 24 Festival. 

WOMEX 24 Festival gives music fans a unique opportunity to access this prestigious music industry event, and discover over 50 live acts from across the world representing a mix of musical genres and styles, including folk, afrobeat, roots, jazz, reggae and electronica. 

WOMEX 24 Festival will take place over 3 nights (24th-26th October) at 5 of Manchester’s most iconic venues - Albert Hall, Manchester Central, O2 Ritz Manchester, HOME and Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International, with an exclusive Opening Night concert at The Bridgewater Hall on 23rd October hosted by Manchester icon DJ Paulette.

With live music showcases, club nights and films on offer, audiences can now tailor their festival experience with a choice of 3-Night Festival Passes, 1-Night Festival Passes or 1-Night Venue Passes. Tickets for the film programme at HOME are now also on sale. The full line-up, schedule and tickets can be found on the WOMEX 24 Festival website. 

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "We love live music in Manchester and can't wait to welcome WOMEX to the city and the chance it brings for our audiences to enjoy some of the most incredible international musicians from around the globe, performing on local stages at some of our most iconic venues.  It promises to be a fantastic few days filled with music that moves you and makes you dance - don't miss it, catch some if you can!"

Amongst the 50+ international artists performing across the festival are Orchestra Baobab, known for their smooth blend of Cuban rhythms and traditional West African sounds; Japanese neo-folk fusion band Mitsune; Parisian group Sarāb, who mix Arabic music, jazz and psychedelic rock; Jamaican artist Kabaka Pyramid who fuses traditional reggae with modern hip-hop; and Les Mamans du Congo x Rrobin who will present an electrifying fusion of Congolese rhythms and modern electronic beats. 

Rivca Burns, Head of Music, Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International, said: “We are so excited to be welcoming not one, not two, but three of the WOMEX 24 showcase stages to Aviva Studios. As an international organisation, the diversity of sounds and voices from across the world that we’re going to witness over the festival will create a long lasting impact on the city. We are really proud to be part of such an important festival coming to Manchester.” 

In addition to live music at Aviva Studios and Manchester Central, Grade II listed venue Albert Hall will play host to the Horizons Stage - a dedicated stage showcasing acts from across the UK and Ireland: Balimaya Project, Gwenifer Raymond (England), Strange Boy (Ireland), Córas Trio (Northern Ireland), Amy Laurenson, Gnoss(Scotland/Alba), Cerys Hafana, and N’famady Kouyaté (Cymru/Wales). Expect Welsh folk, West African Mandé music, Irish rap, and more. The line-up also includes one act from the host city (Rioghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet), in partnership with Manchester Music City. 

The Horizons partnership was founded over 10 years ago at WOMEX 13 in Cardiff, the last time the UK and Ireland hosted this major event. On behalf of the Horizons partnership, Dr Claire Mera-Nelson, Director of Music at Arts Council England, said: 

“Over the last 10 years the Horizons partners have joined together at WOMEX to showcase the very best of the UK and Ireland’s rich musical offer to peers and industry professionals from across the globe. We are excited to be working with this year’s host partner Manchester Music City to kickstart the global careers of many more talented homegrown artists.”

In addition to enjoying more acts for less, 3-Night Festival Pass holders will get exclusive access to the prestigious opening concert at The Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday 23rd October. Hosted by Manchester’s very own DJ Paulette with artistic direction by Jenna G, the night will see performances from four artists that represent the breadth of Greater Manchester’s music scene - Agbeko, Dirty Freud, Heather Ferrier and Vulva Voce. 

DJ Paulette said: "I am thrilled to be hosting the Opening Concert for WOMEX's 30th edition. Manchester is the place where innovation, inspiration, music, passion and community collide. I can’t wait to reveal the joys on offer.”

Jenna G also commented: "I love my city and want everyone in it to thrive so I'm honoured to be involved in WOMEX 24 as the Artistic Director for the Opening Concert, ensuring it not only entertains but reflects the diversity in sound and style of Manchester's music culture. I can’t wait to showcase what Greater Manchester has to offer the world!"

WOMEX 24 Festival isn’t just about live music. The Club Summit at O2 Ritz Manchester will play host to a late-night party on Friday and Saturday, showcasing DJs and electronic artists from Latin America, South Africa and more. Festival goers can also discover music, movements and histories from across the world with a curated selection of documentaries at HOME as part of the WOMEX film programme.

For public tickets for WOMEX 24 Festival visit the WOMEX Festival website, or for more information about attending as a music industry delegate visit the main WOMEX website.