Dakha Brakha

Wow! Not a good photo of these amazing musicians but this high point of my day has to be recorded here. These Ukrainians must have been the biggest surprise for most people at WOMAD. They’ve had recognition elsewhere for their highly-charged, idiosyncratic, ’ethno-chaos’ music but I can’t imagine a better atmosphere than in WOMAD’s Siam tent today where I discovered that it’s possible to be both spellbound and dancing at the same time. Astonishing.

Other highlights of an excellent day: Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat, Iranian sisters who are not allowed to perform in Iran other than to women-only groups; The Chair from Orkney performing exuberant eclectic/Celtic stomp; Les Ambassadeurs from Mali with Salif Keita.

I was very sad to miss the blowing up of three towers of Didcot power station (www.blipfoto.com/entry/44278920 - links not working) at 5 this morning. I seriously contemplated driving a long way back for the few seconds it took for the towers to come down, but it was too far.