Two years ago, WOMADelaide was the first of the six international WOMAD festivals to reactivate after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic broke, albeit with just one stage and a maximum capacity audience of just 6,000 seated and socially distanced music lovers.

In 2022, WOMADelaide’s 30th birthday coincided with the rise of the Omicron strain of the COVID virus, but even then, the party was unstoppable, with local acts stepping up in force at a time when international stars were finding it impossible to tour.

Come 2023, it’s a very different (and altogether bigger) picture. This year, WOMADelaide returns to the full-bore, diverse and international programming that has made this festival a must-see for audiences, a must-play for artists.

WOMADelaide headliner Bon Iver. Photo © Graham Tolbert

Opening night of the festival (Friday 10 March) is headlined by Bon Iver. Led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, the band makes its WOMADelaide debut with a set spanning a critically acclaimed 15-year career that took off when its eponymous 2011 release won the...