Morcheeba ‘will be the best live act at Womad’
When Jack Irving thinks back to when he owned Burundi Bar in New Plymouth in the 1990s, Morcheeba is the soundtrack.
Nearly 30 years later, Irving reckons he was responsible for introducing a lot of people to the 1990s electronic band, who are set to perform at Womad in Taranaki on March 17.
“Our business was busy when they first came out so they were on high rotate in the bar. So a lot of people first heard of them upstairs in the bar.”
Morcheeba, known for hit songs such as Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day, formed in the mid-1990s with members Skye Edwards and brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. Paul has since left the band.
Irving, who was formerly the host of the breakfast show on The Most FM, considers himself a Morcheeba superfan and saw them play live at Splore Festival about five years ago.
While he said it was the worst festival weather he had ever experienced with a cyclone hitting, the band were an absolute stand out.
“[Skye Edwards] was on the stage going ‘you call this weather?’ standing there in a mini-skirt with the rain just slashing down. They were a highlight there and I think they will be at Womad, too. I think they’ll put on a great show. They’ll be the best live act at Womad.”
Irving said it was fantastic to see electronica coming back into the Womad lineup.
“Womad is a great festival, it’s different from others given that it’s in the middle of a town. It has an intimate vibe.
“The live music component is a standout point of difference so I’m excited to be going again.”
“Womad is a great festival, it’s different from others given that it’s in the middle of a town. It has an intimate vibe.”
Irving attends music festivals around the country and world but said this year was all about Womad.
Morcheeba join the likes of Ziggy Marley, Ibibio Sound Machine, Strawpeople, and Taranaki’s own Fin Rah Zel at the three day festival in Brooklands Park.
Kiwi band Strawpeople hadn’t released music in 20 years until their album Knucklebones came out last year.
“Strawpeople I think will be really good. They wouldn’t bother reforming unless they were doing something good and then I’ll be front row for Morcheeba of course,” Irving said.
“I could take or leave Ziggy.”
Jack Irving