Paul Kelly among Aussie hitmakers to headline Womadelaide 2022

He’s known as the poet laureate of Aussie music and performed at the very first Womadelaide 30 years ago – now Paul Kelly’s returning to mark the music festival’s 30th anniversary.

Iconic Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, who performed at the first Womadelaide in 1992, will return to mark the world music festival’s 30th anniversary at Botanic Park next year.

Adelaide born and raised Kelly and Grammy-nominated indie rocker Courtney Barnett, who both have new albums due out this month, head the first list of artists released for next year’s event, which runs from March 11-14.

They will be joined by one of the strongest Indigenous line-ups in Womadelaide’s history, led by rappers Baker Boy (Danzal Baker) and Barkaa (Chloe Quayle), Arnhem Land surf-rock band King Stingray, singer Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, and Stolen Generation bluesman Kutcha Edwards.

Hit duo Electric Fields will also perform with the Antara Inma choir and Tjarutja First Nations Dance Collective, while rock band Goanna will perform its landmark Spirit of Place album 40 years on with guest First Nations collaborators.

Womadelaide director Ian Scobie said next year’s mostly Australian line-up would demonstrate “the extraordinary creative and cultural diversity that lies within our own borders”.

“Botanic Park will be filled with the sounds of South America, the Seychelles, Iran, PNG, West Papua and Africa; folk, blues, Klezmer, DJs and so much more,” Mr Scobie said.

Indigenous rapper Barkaa, aka Chloe Quayle. Picture: Luke Currie-Richardson

ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Kelly, whose new album Paul Kelly’s Christmas Train comes out on November 19, also performed on the one-off Womad Indian-Pacific train trip from Perth to Pimba in 1996, and at the 1997 and 2006 festivals.

Barnett, whose third album Things Take Time, Take Time is out November 12, has become an international festival favourite with appearances at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Primavera and Lollapalooza.

Other acts announced include electronic producer Motez, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, L-Fresh The Lion, Townsville ensemble Dancenorth and Adelaide-based Restless Dance Theatre.

Tickets go on sale Thursday at womadelaide.com.au