Los Angeles saxophonist, composer and jazz superstar KAMASI WASHINGTON and Indian classical and progressive sitar virtuoso ANOUSHKA SHANKAR have signed on to be two of the headlining acts for the popular three day international music and dance festival.

Multi-award winning Washington is a jazz giant who has played alongside Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, John Legend and most recently, Kendrick Lamar.

Kamasi’s contemporary take on jazz have been compared to John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis, and he has wowed crowds and critics at both Coachella and Glastonbury.

Hailed as one of the hottest young jazz acts in the world, Washington will perform exclusively at WOMAD New Zealand, alongside his impressive full band.

Grammy nominated sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar will also be one of the headlining acts.

The 36-year-old is the half-sister of American singer and songwriter Norah Jones and is one of the leading figures in World Music today.

Named as one of Time magazine’s Asian Heroes, Anoushka Shankar is a much lauded musician, author and columnist, as well as a strong advocate for women’s rights.

Taught to play the sitar by her father, the famous Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar has performed with a wide range of artists, including Sting, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

“These two critically acclaimed artists are leaders in their respective genres and both artists reflect the strength and diversity that WOMAD New Zealand has become recognised for,” says NZ Programme Manager; Emere Wano.

Wano says “World Music is still our core and every year we present acts from many corners of the world, including New Zealand and Australia. We aren’t just about being outward looking at what the world can bring to us, but inclusive and showing the world what we have here at home too.”

They join the already announced classic Kiwi band DRAGON.

The full line-up will be announced on the evening of October 18 2017.

WOMAD New Zealand is on March 16 to 18, 2018 at Brooklands Park in New Plymouth. Tickets are on sale now from womad.co.nz.