He has been a legend of the rock music scene for the last forty years.
His influence on countless music projects has been felt around the world. But now at the age of 61, British rock star and former Led Zeppelin singer, Robert Plant is breaking new ground … especially for Abu Dhabi.
The legendary rock hero will be the surprise focal point on the final night of this year’s WOMAD (World of Music Arts & Dance) festival in Abu Dhabi, teaming up with the blues guitarist Justin Adams and the West African master musician Juldeh Camara.
The three-day festival takes place on 23rd, 24th and 25th April at the Abu Dhabi Corniche with a special one-off concert on Friday 24th April at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain.
With a reputation for experimenting with a wide range of musical forms, Plant collaborated with Camara and Adams in the UK studio of WOMAD founder Peter Gabriel, to create a specially prepared arrangement, which they will debut for an expected capacity audience.
Adams has played lead guitar with Plant’s band the Strange Sensation for several years and co-wrote Plant’s 2005 album Mighty Rearranger. His work is influenced by African, Arabic and Irish musical traditions. Adams has performed at several WOMAD events with Camara, who is from The Gambia and is a master of the riti, a one-string violin that is played across West Africa. Their 2007 album, Soul Science, won a Radio 3 World Music award.
Despite Plant’s near-legendary status, it has only been in recent months that he has achieved award glory … after once again changing musical direction working with bluegrass star Alison Krauss.
The pair swept the board at the Grammys, the US music industry‘s ‘Oscars’ winning five major awards including the coveted best album honour.
Plant notched up sales of more than 300 million with his Led Zeppelin back catalogue. But rather than the rock epics he is known for, it was his album of heartfelt duets with Krauss that endeared him to a new public.
WOMAD is organised in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach).
Around 50,000 people are expected to attend the free WOMAD concerts.
An Adach spokesman explains: “This festival is above all a celebration of world music and Robert Plant, ever inventive with his musical journeys over the years, is playing in the WOMAD spirit — a real original gift for music lovers.”
Other major performers lined up for the festival include the Sengalese Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Youssou N’Dour, the renowned Algerian Rai exponent Khaled and the Nubian- Egyptian musician Mohamed Mounir, whose pop-infused sound combines elements of traditional Egyptian music and African-style reggae.
[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 15]
