YOU could say that rock royalty is on its way to the globe’s largest world music festival when it sets up in the green, green grass of Wiltshire this summer – his album Queen of Denmark having made such weighty impact on critics and discerning fans alike six years ago.

John Grant, whose recent offering Grey Tickles, Black Pressure enticed similar plaudits, has just been added to the bill at WOMAD, near Malmesbury, which takes place over the extended weekend of July 28-31.

He is among a second raft of artistes that are today announced for the county’s biggest annual music bash that is poised to celebrate its tenth anniversary in the lush grounds of stately Charlton Park.

They include Les Amazones D’Afrique – an all-girl Afro supergroup – and possibly Britain’s finest ever rapper, Roots Manuva.

They will line up alongside a host of idiosyncratic treats from far flung corners of the Earth... voodoo-tinged Haitian roots music anyone?

Currently residing in Iceland, John Grant is a former member of Denver-based indie rockers The Czars who has struck out on his own to dazzling effect.

Flicking through reviews of Grant’s third album and recent UK concert appearances, descriptions such as “breathtaking,” “beautifully constructed songs,” “bold” and “riveting” leap from the screen.

Not one to shirk personal or potentially difficult issues Grant’s songs cover subjects ranging from his battles with drug addiction and alcoholism, and more recently coming to terms with being HIV positive.

It won’t be an introspective you-can-hear-a-pin-drop type of set at WOMAD though.

His touring band includes Siouxie and the Banshees drummer Budgie in performances – to nick a line from a recent Glasgow review – that feature “gloriously epic but never bombastic piano pop songs.”

Some of the greatest female singers to emerge from the West African musical powerhouse of Mali have combined forces in Les Amazones D’Afrique.

Grammy award-winning Oumou Sangare has wowed WOMAD on several occasions while Mariam Doumbia is best known as one-half of the terrific husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam.

Mamani Keita, formerly of the magnificent Salif Keita’s band, is also involved in the female conglomerate, as are African soul girls Rokia Kone and Cynthia Ba.

Soul-man Charles Bradley, he of a honey-and-sandpaper vocal style is also set for WOMAD 2016, as is female rapper Ana Tijoux, whose song 1977 was a highlight of Breaking Bad.

Now in its 34th year, several leading acts were last month announced for the four-day jamboree that is the World of Music Arts and Dance, including groove maestro George Clinton, ex of Parliament and Funkadelic, and fellow giant of black music, celebrated Senegalese singer/guitarist Baaba Maal.

However, one of the wonders of WOMAD is happening upon artists you have never heard of before but whose CDs you're likely to go home with safely tucked in your rucksack.

Some intriguing acts at this year’s festival include:

  • Hanoi Masters - veteran Vietnamese musicians with high-impact songs that reflect on the Vietnam War 40 years after its conclusion.
  • Broadway Sounds – a groove-heavy trio from Melbourne with a fine line in what they playfully refer to as “outernational psychedelia.”
  •  Chouk Bwa Libète - rhythms of resistance from the protectors of Haiti’s voodoo-tinged roots scene.
  •  Asiq Nargile – a foremost Georgian performer of the Caucasus bardic tradition.
  •  Mercedes Peón – a multi-instrumentalist who fuses electronica with the folk traditions of her native Galicia in Spain’s north-west.
  •  Sons Of Kemet – funky Brit-jazzers compete with sax, tuba and double drums.
  •  Xaos - Temple of Sound and Dub Colossus leader Nick Page exploring his Greek roots.

    WOMAD FESTIVAL UK 2016
    Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, UK, SN16 9DG
    28-31 JULY 2016
    Adult Weekend £175
    Disabled Adult Weekend £175
    SN16 Resident Weekend £120
    Teenage Weekend £85 (14-17 years) Please don’t forget to fill out Teenage Registration form
    Children 13 and under FREE
    More information on tickets, artists, offers, prices etc see:
    www.womad.co.uk