WOMAD

The Real Tuesday Weld

From Brazil, United Kingdom

Back in that under-populated Shepton Mallet field in 1982, the first WOMAD gathering pushed the festival envelope in many different directions, one of which was the inclusion of films as part of the weekend’s treats. A quarter-century later, film continues to have a presence on the bill and, among the screenings this year, is a showing of Hans Richter’s 1947 surrealist classic Dreams That Money Can Buy. But it’s no ordinary screening. A live soundtrack will be provided by The Real Tuesday Weld, Stephen Coates’ informal outfit that come influenced in equal parts by Serge Gainsbourg, Ennio Morricone and ’30s jazz. They first supplied their alternative score for Richter’s film at a sell-out National Film Theatre in 2005, since when they’ve also recorded it for the film’s first-ever DVD release. Taking her place among the outfit’s ranks is Brazilian songbird Cibelle who’ll be contributing narration as well as bursting into song at appropriate junctures. Sounds fascinating.