WOMAD

Rolf Harris and His Band

16:00 25th July on the Siam

Rolf Harris Biography

The mad uncle you never had

His passport might say Australian but, admit it, Rolf's always been one of us - a national treasure as much as Alan Bennett, Ealing comedies or a foaming pint of Adnams. We wouldn't give a XXXX for anyone else. Returning to WOMAD with 80 years now chalked up, Rolf has enjoyed a life less ordinary - from champion swimmer to ubiquitous TV presenter, via cabaret performer and National Gallery-exhibited artist. And, of course, let's not forget why he's here - the music. As proved by Margaret Thatcher selecting it on Desert Island Discs, Two Little Boys never fails to soften the hardest of hearts, while Rolf's wobbleboard-toting antics were surely proto-world music a couple of decades before the concept appeared. And musically he's been associated with the very best - George Martin produced those hits while Rolf supplied didgeridoo on two Kate Bush records. Pioneer, showman and quite possibly the world's first beatboxer… We give you Rolf Harris - a true original.

(Biography by Nige Tassell 2010)
www.rolfharris.com