Fresh from his comeback appearance at the Southbank’s Ether festival Gil Scott-Heron makes a surprise headlining appearance at this year’s Womad Festival.

Running between 23 and 25 July at Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, the festival will also present Mali’s finest Salif Keita, the world-famous Drummers of Burundi as well as indigenous Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Allowing children under 13 in for free, Womad has long been one of the UK’s top family-friendly music festivals.

The popular ‘Taste the World’ tent will also make a welcome return this year, with many artists demonstrating their cooking prowess as they are invited to rustle up recipes from their home countries. As well as offering a spa, yoga lessons and salsa classes, WOMAD continues to draw a quality array of artists from around the world.

Among this year’s highlights are Afro Celt Sound System (UK), Calypso Rose (Tobago), Alim Qasimov Ensemble (Azerbaijan), The Bays & Heritage Orchestra (UK), Orchestra Poly-Rhythmo de Cotonou (Benin) and Bibi Tanga & The Selenites (Central African Republic/France).

For tickets and further information phone 0845 146 1735 or go online at www.womadshop.com/detail/558