Peter Gabriel – Reliving The Birth Of A Festival

Album – Live at WOMAD 1982

Release date – 8th May 2026

Review by Linda McDermott

Putting on a festival is never a small undertaking, but back in 1982 Peter Gabriel and friends set out to do exactly that with WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) – a celebration of global music and culture that would grow into something far bigger than anyone could have predicted.

Held at the Bath and West Showground in Somerset from 16th–18th July 1982, the very first WOMAD festival brought together 60 artists from over 20 countries. It was a bold idea at the time, mixing world music with rock and jazz, and giving a platform to artists who weren’t getting mainstream attention. As Gabriel himself put it, “the aim was simple: to create a space for all the brilliant music and art made all over the world, music that wasn’t getting on the radio and was even harder to find in record stores.”

While the festival would go on to become a worldwide success, its beginnings were far from certain, with financial worries hanging over that first weekend. Gabriel recalls, “I remember this gig well… I would normally be very nervous about playing some of this stuff for the first time, however my mind was very preoccupied with the running of our very first WOMAD festival and the potential financial disaster that it was heading towards.”

The festival captures his Friday night set from that debut festival, recorded during one of the evening concerts on site. Rather than leaning on familiar material, Gabriel used the moment to introduce new songs, seven of the eight tracks that would later appear on Peter Gabriel 4, released just two months later. That decision gives the performance an added edge, with the material still fresh and untested in front of an open-minded crowd. With all that said, what about the album itself?

Tracks

San Jacinto

The Family & The Fishing Net

I Have The Touch

Lay Your Hands On Me

Shock The Monkey

I Go Swimming

The Rhythm Of The Heat

Kiss Of Life

Biko

Listening to Live at WOMAD 1982 feels like stepping into that field in Somerset and hearing these songs unfold for the very first time. You can almost picture the crowd,

even without being there, as the atmosphere builds and the audience’s energy feeds into the opening moments of San Jacinto, with Gabriel’s unmistakable voice cutting through and immediately commanding attention.

The Family And The Fishing Net shifts the mood with a more haunting feel, adding depth and texture that fits perfectly with the festival’s wide-ranging spirit. That contrast carries into I Have The Touch, which lifts the tempo and brings a sense of movement, a track that would have had the crowd fully engaged. There’s a real clarity to the performance throughout, and the way each song is introduced gives the set a natural flow. Lay Your Hands On Me builds on that, driven by a steady rhythm that adds another layer to the overall sound.

By the time Shock The Monkey arrives, it is hard not to get pulled in. The beat is infectious, the shifting vocal delivery keeps things lively, and even on first listen it has all the hallmarks of a standout moment. I Go Swimming follows with a bright, uplifting feel that is made for a festival setting, especially as it opens up midway through. It is easy to imagine the reaction it must have had on the night.

There is a noticeable shift with The Rhythm Of The Heat, which brings a more intense and emotional edge, gradually building into something powerful and absorbing. That energy then gives way to Kiss Of Life, a lively and slightly unexpected turn with its fast pace and carnival-style rhythm, showing another side to Gabriel’s creativity and the wider musical influences behind the event itself.

Closing with Biko feels like the perfect choice. Already a known and powerful track at that point, it lands with real impact, lifted even further by the sense of unity from the crowd. It is a strong, memorable ending that ties everything together. By the time it finishes, you are left wishing you had been there to witness it in person, but this recording comes impressively close to capturing that moment.

Looking back, Gabriel describes it as “a landmark and edgy gig, both personally and musically, and that feeling runs right through the recording. More than just a live album, Live at WOMAD 1982 captures a turning point, not only in his own career, but in the birth of a festival that set out to prove that music from all corners of the world could stand proudly on the same stage.

If this is what the very first WOMAD sounded like, it is easy to see why it has become something truly special.