The Womad festival is now in its 27th year

The event will be held at Charlton Park in Wiltshire for the first time, after 17 years at Rivermead in Berkshire.

While the site has escaped the recent flooding, organisers are warning people to be prepared for wet weather.

Co-founder Peter Gabriel will play at the event, which starts on Friday and features 70 artists from 40 countries.

Other acts include Baaba Maal, Toots and the Maytals, Isaac Hayes, Seckou Keita Quartet, Taj Mahal, Ben Taylor, Candi Staton, Calexico and Seth Lakeman.

Waterproof clothing

Festival-goers are being forewarned about potentially difficult weather conditions.

"Please come prepared for wet weather and mud, and bring plenty of warm and waterproof clothing, and waterproof items to transport your belongings in," a notice on the Womad website said.

Gabriel was the driving force behind the festival in the early 1980s

"Two days of heavy rain have deteriorated the condition of the ground, so we advise people coming in cars to attach a tow eye to their vehicles if they have one, just in case.

"Wellies are crucial but the vibe is good!"

Gabriel originally inspired the idea for a world music festival in 1980, leading to the first edition taking place in 1982.

Since 1988, other Womad festivals have taken place at different locations around the world.