In the very same Siam Tent marquee on the previous day it had not just been the size of their giant balalaika which had impressed the crowd watching the Terem Quartet from St Petersburg.

Terem Quartet: Stunning balalaika music

With their accomplished traditional Russian music, also featuring the domra and accordeon, they showed that folk can also be funny by suddenly veering off into comic classical pieces.

Spaccanapoli served up traditional music from Italy's southern extreme. The haunting chants and violin playing were a million miles from any cliches about their home town of Naples, while the singers twisting dances and tasselled fingers were spellbinding.

Spaccanapoli: mediterranean melodies

In the neighbouring sports centre, it was almost as hot and as crowded as in downtown Havana as Sergio Hechaverria and friends led a workshop in Cuban dancing.

Papa Wemba, whose voice has taken him from his native Congo to the Caribbean island, showed that his style is not just music-related.

Once known as the best dressed man in African pop, with his red hat and matching jacket he looked more like a rapper.

But that belies the softness and heights his voice can reach, while he and his backing singers gave the crowd a lesson in romancing as well as dancing.

Papa Wemba: Romancing the crowd

Just about seven seconds away from where he was singing was another African giant, Youssou N'Dour.

Thousands had crushed in to hear Senegal's best-known musical ambassador. His west African rhythms helped warm the crowd, who were also treated to his hit duet 7 Seconds, which he recorded with Neneh Cherry.

Egschiglen's sound was as striking as their traditional Mongolian instruments and blue costumes were beautiful. Although not easily accessible, their throat singing, dulcimer playing and stunning dancer had the audience captivated.

Sunday was children's day. Rolf Harris has been drawing himself and the crowds for decades and he did just that. Kids, parents and even grandparents seemed awe-struck by the sight and sound of his didgeridoo. And yes, he did climb that Stairway to Heaven.

The Gangbe Brass Band, from Benin, seemed to sum up everything Womad stands for. With their colourful flowing robes, fusion of traditional African music and jazz and contagious beat, they even dedicated a song to the godfather of world music, Peter Gabriel.

When they finished their performance they headed off to give a workshop, but for most of the crowd leaving the Womad stage meant going back to the real world for another year.

Hopefully they were left with enough happy memories from three days of music, art and dance to keep them going till next year.