Three very different acts gelled into a spectacular, Womad-themed night, beginning with the host Midge Ure musing on the craft of songwriting.

Consistently self-deprecating, he volunteered that he felt out of place as a Womad regular.

However, having prepared the ground with pertinent thoughts on the state of pop, he delivered his songs including Dear God with powerful stage presence.

Yungchen Lhamo made a stunning, spotlit entrance, dressed in a floor-length silver gown.

Her extraordinary voice had the audience transfixed. They were soon relaxed enough to join her in Tibetan chanting.

Despite speaking English for only four years since a trek across the Himalayas, she offered many amusing cultural observations, including her description of Western pop as "loud things jumping".

The Blind Boys Of Alabama made their entrance with the first of many traditional gospel themes, Run On For A Long Time.

The depth and power of their voices is unshaken by age. Nobody's Fault But Mine was followed by an a cappella My Lord, What A Morning, stretching out their glorious, swooping close harmonies.

Tom Waits' Way Down In The Hole found them in funky New Orleans territory.

Leader Clarence Fountain's amazing bass voice and George Scott's soulful style were outstanding on Amazing Grace in its House Of The Rising Sun arrangement.

The third lead vocalist Jimmy Carter had the audience in the palm of his hand, as he was led, still singing his thrillingly-sustained gospel cries, into the crowd, finding hands eager to shake his own.

It was a spellbinding night.