Folk rock star Richard Thompson has been confirmed as being on the bill of this year's WOMAD festival at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury, from July 24-27.

Thompson has never disappointed from his teenage years in Fairport Convention to his 30-year career as a solo artist, after recording with his then-wife Linda.

And the WOMAD organisers say: "A peerless guitarist and a biting lyricist, it’s been a long time since we last welcomed him onto a WOMAD stage. Too long."

In the third announcement of acts at this year's event, this time the names include Public Service Broadcasting - the inventive duo who use the narration of public information films to create stirring soundscapes - to the reformed Les Ambassadeurs.

During the 1970s, led by guitarist Kante Manfila, Les Ambassadeurs were in the vanguard of West African bands, especially when a young Salif Keita joined them as lead singer.

After huge solo success, Salif will be fronting Les Ambassadeurs at Charlton Park.

Admirers of Indian classic music will be excited by the presence of Amjad Ali Khan, arguably the foremost master of the sarod, the Hindustani stringed instrument.

For his WOMAD, he will be accompanied by his sons Amaan and Ayaan, both distinguished sarod players themselves.

The Mercury Prize-nominated Dave Omuku & The Invisible will make their WOMAD debut in the company of Noisettes singer Shingai Shoniwa and a 40-strong choir for a vocal-based performance entitled Stars Align.

British singer Kathryn Williams will perform in the wake of rave reviews for her latest album Crown Electric under her belt.

Congo Natty was one of the original jungle pioneers and, a couple of decades on, the MC is still defiantly telling it like it is, his lyrics both spiritual and street-wise.

One-third of reggae legends The Gladiators and a session musician at iconic Jamaican studios like the Black Ark and Studio One, Clinton Fearon is a roots-reggae veteran who will be playing both solo and with his outfit The Boogie Brown Band.

Across the Gulf of Mexico from Jamaica come the Hot 8 Brass Band, New Orleans’ masters of the horned-up reinterpretation, whether it’s Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing or The Specials’ Ghost Town.