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About Songlines
Having celebrated its 80th issue in 2011, Songlines is the magazine that looks at the world through its music. Covering music from traditional and popular to contemporary and fusion, Songlines features artists from all around the globe: from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe; from Miriam Makeba to Mariza; from Gilberto Gil to Gogol Bordello and from Bjork to Buena Vista Social Club. Discover the traditional instruments of the world: the sitar, the kora, the talking drum and beyond.
Edited by Simon Broughton, co-editor of The Rough Guide to World Music, Songlines is packed full of the latest CD reviews, artist interviews, guides to particular world music traditions, travel adventures, beginner's and city guides, frontline reports and concert listings.
Explore the music featured in the magazine on each issue's exclusive Top of the World CD, featuring the editor's selection of ten tracks from the best new album releases, as well as a 5-track guest playlist. These have included selections by Damon Albarn, Wim Wenders, Philip Pullman, Andy Kershaw, Kate Bush, Robert Plant, Pelé and many more. The podcast accompanying each issue, where our features really come to life via commentary and audio excerpts, was nominated as a 'Best of 2008' by iTunes.
We've also introduced Songlines Digital, the online version of the printed magazine. It is fully indexed and searchable and allows Songlines Digital subscribers to zoom in on and print features, and flick through back issues (currently from #47). Click here to view a trial issue and find out how to subscribe.
The Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Songlines (#81) is OUT NOW and comes with an exclusive 15-track compilation CD featuring tracks from the ten Top of the World albums, including Yo-Yo Ma, Baloji, Tcheka and Gilles Peterson's latest Havana Cultura release, as well as an exclusive playlist by broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby. The issue also includes a bonus 2nd CD featuring traditional music from Norway.
Music is about politics, history, ethnicity and the environment - Songlines is your reliable guide to it all.
Latest World Music News
January 8th, 2012
Andy Kershaw tours the UK
October 24th, 2011
London International Festival of Exploratory Music 2011
October 14th, 2011
New cross-cultural collaborative quartet debut in UK
October 12th, 2011
Damon Albarn goes to Kinshasa for latest music project
August 25th, 2011
Protest singers targeted by desperate Middle Eastern regimes
Songlines Blog & Latest News
January 27th, 2012
From Celtic Connections 2012
January 27th, 2012
The Nile Project
January 26th, 2012
Music and Social Change off to press!
January 24th, 2012
Moringa Tree: a night of African-inspired music
January 23rd, 2012
Seun Kuti leads protests in Nigeria
