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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 March 2012 issue of Songlines (#82) is OUT NOW and comes with an exclusive 15-track compilation CD featuring tracks from the ten Top of the World albums, including Martyn Bennett, Spiro and Kayhan Kalhor, as well as an exclusive playlist by broadcaster Mike Harding. The issue also includes a bonus 2nd CD, a Brazilian music sampler.
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
February 3rd, 2012
Retro Albums
February 3rd, 2012
The new March Songlines podcast is now available through iTunes
February 2nd, 2012
Sophie?s Celtic round-up
February 2nd, 2012
BBC radio presenter Mike Harding playlist and the 10 best new releases in the March issue of Songlines (#82)
February 1st, 2012
The special Music and Social Change issue (March 2012 #82) is on sale in the UK from Feb 3
