A Beginner's Guide
Bassekou Kouyaté: A Beginner's Guide
Simultaneously innovating and upholding the traditions of the ngoni, Bassekou Kouyaté is a name synonymous with his instrument’s modern sound. Nigel Williamson rounds up his sparkling career
A Beginner's Guide
A Beginner's Guide
Rajery: A Beginner's Guide
Madagascar’s leading player of the bamboo tube zither, otherwise known as the valiha, has come a long way from coping with an early disability to touring international concert halls. Daniel Brown retells Rajery’s journey
A Beginner's Guide
Mahsa Vahdat: A Beginner's Guide
One of Iran’s leading female singers has become world famous with her myriad collaborations. Laudan Nooshin pinpoints some of her career highlights to date
A Beginner's Guide
Dervish: a beginner's guide
The Irish supergroup have long been the benchmark for traditional music. Michael Quinn examines their impressive catalogue and achievements to date
A Beginner's Guide
Víctor Jara: A Beginner's Guide
Nearly 50 years a¤er his death, Víctor Jara’s songs continue to inspire idealism across Latin America. Chris Moss recalls Chile’s pre-eminent protest singer
A Beginner's Guide
Amália Rodrigues: A Beginner's Guide
Pleasure, pain and poetry – the ‘Queen of Fado’ gave Portugal its soundtrack during a turbulent 20th century. Chris Moss looks back over Amália’s career
A Beginner's Guide
Stephan Micus: A Beginner's Guide
The polymath German instrumentalist has an impressive back catalogue. Simon Broughton examines his wealth of recordings to date
A Beginner's Guide
Jim Moray: A Beginner's Guide
Once the wunderkind of the English folk scene, Jim Moray’s sound has matured and coalesced over his career. Tim Cumming dives into his catalogue
A Beginner's Guide
Shivkumar Sharma: a beginner's guide
Oliver Craske profiles the man who adapted a folk instrument – the santoor – into a vehicle for Indian classical music
A Beginner's Guide
Thierry ‘Titi’ Robin: A Beginner's Guide
Jo Setters examines the career of the visionary French multi-instrumentalist who has been experimenting for over 30 years
A Beginner's Guide
Eliades Ochoa: A Beginner's Guide
Mary Farquharson marvels at the career of the much-loved former Buena Vista Social Club musician who is still highly influential today
A Beginner's Guide
Renaud Garcia-Fons: A Beginner's Guide
Rob Adams examines the extensive career of the acclaimed French double bassist, who has been influential in taking the instrument to its sonic limits
A Beginner's Guide
Frigg: A Beginner's Guide
Tim Woodall examines the career of the remarkable Finnish string group
A Beginner's Guide
Michael McGoldrick: A Beginner's Guide
The Mancunian Irish flute and whistles player’s output is as prolific as it is varied. Dave McNally considers the career of this unstoppable musician
A Beginner's Guide
Sharon Shannon: A Beginner's Guide
The Irish button accordionist from County Clare is known for her genre-crossing collaborations, taking traditional Irish music to places it’s never been before. Michael Quinn looks back over her impressive career
A Beginner's Guide
Punch Brothers: A Beginner's Guide
Punch Brothers have been pushing the boundaries of bluegrass for over a decade and show no signs of stopping. Alexandra Petropoulos tells their story
A Beginner's Guide
Show of Hands: A Beginner's Guide
Nathaniel Handy looks back at the humble beginnings of the Devonshire folk duo who are now at the forefront of the British folk scene
A Beginner's Guide
Julie Fowlis: A Beginner's Guide
A leading light in the Scottish Gaelic music scene, the singer is also a tireless collaborator, as Nathaniel Handy finds out as he looks back over her career
A Beginner's Guide
Djivan Gasparyan: A Beginner's Guide
If there was one sound emblematic of Armenia it would be the duduk. Simon Broughton appraises the career of the instrument’s most famous exponent who has just turned 90
A Beginner's Guide
Toumani Diabaté: A Beginner’s Guide
The kora has become almost synonymous with the music of Mali. Nigel Williamson examines the career of its chief exponent Toumani Diabaté
A Beginner's Guide
Fela Kuti: A Beginner’s Guide
The perfect introduction to Fela Kuti – a true original: ‘Never have life, politics, art and music been so inextricably linked together in one incendiary, insurrectionary and highly danceable package’
A Beginner's Guide
Orchestra Baobab: A Beginner's Guide
Garth Cartwright marvels at the long-lasting appeal of the Senegalese band
A Beginner's Guide
The Chieftains: A Beginner’s Guide
Nigel Williamson looks back at the enduring global popularity of the Irish musical ambassadors
A Beginner's Guide
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: A Beginner’s Guide
Jameela Siddiqi introduces Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Pakistani Pavarotti, populariser of the qawwali tradition
A Beginner's Guide
Master Musicians of Jajouka: A Beginner's Guide
Tim Cumming delves into the history and mystical appeal of the Moroccan musicians from Jajouka
A Beginner's Guide
Amadou & Mariam: A Beginner’s Guide
Nigel Williamson takes a look at the rise to global fame and fortune of West Africa’s golden couple
A Beginner's Guide
Fanfare Ciocărlia: A Beginner's Guide
The perfect introduction to the trailblazing Balkan brass band
