Friday, October 4, 2024
Driss El Maloumi: A Beginner's Guide
One of the most in-demand oud players of his generation, Jo Frost discovers an artist whose musical curiosity shows no signs of abating
Features
Friday, October 4, 2024
Ten Essential Ngoni Albums
Nigel Williamson picks ten emblematic recordings featuring the ngoni, a West African lute said to be an ancestor of the banjo, made from hollowed-out wood or calabash, covered in animal hide, and strung with four-to-six strings on a fretless neck
Friday, October 4, 2024
Edinburgh International Festival 2024 Unites Us with Rituals
The theme of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival is Rituals that Unite Us. Simon Broughton witnesses three performances that fit the brief
Friday, October 4, 2024
“It’s amazing when you think about the lack of Polish folk music in the media”: WoWaKin on keeping their music scene alive
With an open-minded approach to their country’s musical traditions and a host of special guests, this Polish trio are finding out what connects village life to that of a contemporary musician. Mateusz Dobrowolski hears all about it…
Friday, October 4, 2024
“Fires needed to be extinguished, all kinds of things would go on”: Rikki Stein on managing Fela Kuti
In a new autobiography, Rikki Stein reflects on a non-stop career working with some of the world’s most visionary musicians: Fela Kuti, The Master Musicians of Joujouka and Jimi Hendrix being three examples. Russ Slater Johnson gets Stein to sit still for a minute and attempt to summarise it all
Friday, October 4, 2024
The return of Afro Celt Sound System
The global groove and harmony evangelists return with their first album since the death of founder Simon Emmerson. Jane Cornwell chats to original members, and now bandleaders, Johnny Kalsi and N’Faly Kouyaté
Friday, October 4, 2024
Dispatch from the Nordic Folk Alliance in Roskilde, Denmark
The Scandinavian music world convened for the Nordic Folk Alliance, aiming to build on current interest in all things Norse
Friday, October 4, 2024
Digging and Listening: A South African Perspective
South African researcher and DJ Atiyyah Khan unpacks the significance and difficulty of accessing and archiving music in Africa
Friday, October 4, 2024
Seeking recognition for Billy Waters, a pioneer of African-American music, more than 200 years after his death
When African-American musician Billy Waters died in London in 1823, it was in poverty and with his reputation in tatters. Now, 200 years later, researchers and musicians are finally ensuring he gets the respect he deserves
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Tinariwen: Royal Sahara Blues at the BBC Proms
Relentless riffs at the ready as original Touareg rock’n’rollers Tinariwen head to London’s Royal Albert Hall. Tim Cumming sizes up their BBC Proms debut…
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Introducing Los Bitchos
Cumbia, disco and video game music are on the playlist for the London-based quartet’s second album. April Clare Welsh pulls up a stool
Thursday, October 3, 2024
World Building Through World Music
Erin Cobby reports on six projects using music as a platform to build communities and give the systematically marginalised a voice, both now and in the future
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Black-Horned Moon: Old Gods & Burning Altars
Lithuania’s Black-Horned Moon bids farewell with a final celebration of the country’s pagan past. Simon Broughton investigates…
Thursday, October 3, 2024
60 Years of Fania Records
Celebrating 60 years of Fania Records, we ask Daymé Arocena, Silvana Estrada, Roberto Fonseca, iLe, Meridian Brothers, Orquesta Akokán, Nathy Peluso, Ana Tijoux and many others to pick some Fania classics. Introduction by Erin Cobby. Interviews by Russ Slater Johnson
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Les Aunties: “We can’t get up and tell our husbands to stop mistreating us, but if it’s in the song, you can express yourself there and he will listen”
Les Aunties, a new all-female group from Chad intend to improve women’s rights in their country. A recent tour of Canada has already begun the process. “The impact is enormous,” hears Emma Rycroft
