A Beginner's Guide
Fruko: A Beginner's Guide
A one-man tropical orchestra generator, there can be few musicians who have left a bigger imprint on their country’s music than Fruko. Silvia Rothlisberger tracks down the Colombian bandleader
A Beginner's Guide
A Beginner's Guide
Hannah James: Beginner’s Guide
Celebrating the innovative, multi-faceted career of the British singer-songwriter and percussive dance champion
A Beginner's Guide
The Unthanks: Beginner's Guide
Tim Cumming assembles an anatomy of melancholia as he speaks to Tyne and Wear’s finest folk-singing sisters about their career and catalogue
A Beginner's Guide
Anoushka Shankar: Beginner's Guide
Nigel Williamson charts the career of the genre-defying sitarist, from her Indian classical beginnings to her star-studded cross-cultural fusions
A Beginner's Guide
Steeleye Span: Beginner's Guide
Hark to this parcel of rogues, as we place the career of these ever-evolving English folk-rock icons under the microscope
A Beginner's Guide
Le Vent du Nord: Beginner's Guide
Jo Frost takes a look at the impressive career of Le Vent du Nord, Québec’s finest musical ambassadors
A Beginner's Guide
Antibalas: Beginner's Guide
The Brooklyn-based Afrobeat emissaries Antibalas have developed their own post-modern take on Fela Kuti’s legacy
A Beginner's Guide
Annbjørg Lien: A Beginner’s Guide
Fiona Talkington looks back over the impressive career of one of Norway’s most celebrated fiddlers and gets a glimpse of where she’s going next
A Beginner's Guide
Son Jarocho: A Beginner's Guide
From fandangos to the silver screen, Kary Stewart outlines the evolution of the traditional folk style from Veracruz, Mexico with a record of resistance
A Beginner's Guide
Karine Polwart: A Beginner's Guide
The Scottish musician has become one of the most lauded names on the European folk scene. Tim Cumming follows Polwart’s career from her trad band origins to the award-winning singer-songwriter we know 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
Martin Carthy | A Beginner's Guide
One of British folk music’s most influential figures is marking his 80th birthday. Julian May delves into his prolific and remarkable recordings
A Beginner's Guide
Fanfare Ciocărlia | A Beginner's Guide
Fanfare Ciocărlia are the planet’s foremost Balkan brass band, soundtracking Guinness and Ikea ads, covered and copied, remixed and sampled, winning international awards and, night after night, taking their furious brass blast to the stage
A Beginner's Guide
Alim Qasimov | A Beginner's Guide
Simon Broughton surveys the impressive career and beguiling back catalogue of the classical Azeri singer Alim Qasimov, including his extensive collaborations with his daughter Fargana Qasimova
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
A Beginner's Guide to Habib Koité
The Malian singer-songwriter Habib Koité is also one of his country’s leading guitarists. Daniel Brown reflects on the artist’s recordings and career to date
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
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
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
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
