The annual Gnawa festival in Essaouira, Morocco has just celebrated its silver anniversary. Torben Holleufer has been a regular visitor since its first incarnation and returns to assess its impact, reflecting on some of the magical, unique and heartbreaking moments of the past 25 editions
Jameela Siddiqi plots the unprecedented international success of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistan’s ‘King of Kings of Qawwali’ and, for many, one of the greatest singers of all time
Anne Templer speaks to the actor and comedian about his love of prog and Persian music and how he once kicked a famous jazz musician out of his band
Charlotte Algar speaks to musicians Nani Medeiros and Gabriel Selvage about the disastrous flooding in Rio Grande do Sul this year
Simon Broughton visits Morgenland Festival in Germany for an opening concert celebrating 20 years of an event which has provided a vital showcase for many artists from the Middle East and North Africa
Eblis Álvarez, the mastermind behind Colombia’s tropical revivalists Meridian Brothers chooses the albums that shaped him
Paul Slade finds out why the singer, guitarist and song collector was always destined for a life in folk music and how his latest album unexpectedly paid homage to a dearly departed friend
Ciro De Rosa drops by Auditorium Novecento in the heart of the old city, where Neapolitan popular music’s legacy continues to resonate
A selection of essential releases from the worlds of British and Irish folk including new albums from PerKelt, Kevin Fowley and Simon Care & Gareth Turner
Composer and fiddler Aidan O’Rourke is heading to London’s Kings Place to celebrate the musical traditions and communitarian spirit of Scotland. Billy Rough hears all about it
A selection of essential releases from the US and Canada including new albums from Khu.éex', Saltwater Hank and Sam Reider & The Human Hands
On her latest album, Leyla McCalla embraces motherhood, expansive collaborations and a renewed personal outlook that sees her taking in the pleasures of life
Kora music gets a radical reworking with Ballaké Sissoko welcoming South African guitarist Derek Gripper into the tradition
Jeff Kaliss charts the 50-plus years and many global collaborations of the string quartet, who have just said farewell to two of their longest-serving members
Ten of our longest-standing contributors pick albums released during Songlines’ lifetime that are well overdue another listen
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