Simon Broughton untangles a West African celebration of string instruments, with electrified gimbri and a dozen-deep kora corpus among the global buffet
A pivotal and pioneering figure in the history of US old-time and bluegrass, Alice Gerrard sits down with Devon Léger for a career-spanning chat through her highs and lows and how she blazed a trail for other female performers
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap found themselves at the centre of several media storms this year, clashing with authorities while selling out shows worldwide. In an exclusive interview, they tell Erin Cobby that their upcoming third album is a push to refocus attention on what they stand for: promoting the Irish language and fighting colonial injustice
Billy Rough surveys influential sides by the late-great multi-instrumentalist, one of Scottish traditional music’s most vital contemporary figures
Charis McGowan visits Reykjavik, where Iceland Airwaves is showcasing the many layers of Icelandic music. “It’s such a young culture”, she discovers
Robin Denselow speaks with Guitari Baro’s balafon virtuoso Lassana Diabaté and the the trio’s co-producer Lucy Durán about their innovative all-instrumental debut
The klezmer revival began in the US half a century ago. Musicians from marginalised communities delved deeper into klezmer’s European roots while adopting contemporary, open-minded approaches to play the music. Celeste Cantor-Stephens speaks to three musicians whose work carries on traditions of ‘klezmer’ in different ways, asking if the klezmer revival is experiencing a new wave, or whether that initial revival ever really stopped
Charis McGowan hears how an ancient song survived centuries to become a Mallorcan Xmas tradition, and a core influence to Júlia Colom’s Balearic folk
Our favourite Africa albums of the year, featuring Amadou & Mariam, Cheikh Lô, Salif Keita, Trio Da Kali, and MC Yallah & Debmaster
The Best Asia & Pacific albums of 2025, as chosen by our writers and editors. Featuring Anoushka Shankar, Park Jiha, Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali, Ichiko Aoba and Hand to Earth
The best albums from Europe in 2025: Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia, Duo Ruut, Raphael Rogiński & Ružičnjak Tajni, Sílvia Pérez Cruz & Salvador Sobral and Söndörgő
The best UK & Irish Folk albums of the year, featuring Martin Carthy, Cerys Hafana, Spafford Campbell, Gigspanner Big Band, Gwenifer Raymond
Five of the best Latin & Caribbean albums released in 2025, featuring Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia, Frente Cumbiero, Natalia Lafourcade, Bejuco and Azymuth
The best albums from the US & Canada this year, featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Parchman Prison Prayer, Peggy Seeger and Sam Amidon
Our favourite albums from the Middle East in 2025, from Yasmine Hamdan, SANAM, Nadah El Shazly, Maurice Louca, Farah Kaddour & Marwan Tohme
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