Monday, February 9, 2026
Ebo Taylor (1936–2026)
Ghanaian guitarist and bandleader who fused traditional highlife with funk and Afrobeat in the 1970s, then found global recognition decades later and continued to be a tour de force
News
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Last Dance At Studio Lam
Bangkok’s pioneering club is to close its doors after more than 12 years
Thursday, January 29, 2026
February/March 2026 Issue Is Out Now!
Steve Martin & Alison Brown’s bluegrass friendship, Yasmine Hamdan returns, Imarhan’s desert soul, Slow J on fado, calypso great Mighty Sparrow, Bebel Gilberto and AI in Music
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Martin Carthy cancels 2026 tour after Alzheimer's diagnosis
Folk forefather Martin Carthy has cancelled a proposed tour and festival dates in 2026 due to a diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer's disease
Monday, January 26, 2026
Poll & Behold
Sophie Parkes uncovers England’s seasonal beliefs relating to “the unexplained and unexpected”, as she reports on the initial findings of the first-ever National Folklore Survey
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
UPBEAT and EMMA join forces to launch Artist Mentoring Programme
A new Artist Mentoring Programme will connect emerging world music artists with experienced industry professionals for intensive, personalised career development spanning up to ten months
Friday, December 19, 2025
Carolina Chocolate Drops' Grammy-winning Genuine Negro Jig reissued
Nonesuch Records celebrates the Genuine Negro Jig with a special 15th anniversary edition featuring bonus tracks and, for the first time since 2010, a vinyl press of the award-winning album
Friday, December 19, 2025
Songlines' Global Christmas Playlist
Our rundown of some of the finest and most far-flung new festive anthems this Christmas
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Together for Palestine's reimagining of a traditional lullaby aims for Christmas No. 1
'Lullaby', a dramatic reimagining of a traditional Palestinian lullaby featuring Nai Barghouti, Peter Gabriel and others, is aiming for the UK's coveted Christmas No. 1 slot
Thursday, December 11, 2025
January 2026 Issue Is Out Now!
End-of-year special featuring Songlines Music Awards 2025 (the best global music of the year) plus exclusive Kneecap interview, Alice Gerrard, Peggy Seeger, Gloria Estefan and in-depth klezmer essay
Thursday, December 4, 2025
FolkEast Returns to Sotterley Estate for 2026; Major Headliners Announced
The 2026 edition will bring a focused, story-driven programme and mark the return of festival patrons The Young’uns for their first performances in Sotterley
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
First-ever ‘Folk Album of the Year Award’ shortlist announced
The inaugural Folk Album of the Year Award has unveiled its first-ever shortlist, featuring nine albums released across Britain and Ireland in 2025, with a winner to be announced in March next year
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Obituary: Jimmy Cliff (1944–2025)
Trailblazing Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon has died age 81
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
FOCUS Wales 2026 announces first wave of artists
FOCUS Wales shares first names for 2026 edition of the Wrexham-based festival, including a plethora of Welsh and UK folk talent
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Aga Khan Music Awards celebrate musical bridges across the world
Simon Broughton reports on the Aga Khan Music Awards in London, where diverse global artists came together for a rare celebration of musical excellence and cultural preservation
