Features
Martyn Bennett: A Beginner's Guide
Billy Rough surveys influential sides by the late-great multi-instrumentalist, one of Scottish traditional music’s most vital contemporary figures
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Features
“My musical mission is to carry on where the ancients left off” | Michael Levy and his lyre
Michael Levy speaks to Simon Broughton about his ‘lyre of Apollo’ explorations, which follow in the exalted footsteps of the ancient Greek masters
Features
Melike Şahin: “Surviving as a musician in Turkey is hard both in economic and political terms”
With the release of her second album, Turkish pop innovator Melike Şahin continues on her singular path to success. She speaks to Nikolas-Kaan Yilmaz about how she found mainstream acclaim on her own terms
Features
My Instrument: Noor Bakhsh and his benju
Chris Menist speaks to the Pakistani master of the keyboard-fitted zither, which holds a central role in the music of Balochistan
Features
Harp of Darkness: “If I expose the bin-baja harp, something will have to die”
Patrick Jered ventures into Madhya Pradesh in India to unearth the legendary bin-baja harp, widely considered as a pariah instrument
Features
Erland Cooper speaks about the inspirations fuelling his great Orkney trilogy
The Orcadian musician talks about his triptych of albums inspired by the sounds, landscape and people of his birthplace
Best New Albums
The 10 Best New Albums from Around the World (October 2021)
Hit the review links to the finest full-lengths coming your way in October, with outstanding new audio missives from Monsieur Doumani, Meelodi, Arushi Jain, Yinon Muallem, Namgar and more
Features
Suka | Musical Instrument Guide (with Maria Pomianowska)
Doyenne of the Polish knee-fiddle, Maria Pomianowska, speaks to Simon Broughton about evolving her instrument's repertoire
Features
10 Essential Bulgarian Albums
Nikolas-Kaan Yilmaz picks out ten albums that trace the nation’s fascinating musical timeline, asking Bulgarian musicians and fans of Bulgarian music alike to share some of their favourites along the way
Features
What Can Musicians and Music Lovers Do During a Climate Crisis?
With the earth passing 1.5 degrees celsius of heating in 2024, and recent natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, we asked artists and researchers how to play and enjoy music while respecting and helping the planet
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
Features
Le Trio Joubran: by the light of the moon
The Palestinian brothers, Le Trio Joubran, are all masterful oud players. They talk to Tim Cumming about their constant battle for self-determination
Features
Zoë Modiga interview: South Africa’s new voice on language, identity and #BLM
A deft exploration of identity, Zoë Modiga’s latest album proves the South African is on the up. She speaks with Jane Cornwell about topics ranging from Black Lives Matter to the cultural importance of cattle in African society
Features
Notting Hill Carnival: a celebration of Europe's largest street festival
Local resident Christopher Conder explores the past and present of the largest street festival in Europe, Notting Hill Carnival
Features
How The Watersons recorded a landmark in English folk music
In a bedroom in Camden, one Sunday in January 1965, The Watersons recorded a landmark in English folk music whose reenactment of ritual and magic still sounds thrilling 60 years later
