Features
The Pipa: a guide to the Chinese lute
A masterful instrument played by masterful players – Michael Church talks to internationally acclaimed artist Wu Man and looks at the historical importance of the Chinese lute
Search results for
Features
The Rough Guide to World Music: Ireland
Ireland’s traditional music has some innate and elusive quality whose appeal has spread far beyond its shores
News
Obituary: Toots Hibbert (1942-2020)
The Jamaican reggae legend dies at the age of 77. Garth Carthwright reports
Features
2025 Preview: Reasons to be Cheerful
A lot is cooking this year. Here are the albums you should be getting excited about, from unknown West Virginian gospel singers and Afrobeat legends to Indigenous Brazilians playing ‘country music’ and soulful Ethiopian sounds
Features
A Conversation with Abel Selaocoe
South African cellist Abel Selaocoe tells Emma Rycroft about the origins and inspirations behind his new album, Hymns of Bantu: “I wanted to celebrate all the people at home who really influenced me”, he explains
Features
Essential 10 Iranian Albums
Founded in 2001, 127 are a cornerstone of Iran’s alternative scene. Erin Cobby asks the group’s drummer Yahya Alkhansa to map out the country’s underground music scene in ten albums
Features
Setting the Scene: Mary Ocher
We speak to Mary Ocher, a musician, performer, poet and visual artist to find out where she calls ‘home’
Features
Save the Waves: musicians rally to defend NPR and PBS as US announces public radio cuts
A new compilation has been launched in response to proposed cuts that could silence public broadcasting in the US
News
Anoushka Shankar stars in the May issue of Songlines
Anoushka Shankar, Carolina Chocolate Drops, new Spanish folkies, Merlin Sheldrake, Flook, Cuban Sundays in London, Polish folk music in Brazil and more in the May issue
A Beginner's Guide
Driss El Maloumi: A Beginner's Guide
One of the most in-demand oud players of his generation, Jo Frost discovers an artist whose musical curiosity shows no signs of abating
Features
Q&A: Flock
As Flock release their second album, Flock II, we probe the group's creative process
Features
The 4 Corners and Centre of Kadialy Kouyate’s Universe
The Senegalese kora player chooses five albums that have shaped his career, showing him the potential of his instrument and how to honour tradition in his songwriting.
News
Celebrating 100 years of singing with nightingales
This weekend, folk singer Sam Lee celebrates 100 years since the BBC's first live wildlife broadcast with some very special guests
Live reviews
The Breath: Giving up the ghosts
The Breath’s Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum tell Dave McNally about the love and suffering that informed their new album and how they unexpectedly evolved into an acoustic folk duo
