News
Saramaccan Sound (Suriname) release single ahead of WOMAD
Brotherhood is the key for the first single from the Surinamese siblings’ new album
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A Beginner's Guide
Djivan Gasparyan: A Beginner's Guide
If there was one sound emblematic of Armenia it would be the duduk. Simon Broughton appraises the career of the instrument’s most famous exponent who has just turned 90
Features
Cara de Espelho: Time to Protest
Alarmed by the far-right surge, Cara de Espelho have gathered members of some of Portugal’s best-loved bands to create something new, and urgently needed. Gonçalo Frota meets the group and attends one of their first shows
News
Obituary: Jimmy Cliff (1944–2025)
Trailblazing Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon has died age 81
News
Today is Good! Songs of refugees to be released
On June 30, the charity Arts Against Slavery will launch a CD of music written by young asylum-seekers based in Sicily.
Features
Guitari Baro: the shape of African jazz to come
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
News
Obituary: Ekuka Morris Sirikiti (1961–2024)
Famed storyteller and lukeme player from Uganda having a late-career resurgence
Features
Les Aunties: “We can’t get up and tell our husbands to stop mistreating us, but if it’s in the song, you can express yourself there and he will listen”
Les Aunties, a new all-female group from Chad intend to improve women’s rights in their country. A recent tour of Canada has already begun the process. “The impact is enormous,” hears Emma Rycroft
Features
Peter Straughan's My World interview: “When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a musician, to be in bands”
Simon Broughton speaks to the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Conclave and Wolf Hall about how music infiltrates his creative process
News
Sir David Attenborough in the December issue of Songlines Magazine
The nation's favourite natural scientist discusses his recently-rediscovered musical field recordings from 1954-63 in the latest issue of Songlines Magazine
Features
Courir de Mardi Gras: A Photo Essay
Every Mardi Gras, a blur of costumed Cajun and Creole revellers in Louisiana head off in search of gumbo ingredients. When an ingredient is offered, such as a live chicken, the race is on. David Simpson has been documenting this unique tradition for over 25 years, with a new book capturing the centuries-old celebrations
Features
Orkney Folk Festival’s Farewell Concert 2025
Simon Broughton heads to the Orkney Folk Festival for a breathtaking and inspiring finale
Essential 10
The 10 Essential Classic Dub Albums
Garth Cartwright cranks up the sound system for some bass-laden bliss. Here are his top ten classic dub long-players to check out
Live reviews
Orchestra Baobab review – Barbican, April 27
The legendary Senegalese band performed to a sold-out Barbican Centre on April 27 as part of the festival La Linea.
News
Songlines’ Glastonbury Highlights 2023
Footage of some of our favourite artists from this year’s festival, featuring Tinariwen, Amadou & Mariam, The Joy, N’Famady Kouyaté and many more
