Three world music festival directors dive deep into sounds from Switzerland’s global and folk artists and tell Songlines who, given the chance, they would programme and why
Afel Bocoum talks about his hopes and concerns for Mali; Brazilian rapper Criolo speaks out about Bolsonaro and effects of COVID-19; a Beginner's Guide to Mahsa Vahdat and plenty more in the latest issue of Songlines
The recent sacking of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings’ director Huib Schippers has surprised the music industry
Our climate crisis special edition with an in-depth guide to eco-engaged artists worldwide; the Sufi roots of Arab electronics; interviews with Susana Baca and Michael Spitzer; a Beginner's Guide to producer Ian Brennan, plus more inside
Smallpipes player Kathryn Tickell is steeped in the rich folk traditions of North East England and the Borders
Philip Sweeney traces Wesli’s journey from the slums of Haiti through Cuba, Canada and Paris in search of an alternative Haitian music that is neither pop nor traditional
All of these albums received a maximum of five stars when reviewed in the 2020 issues of Songlines. Featuring Sam Lee, Shirley Collins, Will Pound, Sam Sweeney, Hamish Napier, Trio Tekke, Rura, and many more
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was qawwali's shining star; the Sufi singer introduced the world to the ecstatic, mystical musical form from Pakistan
Lebanese-French trumpeter and serial celebrity collaborator shares the debut single from his forthcoming full-length
Finger-picking guitarist, audio collagist and folk scholar talks Amish hoedowns, Mortal Kombat and some mind-blowing albums
East meets West as innovative British-Asian sound alchemist kick-starts London International Festival of Early Music with world premiere
Boosting Dylan and talking world medal martial arts with the Irish singer and fiddle-player channelling the music of her ancestors
Taiko drumming, joik singing, Pilgrim Father voyaging and plenty more in the latest issue of Songlines
The British Indian drummer Johnny Kalsi has done more for the popularity of the Punjabi double-sided barrel drum known as the dhol than anyone else
Baloji, Ana Tijoux, Asmâa Hamzaoui, a look back at Toumani Diabaté & Ballaké Sissoko’s epochal New Ancient Strings album, Los Tigres del Norte, Fruko, unrest in Buenos Aires and our preview of albums to get excited about in 2024
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