The Rough Guide to World Music
The Music of Brazil: A Rough Guide
Brazilian music is a whole world of its own. It may be best known for samba – the irrepressible rhythm of carnival – but that's only a fraction of the story
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Features
Welcome to Brazylia: how Polish music took root in southern Brazil
Magda Tejchma reports from Brazil where she finds Polish immigrants and their descendants playing the polkas, waltzes and obereks of their ancestors, deep in the Brazilian hinterlands. Photos by Piotr Baczewski
News
Africa Oyé Announces ticketed return for 2026 festival
Africa Oyé, the UK’s largest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture, will return to Liverpool’s Sefton Park on 20–21 June 2026
Features
Songbook: ‘Long Lankin’ with Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver
On their latest album, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver have recorded one of the darkest child ballads of all time. Tim Cumming looks for the motive
Features
Criolo: Soul Searching
The hugely popular Brazilian rap artist Criolo is refreshingly self-effacing when he meets Russ Slater to talk about his work and the problems facing Brazil
News
Latina Power
Erin Cobby watches four of London’s finest Latina singers come together for a show that’s all about celebration, solidarity and creating a Latin-London scene free of ego
News
Question Time
Progress is being made as the National Folklore Survey for England’s questions take shape
Features
Damahi are representing Iran’s independent music scene
“We take a free-spirited approach”, explain the band popularising the music of southern Iran
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
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
Morena Leraba sings of “Finding strength and courage... death and living with the memory of loved ones”
The Lesotho-born singer and rapper talks to Diane Coetzer about the tales of migration and shepherding that inspire him
Features
Inside Sibín Beag, Shambala’s wild new Irish trad rave venue
Erin Cobby reports from an Ireland-infused boozer at Shambala
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
