Features
Tajik Tales
A highly unlikely series of events led to Tajikistan becoming a musical hub and focus for a brand-new compilation, Lost In Tajikistan
A highly unlikely series of events led to Tajikistan becoming a musical hub and focus for a brand-new compilation, Lost In Tajikistan
Jim Hickson quizzes the musical globetrotters about their back story and influences
The annual Gnawa festival in Essaouira, Morocco has just celebrated its silver anniversary. Torben Holleufer has been a regular visitor since its first incarnation and returns to assess its impact, reflecting on some of the magical, unique and heartbreaking moments of the past 25 editions
In a new autobiography, Rikki Stein reflects on a non-stop career working with some of the world’s most visionary musicians: Fela Kuti, The Master Musicians of Joujouka and Jimi Hendrix being three examples. Russ Slater Johnson gets Stein to sit still for a minute and attempt to summarise it all
Dele Sosimi spent the 80s globetrotting with Fela, even taking the reins of his 20-piece band, bringing joy and peace to Lagos’ chaotic commune where they lived, played and partied
Jo Frost takes a look at the impressive career of Le Vent du Nord, Québec’s finest musical ambassadors
Camilo Lara, by now a ‘certified’ Mexican institution, tells Celeste Cantor-Stephens about 20 years of going against the grain, upsetting scrap collectors and Disney-endorsed success
The pioneering female mbira player and champion of Shona tradition has died, aged 76
Exclusive footage of Ayalèw Mesfin & Debo Band performing at Le Guess Who? in 2019
A new Romanian duo are revisiting the Balkan sound with a fresher, more sophisticated approach. Robert Rigney finds out what inspires them
When not herding reindeer, Finnish mother-daughter duo Solju are bringing the Sámi tradition of joiking to wider audiences
Intrepid cyclist Olly Burton is travelling from the UK to India. This is the first of a series of reports about his Silk Road musical encounters
Songlines spoke to the Afghan musician who, despite threats to his life, wants to show the world the beauty of Hazara music
Novia Scotia celebrates its Scottish roots at this years' edition of the Celtic Folk festival, emphasising the musical connections between old and new country alike.
Heading to WOMAD this year? The Malmesbury-set festival is back again on July 25-28 and there are plenty of artists in the line-up that we've featured in Songlines previously, as well as many that we really should.
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