When African-American musician Billy Waters died in London in 1823, it was in poverty and with his reputation in tatters. Now, 200 years later, researchers and musicians are finally ensuring he gets the respect he deserves
Frustrated by the state of popular African music, Franck Biyong decided to create his own ‘Afrolectric’ sound inspired by Le Grand Kallé, Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango and the greats of yesteryear
As a new year begins, Eliza Carthy uses the ‘official’ folk chart as a barometer of what currently constitutes folk music
Jane Cornwell speaks to wordsmith, sonic alchemist and champion of the disenfranchised Alabaster DePlume about the power of collective healing and facing up to fear during an artistic residency in besieged Palestine
Manchester-based duo herald forthcoming long-player, Land of My Other, with preview track ‘Don’t Rush It’ and October live shows disclosure
Local resident Christopher Conder explores the past and present of the largest street festival in Europe, Notting Hill Carnival
Contemporary trad-music conservators Broadside Hacks announce the activation of a Patreon platform loaded with archive footage culled from their Folk Club events
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
The new band from Ghana are injecting a fresh energy into the country’s traditional highlife style. Jo Frost speaks to them
Almost 50 years after their debut, the Staples Jr Singers have reconvened for a surprise follow-up with a divine hand, as always, playing its part. “We just a musical family… that’s the gift God gave us,” they tell Alexandra Petropoulos
As Armenia’s The Gurdjieff Ensemble make their first visit to the UK for Songlines Encounters Festival, Simon Broughton talks to the group’s director about the enigmatic composer and mystic who inspired the ensemble
Red Baraat's Sonny Singh releases first single and video from his debut solo album, Chardi Kala
We've noted 50 great moments from 7000BC to the present day – concerts and confrontations, collaborations and conspiracies – all of which have shaped the sounds we're listening to today
Punch Brothers release a fourth live session video attached to their new album All Ashore. Their song 'Jumbo' is a thinly veiled attack on Donald Trump.
Madagascar’s leading player of the bamboo tube zither, otherwise known as the valiha, has come a long way from coping with an early disability to touring international concert halls. Daniel Brown retells Rajery’s journey
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