Launched in 1999, Songlines is the leading magazine covering traditional, contemporary, folk and fusion music from around the world. Each edition is packed with the latest album reviews, artist interviews, festival profiles and travel adventures from every corner of the globe. Music is about culture, politics, history and the environment and Songlines is your essential guide to it all.

If you’re new to Songlines, download our Aug/Sept 2014 issue (#102) for free. Features include an interview with Afrobeat pioneers Tony Allen & Orlando Julius, as they both celebrate 50-year careers with new albums.

There is also an interview with Scottish author, avid music consumer and vinyl addict Ian Rankin, who speaks to Jo Frost (Songlines editor) about how he’s always willing to take a punt on new music, especially if there’s a good story behind it.

Also featured in the trial issue: a feature on Israeli musician Idan Raichel and his collaboration with Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré; Malian jeli singer Kassé Mady Diabaté; and violinists Anna Phoebe and Jyotsna Srikanth. We also pick our Essential 10 Afrobeat albums that you must own, plus Chris Moss provides a Beginner’s Guide to salsa superstar Rubén Blades.

Latest issue

The May 2019 (#147) issue of Songlines is out now. This issue’s cover star is the Cameroonian musician Blick Bassy whose latest release, 1958, is a tribute to his country’s independence fighters. We reveal all the nominees in the 2019 Songlines Music Awards and other features include an interview with Éthiopiques star Girma Bèyènè who will be coming to Songlines Encounters Festival in June; the revival of the 1960s Malian-Cuban supergroup, Las Maravillas de Mali; plus all the latest news, event listings and CD, book and world cinema reviews. Every issue also comes with a bonus compilation CD: The Sounds of Moroccan Festivals. As well as streaming excerpts from the Top of the World album, digital edition subscribers can now download all 15 tracks which this issue includes The Gloaming, Le Vent du Nord and Kronos Quartet and Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat, as well as a guest playlist from the journalist, Ed Vulliamy, featuring music by Tinariwen, Mikis Theodorakis, Amira Medunjanin and others.