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 January/February 2019 (#144) issue of Songlines is now on sale. Our cover star this issue is the Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain who is coming to the UK to perform his tabla concerto with the Symphony Orchestra of India. We also reveal our top ten albums of the year; the Latin superstar Celia Cruz is remembered through a new musical and exhibition; we report from Salvador in Brazil and the sentiments of the Afro-Brazilian artistic community prior to Bolsonaro taking office; a Beginner’s Guide to the Armenian duduk player Djivan Gasparyan; plus the latest CD, world cinema and live reviews. 



The digital edition also includes streamed excerpts from our Top of the World CD including Afro Celt Sound System, Dawda Jobarteh and Jeremy Dutcher, as well as a guest playlist from the writer, Robert Macfarlane, featuring music by Johnny Flynn, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, The Bookshop Band and others. The issue also comes with a bonus CD of music from the Basque Country.