Songlines

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.

The December 2023 issue (#193) of Songlines is out now, filled with the best music happening around the world, and the stories behind that music . We find out about the extraordinary life and unreleased songs of Ethiopian musician and nun, Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru, who would have turned 100 in December; we celebrate 75 years since Folkway Records began by discussing some of the most iconic records on the label; we chat with Manchester duo The Breath about their soul-baring new album, go deep into Senegalese rituals with Ndox Electrique and speak to Argentine shaman-poet Soema Montenegro. Ghanaian highlife tour-de-force Ebo Taylor gets the Beginner’s Guide treatment, British journalist Anthony Sattin shares his My Worldtracks, there’s a Dispatch from Ukraine and there’s still space for Dubioza Kolektiv, John Francis Flynn,Huun-Huur-Tu, Billy Strings, Sofia Kourtesis and all the usual news, listings, reviews and competitions in another bumper issue. As always it will come with our accompanying compilation (CD/digital) featuring ten tracks from the best new music releases along with five bonus selections.