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 August/September issue (#150) issue of Songlines is now on sale. It’s a bumper edition to mark our 150th issue and the cover stars are the Cuban-American big band Orquesta Akokán who recently won the Americas Songlines Music Award for their debut album. Other features include an interview with the South African band BCUC; a feature on Spell Songs – the musical companion to The Lost Words book; a report from Venezuela about the ongoing crisis and how it is affecting its musicians; a Beginner’s Guide to multi-instrumentalist Stephan Micus; plus all the latest news, event listings, CD, book and world cinema reviews. 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 Africa Express, Dona Onete, Boban Markovic and Kayhan Kalhor, as well as a guest playlist from the playwright and poet, Inua Ellams, featuring music by Fela Kuti, Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Matthew Herbert Big Band and others. Plus there’s a bonus compilation album featuring artists performing at this year’s World Music Festival Chicago.