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 June 2021 issue (#168) of Songlines is now on sale. This issue’s cover star is the folk musician Sam Lee who talks about song collecting, singing with nightingales and eco-activism. We also reveal the winners in the 2021 Songlines Music Awards. Other features include interviews with musicians Ross Daly and Stelios Petrakis about their dedication to the Cretan lyra; Timor-Leste’s Berliku speaks about fighting and singing for his country’s freedom; a Beginner’s Guide to the Polish folk group Warsaw Village Band, plus all the latest news, online streamed concert reviews, CD, book and world cinema reviews. As well as streaming excerpts from the ten Top of the World albums, digital edition subscribers can download all tracks which this issue includes Toumani Diabaté & the LSO, Héctor Valentín, Moira Smiley & VOCO and the Erlend Apneseth Trio, plus an extra six bonus tracks featuring music by Stelios Petrakis, Bijoya Chaudhuri, Wardruna, Ana Alcaide and others.