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 March 2019 (#145) issue of Songlines – our special 20th anniversary edition – is now on sale. Our cover star is the Malian ngoni master Bassekou Kouyaté who has released a new album with his band, Ngoni ba; Bassekou is also included in our 20th anniversary feature looking at 20 great new artists who have emerged during Songlines’ lifetime. We also speak to Bex Burch about her trio, Vula Viel and her instrument of choice: the Ghanaian gyil (xylophone); we report from Cali and Medellín, two of Colombia’s musical hotspots; we profile Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world, celebrating their 80th anniversary, plus the latest CD, book, world cinema and live reviews. 



The digital edition also includes streamed excerpts from our Top of the World CD including Bassekou Kouyaté, Lau and Vishtèn, as well as a guest playlist from the choreographer, Mark Morris, featuring music by Rokia Traoré, Alim and Fargana Qasimov, TM Krishna and others.