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 November 2021 issue (#172) of Songlines is now on sale. The issue is a climate crisis special edition as we take a look at the musicians from every corner of the globe who are doing their part to address and speak out about the climate crisis. Other features will include an interview with the iconic Peruvian singer Susana Baca about her new album; a look into the Sufi roots of the Arab world’s electronic scene; a My World interview with author and musicologist Michael Spitzer; a Beginner’s Guide to the Grammy-winning producer, Ian Brennan; plus all the latest news, concert reviews and listings, 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 Béla Fleck, Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita and Justin Adams & Mauro Durante, plus an extra five bonus tracks featuring music by The Master Musicians of Joujouka, Dongyang Gozupa, and Yoshikazu Iwamoto. Each issue also comes with a bonus CD of music from Québec.