Editor-in-chief Simon Broughton Publisher & Publishing Director Paul Geoghegan Editor Jo Frost Deputy Editor Alexandra Petropoulos Art Director Calvin McKenzie Advertisement Manager James Anderson-Hanney Marketing Manager Edward Craggs Online Content Editor James McCarthy Reviews Editor Matthew Milton News Editor Alex de Lacey Listings Editor Tatiana Rucinska World Cinema Editor John Atkinson Sub Editor Emma Baker Editorial Assistant Rachel Cunniffe Intern Darran Smith Cover Photo Eric van Nieuwland Contributing Editors Jane Cornwell, Mark Ellingham & Nigel Williamson Subscriptions Director Sally Boettcher Editorial Director Martin Cullingford CEO Ben Allen Chairman Mark Allen SUBSCRIPTIONS UK: 0800 137 201 Overseas: +44 (0)1722 716997 subscriptions@markallengroup.com ADVERTISING +44 (0)20 7501 6683

WELCOME

Musical connections

Connections and collaborations seem to be all the rage this issue – whether it’s the cultural connection Portuguese António Zambujo shares with his Brazilian hero Chico Buarque (p19), or the affini between Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya and Hawaii’s Tau Moe (p36). Another band who are fascinated with collaboration are Warsaw Village Band, as their excellent new album Sun Celebration proves. “I really want it to be a natural musical experiment with different people representing different worlds playing together and trying to establish musical communication,” the band’s frontman Maciej Szajkowski says (p32). This sentiment is echoed by the historian Peter Frankopan who has compiled this issue’s guest playlist. “What makes us interesting as a species is our willingness to experiment,” he says on p72.

Finding artists who are eager to experiment has been at the crux of our programming for Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place. This year’s edition will be our seventh and the line-up promises to be as thrilling as ever, with artists including Sam Lee and his Nordic project; Ricardo Ribeiro making his UK solo debut; newcomers Kefaya and Bollywood Brass Band together with Jyotsna Srikanth (read more on p28). The full festival line-up and how to book tickets is on p21.

Finally, on the subject of festivals, I hope the accompanying International Festivals Guide whets your wanderlust appetite – it’s packed with some of the most exciting and far-flung festivals, from Mali to Malaysia. But if you’re a¥er something closer to home, fear not, as we’ll highlight some of the top UK festivals in our June issue.

Jo Frost, editor

Finding artists who are eager to experiment has been at the crux of our festival programming

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE INCLUDE

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Songlines is published by MA Music Leisure & Travel Ltd St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Rd, London, SE24 0PB, UK +44 (0)20 7738 5454 info@songlines.co.uk www.songlines.co.uk © MA Music Leisure & Travel Ltd, 2017. All rights reserved. No part of the Songlines may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the Publishing Director. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the editor or Songlines Advertisements in the journal do not imply endorsement of the products or services advertised. ISSN 1464-8113. Printed by: Pensord Press Ltd, Blackwood, NP12 2A Record trade distribution WWMD Ltd 0121 788 3112 Newstrade distribution COMAG 01895 433600

Cathy Kamara An editor of educational materials in London, Cathy was once a rock music journalist, but then had a musical epiphany and started writing about world music. This issue she reviews Jupiter & Okwess (p70).

Rhiannon J Davies Rhiannon divides her time between freelance writing, working at music festivals and tour managing archaeological trips. She spent four years living in Istanbul. Read her report from Cappadocia on p78.

Megan Iacobini de Fazio Megan is an Italian-English freelance writer, based in Nairobi. She especially loves writing about music, for which she has no talent but an almost obsessive passion. She reports on Sauti za Busara (p71).

Songlines was launched in 1999 and is the definitive magazine for world music – music that has its roots in all parts of the globe, from Mali to Mexico, India to Iraq. Whether this music is defined as traditional, contemporary, folk or fusion, Songlines is the only magazine to truly represent and embrace it. However, Songlines is not just about music, but about how the music fits into the landscape; it’s about politics, history and identi–. Delivered in both print and digital formats, Songlines, through its extensive articles and reviews, is your essential and independent guide to a world of music and culture, whether you are starting on your journey of discovery or are already a seasoned fan.

@SonglinesMag facebook.com/songlines www.songlines.co.uk

ISSUE 126 › SONGLINES 03