World Music Central News Room | World Music Central

Clockwise from top left: Chandrika Tandon, Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto, Saami Brothers Khayal, Mariza, Solas, Aynur. Photo Credits: Chandrika Tandon by Shervin Lainez; Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto by Cedrick Nöt; Mariza by Eduardo Ramos Photos; Solas by Anna Colliton; Aynur by Jean Baptiste Millot. All other photos courtesy of the artists.

Events

World Music Institute Launches 40th Anniversary Season for Fall/Winter 2025–26

World Music Institute (WMI) marks its 40th anniversary with a new season celebrating world music and dance in New York City. The Fall/Winter 2025–26 program…

Xara on stage facing the camera with a large audience behind them.

Awards

Madrid Folk Quartet Xara Wins Runas 2025

World Music Central News Room July 16, 2025 No Comments Alejandro Delgado Asturian music Celtic music Guillermo Zumajo Irene Vioque Runas contest Spanish music Víctor Álvarez world music Xara

(headline image: Xara. Photo courtesy of Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira) Folk group Xara, based in Madrid and influenced by traditional Asturian music,…

The album cover for Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Rising features a blurred, swirling image of green foliage and sky. The album title is centered in white and light blue text, with “Pickin’ On” in a retro script and “featuring Iron Horse” below in smaller type.

Music videos

Iron Horse Puts a Bluegrass Spin on Creedence’s “Bad Moon Rising”

World Music Central News Room July 15, 2025 No Comments Bluegrass Iron Horse world music

Iron Horse has released a new music video for “Bad Moon Rising,” featured on their latest album Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Revival: Since…

The cover of Pipo Romero's Tangos del Atlántico features an image resembling a reflection on water. A blurred figure appears distorted beside textured vertical lines that resemble mooring ropes or natural fibers. The album title is prominently displayed in bold, all-caps serif typeface, but it is flipped upside down.

Music videos

Tangos Across the Pond: Pipo Romero Blends Genres in Bold New Single

World Music Central News Room July 15, 2025 No Comments Pipo Romero world music

Guitarist and composer Pipo Romero has released “Tangos del Atlántico,” his second preview of the upcoming album Alborada, due out in October. This follows his…

The single cover for "Lover of the Road" by Benson captures a shot from a speeding car at sunset, with motion blur stretching the landscape toward a vanishing point.

Music videos

Benson Pick Up Steam with “Lover of the Road”

World Music Central News Room July 13, 2025 No Comments Benson Bluegrass Kristin Scott Benson Wayne Benson world music

“Lover of the Road” finds mandolinist Wayne Benson and banjoist Kristin Scott Benson, performing together as Benson, collaborating with former Steep Canyon Rangers frontman Woody…

The single cover for "Emosido Engañado" by El Jose features a shadowy illustration of four street musicians sitting against an urban backdrop. One plays a guitar while others smoke or chat, rendered in dark silhouettes with warm orange highlights. The title, scrawled graffiti-style on a wall references a famous Spanish meme phrase with intentionally incorrect grammar.

Music videos

El Jose Releases “Emosido Engañado”: Street Rumba With a Message

World Music Central News Room July 13, 2025 No Comments El Jose rumba flamenca Spanish music world music

“Emosido Engañado” (we’ve been fooled) is the latest single from El Jose, part of the soundtrack for a short film starring recent Goya Award winner…

Colebrook Road Alone Again cover artwork. a photo of trees with a dark blue background.

Music videos

Colebrook Road Shares Stark Black-and-White Video for “Alone Again”

World Music Central News Room July 12, 2025 No Comments Bluegrass Colebrook Road world music

Bluegrass quintet Colebrook Road has released a new video for “Alone Again,” their latest single on Mountain Fever Records. It was filmed entirely in black…

Charts

Sibling Synergy: Matthieu and Camille Saglio Top Iberian Roots Chart on 2nd Quarter of 2025

World Music Central News Room July 11, 2025 No Comments LIMúR Portuguese music Spanish music world fusion world music

Al Alba (at dawn in Spanish), the latest collaboration between France-born cellist Matthieu Saglio and his brother, vocalist Camille Saglio, has reached number one on…

WOMEX 2025 artists, second batch. Collage of photos.

Conferences Showcases

WOMEX 2025 Update: Full Showcase and Club Summit Lineups Announced for Tampere

World Music Central News Room July 11, 2025 No Comments womex womex 2025 world fusion world music

Piranha Arts, the organizers of world music expo WOMEX, have announced the full list of Jury-selected Showcase artists and Club Summit performers for the 31st…

Noura Mint Seymali - Guéreh single artwork. A photo of the artist.

Music videos

Guéreh on the Dancefloor: Noura Mint Seymali Revives a Forgotten Classic

World Music Central News Room July 10, 2025 No Comments ardin Mauritanian music Noura Mint Seymali world music

After a nine-year recording hiatus, Mauritanian musician and storyteller Noura Mint Seymali returns with “Guéreh”, the first single from her upcoming album Yenbett, due in…