Swedish Folk Masters Väsen Begin 2013 Spring Tour
Väsen, one of the finest contemporary Swedish folk music acts, is touring the western United States this month. The group has just released a new…
Post Penang World Music Festival: Batik, Spices and Butterflies During Penang Island Tour
On the last day in Penang, our hosts gave us a tour of Penang Island. My travel colleagues that day were Filipino writer Niña Terol-Zialcita…
Debashish Bhattacharya Goes into the Thrilling World of Fusion
Debashish Bhattacharya Beyond The Ragasphere (World Music Network , 2013) Indian slide guitar maestro Debashish Bhattacharya steps away from traditional Indian classical music on his…
American Folk Music Renovator Richie Havens Dies at 72
Richie Havens, an American singer-songwriter with one of the most recognizable voices in popular music, died this morning of a heart attack. He was 72.…
New Zealand Reggae Band Katchafire to Release Best So Far
New Zealand’s successful reggae band Katchafire is set to release its greatest hits collection Best So Far, on May 21, 2013 on VP Records. From…
R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman Awaken the Musical Fire
R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman Awakening the Fire (Canyon Records, 2013) Every once in a while I get one of those CDs that insists…
Center for Traditional Music and Dance to Release 10 Video Shorts
The Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD) in New York has announced that it will be releasing Treasures of the CTMD Archive, a collection…
Tuareg Guitar Sensation Bombino Releases Azamane Tiliade Music Video
Tuareg guitarist Bombino is promoting his new album Nomad (Nonesuch Records) with an official video for the album track “Azamane Tiliade.” The video was directed…
Zedashe Recovers Lost Georgian Traditions
Zedashe Intangible Pearls (Multiflora/Electric Cowbell, 2013) As unlikely as it may seem, a declaration and a civil war made the music on the Multiflora/Electric Cowbell’s…
Roots Reggae Musician Taj Weekes & Adowa Releases Live Album
Roots reggae sensation Taj Weekes & Adowa have released their first live CD, titled “Pariah in Transit“. The band will be promoting the album throughout…