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Thursday, August 20, 2026

World Music Central

Your Connection to traditional and contemporary World Music, including folk, roots, global music, ethno and crosscultural fusions
World Music Central
Your Connection to traditional and contemporary World Music, including folk, roots, global music, ethno and crosscultural fusions
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  • Album reviews

    Frederico7 Builds a Brazil Beyond Borders on ‘Brasileirôu’

    Frederico7 – Brasileirôu (Lion’s Lair Records, 2026) On Brasileirôu, Frederico7 treats Brazil as an inner geography. On its 12 songs, the Brazilian-born songwriter brings together…

    Angel Romero August 19, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    The Rabab Remembers the Future: Sareban’s Echoes in the Weave

    Sareban – Echoes in the Weave (Worlds Within Worlds, 2026) On Echoes in the Weave, Swiss-born Afghan rabab player Mathieu Clavel, who records as Sareban,…

    Tyler Bennet August 18, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Polyphonic Vocal Group, Kitka Celebrates 45th Anniversary with Kolo

    Kitka – Kolo (Six Degrees Records, 2026) The legendary multigenerational women’s polyphonic vocal group, Kitka has a brand-new album titled Kolo. This lovely, exquisite and…

    Madison Quinn August 16, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    Chamber Folk Act Medusa Quartet’s Debut Inspired by Japanese Kintsugi

    Medusa Quartet — Weaving Gold in Broken Places (self-released, 2026) Weaving Gold in Broken Places is the first full-length album by Toronto chamber-folk ensemble Medusa…

    Tyler Bennet August 15, 2026 No Comments
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  • Album reviews

    The Many Faces of Karsh Kale’s Dust

    Karsh Kale – Dust (Six Degrees, 2026) Karsh Kale returns in 2026 with Dust, his first full-length solo album in a decade. Tthe project expands…

    Madison Quinn August 14, 2026 No Comments
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Featured News

  • Hanoun Brass Band From New Orleans to Palestine cover artwork
    Music videos Single reviews

    Second Line Levantine

    Tom Orr August 15, 2026 No Comments
  • Rhiannon Giddens Freight Train video cover artwork. An image of Giddens holding a banjo.
    Music videos

    Rhiannon Giddens Revisits Elizabeth Cotten’s “Freight Train”

    World Music Central News Room August 13, 2026 No Comments
  • Rootless Dam Mast Qalandar cover artwork. A cover featuring repeating red floral motifs, stretched out arms touching each other, and yellow-pink lettering reading “DAM MAST QALANDAR.” A central pink starburst contains the artist name “ROOTLESS,” all set against bright blue and lavender geometric shapes.
    Music videos

    Rootless Connects Romani and Punjabi Traditions on “Dam Mast Qalandar”

    World Music Central News Room August 7, 2026 No Comments
  • Donguille.pe No Vuelvo Atrás cover artwork. The album cover features a hand-drawn illustration of a person playing a classical guitar, with the figure formed almost entirely from repeated black typography spelling the artist's name. The guitar is lightly tinted in pink, while scattered musical notes float around the musician.
    Music videos Single reviews

    Forward Ever

    Tom Orr August 6, 2026 No Comments
  • Mairi McGillivray - 'S Mòr mo Chùram cover artwork. Mairi wearing a white dress standing in a grass field.
    Music videos

    Mairi McGillivray Unveils ‘S Mòr mo Chùram

    World Music Central News Room August 5, 2026 No Comments
  • Gráinne Brady The Highest Blossom cover artwork. Tree branches with flowers.
    Music videos

    Irish Folk Fiddler Gráinne Brady Presents “The Highest Blossom”

    World Music Central News Room August 4, 2026 No Comments

The album cover features a serene, blue-toned landscape dominated by a dense forest reflected perfectly on a calm body of water. Above the reflection, the name Mehmet Polat appears in simple typography.
Music videos

Rooted, Yet Restless: Mehmet Polat Unveils ‘Curious’ Single

World Music Central News Room April 3, 2025 No Comments Mehmet Polatworld music

Mehmet Polat introduces “Curious,” the first single from his upcoming album Roots in Motion, a project that reflects his journey as both a musician and…

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The image shows John Barleycorn as a rustic, bearded figure with barley stalks woven into his hair and beard. He holds a frothy mug of nut-brown ale, standing at the center. Around him, a circular composition illustrates the full brewing process: sowing the grain, harvesting, malting, fermenting, and finally, the pouring of ale. The style resembles an old woodcut or vintage folk-art print, with warm, earthy tones and detailed, symbolic elements.
Articles

The legend of John Barleycorn

John Philpott April 2, 2025 No Comments alebarleybeerBeowaCeltic mythsCeltic paganismEnglish Folk musicharvestIrish folk musicJohn BarleycornJohn Barleycorn Must DieOsirisRobert BurnsRolling StonesThe BeatlesTraffic

Writer and musician John Phillpott delves into the darkness of pre-history and unearths a mysterious character known on both sides of the Atlantic by the…

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The single cover for Mi Pueblo by Yelem shows a lively and colorful street scene. Musicians are performing with traditional instruments such as congas, trumpets, and saxophones. In the background, a charming village with southern Spanish-style buildings, tall palm trees, and a prominent church tower.
Music videos Single reviews

Zesty Sauce

Tom Orr April 1, 2025 No Comments FlamencosalsaSpanish musicworld musicYelem

Spanish singer Yelem gives classic salsa its due but also adds a splash of contemporary production value to “Mi Pueblo,” a sizzling tune accompanied by…

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Trio Da Kali - Bagola cover artwork. A color photo of the trio outdoors with clouds in the background.
Charts

Trio Da Kali Dominates with Top Spot on Transglobal World Music Chart for April 2025

World Music Central News Room April 1, 2025 No Comments global musicMaliMalian musicTrio Da Kaliworld music

The album Bagola by Malian group Trio da Kali has sailed to the top of the Transglobal World Music Chart (TWMC) for the month of…

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Trio Da Kali - Bagola cover artwork. A color photo of the trio outdoors with clouds in the background.
Charts

Trio da Kali Rises to the Top of World Music Charts Europe for April 2025

World Music Central News Room April 1, 2025 No Comments BagolaMaliMalian musicTrio Da Kaliworld music

The album Bagola by Malian act Trio da Kali has landed at #1 on the World Music Charts Europe for the month of April 2025.…

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La Mari, Chambao - Photo by Víctor Chito Photography . La Mari standing with her hands behind her head.
Music videos

Chambao Keeps It “Fresca” With a Tribute to Women

World Music Central News Room March 31, 2025 No Comments ChambaoFlamencorumba flamencaworld music

(headline image: chambao’s La Mari – Photo by Víctor Chito Photography) Chambao returns with “Fresca” (fresh), a single that pays tribute to women balancing domestic…

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Kamini Natarajan - Meera cover artwork.an illustration of an Indian woman playing a musical instrument.
Album reviews

Kamini Natarajan Unveils “Meera” – A Tribute to Hindu Mystic Poet Meera Bai

Madison Quinn March 31, 2025 No Comments bhajanIndian musicKamini Natarajanworld music

Kamini Natarajan – Meera (self-release, 2023) Renowned Indian classical vocalist Kamini Natarajan celebrates the enduring legacy of the 16th-century Indian saint and mystic poet, Meera…

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The single cover for Anywhere the Wind Blows by Missy Raines & Allegheny features a painted landscape with rolling hills in shades of orange, gold, and teal. A red heart-shaped balloon floats above, its string curving down toward a small, solitary red house nestled among the hills. The song title is written in a curved, handwritten-style font, while the artist names appear in clean typography. Featured guests Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, and Ellie Hakanson are listed beneath.
Music videos

Wind at Their Backs: Missy Raines & Allegheny Breeze Into New Song

World Music Central News Room March 31, 2025 No Comments BluegrassMissy RainesMissy Raines & Alleghenyworld music

Missy Raines & Allegheny, fronted by Grammy-nominated bassist and vocalist Missy Raines, have announced their upcoming album Love & Trouble, due May 2. The project…

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Black and white photo of Violeta Veinte holding her violin, smiling.
Artist Profiles

Violeta Veinte, a Multifaceted Musician with a Curious Soul

Angel Romero March 30, 2025 No Comments Castilian folk musicfiddleSpainSpanish musicVioleta Veinteviolinworld fusionworld jazzworld music

Gifted violinist, singer, and composer Violeta Díez Díez, better known artistically as Violeta Veinte, was born in Segovia, Spain. She began studying violin at six…

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The cover of Step Up by Sonic Alley features a black-and-white photograph of a person holding a pair of rugged leather shoes by the laces. The person is dressed casually, with only their lower half visible, standing in a natural, grassy outdoor setting. Bold, golden-yellow text reading "Step Up" is centered across the image, while the Sonic Alley name appears at the bottom in the same yellow color.
Music videos Single reviews

Best Foot Forward

Tom Orr March 30, 2025 No Comments Caleb HartfunkSonic Alleyworld music

Multicultural ensemble Sonic Alley, fronted by Caleb Hart, mixes reggae, funk, and hip hop on “Step Up,” a hard-hitting, timely-as-can-be plea for personal improvement that…

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Recent Posts

  • Maggie MacInnes Revisits Flora MacNeil’s Barra Song Archive on ‘Uiseagan Bharraigh’
  • Laura Itandehui to Make NYC Debut at Public Records
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  • The Rabab Remembers the Future: Sareban’s Echoes in the Weave
  • Old Town School of Folk Music Reveals World Music Wednesday Schedule for Fall 2026
  • Pippa Reid-Foster Turns a North Atlantic Voyage Into The Excelsior Suite
  • Seville’s Lope de Vega Theater Rejoins La Bienal with Major Flamenco Premieres

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