Skip to content
stamp collage
Thursday, April 09, 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
  • Home
  • About
  • Topics
    • archive
    • Articles
    • Artist Profiles
    • Awards
    • Book Reviews
    • Album reviews
    • Charts
    • Concert reviews
    • Conferences
    • Editorials
    • Events
    • Film Reviews
    • General News
    • Interviews
    • Loop Collections
    • New Books
    • New CDs and digital releases
    • New Films
    • New Releases
    • Obituaries
    • Tour Announcements
    • Tradeshows
    • Uncategorized
  • Contact Us
  • World Music Resources
    • World Music Booking agents
    • World Music Festivals
    • Glossaries
      • Musical Instrument Glossary
    • Music Contests
    • Showcases
    • Musician Biographies
      • Afghan music
      • Algerian Music
      • American Music
      • Azerbaijani Music
      • Angolan Music
      • Bangladeshi music
      • Beninese Music
      • Burkinabe Music
      • Burundian Music
      • Cameroonian music
      • Cape Verdean music
      • Chinese Music
      • Congolese Music
      • Egyptian Music
      • Ethiopian Music
      • Gambian Music
      • Guinea Bissauan Music
      • Guinean Music
      • Indian Music
      • Iranian Music
      • Ivorian Music
      • Malian Music
      • Mauritanian Music
      • Norwegian Music
      • Mozambican Music
      • Sao Tomean Music
      • Scottish Music
      • Swiss Music
      • The Multifaceted World of Spanish Roots Music
      • Senegalese Music
      • Taiwanese Music
      • Tajik Music
      • Tanzanian Music
      • Turkish Music
    • Venues
  • Partners
  • Album reviews

    Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Return With Slideways

    Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials – Slideways (Alligator Records, 2026) Slideways, the grand new album from Chicago blues band Lil’ Ed & The Blues…

    Ryan Emmert April 8, 2026 No Comments
    View More
  • Album reviews

    A Soundtrack Fit for a Sultan: Kamperman’s Prince Achmed Shines Beyond the Screen

    Steven Kamperman – Prince Achmed (Zennez Records ZR2025013, 2025) Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist Steven Kamperman brings new life to Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926),…

    Tyler Bennet April 7, 2026 No Comments
    View More
  • Album reviews

    Ana Crismán Revolutionizes Flamenco with Her Harp

    Ana Crismán Arpa Flamenca — Arpaora (Andalouse Alhambra / InOuïe Distribution, 2026) Spanish harpist Ana Crismán has released her debut album Arpaora internationally in physical…

    Angel Romero April 6, 2026 No Comments
    View More
  • Album reviews

    Jazz, Raga, And Black Holes: Quadrature Plots Debut Black Hole Blues

    Quadrature – Black Hole Blues (Deko Entertainment, 2025) Black Hole Blues is Quadrature’s debut album. The quartet grew out of the long-running Brooklyn Raga Massive…

    Tyler Bennet April 5, 2026 No Comments
    View More
  • Album reviews Interviews

    Ashley Maher’s Music of Hope and Beauty

    In the midst of stressful times, why not take a break, relax, sip some tea, and listen to Tree to Tree.  This is Ashley Maher’s…

    Dorothy Johnson-Laird April 4, 2026 2 Comments
    View More

Featured News

  • A protest-style illustration shows three raised hands against a beige background: a black clenched fist on the left, a red hand in the center pointing upward, and a black open palm on the right with an eye symbol. Along the bottom, blocky lettering reads We Were Made For These Times by The Klezmatics.
    Music videos

    The Klezmatics Face The Music With We Were Made For These Times

    World Music Central News Room April 8, 2026 No Comments
  • Sufian Ararah - Asdaa cover artwork. An interior space with arched columns.
    Music videos

    Oud Maestro Sufian Ararah Revisits Memory on “Asdaa”

    World Music Central News Room April 5, 2026 No Comments
  • Shelton & Williams Shifting Sand cover artwork. An image of a house over sand dunes.
    Music videos

    Bluegrass With Heart: Shelton & Williams Share “Shifting Sand”

    World Music Central News Room April 3, 2026 No Comments
  • Sami Yusuf sitting leaning against a wall. An architecturally ornate building is behind him.
    Music videos

    Sami Yusuf Unveils Transfixing Single “Being”

    World Music Central News Room March 31, 2026 No Comments
  • Ashby Frank Stokes County Buck Dancing Man cover artwork. A photo of the dancer jumping.
    Music videos

    Ashby Frank Salutes a Festival Original, “Stokes County Buck Dancing Man”

    World Music Central News Room March 30, 2026 No Comments
  • Anthony Almonte's cover artwork. Two filtered images of the artist.
    Music videos

    Salsa Artist Anthony Almonte Talks to the Moon

    World Music Central News Room March 29, 2026 No Comments

WITCH Queenless King. A still from a live performance.
Music videos

Zambia’s WITCH Reignites With “Queenless King”

World Music Central News Room April 7, 2025 No Comments WITCHZambian musicZamrock

Zamrock pioneers WITCH return with the single “Queenless King,” the first release from their forthcoming album Sogolo, due June 13 via Partisan Records. The title,…

Share
View More Zambia’s WITCH Reignites With “Queenless King”
Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico cover artwork. A photo of the artist playing guitar.
Album reviews

Helene Cronin’s ‘Maybe New Mexico’: A Roadmap of Reflection

Ryan Emmert April 7, 2025 No Comments American folk musicAmericanaHelene Cronin

Helene Cronin – Maybe New Mexico (self-release, 2025) Helene Cronin’s Maybe New Mexico is her most personal album to date, presenting an intimate, acoustic-driven sound.…

Share
View More Helene Cronin’s ‘Maybe New Mexico’: A Roadmap of Reflection
Niarela Papou - Le Renouveau album cover - a photo of the artist wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Music videos Single reviews

Tradition Plus

Tom Orr April 6, 2025 No Comments kamalé ngoniMalian musicNiarela PapouWassulu musicworld music

Malian artist Niarela Papou gives his country’s wassulu music an extra danceable twist on “Sigui,” where instruments like the traditional kamalé ngoni lute are prominent…

Share
View More Tradition Plus
The album cover for Frigg – Dreamscapes features a painted forest scene. Colorful tree trunks in shades of turquoise, magenta, and orange rise through a landscape of rolling hills, blending purples, greens, and warm earth tones.
Album reviews

Frigg – Dreamscapes: A Silver Anniversary

Angel Romero April 6, 2025 No Comments Finnish musicFriggNordic musicworld music

Frigg – Dreamscapes (Bafe’s Factory, 2025) Remarkable Finnish folk ensemble Frigg is celebrating 25 years with the release of Dreamscapes, an album that expands their…

Share
View More Frigg – Dreamscapes: A Silver Anniversary
Alana, winners of 2024 Runas contest - Photo by David Bermejo
Competitions

Runas Competition: Ortigueira Festival Boosts Prize Pool for Emerging Celtic Talent

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments Celtic musicFestival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueiraworld music

(headline image: Alana, winners of 2024 Runas contest – Photo by David Bermejo) The Ortigueira International Celtic World Festival in Galicia, Spain, has officially opened…

Share
View More Runas Competition: Ortigueira Festival Boosts Prize Pool for Emerging Celtic Talent
Amadou & Mariam - Photo by Julio Bandit
Obituaries

Amadou of Malian Duo Amadou & Mariam Dies at 70

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments Amadou & MariamAmadou BagayokoMalian musicworld music

(headline image: Amadou & Mariam – Photo by Julio Bandit) Amadou Bagayoko, guitarist and vocalist of the acclaimed Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, passed away…

Share
View More Amadou of Malian Duo Amadou & Mariam Dies at 70
Rafael Energía Dominicana - “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)” single cover. a photo of the artist raising his hands in the sign of a horn.
Music videos

Rafael Energía Dominicana Hits Home With “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)”

World Music Central News Room April 5, 2025 No Comments bachataDominican musicRafael Energía Dominicanaworld music

Rafael Energía Dominicana returns with “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno),” a new single that mixes classic Dominican bachata with modern production elements. The track is…

Share
View More Rafael Energía Dominicana Hits Home With “Una Mujer Buena (El Cuerno)”
The single cover for HoAgnan's "Mama Afreeka" features an earthy painting that merges a tree with the shape of the African continent. The tree’s roots and branches form intricate black lines against a textured backdrop of ochre, rust, teal, and gold. The title “Mama Afreeka” appears in large, stylized block letters—“Mama” in sage green, “Afreeka” in brick red. The artist’s name, “HoAgnan,” stands at the top in classic serif type with a soft shadow.
Music videos Single reviews

Gettin’ Freeky

Tom Orr April 4, 2025 No Comments African musicHoagnansaxophoneworld fusionworld music

With a style rather reminiscent of Manu Dibango, France’s Hoagnan gives us “Mama Afreeka,” which starts off jazzy before bringing in an African undercurrent that…

Share
View More Gettin’ Freeky
Cheikh Ibra Fam wearing a hat, standing by a house next to a blue window
Artist Profiles

How Senegal’s Cheikh Ibra Fam Found His Voice Between Roots and Rhythm

Angel Romero April 4, 2025 No Comments African musicCheikh Ibra FamSenegalese musicworld music

Born Cheikh Ibrahima Ousmane Fame in Mbour, Senegal, Cheikh Ibra Fam grew up amid constant relocation due to his father’s role as director of the…

Share
View More How Senegal’s Cheikh Ibra Fam Found His Voice Between Roots and Rhythm
The album cover for Ithaca by Lullahush features a close-up photograph of tangled seaweed in various shades of brown, black, and translucent white. In the bottom left corner, the album title Ithaca and artist name Lullahush are displayed in a stylized Celtic-inspired font, framed by an intricate knotwork design.
Album reviews

Homeward Sound: Lullahush Reimagines Irish Tradition in “Ithaca”

Ryan Emmert April 4, 2025 No Comments Celtic musicfolktronicaLullahushworld fusionworld music

Lullahush – Ithaca (Future Classic, 2025) Athens-based Dublin artist Lullahush is set to release Ithaca, his new album, on April 11, 2025. The record meshes…

Share
View More Homeward Sound: Lullahush Reimagines Irish Tradition in “Ithaca”

Posts pagination

Previous page Page 1 … Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 … Page 1,923 Next page

Recent Posts

  • Spain On Stage Connects Spanish Roots Music With Europe
  • The Klezmatics Face The Music With We Were Made For These Times
  • Spanish Harlem Orchestra Joins Dudamel And New York Philharmonic For Anniversary Concerts
  • Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials Return With Slideways
  • A Soundtrack Fit for a Sultan: Kamperman’s Prince Achmed Shines Beyond the Screen
  • Flushing Town Hall to Present Global Mashup: Brooklyn World Wide East
  • Ana Crismán Revolutionizes Flamenco with Her Harp

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Archives

Tags

accordion African music Afrobeat American folk music Arabic music Argentine music Bluegrass blues Brazil Brazilian music Celtic music Chinese music Cuba Cuban music fado fiddle Finnish music Flamenco flamenco guitar guitar India Indian classical music Indian music Ireland Irish folk music Italian music Jazz Latin jazz Malian music Middle Eastern music Norwegian music percussion Portugal Portuguese music Reggae salsa Scotland Scottish music Spain Spanish music Turkish music United States of America world fusion world jazz world music
World Music Central | Designed by: Theme Freesia | WordPress | © Copyright All right reserved