Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to the collective of women who are tackling the gender imbalance in music and inspiring younger generations Continue reading
Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to Gambian kora player Sona Jobarteh about the musical journey that has taken her through traditional griot music and Western classical performance, and how it led to the creation of her country’s first school dedicated to Mande music Continue reading
With groups like GRRRL taking on the feminist cause in music, we celebrate some of world music’s female firebrands. Here are Alexandra Petropoulos’ picks Continue reading
Alexandra Petropoulos visits the Lebanese capital and finds a thriving arts scene despite ongoing political uncertainty and neighbouring unrest Continue reading
Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to guitarist and singer Griffin Sherry about the trio’s unique Maine-grown holler-folk sound Continue reading
This festival dedicated to promoting the most exciting independent music of the Arab region celebrated its fifth edition this year with a line-up curated by Egyptian musician and composer Maurice Louca (whose Lekhfa album was a Top of the World in #134). It was clear from the ten bands on offer that Louca’s tastes are … Continue reading
Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to the Guardian columnist and author Tim Dowling about the banjo and the music that helped him uncover the instrument’s history
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It has been a few years since this capital city in the Canary Islands has hosted WOMAD; the festival has been on a six-year break in neighbouring Fuerteventura. But with an estimated audience of 40,000 at the concerts this year, there was a genuine sense of joy as Las Palmas welcomed its return. The line-up … Continue reading
It’s hard not to think that the sun came out specifically for this festival of dreamers and colour fiends. Forecast to be grey and dreary, the weekend was instead warm and bright, echoing Shambala’s vibe with the sun reflecting brilliantly off the endless sparkles that clothed the punters. As always, the festival offered a veritable … Continue reading
This feature originally appeared in Songlines #132 (Nov 2017) p18. Download a pdf here. Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to Tanzanian musician Msafiri Zawose and producer Sam Jones about their inspired collaboration Collaboration can be a tricky beast. A successful one takes mutual respect, equal talent and, perhaps above all, patience; all qualities that are evident in the latest album … Continue reading
Belem Brighton Festival, All Saints Church, Brighton, May 19 The dark, vaulted interior of Brighton’s All Saint’s Church proved to be a very different setting than where I mostly found myself on this particular weekend. Flitting between dingy basements and bars packed with bearded hipsters, I welcomed an excuse to take a break from the … Continue reading
