Here’s what’s in fRoots, No. 321, March 2010

THE EDITOR’S BOX

Ian Anderson’s comment column.

fROOTS PLAYLIST

Recent stuff we like.

CHARTS & LISTS

Specialist and general roots music album sales and airplay charts.

REVIEWS

Our key section reviewing all the latest CDs and more - loads bite the dust. No punches pulled!

ROOTING ABOUT

What’s happening: packed pages of festivals, gigs, tours, radio, CDs and all kinds of roots-related stuff. The most you’ll find anywhere…

ROOT SALAD

A cross-section of featurettes: Chicha revival pioneers Chicha Libre; Newcastle's Monster Ceilidh Band; Corsica's A Filetta; Vietnam's Hung Thanh, English folk duo Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell; and Tim Eriksen in the Rocket Launcher.

THEY CAME FROM THE NORTH

The Unthanks are the Marmite of English folk music, attracting adulatory praise and fierce vitriol in equal measure. Colin Irwin opens the doors to Unthankland.

BANJO ADVENTURER

Bela Fleck travelled around Africa with his banjo and recording gear. Banning Eyre hears how this had a notable effect on his philosophy of music making, also winning him a 2010 Grammy.

AYE AYE CAP'N!

Bellowhead had a nautical theme for their New Year’s Eve spectacular at London’s Festival Hall. We have a photo spread.

A PLACE TOO SMALL

The shocking loss of Lhasa De Sela on 1st January robbed us of one of the most expressive, individual voices of the past decade. Jan Fairley had been working on a Lhasa feature for fRoots when the news hit.

BEIJING FOLLIES

It’s a tough life being a journalist reporting for fearless fRoots. But David Hutcheon’s on board for the sweeney to Beijing to cover Sa Dingding’s latest album launch, eat giant aquatic centipede and buy panda hats.

SUDANI VOODOO

For a tradition allegedly down to its last practitioners, Rango give a very good impression of being alive. Elizabeth Kinder gets down with the Zar stars.

BIFF!

Our exclusive cartoon strip.