fRoots Compilation Albums

Here’s what’s on the FREE! download compilation with fR424 (Spring 2019) The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. Mekons How Many Stars
2. Crooked Jades Down to the River
3. Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening Aboot The Bush
4. Brighde Chaimbeul Tornala Maika
5. Bragod Uryen Erechwydd, Pt. 2
6. Roland Van Campenhout Midnight Star
7. David Davis & The Warrior River Boys Ramblin’ Blues
8. VRï Aros Mae’r Mynyddau Mawr
9. Alasdair Roberts, Neil McDermott & Tartine de Clous Tout en me promenant
10. Our Native Daughters Moon Meets The Sun
11. K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade Medowo
12. Em Marshall The Building Light
13. Mikey Kenney Montagna Di Menta (Calitri)
14. Thom Ashworth Derry Gaol
15. Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmonds I Must And I Will Be Married
16. Amira Medunjanin & TrondheimSolistene  Sve Pticice Zapevale

Here’s what’s on the FREE! download compilation with fR423 (Winter 2018/2019) The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. Kinnaris Quintet Gortavale Rock/ The Road To Poynton
2. The Furrow Collective My Son David
3. Tautumeitas Pāde
4. Emilyn Stam & Filippo Gambetta Alessandrine
5. John Smith Hares On The Mountain
6. Jean-Philippe Rykiel & Lansiné Kouyaté Kangaba-Paris
7. Gaye Su Akyol Bağrımızda Taş
8. Solasta Lost And Found
9. The Other Years Adaline
10. Astrakan Project Inês Rouanez
11. Jon Wilks Colin’s Ghost
12. Davey & Dyer An Lanow
13. Moussu T e lei Jovents C’est Marseillais
14. Amira Kheir Sameeri (Kindred Spirits)
15. Bâton Bleu Sarakiniko
16. Fara The Port Polka/ Rognvald Ritch, The Little/ The Shore

Here’s what’s on the FREE! download compilation with fR422 (Autumn 2018) The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. Moonlight Benjamin Port-Au-Prince
2. Kitty Macfarlane Man, Friendship
3. SANS Astele Oro – Step Careful, Stallion
4. Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith A Monument To The Times/The Stepped Ford
5. Northern Flyway Rosefinch
6. FLO Vergine Di Fine Agosto
7. Rachel Newton For Love
8. Fulya Özlem & Akustik Kabare Ben Yine Kaçar Giderim
9. Rachael McShane & The Cartographers Sheath And Knife
10. Tom Rush Far Away
11. Anandi Bhattacharya Amaro Porano Jaha Chay (What My Heart Desires)
12. Nathan Salsburg Impossible Air
13. Steve Tilston I Really Wanted You
14. Ann O’aro Lo Shien
15. Malphino Molienda
16. Toby Hay The Longest Day

Here’s what’s on the FREE! download compilation with fR421 (Summer 2018) The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. Ma Polaine’s Great Decline The Poison Sits
2. Andy Irvine & Luke Plumb Farewell To Ballymoney
3. Dafné Kritharas Katsivela
4. Bryony Griffith Radstock & Wednesday Night
5. Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp Blow
6. Bird In The Belly Irish Emigrant
7. Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy & The Gift Band The Elfin Knight
8. The Fretless The Killavil Fancy
9. Päivi Hirvonen Väinöläinen
10. Eugenia Georgieva Gyul Devoyche / A Maiden Like A Rose
11. Alden, Patterson & Dashwood The Time Song
12. Sousou & Maher Cissoko Bour Yalla
13. Alasdair Roberts, Amble Skuse & David McGuinness The Fair Flower Of Northumberland
14. Will Pound The Quaker
15. Dom Flemons Steel Pony Blues
16. Tal National Belles Reines

The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. The Rheingans Sisters Green Unstopping
2. Muddy Gurdy Glory Glory Hallelujah
3. You Are Wolf As Sylvie Was Walking
4. Zanmari Baré In Sor
5. Effra Musicophilia
6. López, Petrakis, Chemirani Shin U Zer (Blue And Yellow)
7. Dirt Music Love Is A Foreign Country
8. Djénéba Et Fousco Regrets
9. Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita Yama Ba
10. Thom Ashworth Work Life Out To Keep Life In
11. Cath & Phil Tyler Finest Flower
12. Blowzabella Cé
13. Monsieur Doumani Fallow Fields
14. Minna Raskinen Sakra
15. The Transports The Black And Bitter Night
16. Banter Plane Tree

1. Kries Zelena lipa
2. Gwyneth Glyn Cwlwm
3. Jolie Holland & Samantha Parton Biding My Time
4. Tim Jones & The Dark Lanterns Blossom & Fruit
5. Meïkhâneh Eszmélet
6. Trio Da Kali, Kronos Quartet Kanimba
7. Cocanha Lo Companhon De l’Avairon
8. Jack Rutter Stormy Winds
9. Edgelarks Yarl’s Wood
10. Saz’iso Penxherenë E Zotrisë Sate
11. Folk’ Avant Infall
12. The Emily Askew Band Cantiga De Santa Maria 42/Bourrée
13. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne Ripon Sword Dance Song
14. Germa Adan Born To Die
15. Msafiri Zawose Mazingira
16. Topette! Ricer

1. Joan Shelley If The Storms Never Come
2. Timbila & Chartwell Dutiro Chikende
3. Justin Adams Wassoulou
4. Quercus Once I Loved You Dear (The Irish Girl)
5. Dimitris Mystakidis To Kalogeraki
6. Ushers Island Molly Ban
7. Kate & Raphaël Sólheimajökull
8. Anavantou! Brincantes Da Mussuca
9. Snuffbox Chazza’s Circus
10. House And Land False True Lover
11. Calan Synnwyr Solomon
12. Marinah Saca la Luz
13. Pete Coe Farewell To The Brine
14. Damien McGeehan The Tinsmith
15. Toko Telo Jiny Karo Karo
16. Bertolino/Le Gac Glizh

1. Luke Daniels Aberdeen Blues
2. Trad.Attack! Sõit – Ride
3. Lisa Knapp Pleasant Month Of May
4. Ani Cordero Corrupcion
5. Rosie Hood Lord Lovel
6. Owl Light Trio The Politician, The Lighthouse, And The Trained Cormorant
7. Ulaş Özdemir Feryad
8. Dálava Dyby ňa moja maměnka stara/Grass
9. Sharon Shannon Sea Shepherd
10. Mamadou Kelly Hadjiatou
11. Yorkston Thorne Khan Recruited Collier
12. Jones, Berryman & Jones Poachers’ Moon
13. Toby Hay Claerwen
14. Dona Onete Queimoso e Tremoso
15. Sabîl Zabad
16. Martha Tilston Blue Pearl

1. Paul Anderson The Rose Of Glen Davan
2. Moishe’s Bagel Timgad
3. Graham Mackenzie The ‘Eee’ Reel
4. Whyte Leis A’ Bhàta
5. Alastair Savage Niel Gow’s Lament For The Death Of His Second Wife
6. Sophie Ramsay Auld Lang Syne
7. Ryan Young Traditional Reel / Smilin’ Katie / The White Houses Of Sheildaig
8. Donald Black The Highland Express
9. Jennifer & Hazel Wrigley Skea Brae
10. Revellers Skeletons

1. Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band Fade & Fall (Love Not)
2. Alden, Patterson & Dashwood Water Song
3. Abou Diarra Koya Blues
4. Jack Harris Vanished Birds
5. Amira Medunjanin Tvojte oči Leno mori
6. Trio Dhoore Endless Dancing
7. Daoirí Farrell Bogie’s Bonnie Belle
8. Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola Widdershins
9. Moussu T e Lei Jovents Cosmopolida
10. Derroll Adams The Sky
11. Voxtra Ballu Seriu
12. Owen Woods Cuckoo’s Nest/Le Bedeau De L’Enfer
13. Heg & The Wolf Chorus The White Witch
14. Ensemble Ériu Micho Russell’s
15. Ross Daly & Evgenia Damavoliti-Toli Erotokritos – Aretousa’s Lament
16. Windy Gyle Band The Ronald Cooper Jig

1. The Mekons Simone On The Beach
2. Kristi Stassinopoulou & Stathis Kalyviotis Ouden Oida (I Know Nothing)
3. Shirley Collins Cruel Lincoln
4. Jim Moray William Of Barbary
5. Piccola Orchestra Gagarin Piaghesa
6. Ewan McLennan & George Monbiot I’m Coming Home
7. John Renbourn & Wizz Jones In Stormy Weather
8. Vieux Kanté Sinamon
9. Martin Simpson & Dom Flemons Coalman Blues
10. Maggie Holland Morecambe Bay
11. Coope Boyes Simpson Napoleon’s Dream
12. Alsarah & The Nubatones Eroos Elneel
13. Methera Rising Sun
14. The Shee Lady Gray
15. Stein Urheim Oh So Nice
16. Paride Peddio & Jonathan Della Marianna Femminas Bellas

Here’s what’s on the FREE! download compilation with fR415/416 (Jan/Feb 2018) The download link can be found in the physical or digital edition of the magazine.

1. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Subbra Sutta
2. Stick In The Wheel Roving Blade
3. L’Attirail Parada a Nonoava
4. Bao Sissoko, Mola Sylla & Wouter Vandenabeele Xafamaya
5. Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp The Manchester Angel
6. Julie Fowlis Camariñas
7. Boubacar Traore Je Chanterai Pour Toi
8. Sproatly Smith Wassail
9. False Lights Murder In The Red Barn
10. Leila Gobi Deidi Dadada
11. Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones Old Fashioned Shotgun Wedding
12. I Fratelli Tarzanelli Hilltop
13. Melrose Quartet The Seeds Of Love
14. Ian A. Anderson Pretty Polly
15. Namvula Nkondo
16. Martin Hayes Quartet The Orphan

1. Police Dog Hogan Tyburn Jig
2. Lula Pena Pesadelo Da História
3. Dipper Malkin King Storm
4. Keith Christmas Cross The Water
5. Orchestra Baobab Fayinkounko
6. Pixvae El Curruco
7. Chris Foster The Faithful Plough
8. Twelfth Day Stop Talking About It
9. Las Hermanas García Luz De Luna
10. Jason Steel We Danced
11. Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith Bonny Bunch Of Roses
12. Debashish Bhattacharya The Dance Of Nai’a At Oahu Shore
13. Hannah Shira Naiman The Blue House
14. Pauliina Syrjälä Teodor & Feodor
15. Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe Tattered And Torn
16. Saltland Magnolia

1. Naragonia Hellebore/Too Late To Sleep
2. Snaarmaarwaar Patrysse
3. Trio Dhoore Chameleon
4. Wim Claeys Kom Zwijg Ne Keer
5. Mandolinman Wals Van Eppegem-Zemst
6. Wor Zerezo
7. Aurélie Dorzée & Tom Theuns La Nonchalante
8. I Fratelli Tarzanelli La Clermontoise
9. Surpluz Amsterdam
10. Edwin Vanvinckenroye Castar
11. Les Cerveaux Lents Mbala
12. Griff Trio Bargoensch Drinklied
13. Niepold Cresens In Den Barbiekot
14. Broes Winterland
15. Catherine Delasalle Le 5ème Élément
16. Novar A Kiss In Berlin/Novar
17. Cecilia Brassless
18. Wouter Vandenabeele/GFVP Wals Voor Lotte En Alfons Deloor

1. Damir Imamovic’s Sevdah Takht Lijepi Meho
2. Leyla McCalla Little Sparrow
3. Deltas Solou Yaya
4. Vołosi Nomadism
5. Katerina Tsiridou Garsona
6. Pare Åttastjillingspolskan/Polska Från Lappfjärd
7. Maarja Nuut Siidisulis Linnukene
8. Afro Celt Sound System Mansani Cissé/Tàladh
9. Robbie Fulks Aunt Peg’s New Old Man
10. The Ninetree Stumblers Ladies’ Quadrille
11. Lone Piñon Las Canastas
12. M’ Toro Chamou Tsa Rora
13. Rydvall/Mjelva Storebråten
14. Dori Freeman Where I Stood
15. La Banda Morisca Algarabya
16. Faith I Branko Cekajuci Stribora

1. Julian Gaskell And His Ragged Trousered Philanthropists The Dead Horse
2. Ruth Theodore Man Of The Land
3. Mor Karbasi Bezos
4. Julie Murphy Willie Taylor
5. Mikey Kenney Return To The Soggy Desert
6. Gadarene The King’s Head Hornpipe
7. Stefano Saletti & Banda Ikona Padri Di Noi
8. Roberto Tombesi Pia/Monferrina N° 20 / Manfrina Di Carfon/Manfrina Dei Coce
9. Harp And A Monkey Banks Of Green Willow
10. Robb Johnson England’s Power And Glory
11. Bitori Cruz Di Pico
12. Rory McLeod And The Familiar Strangers Sleep Tonight
13. Kaela Rowan Lord Gregory
14. Constantinople & Ablaye Cissoko Soutouro
15. Goitse Houdini

1. Stick In The Wheel Seven Gypsies
2. Champion Doug Veitch Banks Of Marble
3. Kaia Kater Southern Girl
4. Amadou Diagné Fouta
5. Plainsong Sell-Out Agitation Waltz
6. Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock Caught On Coattails
7. Cuncordu E Tenore De Orosei Dillu
8. Ghazalaw Khoobsorat Koi Sazaa/ Cosb Mor Dios
9. Michael Messer’s Mitra You Gonna Be Sorry
10. John Primer, James Cotton & Friends Good News
11. Topette!! Deule Douce/RSB
12. The Furrow Collective The Unquiet Grave
13. Les Ambassadeurs Seydou
14. Hillfolk Noir Uncle Jake
15. Maria Simoglou Ensemble Feretzé Foró
16. Dead Rat Orchestra The Black Procession

1. Three Cane Whale Moon In A Bottle
2. Las Hermanas Caronni La Mélodie Des Choses
3. Rachel Newton Proud Maisrie
4. Yorkston · Thorne · Khan Everything Sacred
5. Carrie Rodriguez I Dreamed I Was Lola Beltrán
6. Boreas Bjørnen
7. Eva Salina Hovani Romni
8. Filippo Gambetta Zigoela
9. Glue Pot Back From The Mountain
10. Jim Causley Banks Of The Tale
11. Slow Moving Clouds Os
12. Show Of Hands Mesopotamia
13. Tęgie Chłopy Śpiwa Rodowita
14. Lakou Mizik Anba Siklon
15. Madame Česki Spinning Wheel
16. Djelimady Tounkara Diamana Mara Manssa

1. Vieux Farka Touré & Julia Easterlin In The Pines
2. Tymon Dogg Conscience Money
3. The Rheingans Sisters Mackerel
4. Sahra Halgan Trio Naftaydaay Raali Noqo
5. John Doyle Liberty’s Sweet Shore
6. Songs Of Separation Echo Mocks The Corncrake
7. Kandia Kouyate Konoba Doundo
8. Dimitris Mystakidis ft. Eleni Vitali Tampakera
9. Vesevo Scioscia Viento
10. Leveret The Good Old Way
11. United Bible Studies Twa Corbies
12. Čači Vorba Trecut O-Doru Codru
13. Rhona Dalling I Don’t Mind
14. Bareto La Negra y el Fantasma
15. Sarah Hayes Where Ravens Feed
16. Rim Yrsnö

1. Stathis Koukoularis & Martha Mavroidi Agiorgitiko
2. Simpson · Cutting · Kerr Cruel Mother
3. Shooglenifty Do Chrochadh A Thoill Thu, Thoill Thu
4. Faris Imiskay Idjoleman (Motherless Children)
5. John Renbourn National Seven (Live)
6. Heg & The Wolf Chorus Three Sailors
7. Solo & Indreé Damma – Gerveé
8. Kate Burke & Ruth Hazleton Queen Of Hearts
9. Khaira Arby Hala
10. Pekko Kaäppi & K:H:H:L Rakastatko Minua?
11. Lindsay Straw The Bonny Light Horseman/The Song Of The Passion
12. Moore Moss Rutter Woolly And Georgey/Portsmouth
13. Ludovico Einaudi Taranta
14. Tom & Ben Paley Three Men Went A-Hunting
15. Muzicka VesTi Zajdu
16. Xaos Processional

1. Eliza Carthy & Tim Eriksen Logan’s Lament
2. Spiro Burning Bridge
3. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Rirollalla
4. Telling The Bees Windflower
5. Mbongwana Star Shégué
6. Monsieur Doumani That’s What The Kitten Wants
7. Kelly Thoma Hamsi
8. Emily Portman A Grief
9. This Is The Kit Spores All Settling
10. Trio Dhoore The Offbeat Jig/Keep Dreaming
11. Khiyo O Ke Udashi Benu Bajayey
12. Ayub Ogada & Trevor Warren Dero
13. Foghorn Stringband Henry Lee
14. Lau The Death Of The Dining Car
15. Le Vent Du Nord Le Rosier
16. Bamba Wassoulou Groove Gonifo Bourama

1. Kepa Junkera & Sorginak Trikitilariak Gera
2. Bella Hardy First Light Of The Morning
3. Paul Bradley All Generalisers
4. Anna & Elizabeth Lovin’ Babe
5. Trio Da Kali Godmothers
6. Torupilli Jussi Trio Torupilli Jussi Lugu Nr 21
7. Leveret Upon A Summer’s Day/Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
8. Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Banks Of Sweet Primroses
9. Hannah Sanders Go Your Way
10. SO III Kuu Kävelee
11. Jon Brooks The Two Sisters
12. Samba Touré Male Bano
13. Beth Porter & The Availables Salty Water
14. Ryan Boldt Poor Murdered Woman
15. Re Niliu Mara Tundu
16. Derroll Adams Wildwood Flower

1. The Sweet Lowdown River Winding Down
2. Amira Medunjanin Cula Jesam Da Se Dragi Zeni
3. Martha Tilston Lovely On The Water
4. Chris Smither Don’t It Drag On
5. Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker I Never Learned French
6. Amparo Sánchez Mi Gitana
7. Yiddish Twist Orchestra Mishugana Mambo
8. Beguildy Farewell To Beauty
9. Kate In The Kettle Green And Gold
10. Olcay Bayir Min Dêriya Te Kiriye
11. Nishtiman Nishtiman
12. Lena Ullman & Ivor Ottley Here And Gone
13. Jez Lowe Tether’s End
14. Moussu T e lei Jovents Le Plaisir De La Pêche
15. Al Jones High And Dry
16. Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band Kwang Noi Chaola

1. Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn Railroad
2. Cumbia All Stars La Cumbia del Parisino
3. Rachel Newton Queen Of Elfan’s Nourice
4. Ross Daly Earpigon
5. Lutine Death And The Lady
6. Carole Pegg & Radik Tülüsh Flash Company/Turug Bazhy
7. The Old Swan Band Not For Joe
8. Lori Campbell Johnny Malone
9. Kassé Mady Diabaté Ko Kuma Magni
10. Mishaped Pearls Cornish Girl
11. Kathryn Tickell & The Side Sideslip
12. Ben Moss & Laurel Swift No Money
13. Naomi Bedford The Spider And The Wolf
14. Shoukichi Kina with Pascal Plantinga Munushiri Bushi
15. Xylouris White Psarandonis Syrto

1. ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP Slide
2. MORIARTY Matty Groves
3. FERNHILL Aelwyd
4. TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIABATE Tijaniya
5. STICK IN THE WHEEL Bedlam
6. NUBA NOUR Dessy Lemon
7. THE LORDS OF THYME Proud Maisre
8. BIVOAC Danse à Bamako
9. FALSE LIGHTS Polly On The Shore
10. BENYORO Toubaka
11. MARTIN & ELIZA CARTHY Bonny Moorhen
12. SMOKY BABE Way Back In The Country Blues
13. GREG RUSSELL & CIARAN ALGAR Royal Comrade
14. NOURA MINT SEYMALI Tikifite
15. MÓRGA Johnny’s So Long At The Fair etc

Square Roots was the very first album put together by what was then Folk Roots magazine, released on vinyl and cassette only in 1987. A few of the tracks have subsequently appeared on other compilations but this is the first time that the whole set has been made available digitally. [One track from the original LP has been changed as its owner could not be traced.]

1. THE OYSTER BAND Liberty Hall
2. DEMBO KONTE & KAUSU KUYATEH Solo
3. BILLY BRAGG Hold The Fort
4. BRENDAN CROKER Oh That Naggin’ Wife Of Mine
5. KATHRYN TICKELL & RORY McLEOD Song For Busking Ronnie/The Remember Me Hornpipe
6. SWAN ARCADE Children’s Crusade
7. NADKA KARADJOVA Nedelyo, Nedelyo
8. TIGER MOTH Nail That Stoat
9. JUNE TABOR Bird In A Cage
10. JUMPLEADS False Knight
11. MARTIN SIMPSON’S FLASH COMPANY Bluebird (Judy G)
12. THE COPPER FAMILY By The Green Grove
13. THE 3 MUSTAPHAS 3 Speed The Traktor
14. ALPHA DIALO, MAMA DIALO & PAPY SISSOKHO Rowing Song (Part 1)

1. ADRIAN RASO & FANFARE CIOCARLIA Devil’s Tale
2. MOR KARBASI Aunque le di la mano
3. YOU ARE WOLF Three Ravens
4. SHEELA BRINGI feat. CLINTON PATTERSON Peacock
5. JAMISA JALIS Fondinkee
6. THE FURROW COLLECTIVE King Henry
7. MARIT AND RONA Fhuair Mi Pòg
8. ANDY IRVINE with REES VAN DER ZALM Farewell To Kellswater
9. PATSY REID Thugainn
10. CHRIS MORPHITIS Coat Tails
11. CHIPINDURA MBIRA TRIO Shumba Ya Mukwashi
12. HELEN DOROTHY Tractor Jean
13. SHANREN Bi Li Tong
14. HARP AND A MONKEY The Manchester Angel
15. KEPA JUNKERA feat. OS CEMPÉS Muiñeira A Cruz Da Lobeira/Ruada
16. ARTÚS Lo Drac Deu Retjons

1. BLOWZABELLA Le Petit Chien/The Long Drive
2. LAS HERMANAS CARONNI El Puente Carretero
3. LONG HILL RAMBLERS Lady Diamond
4. AZIZA BRAHIM Gdeim Izik
5. FÉLIX LAJKÓ Cipök/Shoes
6. LINDA THOMPSON Love’s For Babies And Fools
7. STEVE TILSTON TRIO Blues For The North Wind
8. MILAGRO ACUSTICO Wadaan
9. DISSIDENTEN Morock’n Roll
10. VAN-ANH VANESSA VO Gnossienne #3
11. SALT HOUSE Little Birdie
12. DUNJA KNEBL & KOLOLIRA Cula Jesam
13. NAMVULA Kumushi
14. MAMAR KASSEY La Famille
15. BURMA ORCHESTRA SAING WAING I Want You

1. CHLOPCY KONTRA BASIA Wieczerca
2. COCOS LOVERS Roots Of The Willow
3. LISA KNAPP Two Ravens
4. ÇIĞDEM ASLAN Sto Kafe Aman
5. PEKKO KÄPPI Käärmetyttö
6. TAMIKREST Imanin Bas Zihoun
7. THE YOUNG TRADITION Banks Of Claudy
8. LE TRE SORELLE Le Tre Sorelle
9. CAPERCAILLIE S’Och A’ Dhomhnaill Oig Ghaolaich (Waulking Song)
10. LUCY WARD Honey
11. TONY McMANUS Gnossienne #1
12. CORNCROW O For Summer
13. ELLIKA SOLO RAFAEL Sanka/Virrvals
14. LALA NJAVA Dinako
15. ARLET Aidan’s

1. CERYS MATTHEWS Ar Ben Waun Tredegar
2. LOKKHI TERRA Bhromor Koiyo
3. LAU Torsa
4. EMILY PORTMAN Hinge Of The Year
5. CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA Ceffylau
6. 9BACH FEATURING CÔR PENRHYN Ffarwel
7. KAN One Two Three
8. FAMILY ATLANTICA Tamunangue Blues
9. FIONA HUNTER The Bleacher Lass o’ Kelvinhaugh/Fiona Hunter’s
10. AUNTIE FLO La Samaria
11. WE BANJO 3 Martin Wynnes #2/Martin Wynnes #1/The Coalminer
12. IZEM Lost And Found
13. GHAZALAW Tum Nazar Se (SaNiDhaPa)/Cyfri’r sêr
14. GEORGIA RUTH Codi Angor
15. ROSS AINSLIE & JARLATH HENDERSON Old

1. THE ABRAMSON SINGERS Jack Of Diamonds
2. SIMONE ALVES & YANN GOURVIL Twist En-dro
3. MARTIN SIMPSON The Green Linnet
4. ORCHESTRE BAILAM & COMPAGNIA DI CANTO TRALLALERO A Mae Moae
5. CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA Bamba (Live)
6. AMADOU DIAGNE Yakar
7. BALEARIC FOLK ORCHESTRA featuring OLIVIA CHANEY He Can Only Hold Her (Alt. Edit)
8. THE MEMORY BAND The Wearing Of The Horns (Weyhill On My Mind)
9. D’EN HAUT Au Reng Deus Bienurós
10. FAKIR GONJER SHAH Shondo Ki Ma Nondorani
11. JIM CAUSLEY My Young Man’s A Cornishman
12. RADIO COS Muiñeira Da Despedida
13. RAYNA GELLERT The Fatal Flower Garden
14. FOFOULAH Balou Nala
15. VAMM The Ostrich/Farewell To The Prid

1. DAVID WAX MUSEUM Harder Before It Gets Easier
2. ARNOLD CHIWALALA BAND Pambazuko
3. ANNA DOMINO Lake
4. YASMINE HAMDAN Hal
5. JUNE TABOR, IAIN BALLAMY, HUW WARREN Near But Far Away
6. SPIDER JOHN KOERNER Last Lonesome Blues
7. BABA SISSOKO & DJELI MAH DAMBA KOROBA Djouku
8. THE RHEINGANS SISTERS October Song
9. THE SWEET LOWDOWN The Heart Is A Hollow Thing
10. BONGO BOTRAKO Invierno
11. RUTH THEODORE Slowdance
12. WILL NEWSOME Up In The Trees
13. MAARJA NUUT Veere, Veere Päevakene
14. MAYA & THE RUINS Roll Along, Kentucky Moon
15. DAWANGGANG Talking About Birds (II)

1. BOULPIK Nèg Dafric
2. MARTIN GREEN Three Ravens
3. PHØNIX Maria
4. NAOMI RANDALL with TOM GASKELL Nottamun Town
5. FORABANDIT Mum Olduk
6. POLKAWORKS Howson’s Hoolie/Bobby Shafto
7. KACY & CLAYTON Green Grows The Laurel
8. CORY SEZNEC Dragon Tree
9. SANS Omenankukka – Apple Flower
10. TWELFTH DAY A City You Can See Out Of
11. FIONA RUTHERFORD The Decision
12. BEVERLEY MARTYN Going To Germany
13. ANANSY CISSÉ Aïgouna
14. EMILY SMITH Hawk And Crow
15. THE DOLLYMOPPS The Isle Of Wight
16. COLLECTRESS Pumphouse

1. SEKOUBA BAMBINO MOYA KANKOUN
2. SPROATLY SMITH THE JOLLY PLOUGHBOY
3. KATHLEEN MacINNES ÒRAN AN T-SAIGHDEIR GHÁIDHEALAICH
4. ROBIN WILLIAMSON LAYING ON THE COLOURS
5. GEOMUNGO FACTORY DREAM OF THE TREE
6. ABLAYE CISSOKO & VOLKER GOETZE TOGNA
7. THREE CANE WHALE THE HUDDLING PLACE
8. HLADOWSKI & JOYNES LORD BATEMAN
9. KRISTI STASSINOPOULOU & STATHIS KALYVIOTIS MES S’ ENA VATHY
10. MAMA ROSIN SORRY TI MONDE
11. RACHEL NEWTON I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY
12. SERAFINA STEER ALIEN INVASION
13. MONOSWEZI MAPFUNDE
14. CAHALEN MORRISON & ELI WEST ALL I CAN DO
15. MAVRIKA DERVISH DANCE
16. KATHRYN TICKELL SMALL STONES

1. SINGERS FROM CALIMERA FIMMENE FIMMENE CI SCIATI ALLU TABACCU
2. ANTONIO CASTRIGNANÒ TREMULATERRA
3. NIDI D’ARAC RONDE NOE
4. ANNA CINZIA VILLANI FRAMMENTI (MAMMA LA LUNA/AMANE BEDDHU)
5. GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA CCE BEDDHA FIGGHIA
6. MASCARIMIRI RIMITTANA ‘PIZZICA NIURA’
7. CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO NU TE FERMARE
8. NINFA GIANNUZZI KLAMA
9. GHETONIA MAVRO CE SKOTINO
10. ARAKNE MEDITERRANEA STRINA
11. UCCIO ALOISI GRUPPO CESERINA
12. OFFICINA ZOÈ CU LLI SUSPIRI
13. ENZA PAGLIARA TO TO TO
14. ROSAPAEDA O RE RE
15. ALLA BUA QUANT’ AVE
16. SINGERS FROM MARTANO STORNELLI

1. KARINDING ATTACK: BURIAL BUNCELIK
2. KATIE ROSE: WITCHES’ REEL
3. ANNA CINZIA VILLANI: FARNARU FARNAREDDHU
4. EMILY PORTMAN: HATCHLINGS
5. CAFE AMAN ISTANBUL: APO TO VRADI OS TO PROI
6. LOXANDRA feat. Theodora Athanasiou: TA PSARADIKA
7. DUFFY POWER: SWEET AGAIN
8. JAGWA MUSIC: JUMBA BOVU
9. RAGNHILD FUREBOTTEN: JAG KAN INTE FELA
10. JENNY M THOMAS: MORETON BAY
11. ELS BERROS DE LA CORT: ALFAOMEGA
12. TOM PALEY: LITTLE BIRDIE
13. UFQ: ROSIÑA’S STORY
14. BEN ZABO: BWA IRI
15. KAN: MANGATTACK

1. LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE: ANDRÉ ALAIN EN SOL MAJEUR
2. SPROATLY SMITH: THE BLUE FLAME
3. MARTHA MAVROIDI TRIO: RAIN
4. ANAÏS MITCHELL: SHEPHERD
5. SAMBASUNDA QUINTET: KEMBANG TANJUNG
6. SORY KANDIA KOUYATE: SOUARESSI
7. JASON STEEL: THE FEAST
8. JIM MORAY: LORD DOUGLAS
9. GADARENE: THE TRIUMPH
10. SAKAKI MANGO & LIMBA TRAIN SOUND SYSTEM: A FLY ON RUSSIA
11. ELIZABETH LAPRELLE: LOCKS AND BOLTS
12. JULIE MURPHY: ESSEX SONG
13. AHMAD AL KHATIB & YOUSSEF HBEISCH: BAYYA EL-WARD / THE ROSE VENDOR
14. MAIRI MORRISON & ALASDAIR ROBERTS: THE LAIRD O’ THE DRUM
15. BANDA OLIFANTE featuring MAMADOU DIABATÉ: LE CHEMIN DU GRIOT

1. LLIO RHYDDERCH & TOMOS WILLIAMS: SEREN SYW
2. CHET NUNETA: PARADIS SOTT’E ‘NCOPPA
3. THE WOODBINE & IVY BAND w. OLIVIA CHANEY: POOR MURDERED WOMAN
4. APSILIES: GIATI NA ME YELASEIS
5. LA CHIVA GANTIVA: PA KE GOZEN
6. SAM LEE: THE BALLAD OF GEORGE COLLINS
7. BADUME’S BAND w. SELAMNESH ZEMENE: KORAHU
8. HEDY WEST: BEAULAMPKIN
9. THE MEKONS: UGLY BETHESDA
10. LLAMA: NIÑA
11. ISTIKLAL TRIO: SÛZ-NÂK OYUN HAVASI
12. WIZZ JONES: CORINNE
13. TALABARTE: PASACORREDOIRAS GORENTOSO
14. KARDES TÜRKÜLER w. ARTO TUNÇBOYACIYAN: 1-0
15. CALAN: THE DANCING STAG (ACOUSTIC VERSION)

1. AZIZ SAHMAOUI: MAKTOUBE
2. MARTIN SIMPSON feat. ROY BAILEY: PALACES OF GOLD
3. DANYEL WARO: KÉNYA
4. RAPUNZEL & SEDAYNE: PORCUPINE IN NOVEMBER SYCAMORE
5. JONNY KEARNEY & LUCY FARRELL: JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS
6. GASANDJI: JE SUIS CONNE
7. PEATBOG FAERIES: ROOM 215
8. ROSHI feat. PARS RADIO: SARI GELEN
9. MARY HAMPTON: FORGET-ME-NOT
10. THREE CANE WHALE: DANCING LEDGE
11. SEVARA NAZARKHAN: SAVTI KALON SOQINOMASI
12. AMIRA (feat. BOJAN Z): OJ TI MOMCE OHRIGJANCE
13. STEVE TILSTON: DOUBTING THOMAS
14. BARTRAM, BROOKES & WEATHERALL: THE PILOT/ SAN SEBASTIAN
15. DAMILY: JARINA

1. BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA SEGU JAJIRI
2. OLIVIA CHANEY THE KING’S HORSES
3. AURELIA YASHISHA 1
4. KATY CARR KOMMANDER’S CAR
5. AMPARO SANCHEZ ALMA DE CANTAORA
6. THE SHEE STRUT
7. MALICK PATHÉ SOW & BAO SISSOKO BOROM LEER
8. KATIE ROSE MAID ON THE SHORE
9. CARTHY HARDY FARRELL YOUNG LITTLE BIRDS
10. HOURIA AÏCHI EL QALB BET SALI
11. RIOGHNACH CONNOLLY THE OLD MINER
12. FANFARE TIRANA meets TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND QAI MARO (CRY MARY)
13. ERICA BUETTNER UNDER THE RADAR
14. CELINA DA PIEDADE CALIMERO E A PÊRA VERDE
15. ORCHESTRA SUPER MAZEMBE MWANA MAZEMBE

FAF Tracks is different from the normal run of fRoots CDs. With a couple of exceptions, it was compiled from the large pool of tracks which artists have donated in support of FAF to appear on their Folk Against Fascism double CD compilations. It consists entirely of UK artists.

1. MARTIN SIMPSON: THE SWASTIKA SONG
2. CHUMBAWAMBA: DANCE IDIOT DANCE
3. JACKIE OATES & MIKE COSGRAVE: YOUNG JOHNSON
4. INGE THOMSON: GIRL WITH THE SWAN’S HEAD
5. BLOWZABELLA: THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD
6. ALASDAIR ROBERTS & FRIENDS: JOY TO THE PERSON OF MY LOVE
7. LISA KNAPP & GERRY DIVER: THE BANKS OF THE BANN
8. COOPE, BOYES & SIMPSON: UNDER A STONE
9. FIDDLERS’ BID: APO FETLAR TOP
10. CHRIS WOOD: SPITFIRES
11. JONNY KEARNEY & LUCY FARRELL: HARES ON THE MOUNTAIN
12. DUCK SOUP: VALSE DU PERIL/ MARCHE DU MONT SAINT-LOUIS
13. JEZ LOWE & THE BAD PENNIES: KEEP THEM BAIRNS AWAY
14. FAY HIELD: LITTLE YELLOW ROSES
15. BRIAN FINNEGAN: STEPS

Following 2009’s state-of-the-art new English folk CD, this one (free with fRoots Nov/Dec 2010 and again courtesy of Arts Council England) spotlights some of the exceptional musicians from other traditions now resident here and enriching our culture. Compiled by Ian Anderson, the sleeve notes here are by Jamie Renton.

England is a multicultural musical hub and always has been. How could it not be? Wave upon wave of refugees and emigrés have made England their home since… well since forever. And they’ve always brought their music with them – along with their food, language and culture – which has mixed with what was already here. Add in the stuff English travellers bring back from foreign parts (Moorish dancing anyone?) and you’ve got the mother of all melting pots.

Right now it’s easier to soak up English multicultural music than ever before, with festivals, concert halls, bars and community centres all buzzing to the beats and melodies that nestle on our doorstep. There will always be those who prefer their global music to come from somewhere else (regardless of how good the local talent is) but many are starting to wake up to the appeal of that which has been staring them in the face for decades. There are no air miles, and no exhausting (and increasingly fruitless) battles with the authorities over visas either, when the world music artist you’re after lives just down the road.

The diversity of what’s resident here is actually staggering. From badass bash-yer-brains-out Punjabi drum troupes to delicate combinations of stringed and wind instruments, with music played by and to particular communities, musical ambassadors spreading their culturally specific sounds out to the mainstream and those hardy souls with strong roots who collaborate beyond their own culture (fusion, schmoozian, this is a natural development, always has been – how do you think our tradition got all those polkas, waltzes and squeezeboxes?).

Of course this compilation isn’t a definitive record of all the cultural ingredients in the English musical soup, you’d need a box-set the size of a house for such a thing. Here you have a mix of what’s tickled the collective fRoots ear and a panel of expert advisors. It’s a tribute to quite how much good stuff there is out there that London’s pioneering Cultural Co-operation recently released a double CD compilation along similar lines to L4ANE2 of an equally high quality and yet with only one artist in common.

The musicians

Chartwell Dutiro, the founder and leader of Spirit Talk Mbira, is as masterly a plucker of the Zimbabwean mbira as you’re likely to get. Back home, he led the mbira section of the legendary Thomas Mapfumo’s Blacks Unlimited. Since moving to England in 1994, he’s divided his time between music teaching and developing STM into the rockin’ multicultural seven-piece trance machine it is today.

Like Chartwell, Matthaios Tsahouridis plays a most singular stringed instrument, in his case the pontic lyra: a three-stringed violin that originates from the Pontos region of Turkey, but is associated with the Greeks who resided there until the early part of the last century. Matthaios was born into a musical family in Veria, Greece and came to London to study at Goldsmiths College, where he obtained a PhD in Ethnomusicology. He’s as happy to perform with symphony orchestras, as traditional musicians from Iran or Afghanistan. Ela Poulim is an original composition that features Matthaios on vocals, laghouto (Greek lute) and guitar, as well as pontic lyra. It’s a taster for his forthcoming album.

The UK’s Jewish community is long established, but is mainly made up of Ashkenazis from eastern and central Europe, whereas the young Israeli singer Mor Karbasi performs the Ladino music of the Sephardic Jews of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Born in Jerusalem of Moroccan and Iranian parents, she moved to London a few years back and has established herself within the UK global music scene, with rapturously received performances at Womad and Celtic Connections. Still only 23, she sings with a combination of technical prowess and emotional intensity as can be heard on El Pastor.

Master Chinese flautist and chef Guo Yue has been a UK resident for nearly three decades, a mainstay of Womad, initially with his sibling Guo Yi, as the Guo Brothers. He can play beautifully in a solo setting, as he does on the atmospheric Quiet Mountain, taken from his recent album Bai Yu (White Jade) which features the softer sounding white jade flute, rather than the bamboo variety with which he’s mainly associated. He’s also been involved with all kinds of cross-cultural collaborations, concert performances and film soundtracks, as well as giving demonstrations of Chinese cookery.

There’s a palpable buzz about the youthful Iraqi oud player Khyam Allami: he recently became the first recipient of the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy scholarship/ mentorship and performed at The Royal Albert Hall as part of this year’s Proms. Born in Syria, to Iraqi parents, he moved to London at a young age, initially taking up the violin, before dabbling in rock and then dipping back into his Middle Eastern roots by studying the oud (he’s got a degree in Ethnomusicology from London’s School of Oriental & African Studies). The Sound Of Disquiet shows off his virtuosity to fine effect.

Formed ten years ago by Bulgarian expat Dessislava Stefanova, The London Bulgarian Choir functions both as a performing ensemble and a community educational group. You don’t have to be a Bulgarian to join in (many of the members aren’t) and there’s a non-performing beginner’s group for those who want to learn the tricks of the Bulgarian vocal trade. Does this community aspect make the 40-strong main choir amateurish? Not a bit of it! Pilentse Pee shows the choir to be both steeped in tradition and unafraid of innovation.

The Krar Collective rock! An Ethiopian three-piece consisting of a singer, percussionist (playing the traditional kebero drum) and Temesgen Taraken, master of the six-stringed krar harp, they’ve burst out of London’s close-knit Ethiopian community and are starting to make waves on the wider scene with a very well received performance at this year’s Womad festival and recording sessions produced by noted UK roots groover and shaker Ben Mandelson, from which Wollo is taken. They may use ancient instruments, but there’s nothing arcane about the way that they play them. This is hot ‘n’ hypnotic dance music.

With deep cultural roots and a musically open mind, Cigdem Aslan typifies the new generation of UK-based multicultural musicians. Originally from Istanbul (where she sang with the University Music Club Band whilst a student), she came to London in 2003 and has broadened her range by studying with Dessi from the London Bulgarian Choir. Here she can be heard lending her beautiful, expressive voice to the sound of rebetiko, the blues of the Mediterranean, that plaintive but enduring music that unites the Turkish and Greek communities. At other times she can be found singing lead with The Dunav Balkan Group and the excellent She’Koyokh Klezmer Ensemble.

Kadialy Kouyate shares Cigdem’s spirit of musical openness and even came to the UK at about the same time, but he’s from a very different tradition. A Mandinka griot (hereditary storyteller/ musician) from Casamance, south Senegal, he’s a young virtuoso of the 21-string West African kora harp, who’s immersed himself in the London scene (he might perform with a Caribbean steel pan player one night, a traditional West African group the next and a symphony orchestra the night after). On his debut album from last year he plays with an unusually light and jazzy cross-cultural ensemble.

The Dhol Foundation are a West London institution, founded in 1989 by master drummer Johnny Kalsi (who also plays with Imagined Village and Afro Celts). Like The London Bulgarian Choir they have an educational and a performing wing. Kalsi’s canny enough to realise that a whole album or concert of dhol (Punjabi drum) bashing would risk inducing boredom and a headache in the listener and so mixes in folk, experimental, reggae and electronic influences. Peace And Love is a rollicking slice of dancehall bhangra taken from the Foundation’s forthcoming third album; that’s Glen LaTouche from Edward II on vocals.

Although they’re from quite different musical backgrounds, the collaboration between Andrew Cronshaw & Tigran Aleksanyan appears to flow naturally, perhaps because they share a love of the contemplative and wistful. Cronshaw’s a zither player/ multi-instrumentalist (and regular fRootscontributor) with a passion for and knowledge of all kinds of traditional music; Aleksanyan is a master of the Armenian duduk (a woodwind instrument with a double reed frequently described as the saddest instrument on earth) who studied under the great Djivan Gasparyan, before moving to London. They play live together whenever they can but, aside from a track on a previous fRoots covermount CD, this slice of fragile melancholic musical beauty is their first publicly available recording.

The UK’s Congolese and Cuban communities are both well established, so why not combine the music of the two? That was the thinking of talented salsa pianist Sara McGuinness when she formed Grupo Lokito in 2006. Their dynamic live shows mix soukous with salsa and son to exhilaratingly swinging effect, much of which has been captured on their recently released debut album from which we have the title track.

The affable and extraordinarily gifted Malagasy guitarist Modeste really should be better known amongst the UK’s African music lovers and probably would be if he was based in Paris or Brussels or anywhere other than London. Modeste Hugues Randramahitasoa hails from Betroka in southern Madagascar and plays the unique gentle style of the region. Word is that there’s a new album on the way.

Adriano Adewale has played percussion with a whole range of visiting Brazilian and local jazz artists since moving to the UK from São Paulo, Brazil a decade ago. He’s also performed with Modeste and features on Kadialy Kouyate’s album. No surprise then that Sementes, the 2008 debut album by his group, features a slew of Brazilian, African and jazz influences. Kadialy returns the favour by playing in his band, firebrand Israeli saxophonist Gilad Atzmon produces and one of Adriano’s employers, guitarist Antonio Forcione, makes a guest appearance.

With deep roots in the classical Hindustani musical tradition, the extraordinary blind sitarist/ multi-instrumentalist Baluji Shrivastav has travelled from his home village in northern India to France and on to the UK, playing solo, teaching and collaborating with Massive Attack, Andy Shepherd and a whole load more. His latest album, Goddess, is a musical celebration of female deities from different cultures; Journey To Sedna is based on an Inuit legend of the Goddess of the Deep Sea.

Track list

+ = source recording details.
* = booking contact and website info. Overseas tel: add +44 and delete first 0

1. SPIRIT TALK MBIRA feat. Chartwell Dutiro Zunde
   + From the CD Dendere Ngoma [Music Nest] (own label). Distributed by CDBaby.
   * Joanne Peters: 07794 350415. inbox@joannepeters.co.uk www.chartwelldutiro.com
2. MATTHAIOS TSAHOURIDIS Ela Poulim
   + Exclusive preview from a forthcoming CD due winter 2010/2011, release details t.b.c.
   * Direct tel: 07765 498600. makoulis@tsahouridis.com www.tsahouridis.com
3. MOR KARBASI El Pastor
   + Exclusive preview from the forthcoming CD Daughter Of The Spring, release details t.b.c.
   * Edwin Zomer, email: edwinatsummertime@kpnmail.nl www.morkarbasi.com
4. GUO YUE Empty Mountain
   + From the CD White Jade (Squirky Music). www.squirkymusic.com Available in the UK from Amazon/ iTunes.
   * Direct tel: 020 8948 5805 or 07727 152454. Email: guoyue@mac.comwww.guoyuemusic.com
5. KHYAM ALLAMI w. Andrea Piccioni The Sound Of Disquiet
   + Part of an otherwise download-only two-track EP The Sound Of Disquiet. Available at www.khyamallami.com
   * Direct email: info@khyamallami.com www.khyamallami.com
6. THE LONDON BULGARIAN CHOIR Pilentse Pee
   + From the CD Alyana Galyana (London Bulgarian Choir). Direct from www.londonbulgarianchoir.co.uk
   * Direct tel: 07950 656319. info@londonbulgarianchoir.co.ukwww.londonbulgarianchoir.co.uk
7. THE KRAR COLLECTIVE Wollo
   + Exclusive to this CD, produced by Ben Mandelson. Not otherwise available.
   * Sebastian Merrick, Kazum!: 07966 452557. Email: info@kazum.co.ukwww.myspace.com/krarcollective
8. CIGDEM ASLAN To Prosfigaki (Little Refugee)
   + Exclusive to this CD. Not otherwise available.
   * Sebastian Merrick, Kazum!: 07966 452557. Email: info@kazum.co.ukwww.myspace.com/cigdemaslan
9. KADIALY KOUYATE & SOUND ARCHIVE N’daren
   + From the CD Londo [Wisdom] (own label). Direct from www.kksoundarchive.com
   * Direct tel: 07946 262788 or 07716 078837. julia@kksoundarchive.comkadialy@kksoundarchive.com www.kksoundarchive.comwww.myspace.com/kadialykouyate
10. THE DHOL FOUNDATION feat. Glen Latouche Peace And Love
    + From the forthcoming CD Drum Struck (TDF Records Ltd). Distributed in the UK by Proper Music.
    * Alan Bearman Music: 020 7263 0425. www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk or from the booking form on TDF website: www.dholfoundation.comwww.myspace.com/thedholfoundation
11. ANDREW CRONSHAW & TIGRAN ALEKSANYAN Käärme Pt. 1
    + Exclusive preview from a forthcoming CD on Cloud Valley Music. Distributed by Proper Music, due 2011.
    * Direct tel: 020 8521 4649. cloudval@aol.com www.andrewcronshaw.com
12. GRUPO LOKITO Esengo Ya Ko Bina
    + From the CD Esengo Ya Ko Bina (Malecon Records). Available direct from www.grupolokito.co.uk
    * Sara McGuinness: 07932 949760. sara_malecon@yahoo.co.uk www.grupolokito.co.uk
13. MODESTE Any Anao
    + From the CD Fomba/Living Our Destiny (Space Shop Records). Distributed in the UK by Stern’s.
    * Direct tel: 07949 361856. modeste@modeste.co.uk www.modeste.co.ukwww.myspace.com/modestemusic
14. ADRIANO ADEWALE GROUP Passa Por Mim
    + From the CD Sementes (Segue). Distributed by Kudos Records.
    * Fiona Mason: 07957 571332. fiona@segue.org.uk www.adrianoadewale.co.uk
15. BALUJI SHRIVASTAV Journey To Sedna
    + From the CD Goddess (ARC Music). Distributed in the UK by Proper Music.
    * Direct tel: 020 7226 2094. baluji@baluji.com www.baluji.com

Ian Anderson thanks Lucy Duran, Ken Hunt, Ben Mandelson, Wallee McDonnell, Katerina Pavlakis, Rita Ray, DJ Ritu, Max Reinhardt and Jamie Renton for their help and advice in selecting the artists for this CD.

1. THE ABRAMSON SINGERS: FOOL’S GOLD
   Ex Crooked Jades and Dyad, a great Canadian singer and writer.
2. GORDANA EVACIC: JA SEM SI LICE OPRALA/SNEHA
   Killer voice and slow burning cimbalom from Croatia.
3. JACKY MOLARD QUARTET & FOUNE DIARRA TRIO
   Making new music on the Brittany/Mali border.
4. AMPARO SÁNCHEZ: SE QUE NO SE
   From the former Amparanoia frontperson’s fabulous solo outing.
5. JASON STEEL: BONES ARE BREAKING
   Fine example of the new banjo minimalism from Doncaster’s Dock Boggs.
6. BALLAKÉ SISSOKO & VINCENT SEGAL: CHAMBER MUSIC
   Renowned Malian kora master teams up with expressive cellist.
7. EMILY PORTMAN: STICK STOCK
   Solo debut of former Devils Intervalist turns out to be awesome work!
8. BATUKO TABANKA feat. UXIA: QUI DIA NTA TCHIGALÁ
   Cape Verde batuko meets Galician traditions in a special CD/ DVD project.
9. RUTH THEODORE: FALSE ALARM
   From one of the most original songwriters to have emerged lately.
10. ELIZA CARTHY & NORMA WATERSON: BUNCH OF THYME
    The queen and crown princess of English folk justify their monarchy!
11. ANDY CUTTING: CUCKOO’S NEST/ OLD MOLLY OXFORD
    Top English squeezeboxist finally delivers long-awaited solo album.
12. DEVON SPROULE & PAUL CURRERI: WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER
    Exclusively recorded for this CD – Dame Vera’s old anti-fascist warhorse gains from new insights, as specially devised for January’s fRootsenanny.
13. PINLANG: DON ZU WU QU / DANSE DES DON
    Taiwanese guzheng (Chiu Yu-ping) meets French guitar (Julien Veillet).
14. GIGI DE NISSA: AU GRAND SOLEU
    Occitan fun. Nux Vomica frontman meets Moussu T E Lei Jovents.
15. ISSA JUMA AND SUPER WANYIKA STARS: BARUA (THE LETTER)
    The undefeatable sound of Swahili rumba from the ‘80s.

1. MAMA ROSIN: LE TWO STEP DE L’HARICOT
   Roaring out of Switzerland, they call it ‘combat Cajun’
2. BLUE ASIA: KUN-NU-SHU
   Makoto Kubota’s travelling project reaches Okinawa.
3. ALI FARKA TOURE & TOUMANI DIABATE: KALA DJULA
   A preview of the final album by Mali’s two legends together.
4. JULIAN GASKELL & HIS RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS: BOTTLE OF LUCK
   Grumpy punk folk meets Eastern European surf jazz ska via Cornwall.
5. LOS CHINCHES: CHICHA LOVE
   The UK’s very own psychedelic Amazonian cumbia surf band!
6. ELLEN MARY McGEE: THE FATAL FLOWER GARDEN
   A fine folk interpreter/writer from the label which brought you Nancy Wallace.
7. FAIZ ALI FAIZ & TITI ROBIN: RUS NA
   Two giants: acclaimed qawwali singer meets the French instrumentalist.
8. GUY CLARK: THE GUITAR
   More classic storytelling from the veteran Texan genius.
9. KAMEL EL HARACHI: EL BARANI
   Superb Algerian chaabi from the son of the Ya Rayah originator.
10. SHOW OF HANDS: THE KEYS OF CANTERBURY
    The dishevelled but diamond folk duo team up with Jackie Oates.
11. KARL SKAARUP: MELLEM KAGEL OG Æ VÆG
    Fine old Danish traditional squeezebox man.
12. MACMASTER/ HAY: RINN MI MOCH
    Imaginative collaboration between Gaelic vocals, electro-harp and percussion.
13. ROGER WATSON: PEG OF DERBY
    Traditional tale gets a modern twist. And that’s Jackie Oates again…
14. FRANCO & LE TPOK JAZZ: PESA POSITION NA NO
    The Congo Colossus, from the essential retrospective CDs.
15. MIKE COOPER w. FABRIZIO SPERA & LEILA ADU: WALKING MY TROUBLES AWAY
    Rome-dwelling English veteran combines blues and free improvisation.

1. SNAKEFARM: JOHNNY
2. NIDI D’ARAC: AHI TAMBURIEDDHU
3. JUNE TABOR & OYSTERBAND: IF MY LOVE LOVES ME
4. R.U.T.A.: JAK TO DAWNI DOBRZE BELO
5. SAM AMIDON: PRETTY FAIR DAMSEL
6. FATOUMATA DIAWARA: WILILÉ
7. MARTHA MAVROIDI: BALLADA
8. FERNHILL: GLYN CYNON
9. KATIE HOWSON: THAMES VALLEY SOLDIER’S JOY/ LEMMIE BRAZIL’S NO.1/ CECIL PEARL’S PETRONELLA
10. CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS: THE HAWTHORN TREE
11. KRISTI STASSINOPOULOU & STATHIS KALYVIOTIS: MES TOU AIGAIOU TA NERA
12. NAOMI BEDFORD: THE DEATH OF QUEEN JANE
13. TIMBILA: I GO GO
14. PHILLIP HENRY & HANNAH MARTIN: COURTING IS A PLEASURE
15. IMPERIAL TIGER ORCHESTRA: ZOMA

1. THE CROOKED JADES: CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE
   The spooky new soul of old time music.
2. OUMOU SANGARE: YO DJELI
   Preview of the Wassoulu song queen’s imminent newie.
3. NIYAZ: BENI BENI
   Mixing Iran, Turkey, India, old and new.
4. JIM MORAY: LEAVING AUSTRALIA
   His extraordinary third album and Critics Poll Album Of The Year!
5. LES ESPOIRS DE CORONTHIE: TÉMÉDI
   Hot young roots band from Guinea.
6. MAWKIN:CAUSLEY : COME MY LADS
   Better than yer average boy band, innit.
7. WARSAW VILLAGE BAND: WISE KID SONG
   Poland’s finest, now sounding major league.
8. THE SHEE: CHILLY WINDS
   Classy all-women Scottish-ish sextet.
9. KILEMA: MAHAIZA MANDEFITSE Malagasy journeyman marovany player comes up trumps.
10. AMADOU SODIA: ÇA VA SE SAVOIR
    Big Guinean griot with big cast of stars.
11. CHRIS FOSTER: THE FALSE BRIDE
    It’s never too late to make your best album!
12. MAHSA & MARJAN VAHDAT: THE MIRROR OF THE MORNING WINE
    Iranian sisters make a thing of beauty.
13. IVO PAPASOV: TINNER’S DANCE
    The return of the Bulgarian clarinet king.
14. PINE LEAF BOYS: ZYDECO GRIS-GRIS
    The hot new generation of Cajun music.
15. TÜKRÖS ZENEKAR: BONCHIDAI SÜRÜ CSÁRDÁS. LASSÚ ÉS BÃRBUNC
    Transylvanian village music.

1. LES AMAZONES DE GUINÉE: REINE NYEPOU
   Legendary long lasting all-women band make 2nd album in 40 years!
2. RUPA & THE APRIL FISHES: MAINTENANT
   World aware band from San Francisco led by multi-talented singer.
3. SPIERS & BODEN: CAPTAIN WARD
   England’s unrivalled high energy folk duo tackle a pirate.
4. KRIES: GRLICICA
   Mojmir Novakovic’s charismatic Croatian wonderband.
5. PAMELA WYN SHANNON: TIS RAMBLETIDE IN AMBLESIDE
   Classy New England songwriter with an old England inspiration.
6. MARIKA PAPAGIKA: BOURNOVALIO
   Recorded in New York in February 1927, the legendary Greek singer (1890 – 1943), one of the 20th century greats.
7. ALE MÖLLER BAND: YATI
   Sweden-based multi-cultural band reinterpret a song from Marika Papagika, a.k.a. Ke Giati De Mas To Les.
8. TRIO: BIÇARE
   Wonder trio of Turkey’s top players of clarinet, baglama & qanun.
9. PHØNIX: GÆRDET
   Smart Danish quartet with unusual line-up and cool vocals of Karen Mose.
10. GHOST BEES: TASSEOMANCY
    Canadian sisters with a spooky edge celebrate the art of reading tea leaves.
11. MELINGO: EN UN BONDI COLOR HUMO
    Argentinian cult hero who has revitalised the tango.
12. JACKIE OATES: LARK IN THE MORNING
    Young English singer coming on by leaps and bounds: it’s in the family!
13. MAMAK KHADEM: JOSTOJOO
    Iranian singer explores the cultures of Greece, Turkey and Armenia too.
14. STELIOS PETRAKIS: ORION KAI PLEONI
    Cretan lyra master/ maker and Ross Daly associate with a superb solo CD.
15. BROADCASTER: ENGLAND
    What happens when a creative producer gets his hands on the Radio Ballads!

1. JUSTIN ADAMS & JULDEH CAMARA: YA TA KAAYA
   The Wayward Sheikh meets the Gambian riti master
2. BELLA HARDY: ALL THINGS ARE QUITE SILENT
   Assured debut from one of the best of the new singers of English trad.
3. YOUSSOU N’DOUR: SAMA GAMMU
   Senegal’s superstar looks to northern roots, and features Bassekou Kouyate’s ngoni.
4. CHUMBAWAMBA: ADD ME
   Those self proclaimed “impostors in the world of folk” with a creepy tale of our times.
5. ÖZLEM TANER: BASINA DÖNDÜGÜM
   From a debut album of imaginative adventures in Turkish roots music.
6. THE MEKONS: WHITE STONE DOOR
   English institution celebrating their 30th with possibly their finest album.
7. NAWAL: KWELI II
   Gorgeous sound of a traditionally rooted songwriter from the Comores.
8. LINDA THOMPSON: WHISKY, BOB COPPER AND ME
   How could we resist a song about these subjects, with Eliza and Martin Carthy too!
9. MOR KARBASI: ROSA/THE ROSE
   Watch out for this wonderful London-based Ladino singer in 2008!
10. TARIKA BÉ: HIGHER
    A catchy first hearing of the new band emerging from the Tarika of old.
11. TYMON DOGG & THE QUIKENING: GUANTANAMO
    Still out there doing it after all these years, one of the great English originals.
12. ORCHESTRA BAOBAB: PAPE NDIAYE
    Senegal’s legendary band make a welcome return to the studio.
13. SA DINGDING: HOLY INCENSE (CHINESE VERSION)
    The beautiful sounds of a major new artist from China.
14. SHEILA CHANDRA & CHRIS WOOD: THE WELCOME SAILOR
    English trad in the multicultural 21st century.
15. ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS: ALIEN CEILIDH
    Scottish fiddler’s latest attractive outing with American cellist.
16. DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER: BAD SPIRITS (BANI)
    The US jazz singer goes to Mali, on this track featuring Kasse Mady.
17. MODDATHIR ABOUL WAFA: SAMAA HOS
    Egyptian master oud player and his superb orchestra.

1. ELENI TSALIGOPOULOU remixed by IMAM BAILDI : TA PAIDIA DIS GEITONIAS SOU
   Greek singing star remixed with a hint of Marika Papagika & Mingus.
2. IAN KING : DEATH & THE LADY
   Preview of a hotly anticipated English folk debut, produced by Ian King with Adrian Sherwood & Skip McDonald.
3. THE BAD SHEPHERDS : DOWN IN THE TUBE STATION AT MIDNIGHT
   Ade Edmondson’s talented gang turn Jam gem into folk epic.
4. MIMMO EPIFANI : LU SITTATURU
   Wild, rootsy pizzica from Salento, led by the rapping mandola master.
5. HELENE BLUM : SØMANDSENKEN
   Rising Danish star, formerly of Karen & Helene (fRoots 24). That man Andy Cutting features.
6. DEVON SPROULE : AIN’T THAT THE WAY
   Virginia’s finest continues her rise to the hall of greats.
7. INVISIBLE SYSTEM featuring MAHMOUD AHMED : MELKAM KEHONELISH (IF THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT)
   The forerunner of Dub Colossus, Ethiopia gets reinvented again.
8. TRIBECASTAN : MOPTI
   John Kruth & Jeff Greene explore multicultural New York in a Don Cherry tune.
9. ABDOULAYE ‘DJOSS’ DIABATE : LANSINE
   Classic Malian griot – Kasse Mady’s brother – now living in the USA.
10. ALASDAIR ROBERTS : NED LUDD’S RANT (FOR A WORLD REBARBARISED)
    “Godfather of the disenfranchised folkies” excels again.
11. BRENNA MacCRIMMON : SEMSIYEMIN UCU KARE
    One of Turkey’s best singers is Canadian!
12. MOHAMED ILYAS : PANYA
    Classic taarab orchestra music from Zanzibar with a star crooner.
13. MARA ARANDA & SOLATGE : ROMANÇ DE LA PORQUEROLA
    Ballad of a swineherdess, from latest project by former L’Ham De Foc singer.
14. SOZNAK : WEEKILY
    Newcastle’s multicultural mash, here featuring Angola’s Beriso Latonda.
15. JOHN KIRKPATRICK : THE THREE SPEED PLOUGH/THE HAFREN HORNPIPE AND A HALF/UNCHRISTMAS
    Triple hornpipes from the king of the English squeezeboxists.

1. MAMANI KEITA: DJEKAFO
   The Electro Bamako star teamed with Nicolas Repac this time round.
2. AKLI D.: GOOD MORNING TCHETCHENIA
   The adventurous Berber boundary crosser, championed by Manu Chao.
3. OYSTERBAND: WHERE THE WORLD DIVIDES
   An exclusive advance listen to the latest from the veteran roots rockers.
4. ZUZANA NOVAK: NHEMAMUSASA
   Probably the world’s only Anglo-Czech woman mbira player & singer.
5. ANGHJULA POTENTINI: FRANCESCA MARIA
   The gorgeous sound of a traditional singer from Corsica.
6. JAUNE TOUJOURS: DEMAIN PEUT-ETRE
   One of Europe’s great live bands finally get it down on disc!
7. JACKIE OATES: BANKS OF GREEN WILLOW
   Fast rising young traditional singer/fiddle player, produced by Phil Beer.
8. ANDREW CRONSHAW & TIGRAN ALEKSANYAN: SHE SLEEPS
   Perfect pairing of Cronshaw’s electric zither and Aleksanyan’s Armenian duduk.
9. GJALLARHORN: KOKKOVIRSI (BONFIRE SONG)
   The Finnish/Swedish band continue on their exhilarating adventures.
10. SELIM SESLER: DAGLAR KIZI REYHAN
    Hot stuff Turkish wedding band clarinet player.
11. TOUBAB KREWE: DEVIL WOMAN
    Asheville, North Carolina’s best Wassoulou surf rock band!
12. DESERT SLIDE: MHARI MENDHI RO SANG
    In which Indian slide guitarist V.M.Bhatt meets the musicians of Rajasthan.
13. BLUE ASIA: CASABLANCA
    The continuing adventures of the legendary Makoto Kubota.
14. HOVEN DROVEN: PETRUCHKA A JE
    Rocking Swedes sock it to ‘em in Minneapolis.
15. MASCARIMIRI: TRICIU
    Roaring out of Southern Italy, a tough modern take on local traditions.
16. ROBERT HARBRON & EMMA REID: THE ROSE TREE/GETTING UPSTAIRS
    Two morris tunes from fine young English players.
17. KOERNER, RAY & GLOVER: WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH THE MILL?
    ‘60s blues originals reunited live in storming fashion in 2001
18. CARAVASAR: CHARGAR SIRTO
    Great Eastern Med sounds from down the Western end…

1. THE MEMORY BAND: COME WRITE ME DOWN
   A new twist to an old theme from an interesting left-field band.
2. KEYVAN CHEMIRANI & NAHAWA DOUMBIA: KUNTO KO – RENONCEMENT
   A magnificent project where Iran, Mali and India meet.
3. BABAR LUCK: WAR FEVER
   Just your typical Pakistani East End punk poet acoustic agitator!
4. ALI FARKA TOURE: LEDI COUMBE
   From the last and best ever album by the Malian legend.
5. TIM VAN EYKEN: FAIR ELLEN OF RATCLIFFE
   A particularly gory tale from an ear-opening English album.
6. KRISTI STASSINOPOULOU: JAFFA
   Exclusive preview of a great new album by a Greek innovator.
7. LOU RHODES: TREAT HER GENTLY
   The former Lamb singer goes beguilingly back to her roots.
8. THE DEVIL’S INTERVAL: THE CUCKOO
   Emily Portman, Lauren McCormick & Jim Causley, the new trad hopes.
9. STEFANO SALETTI & PICCOLA BANDA IKONA: TAGAMA
   From Italy, the front man of Novalia with a new all-star group.
10. AFRISSIPPI: NGOL JIMOL
    West Africa meets the blues in the Mississippi hill country.
11. MARENOSTRUM: FADO DA ILHA
    More great sounds from southern Europe: Portugal gets out there.
12. LISA KNAPP: BLACKSMITH
    Our first MySpace discovery! Distinctive singer of a classic song.
13. HOSSEIN ALIZADEH & DJIVAN GASPARYAN: SARI GALIN
    Iranian tar virtuoso meets Armenian duduk legend in concert.
14. GUO YUE: MY FIRST FLUTE
    A multi-talented Chinese musician, author and chef in our midst.
15. JON BODEN: GET A LITTLE SOMETHING
    The hyperactive Bellowhead frontman delivers an original solo outing.
16. SAMBA MAPANGALA & ORCHESTRE VIRUNGA: NYAMA CHOMA
    Timeless classic soukous from a golden voice and a peerless band.

1. DEVON SPROULE: THE WELL DRESSED SON TO HIS SWEETHEART
   The first American artist we’ve wanted to put on our cover this century!
2. ZJANSIYOUM HENOK: WERREDECH
   The very funky sound of a Stockholm-based Ethiopian singer.
3. ATHENA: INSIDE OUT
   Gorgeous voice and subtle Greek influence of an outstanding songwriter.
4. LAU: HINBA
   Britfolk supergroup of the year: Kris Drever, Martin Green, Aidan O’Rourke.
5. MAYRA ANDRADE: LUA
   Preview of a talented young singer from Cape Verde, making waves.
6. ANDY PALACIO & THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE: MIAMI
   Fabulous live too: deeply rooted in the Garifuna culture of Belize.
7. MARTIN SIMPSON: THE LAKES OF CHAMPLAIN
   30 years of recording and this could be his all-round best yet.
8. TRILOK GURTU/ARKE STRING QUARTET: NANDA (TO MY MOTHER)
   East meets Med as the Indian percussionist links up with Italian improvisers.
9. LO CÒR DE LA PLANA: LA NOVIOTA
   Exhilarating Occitan sounds from Marseille’s revolutionary a capella gang.
10. MERCEDES PEÓN: AICHÉ
    Galician wildness led by Mercedes’ percussion, bagpipes, vocals and more.
11. ELIZA CARTHY: TWO TEARS
    An exclusive preview of her forthcoming album of original songs.
12. FERYAL ÖNEY: AYNALI KÖRÜK
    Solo outing for the Anatolian singer from Turkey’s Kardes Turkuler.
13. BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA: ANDRA’S SONG
    Bringing Mali’s little traditional ngoni lute to the virtuoso forefront.
14. GNAWA COLLECTIF: BANGORO
    Desert blues from a special assembly of great Moroccan voices.
15. RACHEL UNTHANK & THE WINTERSET: BLUE BLEEZIN’ BLIND DRUNK
    New directions in Britfolk from a fast rising northern quartet.
16. SHENG XIANG: PLANTING TREES
    Taiwanese singer/songwriter with Okinawa’s Takashi Hirayasu on sanshin.
17. THE GLOWORMS: BATTERED HAKE/JOHN O’GROATS
    The hottest little English ceilidh band in the land.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR266/267 (August/September 2005)

1. BELLOWHEAD: JACK ROBINSON
   The English folk scene’s hottest live band.
2. AMADOU & MARIAM: CAMIONS SAUVAGES
   Mali’s funky duo in inspired collaboration with Manu Chao.
3. MOUSSU T E LEI JOVENTS: LO GABIAN
   Marseille’s cosmopolitan roots, teaming members of Massilia Sound System and La Talvera.
4. DAVY GRAHAM: MAAJUN
   From his 1964 masterpiece, the UK guitarist without whom…
5. ALI FARKA TOURE & TOUMANI DIABATE: DEBE
   Two giants of Malian music link up for a classic encounter.
6. AMIRA: JUTROS MI JE RUZA PROCVJETALA
   From Sarajevo, the soulful singer who has been called the Balkan Billie Holiday.
7. AIDA NADEEM: HIN
   The Iraqi singer now based in Denmark, with a powerful modern sound.
8. SPI & LA GAUDRIOLE: SARRASINE
   “French punk musician discovers Occitan folk shock!”
9. MIROSLAV EVACIC: AZ A SEP
   Slide guitar, dulcimer, bass – it’s a Croatian country blues band!
10. ATHENA ANDREADIS: ELA PARE ME
    Wonderful London-based Greek singer, recent Kershaw show favourite.
11. CHRIS WOOD: LORD BATEMAN
    The power of traditional story telling meets one of its best practitioners.
12. NISTANIMERA: O TURCO
    Amazing music from the Greek-speaking part of Southern Italy.
13. MAKAM: FAKERÉK
    Long established Hungarian group playing compositions by Zoltán Krulik.
14. FIMBER BRAVO & KADIALY KOUYATE: SEAGULLS
    Kora from Senegal meets steel pan from Trinidad.
15. LYDIA MENDOZA: MAL HOMBRE
    ‘The meadowlark of the border’, recorded in 1934 when she was 17.
16. YASMIN LEVY: LOCURA
    Ladino music performed with the soul of flamenco.
17. UGUR ISIK: ALAMANTI (RUM)
    The captivating sound of cello in the Turkish folk tradition.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR271/272 (January/February 2006)

1. CHEIKH LO: KELLE MAGNI
   From the not difficult third album by one of Senegal’s best.
2. KIRAN AHLUWALIA: VO KUCH
   Canadian based Indian singer with an original spin on ghazal.
3. L’HAM DE FOC: L’ESTIMAT DEL CORB
   Pan-Mediterranean music from the Catalan duo featured this very issue.
4. LOS DE ABAJO: CUMBIA DEL CASTOR
   From Mexico, one of the world’s great live bands and their best album.
5. NUX VOMICA: JE SAIS C’EST DIFFICILE
   More from southern France with attitude: carnival ragganiçois goes Brazil N.E.
6. THE DEMON BARBERS: THE BALLAD OF MINEPIT SHAW/IDBURY HILL
   The cracking English band in the engine room of the roadshow.
7. FANTAZIA: L’AHBAB
   World class world music based right here in the UK, part 1 (N.Africa).
8. SWÅP: SÅ RIDER JAG MEJ
   Tweed ‘n’ Carr ‘n’ Bäckström ‘n’ Normansson – Anglo-Swedish supergroup!
9. FANIA: LA LUNE
   Another great Senegalese artist who thinks outside the box!
10. MODESTE: KOPAKA
    World class world music based right here in the UK, part 2 (Madagascar).
11. DUCK SOUP: THE RADSTOCK JIG
    English dance music on melodeon, marimba and bass. And why not?
12. PANAGIOTIS KALANTZOPOULOS & SOFIA PAPAZOGLOU: NAI I OHI
    A slice from a wonderfully varied and inventive Greek album: a classic.
13. SAMBASUNDA: RONGGENG IMUT (SMILING DANCER)
    Taking Indonesian roots and the gamelan tradition to new places.
14. BANTU feat. AYUBA: MT. FUJI
    Nigerian fuji meets urban Germany in the 21st century.
15. DAZIBAO: L’AFFAIRE DU PIGEON
    Young acoustic band confirming that Belgium continues to be hot!
16. COROU DE BERRA: LA GUERRA DI PIERO
    Fine vocal group from Nice interpret the works of Italy’s Fabrizio de André.
17. ELISEO PARRA: JOTAS DE “EL CHATO”
    Innovative and unclassifiable Spanish writer with roots in all directions!
18. SIMON RITCHIE: ANARCHY IN THE UK
    English folk classic gets updated in the new traditional way.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR254/255 (August/September 2004)

1. AMPARANOIA: La Fiesta
2. SUSAN McKEOWN: Eggs In Her Basket
3. VAKOKA: Era
4. SIBA: Bonina
5. STATE OF BENGAL v PABAN DAS BAUL: Moner Manush
6. JAGDISH & KRÉÔL KONEXYAN: Exilé
7. JAUNE TOUJOURS: Aire De Rien
8. UISCEDWR: Waterman’s
9. AMBROZIJN: Le Cypres
10. PETER BELLAMY & THE WATERSONS: When I Die
11. NAHAWA DOUMBIA: Koli
12. CULTURE MUSICAL CLUB: Mpunga
13. ENZO AVITABILE & BOTTARI: Carry The Sun Inside
14. XOSÉ MANUEL BUDIÑO: Arrieiros Somos
15. CASS MEURIG: Sbonc Bogel
16. ERIK MARCHAND & LES BALKANIKS: Reuziou Ar Brezel 2e Partie
17. SANDRA LUNA: Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir
18. OKNA TSAHAN ZAM: Edjin Duun
19. DAVID DARLING & THE WULU BUNUN: Lugu Lugu Kan-Ibi

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR259/260 (January/February 2005)

1. THE OLD SWAN BAND: CHURCH STREET/REDWING/ST.MARY’S
   Pioneers of the English Country Dance Band wave, still going strong.
2. EASTENDERS: HAI CU TOTII
   German based team with an Easterly looking agenda.
3. MOJMIR NOVAKOVIC I KRIES: IZ OBLAKA ROSA PADA
   Powerful new sounds from deep Croatian roots.
4. AYNUR: PERVANE
   Major young Kurdish artist breaking through in Turkey.
5. CHARANGA CAKEWALK: BELLEZA
   Michael Ramos emerges from studio with the year’s hippest Latino mix.
6. BA CISSOKO: DANDALA
   From Guinea, the blazing sound of the new griot generation.
7. KAREN & HELENE: NATTERGALEN
   Two voices combine to highlight some fresh new Danish folk music.
8. KRIWI: HEJ LOLII
   Mixing up ancient traditions from Belarus with modern technology.
9. LILA DOWNS: LA CUCARACHA
   Mexican standard gets an imaginative make-over from rising star.
10. NOLLAIG CASEY: THE YELLOW WATTLE/TWINS ON A SWING
    Great Irish fiddle music from virtuoso Nollaig & partner Arty McGlynn.
11. ROSS DALY: MASSALOU CISSE
    Irish multi-instrumentalist’s Cretan lyra meets Malian kora of Balake Sissoko.
12. EMILY PORTMAN & LAUREN McCORMICK: GREENWOOD LADDIE
    Two of the best new English trad voices to hit the scene in many a moon.
13. LES SOEURS DALMASSO: VIOLINO TZIGANO
    Utterly charming music from another era, from sisters with a tale to tell.
14. EPIFANI BARBERS: CINQ
    Southern Italian taranta makes more headway in the modern multicultural world.
15. LAIS: WANHOOP VAN EEN WEES
    Belgium’s wonderful trio hit all the right folk/pop crossover spots.
16. BAZAR BLÅ: GRANNLÅTEN
    They call it transglobal tripfolk: new music on the Swedish nyckelharpa.
17. JOAN FRANCÉS TISNÈR: ANGÈLAS
    Gascon traditional singer takes an adventurous, tasty leap out there.
18. MAHALA RAI BANDA: ROMNI LATCI
    The latest great gypsy brass band to come roaring out of Romania.
19. BOKA HALAT: SMALL COALS
    English country dance music gets taken on a ride around the globe.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR247/248 (January/February 2004)

1. THINK OF ONE: NI NA
   Belgium invades the world! Antwerp’s brassy, versatile wonderband.
2. ABYSSINIA INFINITE: GELA
   Ethiopia’s Ejigayehu ‘Gigi’ Shibabaw meets Bill Laswell.
3. PIETRA MONTECORVINO: GUAGLIONE
   Startling new pan-Mediterranean approach to Neapolitan song.
4. KÉKÉLÉ: BEBE YAOURT
   Congolese veterans going the acoustic rumba route.
5. WHAPWEASEL: THE TINTED QUIFF
   Summer 2003 festival kings leading the English ceilidh rebirth.
6. OI VA VOI: A CSITARI HEGYEK ALATT
   The UK klezmer futurists finally get to make their big album.
7. JUNE TABOR: HUGHIE GRAEME
   England’s great song interpreter returns to traditional balladry.
8. TRIO DCA: POLKA À ALFRED MOURET
   Powerhouse French dance music on squeezebox, hurdy gurdy & pipes.
9. OS DIPLOMATICOS: DEIXA-ME SUBIR O ALTO
   Rousing Galician roots rockers (with guesting Susana Seivane).
10. CANTODISCANTO: MALMEDITERRANEO
    This CD’s second dose of pan-Mediterranean music from Naples.
11. ELENA LEDDA: INCANTI
    From the re-issue of a classic album by the great Sardinian singer.
12. ABDUL TEE-JAY: A NOR NEM YOU
    From Sierra Leone, UK resident guitar master’s acoustic roots project.
13. SALEM TRADITION: WALIWA
    From La Reunion, Christine Salem’s earthy approach to maloya.
14. MAHWASH & ENSEMBLE KABOUL: MOLA MAMAD DJAN
    Celebrating the golden era of Afghan music before the collapse.
15. MALOUMA: MREIMIDA
    Mauritania’s magnificently funky singer in desert blues mode.
16. TAFFETAS: SAUDADE DO MEU AMOR
    Guinean kora, Swiss guitar and bass in a beautiful blend.
17. THINK OF ONE MARRAKECH EMBALLAGES ENSEMBLE: TI JOERAR
    Ending where we started, another of Think Of One’s amazing projects!

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR235/236 (January/February 2003)

1. YOUSSOU N’DOUR: GENNE/ FOR THOSE DISPLACED
   Senegal’s great voice, from what many say is his best album to date.
2. KRISTI STASSINOPOULOU: AMORGOS PASSAGE
   Tales of the islands as Greek music hits a strong new direction.
3. CHUMBAWAMBA: JACOB’S LADDER
   Harry Cox and Davy Graham meet some catchy agit-pop
4. CHEBLI: NADHIRI
   Gorgeous new sounds in twarab music from the Indian Ocean’s Comores.
5. EUGENIO BENNATO: CHE IL MEDITERRANEO SIA
   Pan-Mediterranean music rooted in ancient southern Italian traditions.
6. ELIZA CARTHY: PRETTY PLOUGHBOY
   The crown princess of English music makes an astonishingly mature album.
7. BEMBEYA JAZZ: SABOU
   From Guinea, the fabulous return of one of the best bands ever.
8. HASNA EL BECHARIA: HAKMET LAKDAR
   Startlingly good Algerian Gnawa woman singer and guimbri player.
9. OYSTERBAND: UNCOMMERCIAL SONG
   England’s grittiest ethnoblasters hit form for their 25th anniversary.
10. SUI VESAN: POZNANIE
    The strong voice of a Slovak singer who fell foul of the old regime.
11. POLO MONTANEZ: YO TENGO MI BABALAO
    Old time Cuban country musician who came to fame via Colombia.
12. KOEZY: MA LIBERTÉ
    Some storming Malagasy salegy from the hot new all-girl band in town.
13. JIM MORAY: LEMADY
    New Britfolk voice making waves; Oyster Big Session tour imminent.
14. DUOUD: ZANZIBAR
    Tunisia’s Smadj and Algeria’s Mehdi Haddab push the oud onwards.
15. MARKUS JAMES: GOIN’ HOME
    The ambience of the blues takes its influence from Mali.
16. AVALON: MUIÑEIRA DE FERMIN
    Five-piece female band from Galicia mixing up fine roots pop.
17. APANUI: TAKU PU
    One of the visionaries of contemporary Maori music, produced by Wai.
18. TANYA TAGAQ: ILGOK
    Inuit throat singer who caused a big stir on Charlie Gillett’s show.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR230/231 (August/September 2002)

1. ELLIKA & SOLO: BRÖDKAKAN/ KODINADIOULOU
   Swedish fiddle and Casamance kora as if they were born to it
2. BANDA IONICA: ESPINITA
   Sicilian brass band with Mau Mau and M. Chao connections, Macaco vocals.
3. LINDA THOMPSON: NO TELLING
   Remarkable songwriting return for one of Britain’s greatest singers.
4. MARIZA: O GENTE DA MINHA TERRA
   The stellar new performer of Portuguese fado.
5. ZAWOSE & BROOK: KUNA KUNGUNI
   Tanzanian legend teamed with expert world music producer.
6. THE BE GOOD TANYAS: THE LITTLEST BIRDS
   Canada’s new oldtime trio who’ve grabbed UK hearts.
7. DANYEL WARO: BAT LA MIN
   The soulful voice of La Reunion’s great star of maloya.
8. FLANAGAN: SHE NO SHOW
   From a fine album by Brit blueser (and beyond) Mark Flanagan.
9. GARY LUCAS: THE WALL
   Ex-Beefheart guitar hero in earcatching Chinese music project.
10. THE LABOR EXCHANGE BAND: TWO GENERATIONS
    Hakka mountain style music from a remarkable Taiwanese band.
11. JOHN SPIERS & JON BODEN: ADIEU SWEET LOVELY NANCY
    Roaring out of Oxford, hot young English traditional duo.
12. ORCHESTRA BAOBAB: SUTUKUN
    From the imminent new CD by the legendary Senegalese band.
13. ATTWENGER: MUAMEN
    Austrian minimalist roots from Marcus Binder & Hans-Peter Falkner.
14. SHINE: BE SIUD
    Three great Scottish voices and two electro-harps get inventive.
15. No. 47: ALL CLOUDS THE SKY
    John Tams, Graeme Taylor, Chris Coe & Co from the Nat. Theatre.
16. MODE PLAGAL: FEGGARAKI (LITTLE MOON)
    Kleon Antoniou & Thodoris Rellos sing a trad. arr. with the Greek progressives.
17. LES SOEURS DIABATE: KELARO
    Sona, Sayon & Mama Diabate’s unmistakeably Guinean blend.
18. BAMPTON MORRIS: CONSTANT BILLY
    Jamie Wheeler plays for the only morris side with an unbroken tradition.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR223/224 (January/February 2002)

1. JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS: GLOBAL A GO-GO
   The future sound of the multi-cultural UK snaps into focus.
2. TINARIWEN: ZIN ES GOURMEDEN
   Deep desert Tuareg blues.
3. CARA DILLON: THE MAID OF CULMORE
   The sweetest voice in Irish music finally makes her own CD
4. GIGI: AYNAMA
   Fabulous voice from Ethiopia, now resident in the USA.
5. KULTUR SHOCK: SEAMSTRESS & THE OFFICERS
   Balkan gypsy punk folk rock via Seattle.
6. DICK GAUGHAN: WHEN I’M GONE
   The mighty Gaughan on top form with a Phil Ochs song.
7. SOUAD MASSI: BLADI
   Name to watch: rising young Algerian singer/songwriter of quality.
8. JAOJOBY: AZA ARIANAO
   Madagascar’s undisputed king of salegy with his fab band.
9. LITTLE GEORGE SUEREF: LIVING IN THE CITY
   The great voice and harmonica of London’s new blues champ.
10. HOUSSAINE KILI: BALINI
    If you must make those ‘Moroccan roll’ quips, he’s your man!
11. NIC JONES: THE JUKEBOX AS SHE TURNED
    Archive live-recorded gem from one of English folk’s great masters.
12. HAIG YAZDJIAN: GAGO-MARE
    Armenian multi-instrumentalist/singer, from a haunting album.
13. FUN>DA>MENTAL: SPY-CAT
    Aki Nawaz and his chums mix it up with Muazzam Khan.
14. CHRIS COE: HIND HORN
    When it comes to trad. ballads, there are few who tell ’em better.
15. KÉKÉLÉ: GINA
    All-etoile band takes classic Congolese rumba back to acoustic roots.
16. PAUL DE BOE: AEROPLANES WOUNDED MY PRIDE
    Special Australian songwriter of mixed Holland/Portugal/Indonesia roots.
17. ANDY SHEPPARD & KATHRYN TICKELL: MUSIC FOR A NEW CROSSING Pt.3
    Jazz sax & Northumbrian pipes wizzes celebrate a bridge.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR218/219 (August/September 2001)

1. WAI: NGA HAU E WHA
   Maori culture hits the 21st century with a bang.
2. RORY McLEOD: YOU WERE EVERYWHERE
   Yer standard all-round multi-talented, multi-instrumental travelling man.
3. MERCEDES PEON: NON ME MIRES
   From the long awaited debut by a major new artist from Galicia.
4. DJELIMADY TOUNKARA: MAKAN DJAN WOULE
   Acoustic outing from the veteran guitar master of Mali’s Super Rail Band.
5. ELLE OSBORNE: STILL I LOVE HIM
   Up ‘n’ coming rootsy English singer/fiddler.
6. JAMAO: NOAH’S BOAT
   Thrilling new French band featuring the voice of Morgane Granz.
7. SAMBA MAPANGALA: DUNIA TUNA PITA
   From Congo via Kenya, the golden voice of the Virunga man.
8. RONNIE LANE: ROLL ON BABE
   A Derroll Adams song from the folk/rock years of the ex-Small Face.
9. JAUNE TOUJOURS: MARAVILLOSSO
   New roots music from Brussels. “Manu Negra with proper songs.”
10. ANIMAL RADIO: KALAMARI WARRIORS (SQUIDDLY MIX)
    Simon Emmerson’s remix from the San Bushmen tapes.
11. MARTIN SIMPSON: BETSY THE SERVING MAID
    English guitar supremo gets back to the trad. arr. stuff.
12. KARIM ZIAD: YA RIJAL
    That new Paris Maghreb sound gets a touch of Nguyen Lé’s guitar
13. BESH O DROM: SPACE MAUDI
    Eastern European wildness from a futuristic wedding band.
14. LA BOUM!: TOO MANY SAD SONGS
    Scotland meets Africa, with lots of well-known faces on board.
15. MACIRÉ SYLLA: DIABANA
    New-tech Guinean music from former Fatala member.
16. GORDON HALL: A DREAM OF NAPOLEON
    Private recording of one of the very greatest English traditional singers.
17. 3 MUSTAPHAS 3: VRBAS VODA/PREPISOR
    From the Balkans to the heart of Africa in 8 minutes.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR242/243 (August/September 2003)

1. OJOS DE BRUJO: VENTILAOR R-80
   Flamenco rumba meets DJ culture in 21st century Barcelona.
2. DAARA J: BOOMRANG
   Senegalese rappers with a little Rokia Traore in the mix.
3. JONY ILIEV: MA MAREN MA
   A beauty from the heartthrob of Bulgarian wedding band soul.
4. WARSAW VILLAGE BAND: TO YOU KASUNIA
   New young band digging into the deep heart of Polish tradition.
5. ULLA PIRTTIJÄRVI: DE JUOIGGAS
   Sami singer taking the Finnish joik tradition in intriguing new direction.
6. LASAIRFHIONA NÍ CHONAOLA: AN RAICIN ÁLAINN
   Deservedly acclaimed traditional singer from the Aran islands.
7. LA TALVERA: LA DROLLA D’AVAIRON
   Inventive and fascinating band from the Occitan region of France.
8. FALTRIQUEIRA: LABRADA DE CORTELLAS
   Pandeireteras from Galicia, and this issue’s cover stars.
9. NUOVA AGRICOLA ASSOCIAZIONE: VACRI
   Local tradition meets rock in the Italian Abruzzo region.
10. ALASDAIR ROBERTS: DOWN WHERE THE WILLOW WANDS WEEP
    From Scotland, a songwriter who clearly knows his roots.
11. SHIRLEY COLLINS: LOST IN A WOOD
    The first new recording in years by the queen of English folksong.
12. BEN MANDELSON: THE STREETS OF DELHI
    Mustaphic Indian lap steel-style version of tune learned from Shirley Collins.
13. HOMMAGE À ALAIN PETERS: COULABADIA
    Loy Ehrlich, Danyel Waro, Rene Lacaille salute Reunion songwriter.
14. BATATA Y SU RUMBA PALENQUERA
    Champeta criolla: hot new Afro-Caribbean music from Colombia.
15. LUIGI CINQUE & TARANTULA HYPERTEXT O’RCHESTRA: TANGERINE CAFÉ
    Remarkable pan-Mediterranean jazz/ethnic mixture out of Italy.
16. MARIEM HASSAN CON LEYOAD: ID CHAB
    Saharui desert blues from the western Sahara, in exile in Algeria.
17. SHIYANI NGCOBO: uJESU
    Zulu roots Maskanda guitar music from South Africa.
18. TIEN-SHAN SUISSE EXPRESS: TIBET
    Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland in amazing pan-mountain project.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR206/207 (August/September 2000)

1. TE VAKA: PATE PATE
   Contemporary Polynesian roots pop out of New Zealand.
2. JOHN TAMS: HARRY STONE (HEARTS OF COAL)
   English folk rock hero finally struts his excellent solo stuff.
3. SUZY: ADIOS
   Turkish-born Ladino singer now living in Israel.
4. DAVID JOHANSEN & THE HARRY SMITHS: JAMES ALLEY BLUES
   Prince of glam punk turns into venerable folk blueser!
5. JUSTIN ADAMS: WAYWARD
   UK’s all-around sideman of North African guitar does a solo.
6. SIDESTEPPER: HOY TENEMOS
   The inventive Richard Blair and his Colombian crossover thang.
7. MOISE & ALIDA VIATOR: WANGATEUR (FORTUNE TELLER)
   Benny Spellman’s hit gets the teenage tearaway cajun flavour.
8. DAMIEN DEMPSEY: DUBLIN TOWN
   Up-rising young Irish singer/songwriter lays some downhome rappage.
9. ALIM QASIMOV: IRAQ TÄSNIFI
   The supreme voice from Azerbaijan (with his daughter Ferghana).
10. MALINKY: ALISON CROSS
    Fresh young band with a good angle on Scots traditional music.
11. CATRIONA MACDONALD: THE TUDDALL TROLL
    Shetland fiddle goddette gets under the influence of Norwegians.
12. EMILY DRUCE: I’M SO GLAD
    New voice on the UK blues scene gives a fine re-working to Skip James.
13. NO TSHUNA TSHA: KWENI NI KWENI TU
    Perfect classy soukous for a summer’s day, and made in the UK.
14. SHRIEKBACK: BERLIN
    Lu E. & pals in big noise “scrawny semi-acoustic” angular rootsy gem.
15. GRUP BAMBA PUANG: KEMAYORAN
    Mandar music from south Sulawesi sampling a great compilation CD.
16. FANTAZIA: RIVER PATH
    Very smart UK-based North-African/ jazz crossoverists.
17. DJELI MOUSSA DIAWARA & BOB BROZMAN: KANUN
    Virtuoso kora meets virtuoso Hawaiian guitar and thrives.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR199/200 (January/February 2000)

1. TAJ MAHAL & TOUMANI DIABATE: QUEEN BEE
   Timeless new/old music where the blues meets its living ancestors. From the fRoots Critics’ Poll album of 1999.
2. HUONG THANH: ONE RIVER, TWO STREAMS
   Vietnamese singer (arranged by Nguyên Lê) pushing the cross-cultural boundaries.
3. THE POSH BAND: DUKE OF CORNWALL’S REEL
   Proper-job English dance music from one of the best new old-style bands around.
4. BISSO NA BISSO: AFRICA BY NIGHT
   The French-based Congolese hip-hoppers who won this year’s KORA award.
5. JULIE MURPHY: POLLY VAUGHAN
   The major new UK folk voice of recent years, with that chap M. Simpson.
6. FRIFOT: FÖRGÄVES/VINDLAREN
   A.k.a. Ale Möller, Per Gudmundson & Lena Willemark: Sweden’s finest.
7. ISSA BAGAYOGO: MADOMBA
   The Malian chap they call “Techno Issa” with the contemporary Wassoulou angle.
8. SALLY TIMMS: CRY CRY CRY
   Mekons frontperson puts her cool English vocal mark on a J. Cash classic.
9. YASUBA JUN & AN-CHAN PROJECT: AMAGOI BUSHI
   Haunting Okinawan-style music from occasional member of Shisars.
10. TONY ROSE: ‘TWAS ON ONE APRIL MORNING
    The welcome return of a mighty singer from the lost decade of English folk.
11. SUSANA SEIVANE: FONSAGRADA
    Fast-rising young Galician gaita (bagpipe) player.
12. ARGAN: TAKATE
    The CD title, South Moroccan Motor Berber, defines the sound, but just when did Matty Groves get to Morrocco?!
13. HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS: BAD BOY
    Legendary ’60s US duo, re-formed if not reformed, in classic style.
14. DARMADAR: IL PREGHIERA
    Neapolitan Sufi trance/dub explorations in Italian and Arabic…
15. THE INNOCENCE MISSION: WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?
    Sweet-voiced Karen Peris leads a beautiful slice of contemporary acoustic.
16. NANCY KERR & JAMES FAGAN: REEL DU PENDU
    Stomping fiddle/bouzouki from the hot young Anglo/Australian duo.
17. DJ CHEB I SABBAH: KESSE KESSE
    California-based Algerian DJ in Asian music fusion project. Small world!

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR194/195 (August/September 1999)

1. SNAKEFARM: RISING SUN
   American traditional folk enters 21st century with one mighty bound.
2. NATACHA ATLAS: BAHLAM
   The great Transglobal voice wails just like an Egyptian.
3. GERRY O’CONNOR: FIELDS OF RHYTHM
   Former 4 Men & Dog-person takes Irish banjo beyond the limits.
4. MAGGIE HOLLAND: A PLACE CALLED ENGLAND
   Possibly the last great English song of the 20th century
5. LAIS: ‘T SMIDJE
   New folk rock from the brand leaders of the Belgian roots revival.
6. SHWETA JHAVERI: TO THE SPRING
   The amazing vocal improvisations of a new name in Hindustani music.
7. THE BOLLYWOOD BRASS BAND: GUR NALON ISHK MITHA
   UK bhangra brass band version of a Punjabi trad film hit (it says here!)
8. ORIGINAL HARMONY RIDGE CREEK DIPPERS: OWEN’S VALLEY DAY
   Mark Olson, Victoria Williams and their attractively laid-back pals.
9. KANDIA KOUYATE: SAMBAYAYA
   Mali’s most stellar voice in about-time-too Euro CD debut scenario!
10. BERKLEJDY: WALC NIEBIESKI
    Polish country dance music takes a new leap forward.
11. YAT-KHA: KHEMCHIM
    The wonders of the human throat from the cutting edge of Tuva.
12. PETE MORTON: THE BANKS OF THE SWEET DUNDEE
    Outstanding UK songwriter makes outstanding CD of trad. songs!
13. MOSE FAN FAN: MALIMBA
    Somo Somo/TPOK Jazz guitar man goes unplugged.
14. MARY STAUNTON: CAILLEACH AN AIRGID/AN ROGAIRE DUBH
    Squeezeboxer joined by Alec Finn & Frankie Lane on tunes from her dad.
15. HEDNINGARNA: MITÄ MINÄ
    Latest from this Swedish/Finnish band is a Karelian music project.
16. BACHUÉ: THE BIRKEN TREE
    Traditional song gets some Scottish jazz attitude.
17. ROMICA PUCEANU & ENSEMBLE: VANTULE, BATAIA TA
    Truly staggering playing and singing from the late Romanian singer and her band.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR187/188 (January/February 1999)

1. TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND: NILE DELTA DISCO
   Nile Pt.1: Wigged out ethno techno grooves from the champion hipsters.
2. MAZAPEGUL: BANDIDO
   The big brass-bottomed sounds of a funky Central Italian combo.
3. GEOFF MULDAUR: THE WILD OX MOAN
   The ’60s white blues legend is back and on his best ever form.
4. TALVIN SINGH: LIGHT
   The crown prince of the UK Asian underground heads for the big time.
5. MARTIN CARTHY: SIR PATRICK SPENS
   The Big C, MBE, in Nic Jones mode from his latest (and many think best) album.
6. LO’JO: MOJO RADIO
   The inventive French 7-piece who were big Womad hits in ’98.
7. DONNA THE BUFFALO: IT WILL BE RIGHT
   Old time evolutions Pt.1: hardworking US outfit heading for a new world view.
8. TARRAS: DA FIELDS O’ FOULDA
   The most impressive young UK band heard in ages: so we put them on the cover!
9. HABIB KOITE & BAMADA: WASSIYE
   The Malian band who’ve been a deserved hit on the world music circuit.
10. DEBORAH COLEMAN: DO YOU WANT MY LOVE?
    Storming new blues guitarist/singer hits the ground running.
11. TAKASHI HIRAYASU: UTURUSHIMUN
    Okinawan belter from the former Shoukichi Kina guitar/sanshin man.
12. THE HIX: FLATLANDS
    Old-time evolutions, Pt.2: Intriguing sounds heading left-field.
13. RICKY RANDIMBIARISON: ZAZA MITOMANY
    At long last, the outside-world debut from one of Madagascar’s finest.
14. DEIRDRE CUNNINGHAM BAND: CRY FROM THE HEART
    Fine Irish songwriter with a band featuring ex-Waterboy Steve Wickham.
15. KEPA JUNKERA: BERHUETA
    Hot Basque accordeonist from his all-star double album project.
16. THE FRASER SISTERS: THE BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN
    English traditional harmony singing as sweet as it gets.
17. SALAMAT: LAU ELREIDA
    Nile Pt. 2. The Brand New Nubians meet the guitar of Prof. Hijaz.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR211/212 (January/February 2001)

1. SPACCANAPOLI: ANEME PERZE
   New sounds from the ancient tammurriate roots of Naples, Italy.
2. LES GO: THEBA
   A trio of West African women with a great live reputation too.
3. ANDY IRVINE: MORETON BAY
   The unmistakeable sound of a living legend of Irish music.
4. RENÉ LACAILLE: TIKILIK
   Indian Ocean squeezebox from the French island of La Reunion.
5. MASSILIA SOUND SYSTEM: LA FILLE DU SELECTA
   Marseille-based posse mixing up ragga and local French roots.
6. JACK EVANS: FUGITIVES FROM URJAZ
   Inventive Scottish guitarist, here teamed with Jenny Gardner’s fiddle.
7. JOHN HIATT: LINCOLN TOWN
   U.S. songwriting giant and ex-Cooder sideman gets back to basics.
8. KARDES TÜRKÜLER: DARGIN MAHKUM
   From a first rate project exploring music from the East of Turkey.
9. BEMBEYA JAZZ NATIONAL: ALLA LAKÉ
   A ’70s classic by the greatest of all Guinean bands.
10. BAYOU SECO: CHILE VERDE
    Tune session hit by popular UK visitors from the US South West
11. BILL JONES: THE FISHERBOY
    The new English folk artist who has drawn lots of attention in 2000.
12. TELEK: MIDAL
    Intriguing roots songwriter from Papua New Guinea.
13. ZAINABA with SAMBECO: YOWA
    Classy singer backed by ace wedding band from the Comores islands.
14. MARK BAZELEY & JASON RICE
    Proper job Dartmoor dance music in the Bob Cann tradition.
15. BOOM BOOM LANGUAGE
    Giovanni Lo Cascio and Arnaldo Vacca’s Italian cross-cultural percussion project.
16. BLOCO VOMIT: WILD THING/ LOUIE LOUIE
    Scotland’s very best samba-punk manguebeat afroblocrockers.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR182/183 (August/September 1998)

1. ELIZA CARTHY: BILLY BOY/THE WIDOW’S WEDDING
   England’s new folk wave fiddle roguette heads forward in EII mode.
2. MARYAM MURSAL: SODEWOU
   Massive Somali voice meets massive Afro Celt posse production.
3. CÀLIC: CAP-CALDARU
   Pan-Mediterranean music from a skilful Sardinian sextet.
4. JENNIFER & HAZEL WRIGLEY: LIGHT FIGHT/CHI CHA
   Orkney’s globe-trotting sibling act push the tradition forward.
5. DOCK BOGGS: SUGAR BABY
   ’20s blues banjo legend still major when taped by Mike Seeger in ’64
6. NAHA SALEC: A PESAR DE LAS HERIDAS
   Atmospheric sounds of the Western Sahara.
7. SABAH HABAS MUSTAPHA: ARTUR ASAKI
   Mandinka tune, Indonesian-produced praise to English & Cuban heroes.
8. TARAF DE HAIDOUKS: DUMBALA DUMBA
   Characteristic belter from the celebrated Romanian village band.
9. MADAIN RAMDAS: CHUTNEY GENIE
   Hot Asian dance tradition in Trinidad evolves before your very ears.
10. SPIRO: THE IRON WAY
    Catchy, original music from an inventive tradition-based English band.
11. ROKIA TRAORE: FININI
    New young female star making waves from the roots of Mali.
12. GJALLARHORN: KONUNGEN OCH TROLLKVINNAN
    Distinctive sounds of a fast rising young Finnish-Swedish band.
13. T.J. REHMI: SKRÜTINIZER
    Evolutionary global dance beats from the UK Asian underground.
14. SKELETON: KWA XHOSA
    Township maskanda drive from a resilient Durban combo.
15. HANK DOGS: DADDY’S ARMS
    Joe Boyd produces UK singer/songwriters shock! Here’s why.
16. KOMWA KOMWA STRING BAND: WAUPU ODABALA
    Gorgeous village music from Papua New Guinea.
17. BRIAN PETERS: THE FOUR SEASONS/THE SILLY SEASON
    Our man at the squeezebox desk shows his playing colours.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR175/176 (January/February 1998)

1. CAPERCAILLIE: HEBRIDEAN HALE-BOPP
   Scotland meets world dance, Part 1. From their Great Leap Forward.
2. ADDOSSO AGLI SCALINI: SCOSSA SOMMOSSA
   Belting roots rock from the Adriatic coast of southern Italy
3. GREG BROWN: MOSE ALLISON PLAYED HERE
   A twist in a road tale from the prolific US singer/songwriter/guitarist
4. ORCHESTRE NATIONAL DE BARBÈS: SAVON
   North Africa forward, with a track from one of the best live albums ever!
5. LHASA: DE CARA A LA PARED
   Sultry Mexican/American music from a young Canada-based singer
6. BLUE HORSES: ALL WENT AWAY
   New twin-fiddle folkrockers roaring out of Wales.
7. NJAVA: JIBOTY SUSHI REMIX
   Makoto Kubota-produced debut by the South Madagascar family band.
8. LAST FOREVER: DILLARD CHANDLER
   A touch of the American folk/classic from Dick Connette & Sonya Cohen.
9. PABAN DAS BAUL & SAM MILLS: MON MOTI
   Ancient Bengal tradition meets 1990s London.
10. AL JONES!: I’M SO HAPPY NOW
    A characteristically catchy off-beam item from the man they couldn’t find.
11. BOB BROZMAN & LEDWARD KAAPANA: KOLOPA
    Virtuoso Hawaiian slide & slack key.
12. NENES: TSUBASA O YASUMENI KIMASENKA
    The latest from our favourite Okinawan female quartet.
13. ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI: TA KORMIA KE TA MAHERIA
    One of Greece’s great singers, from her platinum Greek/Armenian roots CD.
14. GALAXY: DIOM
    Wild mbalax from Finland-based Senegalese band, featuring tama of Yamar Thiam.
15. MARTYN BENNETT: TONGUES OF KALI
    Scotland meets world dance, Pt2!
16. FRED McDOWELL: WHAT’S THE MATTER NOW
    1958 Alan Lomax recording of the country blues legend.
17. BOB COPPER: GOING DOWN TO BROWNSVILLE
    The roots of English country blues. Bob learned this from a Sleepy John Estes 78 which he bought in the 1930s.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR170/171 (August/September 1997)

1. GRZEGORZ Z CIECHOWA: PIEJO KURY PIEJO
   Polish rock star in ambitiously wonderful expansion of local traditions.
2. SHARON SHANNON: KIDS
   Our Irish accordeon-wielding cover star in familiar theme mode.
3. RORY McLEOD: BE MY RAMBLING WOMAN
   The original rambling English one-man band.
4. RASHA: LEALI
   From the excellent debut by a young Sudanese singer resident in Spain.
5. SHIKISHA: PRETTY VACANT
   South African (via UK & Sweden) take on a Britfolk classic, with Fan Fan’s guitar.
6. OSKORRI w. MARTIN CARTHY: NAFARROA
   Basque folk rockers celebrate 25th anniversary with ambitious live guest!
7. SYLVIA HEROLD: KATIE CRUEL
   Stylish traditional exploration by a noteworthy new American voice.
8. VERSHKI DA KORESHKI: PITCHENDEBIN
   Extraordinary Senegalese/Tuvan/Russian mix, improvising live.
9. COUMBA GAWLO: DÉPENSE
   Hot contemporary mbalax from a vibrant young Senegalese star.
10. JUNE TABOR: A PROPER SORT OF GARDENER
    England’s premier folk diva shines on Maggie Holland’s true story.
11. FERNHILL: MARCH GLAS/STUMP
    One of the best new traditional bands from Wales in many a moon.
12. SUPER CHIKAN: CAMEL TOE
    Major new blues discovery with a zany line in self-penned songs.
13. MARILIS ORIONAA: BARAM DE LUA
    From the Béarnaise region of France, a startling new European folk voice.
14. THE FREIGHT HOPPERS: COTTON EYED JOE
    Among the leaders of the new wave of USA old-timey bands.
15. SUNDA AFRICA: RAHASIA REMBULAN
    The man they call Django Mango mixes Indonesia with African percussion.
16. MARK HUMPHREY: DARLIN’ COREY
    Our chap on the slidey things teams with Indian tablaman and goes out there.
17. KATHRYN TICKELL: THE GATHERING
    The pipering guruette at the dawn of the new Britfolk, with her fine trio.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR163/164 (January/February 1997)

1. FLOOK!: MAIRE BREATNACH’S/TRIP TO HERVE’S
   This issue’s cover stars in live action at Sidmouth 1996.
2. EDWARD II: THE WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
   Hoary folk chestnut magically transformed into a fresh reggae classic.
3. FENOAMBY: VOA MARARY
   Some sweet salegy from a Malagasy band based in La Reunion.
4. KATE & ANNA McGARRIGLE: GOING BACK TO HARLAN
   A new classic from the Canadian sisters, already covered by Emmylou.
5. NOVALIA: EBLA
   Modern pan-Mediterranean roots-ambient sounds from Italy.
6. BLYTH POWER: FATHER O’BRIEN
   The glory of Blyth Power in full flight: English literate roots rock.
7. CHEIKH LO: NE LA THIASS
   Produced by Youssou N’Dour, and very nearly our album of ’96
8. KATIE’S QUARTET: DUKE OF CORNWALL’S REEL
   Some proper job English country dance music by a band who know.
9. MAIXA TA IXIAR: ESPARTZINARENA
   Whirly girlies! Hot all-women trikitixia roots pop band from the Basque country.
10. BILLY BRAGG: GOALHANGER
    Sir William demonstrates the fine art of the English put-down.
11. SO KALMERY: MAMA-LIZA
    Well-travelled Zairean 12-string guitarist and singer with original style.
12. PAUL RISHELL & ANNIE RAINES: I WANT YOU TO KNOW
    Mighty fine old-time country blues and harmonica duo.
13. SKYLARK: SEVENTEEN COME SUNDAY
    Len Graham, Mairtin O’Connor, Gerry O’Connor & Garry Ó Briain. ’nuff said?
14. VULCHEVA-JENKINS INCIDENT: STANO STANKAY
    Bulgarian star meets English acoustic music veteran. Success!
15. SHISERS: KOMEHIKI-UTA
    More whirly girlies! The wild sound of young Okinawan roots.
16. HOVEN DROVEN: GROVHALLING
    Swedish fiddle grunge: the hard edge of Nordic roots rock.
17. KATE MACKENZIE: BLUE LONESOME WIND
    Calm down now with this evocative piece of contemporary bluegrass.
18. RY-CO JAZZ: MARIE JOSE
    Congolese pan-African/Caribbean heroes at their ’69 peak. Guitar solo!
19. BARRY DRANSFIELD: THOUSANDS OR MORE
    The revitalised Mr. D with an English country gem from the Copper Family

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR158/159 (August/September 1996)

1. AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM: WHIRL-Y-REEL
   Our cover stars, with additional Shooglenifty power on this track.
2. STEELEYE SPAN: THE OLD MAID IN THE GARRETT/TAM LIN
   Britfolkrockers in great new form, with irony from Maddy & Gay
3. SUPER RAIL BAND: KANOU SALÉ
   Malian legends, featuring the guitar of Jali Madi Tounkara.
4. COREY HARRIS: ROOTS WOMAN
   The new Crown Prince of the Delta blues singers.
5. SISI CHEN: TIBETAN DANCE
   Virtuoso New York-based yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) player.
6. SIBÈBA: SIBÈBA
   The captivating duo from Equatorial Guinea who were Hijas Del Sol.
7. SPIDER JOHN KOERNER: DANVILLE GIRL
   Inimitable veteran folk blues stomper tackles American trad.
8. ASTRID HADAD Y LOS TARZANES: LA TEQUILERA
   The Lucha Reyes classic from the mighty star of Mexico City.
9. MARTA SEBESTYEN: SINO MOI
   Hungary’s foremost traditional singer does one from Bulgaria.
10. LYNN ‘CHIRPS’ SMITH: CALICO CORN
    Fine old-time fiddle player with a cracking little band.
11. ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS: HIGH ATMOSPHERE
    Long established country harmony duo who ought to be famous here!
12. GARMARNA: HERR HOLGER
    Fast rising young Swedish band in post-folkrock mode.
13. GUILLERMO PORTABALES: JUNTO A UN CAÑAVERAL
    The influential Cuban originator of ‘Guajira de Salón’.
14. TONY McMANUS: JACKIE COLEMAN’S
    Some tunes from one of the best British folk guitar albums in years.
15. CORA MAE BRYANT: YOU WAS BORN TO DIE
    Dave Peabody accompanies Curley Weaver’s blues singing daughter.
16. DANIEL SEPE: RAGGATRUFFEN
    Politics, jazz and performance world music from an extraordinary Italian.
17. TIGER MOTH: SMARLON
    Those noisy ’80s English roots dance bandits, from their ‘greatest hits’ collection.
18. HUNDSBUAM MISERABLIGE: HOIZHAKKA POGO
    Extreme Bavararian folk-noise terror from prime German ethno-punks.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR151/152 (January/February 1996)

1. THE ROCHES: MOVE
   The inimitable American singer/songwriter sister trio.
2. LA BOTTINE SOURIANTE: LE REEL DES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES
   The most renowned traditional band from Quebec get brassed up!
3. OYSTERBAND: I ONCE LOVED A LASS
   An exclusive acoustic track from England’s finest roots rockers.
4. SALIF KEITA: SEYDOU
   The Malian musical giant, from possibly his best ever album.
5. CHARLIE ROBY: HOME GROUND
   Original and up’n’coming Canadian singer/songwriter.
6. DETTY KURNIA: DURIRAN
   The Queen of Sunda, roots pop from Java, produced by Makoto Kubota.
7. BILL CADDICK: THE LOVER’S ROSE
   One of Britain’s best folk-based songwriters back in recording action.
8. THE HENRYS featuring MARY MARGARET O’HARA: DARK DEAR HEART
   More Canadians! Fab slide guitary combo back cult singer.
9. MINNA RASKINEN: JIG
   Pushing the possibilities of Finland’s national instrument, the kantele.
10. SCROWTHER: MAYBE
    Ex-pat North East English singer/songwriter with his fine band.
11. ORCHESTRE MANGA MANGA: BELLE AMI
    The alias of a fine American duo who were featured playing their more usual music on Froots #5.
12. SOMO SOMO: HELLO HELLO
    Mose Fan Fan, Quatre Etoiles and an all-star Zairean crew
13. GECKOES: THE OLD JOHN PEEL/TOM CAVE’S
    Among the brand leaders of the current wave of English dance music.
14. BRAVE COMBO: IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER
    World polka power from the unmistakeable nuclear Texans.
15. LOS CAMPEROS DE VALLES: EL PERDIGUERO
    “One of the greatest Mexican son huasteco trios in history,” it said here.
16. TORY VOODOO: ALL OUR TRADES ARE GONE
    Arvid Smith and Lee Hunter with an original US approach to Britfolk
17. ALIAS RON KAVANA: ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN NEW ORLEANS
    Not only a great songwriter, but one of the hottest live acts around too.
18. JO ANN KELLY: MOON GOING DOWN
    Britain’s much-missed blues singer, recorded live for German radio in 1988.
19. BOB COPPER: RAGS AND OLD IRON
    fRoots scoop! First ever Copper recording of blues song in a century of visits by collectors.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR139/140 (January/February 1995)

1. MARTIN SIMPSON: DOWN IN THE VALLEY TO PRAY/CONTINUE TO ROLL
2. MAU MAU: MAKÈ MANÀ
3. ANI DIFRANCO: OUT OF RANGE
4. KETAMA, TOUMANI DIABATE, JOSÉ SOTO: SUTE MONEBO
5. THE CONNACHT RAMBLERS: ECOLOGICAL TOURIST
6. TARIKA: ANKOAY
7. LA NEGRA GRACIANA: EL PÁJARO CÚ
8. BOILED IN LEAD: RASPUTIN
9. SHOOGLENIFTY: VENUS IN TWEEDS
10. DAIKU TETSUHIRO: MAKURAM DORO
11. WATERSON:CARTHY: THE LIGHT DRAGOON
12. SIERRA MAESTRA: DUNDUNBANZA
13. ROBB JOHNSON: UK TALKING
14. CANARI DE KAOLACK: SUTU KUN

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR146/147 (August/September 1995)

1. CHRIS SMITHER: LINK OF CHAIN
   The great American blues-influenced songwriter & performer.
2. THOMAS MAPFUMO & THE BLACKS UNLIMITED: HANZVADZI
   The king of Zimbabwean Shona roots rock.
3. KATE RUSBY & KATHRYN ROBERTS: DARK EYED SAILOR
   Two young women from Yorkshire leading the new traditional wave.
4. RAKOTOZAFY: MANDIHIZA RAHA MANAN’ ELATRA
   Legendary marovany player, the Robert Johnson of Madagascar.
5. DEN FULE: SNÄLL from the CD Skalv
   The fine and funky new power-folk band from Sweden.
6. ADIE GREY: HURRICANE’S COMING
   Classy rootsy singer/songwriter once of L.A., now Nashville based.
7. DERVISH: MOLLY AND JOHNNY
   “Cracking good Irish music without blemish or distraction”, it said here.
8. RADIO TARIFA: RUMBA ARGELINA
   A brand new fusion of Spanish, Arabic and Mediaeval Music.
9. DEMBO KONTE, KAUSU KUYATEH & MAWDO SUSO: ADAMA NING NAHAWA
   A trio of great griots in a Manding musical maelstrom.
10. CORDELIA’S DAD: GEORGE COLLINS
    Champion U.S. hardcore folk band goes – er – unplugged.
11. CLARENCE GATEMOUTH BROWN: SOMEDAY MY LUCK WILL CHANGE
    The legendary Texan all-round roots man on guitar and fiddle.
12. KANTE MANFILA: FOYA
    A pioneering great of the modern Manding guitar style.
13. ELIZA CARTHY & NANCY KERR: I KNOW MY LOVE
    Fiddling, singing duo, more leaders of the ethno-youth wing.
14. MATRIMBALA & RICKY: RETSIVERY
    Current marovany genius and Malagasy singing star.
15. PETE & MAURA KENNEDY: RIVER OF FALLEN STARS
    Hot new U.S. folk/pop duo with the big guitars and voices.
16. PETER STAMPFEL: GOLDFINGER
    The Holy Modal founder gets his teeth and banjo into Bond.

Here’s what’s on the FREE! CD with fR134/135 (August/September 1994)

1. LA CUCINA: ZIO PEPE
2. ALTAN: TOMMY PEOPLES/THE WINDMILL/FINTAN McMANUS’S
3. BOUKMAN EKSPERYANS: KOUMAN SA TA YE
4. LISA MEDNICK: HARPER’S FERRY
5. SABAH HABAS MUSTAPHA: SINGE TEMA
6. CECILE KAYIREBWA: INKIND
7. COOPE, BOYES & SIMPSON: JERUSALEM REVISITED
8. SEAN TYRRELL: MATTIE
9. MADILU SYSTEM: YA JEAN
10. INGRID KARKLINS: LIGO
11. MIKE COOPER & VIV DOGAN CORRINGHAM: WHITE POWDER
12. ANDREW CRONSHAW: BAILE DE PROCESSIÓN
13. CONJUNTO CÉSPEDES: RESPETO A LA TIERRA
14. LUKE DANIELS: MUSETTE À TERESA