Articles Index
Festival International de Louisiane
Festival International is a free street festival in Lafayette, Louisiana. Festival International de Louisiane is the United States' largest francophone music festival, showcasing dozens of artists from around the globe every year. The festival often coincides with one weekend of New Orleans JazzFest, so many people attend both.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was undoubtedly the most influential Jamaican musician of all time. His popularity was widespread, and continues to be so, 25 years after his death. Learn more about this legend of reggae music.
Edith Piaf - The Little Sparrow
Edith Piaf is considered by many to be the greatest French singer of all time. Her tragic life is shrouded in mystery and legend -- learn more about it here!
Sweet Carnlough Bay
Sweet Carnlough Bay is an Irish folksong written by a Northern Irish poet called McKay. Learn more about the song and its lyrics.
Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down
Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down - Lyrics and History of an Irish Music Folksong
Fela Kuti - Afrobeat Pioneer
Fela Kuti was a pioneering world musician who played Afrobeat music, a blend of American jazz, funk and pop with West African Highlife Music. Fela Kuti was also a major political activist who became a hero of the Black Power movement. Fela Kuti died of AIDS in 1997.
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Read a quick profile and mini-biography of Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, torchbearers of Fela Kuti's Afrobeat tradition.
Gong
A gong is an ancient type of tonal percussion instrument, found in various forms throughout Asia. Learn more about this Asian instrument.
Bombino
Bombino - Profile and Biography of Tuareg Blues Guitarist Bombino
Vieux Farka Toure
Vieux Farka Toure is the son of legendary African musician Ali Farka Toure, and a wonderful guitar player, singer, and songwriter in his own right. Vieux Farka Toure has released two records, 2007's self-titled Vieux Farka Toure and 2009's Fondo.
Reilly's Daughter
Reilly's Daughter is a traditional bawdy Irish folksong about a beautiful and unmarried young woman with a terrifying father.
The Old Woman From Wexford
The Old Woman From Wexford - Irish Folksong Lyrics
Slievenamon
Slievenamon (or Slieve Na Mban) is known as the anthem of County Tipperary. Written by Charles J. Kickham in the mid-1800s, it, like so many other Irish folk songs, carries the theme of lost love. Read the lyrics and learn more about the history of Slievenamon.
Red is the Rose
"Red is the Rose" is a traditional Irish folksong that's sung to the same tune as the famous Scottish song "Loch Lomond."
Weile Waile - The River Saile
History and lyrics of the tragic Irish folksong "Weile Waile," also known as "The River Saile."
Slavic Soul Party!
Slavic Soul Party! is a New York City-based brass band that combines Balkan brass melodies with modern funk and various elements of world fusion. Wildly popular on the indie world music scene in New York, they're also favorites on the festival circuit
Jig
A "jig" is a type of traditional Irish tune, as well as the name of its accompanying dance. Read on for a brief overview of the tune style and timing.
Calypso Music 101
Calypso music is a genre of Caribbean music native to the island of Trinidad. Calypso music, like most genres of Caribbean music, is heavily rhythmic and has clever, catchy melodies and lyrics. Calypso music was made popular in the United States by Harry Belafonte.
Calypso Rose
Calypso Rose is one of the Caribbean's best-known female singers and an ambassador of Trinidadian Calypso. Learn more about this fabulous singer!
Dengue Fever
Dengue Fever is a vibrant young world music group who combine American surf-rock and psychedelic rock with Cambodian pop music. Addictive and thought-provoking, Dengue Fever have been making waves throughout the world music community since 2001.
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow
"A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" is an old Irish folksong that has been performed hundreds of times by both Irish-language and English-language singers.
The Wearing of the Green
The Wearing of the Green is a favorite traditional Irish folksong, one that speaks of revolution. Dating back to at least the Irish Rebellion of 1798, when wearing the color green (or a shamrock in one's hat) was an act punishable by hanging.
Eileen Ivers
Eileen Ivers is a popular Irish-American fiddler player and composer. Ivers has toured internationally, both solo and as a member of such prestigious groups as the musical cast of 'Riverdance' and the all-female Irish music ensemble Cherish the Ladies.
Afrobeat 101
What is Afrobeat music? Learn more about this amazing genre of African music and those who created it, including the inimitable Fela Kuti.
FELA!
FELA! is a musical that debuted on Broadway in the Fall of 2009. It is based on the life of Nigerian musician and political revolutionary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, told in a first-person narrative style, staged as a concert at Kuti's Lagos nightclub, Shrine.