Here’s what’s in fRoots, No. 298, April 2008

THE 2008 FESTIVAL SUPPLEMENT

36 pages of this year's UK and mainland European folk, roots and world music events, including a full diary listing. See the online listing.

THE EDITOR’S BOX

Ian Anderson’s comment column.

fROOTS PLAYLIST

Recent stuff we like.

CHARTS & LISTS

Specialist and general roots music album sales and airplay charts.

REVIEWS

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

ROOTING ABOUT

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

ROOT SALAD

A cross-section of featurettes: Greece's Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Cuba's Martica, Cape Verde's Mario Lucio, 21 years of Piranha Records, Sami singer Mari Boine Persen, England's Leon Rosselson in the Rocket Launcher questionnaire.

A NEW DARTMOOR LEGEND

Seth Lakeman first graced our cover aged seventeen as a member of the Equation, a band that also included Kate Rusby. Escaping the curse of fRoots, they’ve both shifted a few albums since. Colin Irwin hears Seth’s tale.

MUSIC IN FULL VIEW

An inspiring and revealing series of documentary films about the music and lives of four folk artists in England airs on Channel 5 during April. Ian Anderson talks to producer Michael Proudfoot and some of the subjects. Read it here and see a taster.

TRIO ATMOSPHERE

Turkey’s Taksim Trio recently released an acclaimed instrumental album, high on ambience and beautiful improvisation. Nick Hobbs met them in Istanbul.

ADRIFT IN THE RIFT

It’s not all five-star hotels with (morris) dancing girls in fRootsland, you know. A year on from her first Ethiopia assignment, intrepid Elizabeth Kinder headed back with a film crew to visit the Arbore. Carry on camping!

SURFIN' CAMBODIA

On the strength of their Womex showcase, California’s Dengue Fever might just be the best party band you’ll encounter all year. Ahead of their imminent UK debut, David Hutcheon heard their tale. Beginning with some Cambodian music history…

THOSE BANJO BOYS

These days it’s nearly always associated with white musicians, but the banjo was once an instrument from black culture and African origins. Otis Taylor and pals are intent on recapturing it. Garth Cartwright’s all ears.

DANISH RISING

It’s always good when a band suddenly makes a big jump forward, and Denmark’s Phønix have just done that thing with their latest album. Chris Nickson talks to singer Karen Mose about the process.

BIFF!

Our exclusive cartoon ponders TV possibilities…

CELEBRITY CORNER

Victoria Beckham reviews Devon Sproule's Keep Your Silver Shined, as told to Gordon Neill. Maybe.