Here's what's in fRoots, No. 312, June 2009

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: Oninawa interpreters Ryukyu Underground; past Young Folk Awards winners Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller and Jarlath Henderson with Ross Ainslie; the Acordeões Do Mundo festival in Torres Vedras, Portugal; Canadian guitarist/ producer Steve Dawson; UK blueser Ian Siegal, and the unstoppable Devon Sproule in the Rocket Launcher.

THE SECOND COMING

Mixing English traditional music with reggae was a bonkers notion that turned Edward II into the festival kings of the 1990s. Colin Irwin hears why they’re back for just one year.

MEDITERRANICANA

Thierry ‘Titi’ Robin’s music has naturally absorbed the cultures that have circled the Mediterranean down the centuries. Garth Cartwright salutes a true original.

THE SENIOR GRIOT

Kasse Mady Diabate is a Malian national treasure, the greatest of the famed griots of Kela. Elizabeth Kinder sings his praises.

TWO FOR GEORGE

London hosted two great gigs around St George’s Day: an exhilarating showcase for new English folk artists at Cecil Sharp House and a big open air bash in Trafalgar Square with lots of more established names. We have photos…

OLD SCHOOL KOKO

From the cotton fields to Chicago, Koko Taylor has lived the blues life and legend. Garth Cartwright meets the veteran queen of blueswomen.

ALONG CAME JONES

British audiences particularly like US songwriters when they show their roots, and so are rapidly clasping Diana Jones to their bosom. Jon Lusk hears how she found her way home to Tennessee.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA

The wonderful annual music festival in Zanzibar has gone from strength to strength. Jeremy Llewellyn-Jones returned there this year with notebook and camera.

BIFF!

Our exclusive cartoon views folk through the ages.