The October 2024 issue (#201) of Songlines is out now, and it’s a ‘ritual issue’ looking at the ceremonial and spiritual in music-making. We take a look at the unprecedented global popularity of Pakistan’s qawwali star Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, we speak to nomadic film-maker Vincent Moon about the thousands of films he’s made of ‘local music’ around the world and we celebrate 25 editions of the Gnawa Festival in Essaouira. Comedian and actor Omid Djalili tells us about his love of prog rock, Persian music and Carlos Santana mash-ups, we pay tribute to Malian kora legend Toumani Diabaté, Sámi singer Mari Boine tells us why she finally feels at home and Svetlana Spajić muses on how she learnt her ancestor’s traditions like a “second language.” There’s a Beginner’s Guide to the always-creative Brazilian singer and guitarist Tiganá Santana, we hear about an intuitive new collaboration from Raymond Antrobus & Evelyn Glennie, and Heal & Harrow tell us how they have paid tribute to the women who lost their lives during the Scottish witch trials. Plus, Amadou & Mariam, June Tabor & Oysterband, Buzz’ Ayaz, Marta Pereira da Costa, K.O.G, WOMAD, Ben Edge, Charlie Parr, Morgenland Festival, Essential 10 Global Ambient albums and a Dispatch from flood-hit Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Plus, all the usual news, listings, reviews, competitions and so much more. Subscribers will also receive our accompanying compilation (CD + digital) featuring ten tracks from the best new music releases, and five bonus selections to accompany the issue.