The Independent

Musical warriors: The Tuareg

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Perhaps the purest exponents of desert blues are Tinariwen. The band’s backstory is the stuff of legend – members of the loose collective fought in the Mali Civil War during the Nineties, and tales of the Tuareg musicians going into battle with both Kalashnikovs and guitars slung over their backs are legion. Their sound is unique – layered guitars interweaving with call and response vocals, handclaps and female throat singers.

On tour with Anthony Hegarty

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Of Anthony and the Johnsons

Jamaica: Musical notes from a small island

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

How did tiny Jamaica evolve into such a musical powerhouse? Ian Harrison retraces the history of reggae

The Rakes' progress: Tales from a band on the road

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

There are few better ways of seeing the world than by joining a band and going on tour – as The Rakes have found out. Alex Hannaford reminisces with them about some hard travelling

A playlist for the Big Apple

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Destination New York

Light and shades: Amadou and Mariam have brought Malian music to Europe

Desert musical classics

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

It’s a long way from Mali to the Mississippi, but the musical distance is not as great as you might think. Richard Knight journeys to the source of the blues

Tribal gathering: Gilles Peterson has been spreading the world music gospel since the late Eighties

DJ Gilles Peterson: here, there and everywhere

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

For 20 years, Peterson has done more than anyone to bring the finest music on the planet back to Britain. But he's still scouring the globe for more 'good bits' for his record label and radio show

(From right) Darran Smith, Gavin Burrough, Matthew Davies, Ryan Richards and Kris Coombs-Roberts

On tour with Matthew Davies

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Of Funeral For a Friend

Around the world in 20 festivals

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Whether you want to keep it cool in Iceland or catch the hottest acts in the desert, Elisa Bray hits all the high notes on a whistle-stop world tour

Sweden's EST, featuring the late Esbjörn Svensson on piano

Talking jazz: Scandinavian cool

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

"No matter what Scandinavians themselves say," says Radio 3's Fiona Talkington, when asked to explain her personal attraction to Scandinavian jazz, "I find an addictive and very compelling reserve about the music. There's a humility in it, even when someone's going musically full tilt."

Ten great music venues

07 February 2009 12:01 AM

Madison Square Garden New York, US

4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York; www.thegarden.com; 001 212 465 6741

Madison Square Garden's claims to being the world's most famous arena is no idle boast. This is the venue that hosted John Lennon's last ever public performance (right), back in 1974. The ex-Beatle had struck an agreement with Elton John that if their duet, "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" made it to No 1, then he would appear onstage with Elton. So, on Thanksgiving Day the pair appeared together at the Garden to play three songs. The venue initially opened in 1879 on Madison Avenue (hence the name) for bicycle racing. It's been through three incarnations since then, with the most recent one built on top of Penn Station in 1968.