Songlines Music Travel 2012

To make those cold, dark winter nights go by a little faster, Songlines Music Travel have released their list of exclusive music trips for 2012. Whether you fancy the colours of carnival in Brazil, a stint in the Moroccon desert or a visit to the most northerly folk festival in the UK, Songlines have most bases covered. Check out the options, and start planning today!

---

Cuba – New Year
December 29 2011-January 12 2012
For a New Year with a difference, celebrate in Havana before heading east.

Mali – Bamako, Ségou and the Festival on the Niger
February 12-20 2012
Travel from Bamako to the Festival on the Niger in Ségou, for a unique cultural insight.

Zanzibar – Sounds of? the Spice Island
February 6-13 2012
Stone Town offers Swahili music, dhow trips and spice plantations. Plus there’s time to explore the stunning scenery that this island has to offer.

Brazil – Carnival in? Salvador and São Paulo
February 16-25 2012
Experience the world’s biggest and best street parties during the Brazilian Carnaval season. Leave your inhibitions behind and prepare for a riot of sounds and colour.

Jerez – Flamenco Festival
March 2-5 2012
Andalucía is the birthplace of flamenco, making Jerez a fitting host for the world’s leading flamenco festival. Enjoy shows by top festival acts and flamenco at its roots in the lively clubs and bodegas.

Senegal – Never Mind the Mbalax
March 23-April 1 2012
Nov 23-Dec 2 2012
Senegal’s capital, Dakar, is renowned for its mbalax and hip-hop. We also visit the historically important Gorée island and St Louis, West Africa’s first French settlement.

Cape Verde – Kriol Jazz Festival
April 10-17 2012
Home to the world famous ‘barefoot diva’ Cesaria Evora, this festival takes place on one of West Africa’s little-known island nations.

Shetland Folk Festival
May 3-7 2012
Experience the most northerly folk festival in the UK. Steeped in Viking history and with a distinct Scandinavian feel, the wild Shetlands are a fitting setting for four days of stirring music.

Cuba – The Music of Cuba
May 13-20 2012
September 16-30 2012
From Havana to Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Camagüey and Trinidad, exploring the captivating music in each area.

Portugal, Lisbon – the Home of Fado
June 14-17 2011
Sept 6-9 2012
For fans of Mariza and all things fado, discover where Portugal’s most distinctive music was born less than 200 years ago and the sample lively Brazilian and Cape Verdean scenes.

Morocco, Essaouira and Marrakech – Gnawa Music Festival
June 21-25 2012
Each June, the Moroccan Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira hosts the extraordinary Gnawa and World Music Festival. Our tour offers a long weekend trip with two full days to enjoy a range of music and the opportunity to explore the narrow lanes of the old walled medina and the wonderful long beaches beyond.

Borneo – Rainforest World Music Festival
July 9-16 2012
Taking you to Sarawak for Borneo’s Rainforest World Music Festival, then up-country for trekking in the Mulu National Park, river cruises, caving or a stay in a longhouse.

Serbia – Gu?a Brass Band Festival
August 8-13 2012
Gu?a’s brass festival, which has been going since 1961, is one of Europe’s wildest events. This trip allows you to enjoy the raucous festival and spend some time exploring the lively city of Belgrade.

Marrakech and the Desert – The Pulse of Morocco
September 22-30, 2012
Relish real Gnawa music as we head south into the Sahara. Meet musicians at a desert camp and learn more than you could ever imagine about this fascinating music scene, where traditional and popular styles collide.

Mali – the Beating Heart of the Mande Empire
October 14-22, 2012
This trip explores the music scene of Bamako, one of the liveliest in Africa, as well as a visit to the Sikasso region and time in Ségou. A genuine insight into local culture and traditions.

Cuba National Day and the Music of Cuba
Dec 30 2012-Jan 13 2013
For a New Year with a difference, celebrate in Havana before heading east.