I've gone back to WordPress for my opinion pieces. Album, book and concert reviews will still appear on jamesroriston.com Check out my pieces on Sweden and ...

It's not often that a first novel strikes you as much as 'We That Are Young' by Preti Taneja did when I recently read it. It a book that haunts you, stirs t...

It can easy to dismiss Africa as a set of countries that blend together through corrupt politicians and abject poverty and regional famine.  Indeed, this boo...

Tracks that touch on the bucolic where others delve into something far darker make up this excellent new offering from the contemporary Scandinavian folk gro...

The minute bookings opened for Prom 27 titled 'Folk Music Around Britain and Ireland' I booked without hesitation. Julie Fowlis, the extraordinary Gaelic Fo...

Those who know Andy Kershaw, might also know that he hit the airwaves in later times with the sounds of Zimbabwean song, Chilean pipes, Australian clap- stic...

I recently wrote about Kamila Shamsie's book 'Home Fire' which deals with the issues around marginalisation, terrorism and radicalisation which you can read ...

Verdict: A must read Passing into my local bookstore, this book greeted me at the opening display table. Shortlisted for the 'Costa Best Novel Award 2017' a...