Elaha Soroor: proudly rebellious
SIMON BROUGHTON
OPENING its doors just days after the lifting of lockdown restrictions on indoor concerts, the Songlines Encounters Festival is a masterclass in resourceful adaptation to a cautious new post-Covid climate.In theory, a globally focused “world music” event might sound like a major logistical nightmare under ongoing international travel constraints. But the Songlines team hit upon the inspired notion of a homegrown bill celebrating multicultural London, refreshing last year’s postponed lineup with a selection of UK-based bands led by exiles and emigres. Necessity is the mother of reinvention.