Around the World - End of the Year Parts 1 and 2
20 December 2025
This week and next week
In the final two shows of the year, and here in the final newsletter, I’m playing music from the Around the World Top 60 and publishing my Top 100 albums of 2024.
How the list was compiled
One point was allocated to each play an album got from November 2023 to November 2024. If I particularly liked an album, it was given a bonus point. This, of course, did not create a countdown, but as many albums received equal points, the list became blocks of five or six titles.
This means that albums released earlier in the year are likely to do better than those released later in the year.
The running orders for the shows are here and the full list of 100 below.
This week music by: Gaye Su Akyol, A Cantadeira, Afro Celt Sound System, Ali Doğan Gönültaş, Almir Meskovic and Daniel Lazar, Altan, Amsterdam Klezmer Band, Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, Auld Gods, Bagedai, Bombino, Dumai Dunai, Eleonora Bordonaro, Kiran Ahluwalia, Landless, Manu Chao, Mauro Durante & Justin Adams, Muddy Gurdy, OKAN, Olcay Bayir, Orquesta Akokán, Otava Yo, Otherish, Retimbrar, Sahra Halga,Sam Lee,Seckou Keita, Tempus, Thandiswa, and The Zawose Queens.
This Week
The first 30 of the best of 2024 (in my opinion) - positions joint 56 to joint 31
31 *** Eleonora Bordonaro *** Roda
31 *** Mauro Durante & Justin Adams *** Sweet Release
31 *** Manu Chao *** Viva Tu
31 *** Retimbrar *** Levantar do Chão
31 *** The Zawose Queens *** Maisha
36 *** Sahra Halgan *** Hiddo dhawr
36 *** Orquesta Akokán *** Caracoles
36 *** Olcay Bayir *** Tu Gulî
36 *** Ali Doğan Gönültaş *** Keyeyî
36 *** Seckou Keita *** Homeland Chapter 1
41 *** Bagedai *** Bagedai
41 *** Landless *** Lúireach
41 *** Kiran Ahluwalia *** Comfort Food
41 *** A Cantadeira *** TECELÃ
41 *** Almir Meskovic and Daniel Lazar *** Family Beyond Blood
46 *** Otherish *** When I Was You
46 *** Muddy Gurdy *** Seven
46 *** Dumai dunai *** Sommetime between now and never
46 *** Altan *** Donegal
46 *** Afro Celt Sound System *** Ova
51 *** Auld Gods *** Weird Skin
51 *** Sam Lee *** songdreaming
51 *** OKAN *** Okantomi
51 *** Thandiswa *** Sankofa
51 *** Tempus *** Bludička
51 *** Otava Yo *** Loud and Clear
56 *** Amsterdam Klezmer Band & [dunkelbunt] *** Bomba Pop
56 *** Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou *** L'bnat
56 *** Bombino *** Sahel
56 *** Gaye Su Akyol *** Anadolu Ejderi
Next Week
My Top 30 - 2024
1 *** Lina_ *** Fado Camões
1 *** Buzz' Ayaz *** Buzz' Ayaz
1 *** Hysterrae *** Hysterrae
1 *** Aziza Brahim *** Mawja
1 *** Msaki & Tubatsi Mpho Moloi *** Synthetic Heart Part 2
6 *** MARIA MAZZOTTA *** Onde
6 *** Aynur *** Rabe
6 *** Tiken Jah Fakoly, Horace Andy & Chico César *** Acoustic
6 *** La Yegros *** HAZ
6 *** Andrew Gurruwiwi Band *** Sing your own Song
6 *** Chiyomi Yamada & baobab *** Songs of my land
12 *** Corey Ledet Zydeco *** Médikamen
12 *** Amaka Jaji *** Tidet
12 *** Ana Lua Caiano *** Vou Ficar Neste Quadrado
12 *** Bab L' Bluz *** Swaken
12 *** La Bottine Souriante *** Domino!
17 *** Dobet Gnahoré *** Zouzou
20 *** Dario Muci *** Talassa
20 *** Yin Yin *** Mount Matsu
22 *** Ayom *** Sa.Li.Va
22 *** Raghu Dixit *** Shakkar
22 *** LUIZGA & Edgar Valente *** AIÊ
25 *** Giuliano Gabriele *** Basta !
25 *** Fifidroki *** [Figura Dziks]
25 *** Bassekou Kouyate *** Djudjon, L'oiseau de Garaná (feat. Amy Sacko)
27 *** Radical Son *** Bilambiyal
27 *** Lass *** Passeport
28 *** Pamela Badjogo *** YIÊH
29 *** Lenhart Tapes *** Dens
30 *** Mdou Moctar *** Funeral for Justice for Justice
Here’s the Full 100 List
Where and when to hear Around the World
Thursday:
LIVE DRN1 Perth Western Australia - 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 pm CET)
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Saturday:
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 pm
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Armagh City Radio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
KNC Radio St Lucia 6:00 am local time (10:00 am GMT 11:00 am CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Life Right Radio (London) 7:00 pm
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Stirling Community Radio 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
A great selection of music to enjoy and share with your friends!