Monocle 24: Culture

Robert Bound brings us his highlights from the second Frieze New York art fair, we get a musical tour of Toronto courtesy of producer Gil Masuda, and enjoy a session from keyboard virtuoso, Gentry. Plus, where does philosophy sit in modern culture?

Robert Bound meets the man who knows everything about anything in the music business – Stephen Budd, South Korean indie rockers Goonam entertain us with a loud Midori House session, we mingle with the crowds at Berlin’s Gallery Weekend, and meet the filmmaker whose documentary about North Korea was the talk of Hot Docs in Toronto.

Robert Bound visits Paris Photo in LA, we get check out Portuguese film at the 10th edition of Indie Lisboa, meet the director of a documentary that tells the musical story of Muscle Shoals in Alabama, and enjoy live music from José James.

Poet Murray Lachlan Young drops by to talk nonsense verses, we learn how South Korea's soft-power sensation Psy makes big money from all those YouTube hits, and there’s a Midori House session from US country-music star Kacey Musgraves.

Record Store Day Special: We visit some of the independent businesses celebrating the physical store in an age of digital and hear how hand-printed gig posters are having a renaissance. Plus, all the industry news from MIPTV and a trip to the Istanbul Film Festival.

Monocle culture editor Robert Bound meets the man with a new business model for freelance journalism, hears from SP-Arte fair in Brazil, and enjoys a session from the New Orleans-based Hot 8 Brass Band.

Robert Bound visits London’s newest theatre space, The Shed, we hear from the Bologne Children’s Book Fair and enjoy a session from the Leisure Society. Plus a Mexican festival where indigenous culture meets international pop.

A look at the best of SXSW festival in Austin, we meet artist Ian Whittlesea, and enjoy a session from soul star Cody Chestnutt.

Brett Anderson tells Robert Bound about Suede’s new album, we hear how Malian state TV channel ORTM operates, and meet an entrepreneur who loves print journalism so much that he bought his local paper.

A look at the viewing habits of West Asia at the DISCOP TV conference in Istanbul, we enjoy a session from France’s favourite English singer-songwriter Charlie Winston, and check out the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

We head to Ouagadougou to attend the Fespaco film festival, meet soul singer Jamie Lidell, enjoy a session from Canadian musician Cold Specks, and discuss Saudi Arabian art.

We ask Ossian Ward how you review an art exhibition, visit a pop-up bamboo Cantonese opera theatre in Hong Kong, and attend the recent MusicTech summit in San Francisco. Plus, a session from Villagers.

Japanese pop megastar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu stops by Midori house, we hear what cinema was on show at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, and get a minute of sound from Rio carnival

Robert Bound asks what Burma’s publishing market looks like, enjoys a session from multiple Grammy award-winning Steve Earle and gives his take on London Underground’s largest-ever art commission.

We ask whether the Midem music conference in Cannes and NAPTE TV market in Miami are still relevant. Plus, Jennifer Trausch talks us through her huge Polaroids of the deep south and we travel to Key West and Jaipur to talk books.