The Buzz: World Music
Hwang Byung-ki : A national treasure in his native Korea, Hwang is a master of the gayageum, a 12-string zither. Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for members, seniors, and students, $25 for general admission. 617-369-3306. mfa.org.
Paulina Rubio : If Rubio is more radiant than usual when she gets to the Hub, she's got her reasons. The Mexican superstar is coming off a pair of Billboard Latin Music Award wins for her most recent album, the sweet pop confection "Ananda," and she got hitched two weeks ago on the Mayan Riviera. Opera House, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $45-$75. 617-931-2787.
Pink Martini : Every time this Oregon collective comes to town it hits bigger and bigger venues. Now the throw-it-in-the-blender Cuban-French-Italian-swing-pop-classical combo invades the venerable Symphony Hall in support of the new album "Hey Eugene!" Symphony Hall, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15-$60. 617-876-4275. worldmusic.org.
Cesaria Evora with Tcheka : Sixty-five and still going strong, the "Barefoot Diva" brings the Cape Verdean blues style known as morna to Berklee. As a bonus she invited rising star Tcheka along to warm up the crowds with his modernized take on the batuque rhythms of their homeland. Berklee Performance Center, June 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets $30-$50. 617-747-2261, 617-931-2000. berk leebpc.com.
Manu Chao : Fresh off a critically praised performance at Coachella -- where this genre-hopping maverick had the unenviable task of going on before the Rage Against the Machine reunion -- the Parisian-born Spaniard brings the noise, the political protests, and the dance party rhythms all in one exuberant, multilingual package. Avalon, June 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets $30. avalonboston.com.
Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca : He may be based in Los Angeles , but Central African native Lemvo has feet planted all over the globe. He can sing in six different languages, and on his most recent release with his band Makina Loca, Lemvo lightly skips from Afro-Latin hip-shakers to Congolese rumba. French Library and Cultural Center's Bastille Day festival on Marlborough Street, July 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. 617-876-4275, 617-912-0400.
Vieux Farka Toure : Vieux's famous father , Ali Farka Toure , was initially against his son becoming a musician. It is doubly sad then that he didn't live to see Vieux release his acclaimed first album -- on which Ali played after recognizing his son's talent . A gifted guitarist and percussionist, Toure mixes reggae, rock, funk , and his father's renowned desert blues. Museum of Fine Arts, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for members, seniors, and students, and $25 for gener- al admission. 617-369-3306. mfa.org.
SARAH RODMAN 
