The Lowell Folk Festival, tonight through Sunday, downtown Lowell. Free. 978-970-5000, www.lowellfolkfestival.org. Some acts to catch:
Sierra Hull. The 17-year-old mandolinist-singer is a rising star in bluegrass, equally comfy with Alison Krauss modernity and mudflap trad.
Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band. Wynton Marsalis is an outspoken fan of this New Orleans clarinetist, whose lilting, classic sound is as urbane as midnight martinis, with a kick like French Quarter rum.
Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars. The Klezmatics trumpeter has performed with everyone from LL Cool J to Mel Torme, and brings a properly riotous reverence to traditional Jewish dance music.
Yomo Toro. Toro almost single-handedly introduced the cuatro, a Puerto Rican mandolin-like instrument, into salsa music. His playing is muscular, inventive, and irresistibly playful.
Genticorum. The hot young Canadian band revels in the playful crossroads where French melodies flirted with Celtic tunes, and Quebecois was born.
