The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is once again partnering with Rochester’s Riverside Concerts to present the World Music Series.

These hour long performances are free to attend and highlight artists performing at Rochester’s Thursdays on First.

The series begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 with Keith Knight and Don Adler, otherwise known as EXTREME Guitar Duo.

Both Knight and Adler are world class fingerstyle guitarists and composers. Their performance features acoustic, harp and resonator guitars, as well as mandolin and vocals.

Then at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16 the Diva of Mauritania, Noura Mint Seymali, will perform. Mauritania is a country in the Maghred region of western North Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal.

Mint Seymali is known for her particular brand of Afropop that includes both traditional Mauritanian and pop music, dubbed “tradi-moderne” music.

Moscow Nights will be our second July performance at 7 p.m. on the 30th.

This award winning group is known as Russian musical ambassadors. They offer audiences an authentic glimpse into Old Russia through music, song, and dance.

The series ends at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 with Calle Sur Latin American music. Calle Sur features Edgar East and Karin Stein. East is from urban Panama City and Stein is from rural Colombia. The two met in Iowa, where they had relocated through student scholarships.

Featuring Samba, guajira, jazz to bossa nova, salsa, Afro-Caribbean cumbia, and boleros, their music redefines listeners’ expectations of Latin music. Visit austinareaarts.org for videos and more information about all the bands featured in the World Music Series and links to their websites.