An African showcase.

Byline: By Alan Nichol

Performers from South Africa, Mali, Senegal, Australia, Israel and France all join UK/Irish artists and the usual influx of North Americans to enrich the region's cultural scene in the week ahead.

Tonight, two young performers from the USA/Canada appear at the Live Theatre. North Carolina girl Tift Merritt is here to promote her highly acclaimed album, Tambourine (Lost Highway Records). Luke Doucet, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, opens the show. Another female songstress, Austin-based Eliza Gilkyson, appears at the Cluny on Sunday. The daughter of songwriter Terry Gilkyson, Eliza has attracted plaudits (and one Grammy nomination) for her recent albums and her current release, Paradise Hotel (Red House Records). She brings along another Texas resident, guitarist Robert McEntee, to help out.

Monday offers a complete contrast for roots fans. Firstly, The Sage Gateshead has the incomparable vocal harmony unit Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa and there is an added bonus because the Mahotella Queens, a vocal trio also from SA, are the support act. The show has long been sold out but it may be worth checking for returns on [phone].

Just over the river at the Live Theatre, there is a chance to catch a real slice of American folk history. The guy who travelled with, learned from and lived with Woody Guthrie ( Ramblin' Jack Elliott.

Blues and guitar fans can catch an excellent double bill when John Hammond and Australia's Jeff Lang play the Live Theatre on Tuesday night. Hammond needs little introduction as he has made several trips to the region in the recent past. His emergence into the same New York set-up in which Jack Elliott was a fixture has led to a rewarding career in acoustic blues.

The dynamic young Lang, who has also toured with an impressive crew of artists, adds undoubted dynamic range to the evening with his dexterous slide-guitar work and strong vocals. Electric blues-rock, in the substantial form of ex-Mountain guitarist, Leslie West, is on offer at the Carling Academy Newcastle tomorrow night.

Wednesday is an African showcase for two world-class performers. From West Africa, Cheikh Lo and Toumani Diabate provide a great world music night.

Diabate and his kora (a 21-string harp/lute) have graced many stages across the world since his debut European tour in 1984.

Since then, he has been sought by Peter Gabriel, Taj Mahal, Ali Farka Toure and Spain's flamenco group, Ketama, for recordings.

Diabate has a broad range of influences, aside from his native griot tradition, citing Bad Company, Louis Armstrong and Miriam Makeba among his musical choices.

He is still based in his birthplace, Bamako, in Mali.

Cheikh Lo has become one of Africa's biggest stars mixing not just pan-African sounds but those of Cuba, too. Cuban music has been popular in West Africa since the 50s, pre-dating the 90s explosion ignited by Buena Vista Social Club.

Cheikh sings and plays guitar and percussion and his typically eclectic Bambay Gueej album (World Circuit) includes James Brown's horn-section (led by Pee Wee Ellis), Oumou Sangare on vocals, Cuban flautist, Richard Egues and was co-produced by Youssou N'Dour. It contains funk, reggae, soul and some irresistible African rhythms.