This Saturday, Shades, Yale University’s youngest a cappella group, is performing at the University of Chicago International House. Shades’ repertoire draws on many different musical backgrounds, but its focus is on African-American music, particularly R&B, gospel, jazz, pop, and traditional music.  Having attended several Shades performances, I can attest to the true talent of the group. And normally I am a music snob. But their tone is rich, and their harmonies are tight.  And it doesn’t hurt that the group is incredibly good-looking across the board.  Some of the songs they’ve showcased have ranged from Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” to a traditional Caribbean mineworker song (adapted from “Sweet Honey in the Rock”). The performance is free, but donations are encouraged.

Shades will perform at the International House at 8pm on Saturday, March 13th. Catch a video of their recent performance in San Diego here.

The 11th annual World Music Festival: Chicago starts today and continues through September 24. Over the next week, 57 artists will perform at 21 venues across the city. Only 3 performances take place on the South Side, but they all look like winners:

• Irish folk singer Cara Dillon has been performing since she was 14, both solo and in folk bands. She’s currently touring in support of her fourth album, which was released in the U.S. on Tuesday. Dillon performs tonight, September 18, at 8pm at the World Music Company, 1808 W. 103rd St. $15.
• The Orchestra of Tétouan plays “Andalusian music,” a North African style that uses lutes, rebabs, zithers, goblet drums, and other instruments with fun names. They perform on Sunday, September 20 at 8pm at the University of Chicago’s International House, 1414 E. 59th St. $10, or $5 with student ID.
• Tambours sans Frontières is a Congolese group based around three drummers, two of whom play the senga n’goma. Formed in Brazzaville in 2000, they later moved to Mali, Senegal, and most recently Chicago. On September 23 at 6:30pm, the group brings its intricate, repetitive rhythms to the Washington Park fieldhouse, 5500 S. King Dr. Free.