The Wisconsin Union Theater has brought internationally known world musicians to Madison year-round through its World Stage Series. That commitment to bringing in global music has expanded into the Madison World Music Festival this Thursday through Saturday, featuring a dozen artists from places as far away as Mali, Brazil and Spain.

The free public concerts take place both on the Union Terrace and in the Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St.

This year's schedule includes some world music heavyweights, including African bluesman Boubacar Traore and Brazilian musician and actor Seu Jorge, best known to American audiences for his acoustic covers of David Bowie songs in the film "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou."

All performances are on the Union Terrace unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.union.wisc.edu/worldmusicfest.

6 p.m.: Kiran Ahluwalia was born in India, raised in Canada, and specializes in the traditional Indian love poems known as "ghazals." (See related article for a close-up profile.)