One of Cape Verde's most acclaimed young stars, 28 year-old Lisbon-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Sara Tavares, will bring her warm and inviting music to Rockland's downtown Strand Theatre 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.

Born to second-generation Cape Verdean immigrants, Tavares went through a long period of introspection to find her true roots and musical influences and speaks for a generation caught between cultures.

"There's a large generation of Cape Verdeans and other Africans here in Lisbon, in Paris, in Boston, in Los Angeles and all over the world who feel like they have no identity," Tavares said. "My generation feels displaced because there's no culture that talks about our reality."

When she walks around with her friends, Tavares explained, they speak Portuguese slang, Angolan slang, some words in Cape Verdean Crioulo and of course some English. In Crioulo there are already English and French words. This is because slaves from all over the world had to communicate and didn't speak the same languages.

Tavares' embraces Lisbon's Creole mix of language, culture and rhythm and infuses her Songs with infectious Cape Verdean and African rhythms; her "metisse" culture's mix of languages; and musical tastes that include Afrobeat, reggae, pop and jazz.

As a singer, Tavares has been compared to Rickie Lee Jones, and she sometimes strikes a jazzy-cool vibe that invites the comparison. But she also has some of Astrud Gilberto's sensuality and Miriam Makeba's fierce playfulness. Tavares was only 16 years old when she won two of Portugal's most prestigious music contests, setting her career in motion. Her infectious new CD, "Balance," mixes the longing of fado music and the lilting sensuality of Brazilian styles with a jazzy, alt-soul sound.

Tickets are $16, available online at www.rocklandstrand.com or calling the Strand Theatre at 594-0070.