Chapel Hill/Carrboro is iconic for its indie music scene, but there is one venue in town that is often overlooked by Cradle-goers. Memorial Hall on UNC’s campus routinely hosts some of the biggest names in the world in their respective genres. Since the school year began, Memorial Hall has seen everything from banjo to sitar in the span of a month.

It is difficult to imagine purchasing a ticket for one of these shows at random and not leaving in awe of the talent displayed. Most recently, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain merged three very different instruments into one unique sound that was almost beyond words. Hussain sat center-stage on a raised platform, and his approximately 20 hands put on a percussion clinic.

Meyer’s bass playing left no fret untouched, and he spent so much time on the higher frets that he was bent over his instrument, resembling a dancer more than a musician. Fleck proved that, with the proper scales, rhythms and creative genius, the banjo is not limited to folk and bluegrass.

This season has also seen Ravi Shankar, India’s most famous sitarist, if not overall musician. Playing with his daughter, Anoushka, the two tore through two ragas totaling more than 90 minutes and encompassing multiple moods and seasons.

Sonny Rollins, a saxophone legend, provided a throwback to jazz’s heyday with a top-notch combo backing him up. Playing with the precision of an experienced professional, Rollins’ talent was juxtaposed with his slow, relaxed demeanor between songs.

Keep an eye out for more great Memorial Hall shows throughout the school year, and now here are this week’s upcoming shows, including a real dilemma for tonight.

Megafaun (10 p.m. today, The Nightlight) — Durham-based Megafaun last graced the area with an absolutely brilliant set alongside Bowerbirds back in August. Now, playing in an intimate venue, Megafaun will have yet another chance to shine for local fans.

This band takes well-written folk songs and adds elements of multiple other genres to create a live concert that always leaves listeners awaiting the set’s next twist. Every tour, Megafaun finds more ways to showcase its ever-growing musicality, and every Megafaun show promises to be a real treat.

Atlas Sound/Broadcast (today, 9 p.m., Local 506) — But wait, that’s not all for Friday! Atlas Sound is the solo project of Bradford Cox, the leader of phenomenal Atlanta-based shoegaze band Deerhunter. Cox has been known to toy with traditional pop structures in a way that highlights his creativity as a seasoned musician.

During The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s set a few weeks ago, the entire band remarked how lucky Chapel Hill was to have Atlas Sound and Broadcast on the same bill. Broadcast’s sound is ambient electronica with sweet vocal patterns, but for bands of that style, Broadcast certainly seems to have a purpose. Songs don’t drag on and have more than enough to keep listeners interested.

Polvo ( 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Cat’s Cradle) — One of Chapel Hill’s biggest rock bands from the ’90s is back with its first album in 12 years and a supporting tour. With Polvo, heavy, distorted guitars move melodically through creative rhythms in an enjoyable, nostalgic style demonstrating both songwriting and technical proficiency that few acts outside of Memorial Hall can match.

Polvo writes in a style that shows off its ability in a way that any listener can understand and appreciate. Even on heavy tracks like this year’s standout “Beggars Bowl,” rhythm-centric fun shines through a format that would have been monotonously loud in the hands of a less-experienced group.

Built To Spill (9 p.m. Sunday, Cat’s Cradle) — Already the subject of a Music Seen feature, this show has not sold out (at the time of writing) and still promises to be a real winner.

The sound is guitar-heavy, the vocals are unique, the lyrics have meaning and add substance and, after seven albums, Built To Spill has established itself as a must-see act every time it passes through town.

J.J. Lang hits the high notes of the local music scene each week for The Chapel Hill Herald. Send e-mail to JJLang@email.unc.edu.