Outpost Concert Series is back for its seventh season at the Culver Center of the Arts in Riverside, with five concerts between November 2019 and April 2020. 

Each concert features a different artist or group with a commitment to playing contemporary classical music in new, adventurous ways. All performances are free and open to the public. Community members, families, and students are encouraged to spend a weeknight enjoying free music they’ve likely never heard before.

One of the goals of the concert series is to “bring new musical experiences to the Riverside community,” according to UC Riverside music professor, composer, and Outpost curator Ian Dicke.

Many Outpost artists this year will showcase a specific kind of instrument in their performances, while others use multiple instruments and blur genres. This year’s performers include  ~Nois, a saxophone quartet, as well as Panic Duo, which pairs violinist Pasha Tseiutlin and pianist Nic Gerpe. 

In addition to playing virtuosic music, many of the artists are also interested in experimental improvisation and performance. 

“It’s not in a record store or even on streaming services,” Dicke said. Music in the series “all stems from classical music, but reflects the modern world we live in today” and fearlessly explores groundbreaking territory. 

Living Earth Show performs Jan. 28 and is self-described as “pushing the boundaries of technical and artistic possibility.”

“They have a piece where they actually use the kitchen sink with a bunch of glass in it.” Dicke said. “It’s pretty wild, interesting stuff. They wear these costumes and have a big theatrical presence.” 

Every concert is different, and even songs within each concert experiment with genre and style by multiple composers.

“They’re interpreting the scores of these composers and they can be really different compositions,” Dicke says, “If you don’t like one piece, you might love the next piece. It can be quite rewarding and fun.”

“Outpost Concert Series has been a vital part of UCR ARTS’ programming and collaboration with campus for a number of years now,” said Nikolay Maslov, Curator of Films & Media Projects at UCR ARTS. “The musicians that Dicke brings to the Culver as part of Outpost showcase the forefront of contemporary music and add a rich contribution to the downtown arts scene.”

According to Dicke, he tried to select artists from a wide variety of places to “connect Riverside’s musical culture with the wider national scene.” Mobius Trio and Living Earth Show are from San Francisco, Panic Duo is from Los Angeles, ~Nois is from Chicago, and Mivos Quartet is from New York. All of the groups travel throughout California and the United States, but some also perform internationally. Before coming to Riverside for Outpost, Mivos Quartet will have already performed in Germany, Finland, and Luxembourg during their 2019 - 2020 season.

“This series provides a nexus of performance venues where we’d be one of the stops,” Dicke said. “A performer could play San Diego, and they’d play Los Angeles, and in between those two, they take a stop [at Outpost].”

To view more information about upcoming or past concerts, visit outpost.ucr.edu.

Outpost Concert Series 2019 - 2020 Season

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7 - 8:30 pm
Mobius Trio, electric guitar trio

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 7 - 8:30 pm
The Living Earth Show, percussion and guitar

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 - 8:30 pm
~Nois, saxophone quartet

Monday, March 9, 7 - 8:30 pm
Panic Duo, violin and piano

Tuesday, April 7, 7 - 8:30 pm
Mivos Quartet, string quartet

FEATURED PHOTO. Nikolay Maslov/UCR ARTS