Thursday Nights Live is returning for another spring season April 18, offering UC Riverside staff and faculty a weekly opportunity to unwind with cocktails and music after work. Every Thursday evening, from April 18 to May 30, the campus community can enjoy live music, food, and drinks in the center lower court area of HUB plaza. Each event will run from 5-7:15 p.m. The program began in 2016 as a collaboration between different departments at a campus leadership retreat with the goal of strengthening the sense of community on campus.

“They wanted a place where staff and faculty can connect, be one community, learn from each other, and relax with each other,” said Geo Perez, events coordinator for Highlander Union, who oversees Thursday Night Live.

The program is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, KUCR, Highlander Union, Staff Assembly and Dining Services. Representatives from each department make up the Thursday Nights Live Committee that organizes the events. The evenings are geared towards faculty, staff and graduate students — due to the sale of alcohol — but all are welcome to attend and bring their families as well, Perez said. The eateries at the HUB stay open throughout the event.

The lineup features a mix of musical styles including blues, Native American, Latin, and classical. Perez said they choose musical acts who create an ambiance for people to relax and socialize. The committee also tries to showcase local talent, selecting acts from the campus or the Riverside area, Perez said. The committee often reaches out to Department of Music and student ensembles to perform, with campus talent making up half of the acts this spring.

Here are the performers for the spring season:

• April 18 – Blueseason, four UCR students inspired by blues, jazz, and rock.
• April 25 – Steven Rushingwind, a Native American flute player.
• May 2 – Mariachi Los Altenos de UCR, regional Mexican music performed by members of the UCR Studio for Mexican Music and Dance.
• May 9 – Erika DeVille, a violinist whose repertoire ranges from classical to electronic to Arabic music.
• May 16 – UCR Jazz Ensemble, students performing modern, fusion, and fusion jazz.
• May 23 – Mayupatapi, the UCR Latin Music Ensemble
• May 30 – Alan Mark Lightner, a steel drum player, composer, and arranger.

Visit the Thursday Night Live website for more information about the program and lineup.