Despite their long history as a college music staple, jam bands have seen little action at UCSD in years past. No more, says the University Events Office, which welcomes Colorado bluegrass jammers The String Cheese Incident to RIMAC Arena on Oct. 29.

Courtesy of Madison House Publicity

SCI was founded in 1993 by mandolinist/violinist Michael Kang, guitarist Bill Nershi, bassist Keith Moseley, pianist Kyle Hollingsworth and percussionist Michael Travis. If the band’s unique instrumentation isn’t enough to immediately warrant jam band credentials, SCI have the live chops (not to mention the beards) to prove it.

Like contemporaries Phish and Leftover Salmon, SCI have emerged from the influential shadow of improvisatory entrepreneur the Grateful Dead over the last decade to gather a cult fanfare of their own, the ultimate measure of success in their show-oriented genre. The band’s dedication to bluegrass is their most defining characteristic, but they also prides themselves on mixing calypso, salsa, Afro-pop, funk, rock and jazz into their musical equation.

SCI has released three studio albums over the last five years, the majority of which the band produced and put out themselves on their independent SCI Fidelity record label. Their latest endeavor, 2001’s “”Outside Inside,”” has been hailed as the band’s most focused record, a flowing 11-track set that retains the band’s live sound even in a studio setting.

In addition, SCI recently released over a dozen three-disc “”On the Road”” performances chronicling their tour earlier this year. It goes without saying that these are the most accurate representations of the expansive live SCI sound.

“”The jam band style of music hasn’t really been represented at UCSD,”” said UEO Assistant Director Katherine Lee, who is organizing the event.

The concert is one of the first rock shows sponsored by UEO this year. General admission tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance are available at the UCSD box office and at all TicketMaster outlets for $25 each.

String Cheese Incident

At RIMAC Arena on Oct. 29

7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25