Portland Cello Project to Play Mesa Arts Center, 3/21-22

The genre-mixing and versatile Portland Cello Project will perform at Mesa Arts Center, March 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Piper Theatre. PCP, as they are called by their fans, will play Radiohead OK Computer on Friday's program, while Saturday's selections will include pieces from composers Bach and Brubeck, and from singer-songwriter Beck Hansen. Tickets are available through the Mesa Arts Center Box Office at MesaArtsCenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.

Created in late 2007, the Portland Cello Project's performances are never alike, with a repertoire now numbering over 800 pieces of music. Their stage setup ranges from the very simple (4 to 6 cellos), to the all-out epic (which has included 12 cellos playing with full choirs, winds, horns, and numerous percussion players). Joining PCP in Mesa will be Patti King (Radiation City) as a guest singer.

The group has built a reputation blending genres and blurring musical lines and perceptions wherever they go. The Portland Cello Project is "an ace group of rotating cellists who take on everything from Britney's 'Toxic' to the Dandy Warhol's and postmodern Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in their one-off performances" - Entertainment Weekly.

Mesa Arts Center is located at One East Main Street in downtown Mesa. Tickets are $25 for the Portland Cello Project concert.