Carson Valley Arts Council hosting concert by Squid Inc Oct. 14 in Minden

Music by Britney Spears, Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse and other pop stars will fill Minden’s CVIC Hall in a concert that offers an avant-garde twist — the music will be played on classical instruments.

Squid Inc, a group of Bay Area string players that couples popular dance tunes with classical music, will open Carson Valley Arts Council’s 2016-2017 concert series at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.

Formed in 2010, the band features highly trained, professional string players who have a love not only for classical music but modern rock, alternative, and jazz.

Using the versatility provided by the violin, viola, and cello, Squid creates its own original works as well as creative, unusual arrangements of alternative and rock music, advocating for classical instruments and classical music in the process.

Besides the use of classical instruments, the musicians incorporate rap, vocals, percussion and other instrumentalists into their shows.

The name of the group emerged from “SQUID,” an acronym for “String Quartet In Denial,” a reference to the group’s nontraditional and eclectic style.

Members are Hrabba Atladottir, violin; Jory Fankuchen, violin; Darcy Rindt, viola; and Beth Vandervennet, cello.

Darcy Rindt holds positions in the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and the Santa Rosa, Marin, Oakland, California and Berkeley Symphonies.

Beth Vandervennet is a member of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and Marin Symphony. In addition to cellist of Squid Inc, string quartet, she also is the cellist in Rosin Coven, a theatrical lounge ensemble.

Hrabba Atladottir is based in Berkeley, Calif., where she has been performing as a soloist as well as with various ensembles, such as The New Century Chamber Orchestra, The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, The Empyrean Ensemble, The ECO ensemble and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.

Jory Fankuchen is a member of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Magik Magik Orchestra, and regularly performs with many of the Bay Area’s symphony orchestras as well.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door; and, new this year, kids under 18 are free.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.cvartscouncil.com, by phone at 775-782-8207, at the Copeland Cultural Arts Center, 1572 US Highway 395, Minden, or at the Douglas County Community Center.

Squid Inc’s music and videos are on its website at http://squidincquartet.com/.