Dedicated to elevating artist and venue experiences within the experimental music scene in New York.
outlier’s vision
We aim to build a network of above-board venues with a proven track record of dedication to experimental performance and to provide these venues with an evening of fully-funded and curated performances featuring some of the finest and most innovative artists, providing the venues with the entirety of admission sales. We believe this model will both incentivize venue support and elevate the standards for artist compensation within experimental performance.
The Founder
Michael Foster is a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and curator working in the fields of free improvisation, noise, experimental composition, video, performance art, and other forms of weird music.
Foster utilizes extensive instrumental preparations, augmenting his saxophone with amplification, objects, balloons, drum heads, vibrators, tapes, and samples as a method of subverting and queering the instrument’s history and traditional roles.
In addition to his work as a performer he has been an active curator throughout New York City since 2012, having founded several series such as Queer Trash, a platform showcasing LGBTIA+ performers engaged in experimental performance practices. As a curator he has worked with spaces and organizations such as Issue Project Room, MoMA/PS1, JACK, and many others.
Michael founded Outlier in 2019 to support both the artists and the venues that dedicate themselves to supporting experimental performance.
Our Sponsors
The Jazz Foundation of America
Whatever the need is, we don’t just fix the problem, we become family. We believe that love and creative solutions are needed to heal the lives of creative hardworking people who have already contributed to making this world more beautiful. Because of you, JFA now assists in 9,000 cases a year, nationwide. Learn more about the Jazz Foundation of America and their role in supporting artists.
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Keyed Up
Jazz Generation is a jazz education and performance initiative that creates playing opportunities for children and adults in separate, yet complementary, programs. For jazz professionals, KEYED UP! creates playing opportunities in neighborhood venues. Learn more about their initiative.
