Jakobs Castle – the eclectic solo project of Sublime frontman Jakob Nowell – will invade UC Riverside on November 20.
The show is part of their west coast fall run, with Strawberry Fuzz, Strange Case and Ill Tiempo joining for the trek. While Nowell and his fellow rockers bring plenty of energy and excitement to every performance, the Riverside date is especially notable given the venue that’s hosting them.
The Barn at UCR is more than just a live music space – it’s an institution. The original structure dates back to 1917 and was quite literally a barn. Equipped with horse stables, wagon sheds and a carpenter shop, its humble beginnings certainly didn’t foreshadow rock stardom.
However, as UC Riverside took over the space, the Barn steadily evolved. It became a hub of student activity, hosting dinners and events of all shape and size. A fire in the early ‘70s threatened the venue’s future, but instead it received an overhaul, allowing it to become the most popular live music destination in the Inland Empire.
Throughout the next few decades, many of Southern California’s biggest rising stars graced the Barn’s stage, including No Doubt, Incubus, Rage Against the Machine, Blink 182 and The Offspring.
Notably, the Barn also hosted a concert by Sublime in 1992. Four years later, the band’s classic frontman, Bradley Nowell, tragically died of an overdose. Jakob was less than a year old when his dad passed, and his decision to take over behind the mic of his famous father’s band has been one of the biggest stories of the year. The upcoming Jakobs Castle show at the Barn represents another full circle moment for the singer as he cements his own distinct place in rock history. More than 30 years after Bradley played the same venue, Jakob will return to excite the UCR campus once more.
Tickets for the November 20 concert are on sale now.
