Musician Parastoo Shafiei performs on the santur, a hammered dulcimer. She is wearing a white pinstripe shirt and round glasses, holding two delicate wooden mallets (mezrabs) over the strings of the traditional instrument in a brightly lit indoor setting. — Parastoo Shafiei Credit: CAMPground

The live music calendar presents so many comforting, familiar places to take your listening, but there are always opportunities to think outside of the box. For the better part of half-a-decade now, CAMPGround has been happy to play that role (the “CAMP” is short for Contemporary Art Music Project).

Built around “new music,” the festival is a composer’s paradise dedicated to solo and ensemble arrangements, monodramas, and immersive sound installations featuring artists from around the world.

The three-day festival kicks off in Ybor City (Tempus Projects at Kress Contemporary) and travels to Seminole Heights (Disco Dolls), the edge of West Tampa (Steinway Piano Gallery), and a house in East Tampa before it wraps.

Tickets to see CAMPGround26 happening across Tampa on Thursday & Friday, March 5 & 6 are still available for $15 and up.