The tuneful, droll and Tufts-bred trio Guster performs in an all-ages concert at Bates College at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, in the Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building ("Gray Cage"), Central Avenue.

The concert is sponsored by the Chase Hall Committee. Tickets for the general public are $20 and are available at Bates, Bowdoin and Colby colleges, Bull Moose Music outlets and the Web site www.guster.com. For more information, call 207-795-7496.

Founded at Tufts University in 1991, the trio of Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller and Brian Rosenworcel has expanded beyond its acoustic beginnings and is currently touring behind a new album, Keep It Together.

On that record, wrote a Rolling Stone reviewer, the threesome has "focused on moods and atmospheres without being clichéd -- the sunny reflection of 'Amsterdam' highlights Guster's approach. Keep It Together is sentimental without being sappy, and innocent without the naiveté."

Gardner, Miller and Rosenworcel met during freshman orientation at Tufts. Originally named "Gus," their band found a following in the college town environment and recorded the debut album Parachute in 1994. A name change to "Guster" preceded the release of the second album, Goldfly, in 1996, and Guster made their major-label debut, on Sire Records, with 1999's Lost & Gone Forever. Guster now records for Reprise.

Originally defined by Miller's bongos and congas combined with the acoustic guitars and singing of Gardner and Rosenworcel, Guster has grown to incorporate kit drums, bass, woodwinds, banjo and vintage keyboards into its music. The band has toured with the Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan and Barenaked Ladies.