Beginning July 7, the Twilight Dance Series, put on by the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, will return to host 10 completely free concerts on the Pier’s deck every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. through September. 2011 marks the 27th year for the series.
“We believe the 27th Annual Twilight Dance Series will be a fantastic concert production and will please the Santa Monica community and concert fans,” said Kent Smith, chair of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation. “Free summer concerts on the pier have become a cultural and historical phenomenon and we made a collective effort to deliver the quality and community experience that has come to define this cultural institution.”
Each concert night will feature a specific music theme, ranging from reggae to tango to ‘80s pop. A dance floor will be included on the deck of the Santa Monica Pier on nights when dance instruction is incorporated into the theme. The themes and artists are as follows:
July 7: The SaMo Mambo
July 14: ‘80s Pop with The Bangles and Caracol
July 21: Australia Rocks the Pier! with Missy Higgins and Kim Churchill
July 28: Reggae and Ska with Slackers and Star Pool
August 4: TBA
August 11: La Monica Ballroom Then and Now with Royal Crown Revue, Orgone, and Ameera
August 18: Making Waves: A Night of Surf Guitar with Duo-Tones, Slacktone, and The Eliminators
August 25: Tango on the Timbers with Milongatron (tango lessons start at 6 p.m.)
September 1: Americana with Dawes
September 8: New Orleans Funk and Blues (artist TBA)
Parking will be available north of the Pier at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. Parking on the Pier deck will be closed. A free bike valet will be provided by the City of Santa Monica. This year’s sponsor partner is OneWest Bank. Other sponsors are the Australian Consulate, Cotton On, Cirque du Soleil, Bloomingdales, and KCRW 89.9 FM.
The Twilight Dance Series has been an annual fixture on the Santa Monica Pier since 1983 when it began with “Save the Pier Week” and has since become a hallmark of the Santa Monica community.
“We are delighted with the business community’s commitment to the Twilight Dance Series,” said Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom. “Their efforts help to preserve the cultural heritage of Santa Monica and, with their contributions, we will continue to enjoy free summer concerts at the pier.”
