Santa Monica Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier

For 25 years, the Santa Monica Pier has hosted the Twilight Dance Series which are a free concerts on Thursday nights during summer. These are great free concerts that are open to the public and feature top musicians. You can bring your own seating and I suggest you come early to get a good spot. The concerts are from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. There is a huge parking lot adjacent to the pier but it fills up early and is $8.00 to park. A lot of concert goers ride their bikes to the Santa Monica Pier and take advantage of the bike valet service which handles hundreds of bikes. A lot of people just bring a blanket and find a spot on the beach and listen to the concert on the pier. Note: no alcoholic beverages and dogs must be on a leash.

There is also another concert series on Thursdays during the summer just a few miles south of Santa Monica. The Marina del Rey Free Concerts feature classical and pop performance along the waterfront.

Concert Schedule for 2009

25th Annual Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series July 2, 2009 through September 3, 2009

• July 2:
  Promoting peace through music: Playing for Change Band (Global Viral) & Bushman (Jamaican Roots Reggae)
• July 9:
  Folk singer & activist, star since the 60's: Joan Baez (California) with special guest Tift Merritt (North Carolina)
• July 16:
  New global pop music, spanish parisian music: Sgt. Garcia (Spain/France) & Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca (Congo/Angola)
• July 23:
  Eclectic fusion of gypsy jazz, delta blues and more: Squirrel Nut Zippers (Chapel Hill) with Johnny Vana & The Big Band Alumni (San Fernando Valley)
• July 30:
  The great African iconic bands: Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited (Zimbabwe)
• August 6:
  A central figure and hero of Los Angeles rock: Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women (Downey) & Paul Thorn (Tupelo, Mississippi)
• August 13:
  Multi-ethnic, fusion of Israeli pop music and other global Sounds: Idan Raichel Project (Israel) & Elijah Emanuel (Bilingual Reggae from Panama)
• August 20:
  A Twilight Series favorite, surf-Scented harmonies with folk-pop sounds: Venice with Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real
• August 27:
  Celebrating her native ancient culture of Oaxaca, Mexico: Lila Downs (Oaxaca, Mexico) with Very Be Careful (Colombian Vallenato)
• September 3:
  Closing the season with the pioneer of punk: An Evening with Patti Smith and her Band

As soon as I get the schedule for the 2010 concerts, I will post it on this website.