Santa Monica Pier Concerts Scheduled

Billy Vera & the Beaters kick off the Twilight Dance Series of free concerts on the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday.

The free summer concerts will be held at 7:30 every Thursday night through Sept. 2.

Other acts include the Charlie Musselwhite Band on July 15, the Nigerian band Kotoja on July 22, world dance music from Brave Combo on July 29 and gospel music from the Five Blind Boys of Alabama on Aug. 5.

The series concludes with the Drifters & the Marvelettes on Aug. 12, the Brazilian group Batacoto on Aug. 19, alternative Mexican rock by Cafe Tacuba on Aug. 26 and Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys on Sept. 2.

The concerts are hosted by public radio station KPCC (89.3 FM) and will be broadcast the following Monday nights at 10. Musical guests will be previewed each week on the station’s “Wednesday Music Magazine” from 8 to 10 the evening preceding each concert.