Twilight returns to Santa Monica this summer with 6 music-filled evenings of performers from around the globe. At the Santa Monica Pier, there will be a main stage featuring musical acts from Japan to Australia, as well as local acts from right here in Los Angeles. There will also be live stand-up comedy in the Seaside Pavilion and DJs and performance art out on the west end by Mariasol’s.
The Twilight concerts begin at 6:30 PM each Wednesday. The concert series begins on Wednesday, August 21st and runs every Wednesday through September. The events are free to attend, although parking, food and drinks are not included. You do not need a ticket to enter the concerts, but guests planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP on Facebook so you can stay up-to-date with any last-minute schedule changes.
Wednesday, August 21st – Twilight Kickoff
Rostam, Dijon and Jen Awad
Rostam is an American songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist of electro-soul group Discovery, and formerly of New York City-based indie rock band Vampire Weekend.
Los Angeles-based, Baltimore-raised, Dijon’s hazy folksy R&B tracks feature emotional truth-telling lyrics that speak to the soul.
Jen Awad blends soul and rock and roll to create modern music with a throwback twist.
Wednesday, August 28th – Latin Wave
Helado Negro, San Cha and Banda Las Angelinas
The son of Ecuadorean immigrants and raised in S. Florida, Helado Negro’s music features rich sounds and colors of the Latin American cultures. Pounding bass beats from passing cars, boom boxes bouncing down the block, and late-night parties called “peñas” provided a foundation for Helado Negro’s interest in sound and lifelong quest to discover the unlimited variety of objects used to produce music.
San Cha is a singer-songwriter known for her visceral and emotional live performances.
Banda Las Angelinas is an all-female banda group from Los Angeles. Banda is a brass-based form of traditional music from Mexico.
Wednesday, September 4th – Middle East beats
Bombino, Disco Shrine, Los Angeles Arabs Orchestra
Omara “Bombino” Moctar is a Nigerien singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is sung in Tamasheq and often address geopolitical concerns. He is also a lead member of group Bombino.
Releasing music under the moniker of Disco Shrine , Jessica Delijani is in pursuit of the utopia that the name embodies. It’s “symbolic of this amazing, fun happy place (Disco), and the passion and spiritual need for it (Shrine).
The Los Angeles Arabs Orchestra is a community-based ensemble that brings together classical Arab musicians.
Wednesday, September 11th – Island Tides
Hollie Cook, West Standard Time Ska Orchestra, and Upstream
Hollie Cook is a British singer and keyboardist. She was a part of the last line-up of all-female punk/reggae band The Slits and has also had a career as solo artist working with producer and songwriter Prince Fatty.
Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra is a raw, powerful and in your face musical experience. This massive 20-piece group of all-star musicians is a spectacle to both watch and hear.
A huge hit from last year – Upstream – is back and bringing Island celebration music to the West End.
Wednesday, September 18th – Australian Splash
Methyl Ethel
Methyl Ethel is an Australian art rock band from Perth, Western Australia
Other supporting acts for the evening of Twilight’s Australian Splash will be announced in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, September 25th – Japanese Vibes
Cornelius, StarRo, and Taiko Projects
Cornelius is the brainchild of Japanese multi-instrumentalist Keigo Oyamada. Cornelius’ live shows are known around the world for spectacular visuals (all perfectly synchronized to the performance), custom lighting that doesn’t simply augment the performance, but becomes another instrument within it, and a full band of equally talented and diverse players.
Grammy nominated R&B producer Shinya Mizoguchi performs under the moniker StarRo. His debut album released worldwide in October 2016 and rose to the top of the charts in Japan.
Taiko Project continues to define a modern American style of taiko drumming, blending traditional forms of an innovative and fresh aesthetic. They have performed and recorded with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West just to name a few.
The Twilight Concert Series is an annual showcase of live musical performances held over several evenings on the Santa Monica Pier. The Series began in 1984 and has previously been known as the Twilight Dance Series, Twilight Concert Series, and is now known simply as Twilight on the Pier. The concerts have featured a diverse lineup of award-winning and up-and-coming musical acts. Over the years, the Twilight Concert Series has become a defining event for the beach side city and is often lauded as a “must go” event for people from all over the Los Angeles area.
How to go to the Twilight Concerts in Santa Monica
Twilight evenings draw guests from all over the greater Los Angeles area and the concerts are typically regarded as a must-attend event every summer in LA. As these free evening events can draw thousands of extra visitors to the Pier, we’ve listed a few tips for making your Twilight experience on the Pier as awesome as the music:
- Take Metro – Although there are lots of parking areas around the Pier, the side streets tend to get bogged down with people not sure where to Park. Take the Metro Expo line to Downtown Santa Monica and walk down Colorado Avenue onto the Pier. If you live or are already staying in Santa Monica, consider taking a dockless e-Scooter to Colorado and Ocean Ave., then walk down the Pier ramp to the boardwalk. If you must drive, check out our parking tips and tricks.
- There is added security at the Pier on evenings of Twilight concerts. Leave pocket knives and other sharp objects at home. Bottled water, beach towels, and hand-held cameras are OK. The security checkpoints are all around the Pier. The best place to enter is down the Pier ramp where security will check your bags at the bottom of the ramp. If walking up from the beach, head to the back of the Pier and enter across from Big Deans.
- There are many experiences during Twilight on the Pier. Musical performances on the mainstage typically begin around 6:30 PM with headlining acts starting at 8 PM. Before and between bands, check out live comedy at the Seaside Pavilion inside Pacific Park and walk out to the west end of the Pier for unique art performances and DJs. All over the Pier you will find art and artists, along with places to eat and drink.
- Although many people remember listening to concerts on the sand, the bands and activities are all on the Pier deck. There are no programming or concert services like security or toilets at the beach. Head on up to the Pier deck for all the fun.
For more information about Twilight on the Pier, including updated line-ups and schedules, visit santamonicapier.org.
Updated 8/13