The Complete Lineup from the Twilight Concert Series

Published on August 26, 2020

The Twilight Dance Series began in 1985 as a way to bring people down to the Santa Monica Pier after the storms of ’83 to remind them the Pier was still around. The Pier was not nearly as popular then as it is now and the businesses really relied on Thursday nights during the Twilight Dance Series to generate enough revenue to stay open year-round. The series was originally was centered around “dance-able music,” hence the name Twilight Dance Series. Each week, a dance floor would be rolled out on along the Pier planks and Angelenos would flock to the West side to get their groove on while listening to popular acts from around the world. Initially starting as one small stage under a tent, the concerts quickly grew in popularity throughout the years and became one of the main reasons the Santa Monica Pier is what it is today. Even undergoing two name changes to Twilight Concert Series in 2012 and Twilight on the Pier in 2018, the series still brought thousands of guests together as a special meeting place – dancing on the Santa Monica Pier. Here is the complete line up from the Twilight Series over the past 35 years.

1st Annual Twilight Dance Series (1985)

June 20 – Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band
June 27 – Perri
July 4 – Independence Day Fireworks Show
July 11 – New West Brass Quintet

2nd Annual Twilight Dance Series (1986)

July 18 – The Rhythm Kings
July 25 – Poncho Sanchez
August 1 – Old Mother Logo
August 8 – Downbeat Express
August 15 – l’Dren / Shuybah
August 22 – Aman!
August 29 – Billy & the Beaters

3rd Annual Twilight Dance Series (1987)

Queen Ida made several appearances throughout the years at Twilight. She was the first female accordion player to lead a zydeco band – a music genre that blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles.

July 9 – The Rhythm Kings
July 16 – Lil Elmo & the Cosmos
July 23 – Bluesbusters
July 30 – Jack Mack & the Heart Attack
August 6 – Queen Ida & the Bon Temp Zydeco Band (????)
August 13 – Kathy Robertson
August 20 – Poncho Sanchez
August 27 – Rotundi
September 3 – The Rebel Rockers
September 10 – Big Band Beat

4th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1988)

July 7 – The Rhythm Kings
July 14 – La Despers
July 21 – The Hit Men
July 28 – Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
August 4 – Babylon Warriors (????)
August 11 – The James Harman Band
August 18 – L.A. Samba
August 25 – A Town South of Bakersfield with Jann Browne, Ronnie Mack, Kathy Robertson, Jeffery Steele
August 1 – The Bonedaddys
August 8 – The Klezmorim

5th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1989)

June 29 – Tower of Power
July 6 – Rhythm Kings
July 13 – Billy Vera & the Beaters
July 20 – Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock & Jim Lauderdale
July 27 – Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
August 3 – Big Daddy
August 10 – Flaco Jimenez
August 17 – Poncho Sanchez
August 24 – I-Tex, Jawge & the Unknown Band
August 31 – The Bonedaddys (????)

6th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1990)

In 1990, before the amusement park was on the Pier, the stage for Twilight was in the same location where the Pacific Park Ferris wheel currently is and faced inland. This was the first year that it was so crowded on the Pier, the crowds spilled out to the pier deck parking lot. Bo Diddley had recently done his infamous commercial with Bo Jackson, and rumor has it the City received noise complaints all the way from 20th street that night. This was the concert that began the creation of the Santa Monica noise ordinance that says no speakers can be facing inland from the Pier.

June 28 – Junior Walker & the Allstars
July 5 – Joe Higgs & Family (????) / Eyes of the World
July 12 – Chaba Fadela & Cheb Sahraoui
July 19 – Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band
July 26 – Asleep at the Wheel
August 2 – Bo Diddley
August 9 – Tito Puente Latin Jazz Allstars
August 16 – Beausoleil
August 23 – Tom Kubis Big Band featuring Jack Sheldon
August 30 – The Bonedaddys

7th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1991)

June 20 – Texas Tornados
June 27 – Venice
July 11 – Katie Webster
July 18 – Latino Latino
July 25 – Capp Pierce Juggernaut Big Band
August 1 – Boukman Eksperyans
August 8 – The Untouchables (????)
August 15 – Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band
August 22 – Dirty Dozen Brass Band
August 29 – David Rudder with Andy Narell

8th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1992)

July 9 – Sha Na Na
July 16 – NRBQ
July 23 – Poncho Sanchez
July 30 – Thomas Mapfumo
August 6 – Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens
August 13 – The Bonedaddys
August 20 – Jack Mack & the Heart Attack
August 27 – Johnny Adams

9th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1993)

July 8 – Billy Vera & the Beaters
July 15 – The Charlie Musselwhite Band
July 22 – Kotoja
July 28 – Brave Combo
August 5 – The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (????)
August 12 – The Drifters / The Marvelettes
August 19 – Bataco
August 26 – Cafe Tacuba
September 2 – Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys

10th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1994)

Dick Dale, known as the godfather of surf guitar, also appeared on many of the Twilight line ups and has performed at many other Pier events such as the Pier’s centennial celebration.

July 7 – The Bonedaddys
July 14 – Limpopo / Brother
July 21 – Queen Ida and Her Zydeco Band
July 28 – Dr. Loco’s Rockin’ Jalapeno Band
August 4 – Raymond Myers and Boom Shaka
August 11 – Poncho Sanchez
August 18 – Dick Dale and the Del Tones (????)/ The Surfaris
August 25 – Manu Dibango ~ Cameroon
September 1 – Beausoleil

11th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1995)

July 6 – L.A. Blues Revue with John “Juke” Logan and the Chill Aces, featuring Brenda Burns, The King Brothers and Johnny Dyer
July 13 – PaPa Wemba
July 20 – The Radiators
July 27 – Zydeco Party Band / The Blazers
August 3 – The Iguanas
August 10 – Richard Elliot
August 17th – The Shirelles
August 24th – The Mighty Diamonds (????)
August 31 – Junior Brow / Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Boys

12th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1996)

July 11 – The Blasters
July 18 – Dick Dale
July 25 – Ricardo Silveira and Justo Almario
August 1 – Junior Reid
August 8 – C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
August 15 – John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
August 22 – The Young Dubliners
August 29 – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
September 5 – Angelique Kidjo

13th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1997)

The Red Elvises, formally known as Limpopo (played on the ’94 lineup), were a Russian band that started out as street performers around Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade. They gained popularity around town and eventually ended up playing on the main stage at the Twilight Dance Series.

July 3 – Boozoo Chavis
July 10 – The Carter Brothers / Joe Louis Walker and the Bosstalkers
July 17 – Johnny Otis Revue
July 24 – The Red Elvises (????) / El Vez
July 31 – Eddie Palmieri
August 7 – Toots & the Maytals (????)
August 14 – Quetzacoatl / Sergio Arau & Moctezuma’s Revenge
August 21 – Indigo Swing / The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
August 28 – Quartre Etoiles ~ Zaire – Soukous
September 4 – Yellowjackets

14th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1998)

July 2 – Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau Band
July 9 – Bo Diddley (????)
July 16 – Buck Owens
July 23 – Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Melle Mel
July 30 – Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine
August 6 – Baaba Maal
August 13 – The Young Dubliners
August 20 – Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band
August 27 – Karnak
September 3 – Ozomatli

15th Annual Twilight Dance Series (1999)

July 1 – Venice / Sally Taylor
July 8 – Hugh Masekela
July 15 – Roomful of Blues / Zola Moon
July 22 – Chuck E. Weiss / Los Straitjackets
July 29 – Jose Feliciano
August 5 – Eric Burdon & The New Animals
August 12 – Bamboleo / Ricardo Lemvo / Francisco Aquabella
August 19 – Burning Spear
August 26 – Night ‘O Swing with the Bill Elliot Swing Orchestra / Indigo Swing
September 2 – Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet

16th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2000)

June 29 – The Neville Brothers
July 6 – Dick Dale / Red Elvsises
July 13 – Robby Krieger / Quicksilver
July 20 – Sonia dada / Zoo People
July 27 – Bobby Rodriguez Salsa & Latin Jazz Orchestra
August 3 – Royal Crown Revue (????)
August 10 – Thomas Mapfumo
August 17 – Culture / Mongoose
August 24 – Zachary Richard / Lisa Haley & Her Zydekats
August 31 – The Young Dubliners / Brothers

17th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2001)

June 28 – Michelle Shocked
July 5 – Pete Escovedo Orchestra
July 12 – The Fab Four
July 19 – Common Sense / Trans-Global Underground
July 26 – Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers / Swing Session
August 2 – Lagbaja
August 9 – Buckwheat Zydeco
August 16 – Venice
August 23 – Reverend Horton Heat
August 30 – Ozomatli

18th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2002)

June 27 – Shuggie Otis / The Brothers Johnson
July 3 – Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars
July 11 – Eileen Ivers Band
July 18 – Laura Love / Rosie Flores
July 25 – Rachid Taha / Natacha Atlas
August 1 – Graham Parker
August 8 – Morgan Heritage
August 15 – Delbert McClinton
August 22 – Quetzal / B-Side Players
August 29 – Jefferson Starship (????)

19th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2003)

June 26 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band
July 3 – Willie K and Amy Hanaiali’ / Ernie Cruz Jr. / Makana
July 10 – The Afro Celts / Electric Skychurch
July 17 – The WAiFs / Laurie Lewis
July 24 – Dark Star Orchestra
July 31 – Salif Keita / Vusi Mahlasela / Ricardo Lemvo
August 7 – Maraca / Susie Hansin Latin Jazz Band
August 14 – Acida / Sidestepper / Los Amigos Invisibles (????)
August 21 – The Platters (????) / Billy Richards’ Coasters
August 28 – Russell Gunn & Ethnomusicology / Hiromi

20th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2004)

July 1 – Fishbone / The Bonedaddys
July 8 – Wailing Souls / Ras Michael
July 15 – The Young Dubliners / Venice
July 22 – Les Yeux Noirs / Quetzal
July 29 – Ex-Centric Sound System / Delta Nove
August 5 – Richie Havens / Janis Ian
August 12 – Andrea Echeverri / Ely Guerra / Los Abandoned
August 19 – Billy Vera & the Beaters / Thee Midniters with Little Willie G
August 26 – Blackalicious / Benny Cassette
September 2 – Clarence Clemons Temple of Soul / Gravity

21st Annual Twilight Dance Series (2005)

The Knack, known for their one hit wonder “My Sharona,” didn’t have enough material to fill their performance time so they ended up playing two of the same sets back to back.

June 30 – Easy Star All-Stars presenting “Dub Side of the Moon” / Detour Posse
July 7 – Cannibal and the Headhunters (????) / Little Joe Y La Familia
July 14 – Markus James and Wassonrai / Tinariwen
July 21 – Chicago Blues Reunion starring Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Harvey Mandel, Tracy Nelson, Sam Lay, Corky Siegel
July 28 – Marc Cohn / Suzanne Vega
August 4 – Super Diamond / It’s a Beautiful Day
August 11 – Plastilina Mosh / Nortec Collective
August 18 – Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band with special guest Eddie Daniels
August 25 – Buckwheat Zydeco / Kermit Ruffins “Barbeque Swingers” & Topsy Chapman
September 1 – The Knack / Shonen Knife

22nd Annual Twilight Dance Series (2006)

June 29 – Poncho Sanchez
July 6 – Indigo Girls / Michelle Malone
July 13 – Dick Dale / Agent Orange
July 20 – Mavis Staples (????) / Rick Holmstrom
July 27 – Lyrics Born / Daara J
August 3 – The Aggrolites / Joey Altruda’s Classic Riddims / Chris Murray Combo
August 10 – Salif Keita / Ashley Maher & Her Big Global Band
August 17 – Inti-Illimani
August 24 – Kiran Ahluwalia with DJs DidJital and Eccodek, visuals by Amanda Boggs
August 31 – David Grisman Quintet / Jim Campilongo / Brandi Shearer

23rd Annual Twilight Dance Series (2007)

2007 was a big year for Twilight with Patti Smith on the bill, but it was also the year that started bringing big crowds to the beaches when local band Los Lobos finished out the year’s series and attracted a seemingly endless crowd of fans to beach heading south below.

June 28 – The Ventures (????)/ Boom Pam
July 5 – David Lindley / John Cruz / Brandi Shearer
July 12 – Plena Libre / Spam Allstars
July 19 – Samba Mapangala / Orchestra Virunga / Jose Conde y Ola Frescca
July 26 – “Tosh meets Marley” featuring Fully Fullwood & Junior Martin
August 9 – Queen Ida & her Zydeco Band / Hacienda Brothers
August 16 – Patti Smith
August 23 – Holmes Brothers / Carrie Rodriguez
August 30 – Los Lobos

24th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2008)

June 26 – The Bonedaddys / Crown City Rockers
July 3 – Keali’l Reichel / Na Leo / Weldon Kekauoha & Hula Halau
July 10 – Spanish Harlem Orchestra
July 17 – Fall Out Boy (????)
July 24 – Bachata Roca Legends / Classic Dominica Music Icons
July 31 – Michelle Shocked / Mike Farris
August 7 – Oliver Mtukudzi / Rocky Dawani
August 14 – Carmen Consoli / Juana Molina / Samantha Crain
August 21 – Peter & Gordon (????) / Gerry & the Pacemakers
August 28 – Toots & the Maytalls

25th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2009)

Joan Baez was one of the most anticipated performances during the Twilight Dance Series because of her connection to the Pier (rumor has it she used to stay at her friend’s apartment above the Merry-go-round). She was often a part of the crowd during the concerts, even making surprise appearances dancing on stage when her friends, such as Peter & Gordon in 2008, would play.

July 2 – “Playing for Change” Band / Bushman
July 9 – Joan Baez (????)
July 16 – Sgt. Garcia / Ricardo Lenvo & Makina Loca
July 23 – “La Monica Revisited” with Squirrel Nut Zippers / Johnny Vana & the Big Band Alumni
July 30 – Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited (????)
August 6 – Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women / Paul Thorn
August 13 – Idan Raichel Project / Elijah Emanuel
August 20 – Venice / Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real
August 27 – Lila Downs / Very Be Careful
September 3 – Patti Smith (????)

26th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2010)

Mick Taylor, guitarist from The Rolling Stones, was originally slotted to headline on August 19th and dropped out a few nights before the show. Betty LaVette, a soul singer, took his place but no one in the crowd left disappointed that night – she blew everyone away.

July 8 – Konono No. 1 (????)
July 15 – Ben Lee / Brother / Ry Cumming
July 22 – Jovonatti / Jace Everett / Ana Tijoux
July 29 – Kailash Kher’s Kailasa
August 5 – Rickie Lee Jones
August 12 – Soulive / Breakestra
August 19 – Bettye LaVette / Tom Nolan Band (????)
August 26 – Abby Road / Led Zepagain
September 2 – Dr. John & the Lower 911 / Eddie Baytos & The Nervis Brothers

27th Annual Twilight Dance Series (2011)

Rusty’s Surf Ranch, a bar and restaurant on the Pier, held a yearly Battle of the Bands. The winner got to be the opening act for one night of Twilight.

July 7 – Grupo Fantasma / Oscar Hernandez’ L.A. Salsa All Stars
July 14 – The Bangles / Caracol
July 21 – Missy Higgins/ Kim Churchill / Andy Clockwise
July 28 – The Slackers (????) / Starpool / Rusty’s Surf Ranch Emerging Artist Competition 2011
August 4 – Nelson Marquez & the Moderators / Tutu Sweeney & The Brothers Band
August 11 – Royal Crown Revue / Orgone Plus Ameera
August 18 – Duo-Tones (????) / Slacktone / The Elimators
August 25 – Milongatron
September 1 – Dawes / Sonny & the Sunsets
September 8 – Jon Cleary’s Philthy Phew / Donald Harrison Electric Group / Wanda Rouzan

28th Annual Twilight Concert Series (2012)

July 5 – Donavan Frankenreiter / Song & Dance Society
July 12 – The Lions / Arise Roots
July 19 – Haim (????)/ Wildcat! Wildcat!
July 26 – Jackie Green / Rusty’s Surf Ranch Emerging Artist Competition 2012
August 2 – Kasey Chambers
August 9 – Parade Collective (musicians from Cirque du Soleil)
August 16 – Amadou & Miriam / Y La Bamba
August 23 – Alex Cuba / Lucky Mambo 7
August 30 – The Pimps of Joytown / The Gumbo Brothers
September 6 – Best Coast (????)/ No

29th Annual Twilight Concert Series (2013)

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue was a featured performer on 2013. The New Orleans based brass band leader went on to win the Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities for achievements as a musician and for his community work to preserve and pass on to younger generations the rich musical heritage of his native New Orleans.

July 11 – Surfer Blood / Terrapin Sun
July 18 – Meshell Ndegeocello / The Record Company
July 25 – No Age (????)/ Tijuana Panthers
August 1 – Xavier Rudd
August 8 – Hanni El Khatib / Bombino
August 15 – The English Beat / Maxwell Smart / Rusty’s Surf Ranch Emerging Artist Competition 2013
August 22 – Nick Waterhouse / Boogaloo Assassins
August 29 – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue / Dustbowl Revival
September 5 – Gardens & Villa / Mr. Little Jeans
September 12 – Jimmy Cliff / The Delirians

30th Annual Twilight Concert Series (2014)

July 10 – Cults / James Supercave
July 17 – Yuna / King
July 24 – Cayucas & Papa
July 31 – Omar Souleyman / De Lux
August 7 – Jagwar Ma (????) / Fascinator
August 14 – La Santa Cecilia / Sergio Mendoza y la Orckestra
August 21 – The Zombies / Mystic Braves
August 28 – Lee “Scratch” Perry / Mexico 68
September 4 – OK Go / Allah-Lahs
September 11 – Charles Bradley(????) / King James & the Special Men

31st Annual Twilight Concert Series (2015)

July 9 – Morris Day & the Time / Dam-Funk
July 16 – Real Estate / Hippo Campus
July 23 – !Cubanismo! (????)/ Chicano Batman
July 30 – JD McPherson / Sarah Gayle Meech
August 6 – Ben Browning / DMA’s
August 13 – Sister Nancy / Jesse Royal
August 20 – Ariel Pink (????)/ The Mynabirds
August 27 – Jefferson Starship / Purple Mountains Majesties
September 3 – Rebirth Brass Band / Miles Mosely & the West Coast Get Down
September 10 – Tune-Yards / Avid Dancer

32nd Annual Twilight Concert Series (2016)

July 7 – Mayer Hawthorne / Alina Boraz
July 14 – Borns (????) / Porches
July 21 – The Psychedelic Furs / Day Wave
July 28 – Proteje & the Indiggnation / Raging Fyah
August 4 – Natalia LaFourcade / Monsier Perine
August 11 – Rufus du Sol (????) / Marc Baker
August 18 – Mavis Staples / The Suffers
August 25 – Save Ferris / Cibo Matto
September 1 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Steady Holiday
September 8 – Ohio Players / Holy Ghost!

33rd Annual Twilight Concert Series (2017)

The concert on June 22, 2017 is known as the one that put an end to the series as we knew it. When Khalid was booked for the show at the beginning of the year, he was an up-and-coming artist but not yet at the level of fame he would reach in the next few months before the show. Thanks to a new album and popularity backed by some of the Kardashian’s, Khalid grew to be one of, if not the most, attended concert in the entire series. The line for the concert started at 8AM (about 12 hours before the show) and quickly become a mile long snaking down the bike path on Ocean Front Walk. The crowd wasn’t rough or dangerous, but due to the sheer size of approximately 25,000 guests, it became unmanageable from a safety aspect and known as the concert that forced a change to the series for future years.

June 22 – Khalid (????)/ Bibi Bourelly
June 29 – LeMaitre / Coast Modern
July 13 – Marcia Griffiths / Jah9
July 20 – Eric Burdon & the Animals / Mr. Elevator / Rusty’s Surf Ranch Emerging Artist Competition 2017
July 27 – Miami Horror / Cleopold
August 3 – Valerie June / Irma Thomas
August 10 – Mon Laferte / Buscabulla
August 17 – Warpaint / Wild Belle

34th Annual Twilight on the Pier (2018)

In 2018, Twilight Concert Series was no longer, and Twilight on the Pier was what emerged in it’s place. It was re-imagined to more of an “art walk” event that took advantage of using space around the whole Pier. The main stage is still held in the Pier parking deck area, but a second and third stage was added in Pacific Park’s Seaside Pavilion and down at the very west end of the Pier.

September 5 – Orquesta Akokan / Jarina de Marco / Quitapenas / Sister Mantos
September 12 – Betty Who / Touch Sensitive / CXLOE / Death Bells
September 19 – Judy Mowatt / Bokante / Twilight Steel Drums / DJ Danny Holloway
September 26 – Brazilian Girls (????) / Sudan Archives / Capyac / yOya
October 3 – Fela! The Concert / Tiffany Gouche / Twilight Drum Circle / DJ Nnamdi
October 7 – Red Barrat / Vidya Vox / DJ Rekha / Discostan

35th Annual Twilight on the Pier (2019)

2019 added a new variety to Twilight on the Pier, turning the Pacific Park stage into a comedy club.

August 21 – Rostam / Dijon / Jen Award
August 28 – Helado Negro / San Cha / Banda Las Angelinas
September 4 – Bombino (????) / Disco Shrine / Los Angeles Arabs Orchestra
September 11 – Hollie Cook / Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra / Upstream
September 18 – Methyl Ethel / Lila Gold / Lisa Richards
September 25 – Cornelius / StarRo / Taiko Project (????)