By Lookout Staff

July 19, 2019 -- There'll be music, dancing and food at Santa Monica's Gandera Park every Sunday next month as Jazz on the Lawn returns for its 14th summer, City officials announced this week.

The free concert series -- which takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. -- features jazz and world music, a free dance lesson before the first concert and food trucks.

Family-friendly games and activities, including corn hole and giant blocks, start at 4 p.m., one hour before the concerts.

The series kicks off August 4 with the "Vodou Funk" sounds of GliFoS influenced by Afrofunk, Afrobeat, psychedelic jazz, funk, and soul from the 60’s and 70’s.

"Their high energy and political flavors harken back to an era, when not by choice but to prevent being prosecuted, this type of music needed to be underground," concert organizers said.

"GliFoS draws on the Voudou ceremonies of singing, drumming, and dancing."

A free 30-minute Afro-fusion dance lesson will be led by GliFoS lead vocalist Cheyenne Dunbar before the concert from 4:30 to 5 p.m.

Hosting the event is Joe Hernandez Kolski, co-founder of Downbeat 720 sponsored by the City of Santa Monica.

Food will be provided by the food trucks Original Gourmet Kebab, The Big Cheese and King Kone Ice Cream.

The series continues August 11 with the "high-energy, upbeat" sounds of Idle Hands, a blues, jazz, rock and rockabilly band featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic’s perennial drummer, Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz.

Santa Monica local Eddie Jauregui, one of the founding members of the Ruskin School of Acting, will host the event.

Dogtown, Tacos Gallo Loco and Merci Clément food trucks will provide the food.

On August 18, Mayaztek brings "an authentic, high-energy, and danceable musical experience that is a blend of Latin, reggae, and cumbia" to the stage.

Hosting the event is actor, spoken word artist, humanitarian and TED speaker Sean Hill.

Food trucks Original Gourmet Kebab, The Big Cheese and King Kone Ice Cream will provide the food.

The series wraps up Sunday, August 25, with the octet NUTTY performing "an array of rock/jazz classics, re-interpreted and rearranged," organizers said.

"Featuring both simple jazzy takes on favorite rock standards and more elaborate pairings of rock/jazz numbers, NUTTY makes for both a fun show and a swank stage presentation."

Kolski will host the show and Dogtown Dogs, Tacos Gallo Loco and Merci Clément will provide the food.

The park at 1819 Stewart Street is an eight-minute walk from the 26th Street/Bergamot Expo Line Station and served by the Big Blue Bus Route 5 on Olympic Boulevard.

The Gandara Park lot offers free parking as well free bike valet starting at 4 p.m. There is free parking less than a block away that will be available starting at 3 p.m. in the Kite Pharma parking lot, 1800 Stewart Street.

The Jazz on the Lawn concert series is presented by the City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs

For more information in the series, visit santamonica.gov/jazz