By Lookout Staff

June 26, 2015-- Morris Day & TheTime will transport funk music lovers back to the days of “Purple Rain” with live performances of “Jungle Love,” “The Bird” and other hits when the band kicks off this summer's Twilight Concerts Series at the Santa Monica Pier.

On 10 consecutive Thursdays starting July 9 with Day and his crew and ending September 10 with an as-yet unannounced artist, the historic venue's 31st Twilight Concert series will showcase music of nearly every style and genre performed live by players and singers from L.A. to New Orleans to Jamaica and beyond.

This is the second year of a reformulated Twilight Concert series, after the Santa Monica City Council decided to scale down the 2014 series to satisfy both the enthusiastic crowds and public safety concerns.

The series started off as modest seven-week promotional tool to once again attract crowds to the pier following devastating storms in 1983, but it eventually grew too big to handle. Things began to spin out of hand starting in 2007, when at a concert by LA rockers Los Lobos organizers decided to turn the speakers toward the beach.

A Jumbotron was added in 2011, and the band played on -- huge bands like Grammy winners Eddie Palmieri and Joan Baez.

 But the ever-growing crowds spilling onto the beach not only to listen to the music but to drink alcohol and smoke, both of which are prohibited, resulted in mounting policing and other costs.

Last year, the Council adopted a new “event framework” that includes an enclosed area on the beach and an upper deck area from which to view the shows.

Enjoying free music at the beach has not changed, though.

This year's lineup of artists includes:

July 9: Morris Day & The Time have crafted some of the 1980s most memorable and dance-inducing tunes, including “The Walk” and “Oaktree.” They're still going strong today. Mo and The Time perform with Dam-Funk.

July 16: Straight out of Brooklyn, Indie rockers Real Estate has three albums to its credit and has performed on David Letterman's show. Under-card performers Hippo Campus have performed in London and just released a debut album, “Bashful Creatures.”

July 23: Cubanismo will have the crowd dancing to its classic Latin sounds, but first L.A.'s own Chicano Batman will get things going with its unique Latin-tinged creations.

July 30: Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, American songwriter J.D. McPherson goes for the pure and simple with his engaging retro rock tunes -- check out his Los Lobos-like “Head Over Heels.” Singer/songwriter Sara Gayle Meech opens the show.

August 6: Bassist Ben Browning of Cut Copy released his first solo album, “Lover Motion,” in 2012 and earned critical praise for “Turns,” self-produced in Browning's native Melbourne. Opening for Browning is DMA'S.

August 13: Aka Muma Nancy, pioneering dancehall DJ Sister Nancy hails from Kingston, Jamaica, where she began signing with local bands while in her teens. After a brief retirement in the mid-1990s, she roared back in 2007 with a new album, “Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof.” Leading off the bill is reggae crooner Jesse Royal.

August 20: Multi-instrumentalist and indie-pop musician Ariel Pink will go from performing at the Time Festival in Toronto, Canada, to the Santa Monica Pier stage, before continuing a world-wide tour. Performing before Mr. Pink will be The Mynabirds, founded by songwriter and pianist Laura Burhenn.

August 27: Jefferson Starship is a legend in rock music. With a string of hits dating to the 1970s, the band remains true to its original roots in psychedelic and electric folk. Hits include “Dragon Fly,” “Red Octopus,” “Spitfire” and many more. Opening for the Starship will be Purple Mountains Majesty.

September 3: Nine-member New Orleans brass band Rebirth makes a powerful statement on stage.            The Grammy winning band formed in 1983 and today is considered an institution in their hometown. Taking their tradition music of the French Quarter, Rebirth combines it with funk and even hip-hop. The night's opening act is Miles Mosley and the WestCoast Get Down.

September 10: The series closes with a headlining artist to be announced at a later time.

Twilight Concert Series shows are from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit santamonicapier.org.