The Lowrider Band to Replace Lila Downs Thursday at Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series

The Lowrider Band -- whose million-selling hits include “Spill the Wine,” “Slippin’ into Darkness,” “The Cisco Kid,” “The World is a Ghetto” “All Day Music,” and, of course, “Lowrider” -- will step in for an ailing Lila Downs Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier.

The band, which hails from the LA area, features original founding members, Howard E. Scott on guitar and vocals; Lee Oskar, harmonica; Harold Brown, drums and vocals, and bass player B.B. Dickerson.

Downs suffered an acute appendicitis on August 22nd and underwent emergency surgery in the early morning of the 23rd.

"I am a little swollen and sleepy but strong and thankful for a successful operation of appendicitis here in New York," Downs wrote in a message to her fans. "Unfortunately for this reason we needed to cancel our concerts this week in the U.S., but soon enough we'll be out there doin' our thing."

The Lowrider Band sprung from its roots in Long Beach, with a hybrid sound born in the racially-mixed ghettos of Los Angeles. Their music crosses over and combines many styles and genres; funk, Latin music, R&B, rock and jazz. The band has always transcended racial and cultural boundaries with their musical melting pot and multi-ethnic line-up.

"These songs have provided an essential foundation for spreading their message of brotherhood and harmony, with the hip-hop generation building on samples of these songs to perpetuate the values of these brown-eyed soul pioneers," according to the concert promoters.

Very Be Careful will still open the show at 7:00 p.m. The Lowrider Band will play at 8:15. The concert is free, for all-ages and families and part of the 25th Anniversary Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series. www.twilightdance.org

The concert run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the pier parking lot (on the pier) and is free. No alcohol is allowed. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash.

Guests are more than welcomed to bring their own seating but seats will be available for rental.