The New Jersey Performing Arts Center's free The Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City outdoor concert series kicks off July 12, with DJ Felix Hernandez's "Rhythm Revue Dance Party," and wraps Aug. 30 with singer/songwriter Jon B. The eight concerts in Newark will feature high energy performances showcasing local favorites and chart-topping stars.



And remember: The series is free.

"The music programming reflects our richly diverse audiences, so during the course of two months concert-goers will hear everything from classic soul and hip-hop to funk, Afrobeat, Latin, romantic R&B and more," said David Rodriguez, NJPAC's executive producer and executive vice-president. "We're pleased to again partner with The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey in bringing top-name musicians to our outdoor stage for what has become one of the most anticipated summer scenes in New Jersey."

All concerts take place on Thursdays, starting at 5 p.m. in NJPAC's Chambers Plaza (formerly Theater Square). Nearby food trucks and the arts center's NICO Kitchen + Bar offer food and drink. There is also an outdoor bar.

First offered 20 years ago, the concert series routinely draws 3,000 people each week from Newark and surrounding towns, giving the city a chance to showcase its thriving arts and culture scene. The New York Times once called it "Newark's town social."

"Sounds of the City is a remarkable series that shows the unique power of music to bring diverse cultural groups together to celebrate great performances in a beautiful outdoor setting under the stars," said Jonathan R. Pearson, executive director of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the charitable arm of Newark-based Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

The 2018 concert lineup includes Tank and the Bangas, winner of NPR's 2017 Best of Tiny Desk contest: funk, soul and jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker; and rising stars Armen Paul and Arita.

Performers with Newark roots include Frankie Negron, creator of a unique salsa sound; Rah Digga, a longtime member of Busta Rhymes' squad; Felix Hernandez, who kicks off the series and whose popular performances have become the stuff of NJPAC legend; and DJ Wallah, who has appeared on BET's "106 & Park" and been featured alongside heavyweights, including DJ Khaled and Meek Mill.

Local artists, Rodriguez said, "make it their mission to perform as they want to give back to their community."

For more information about the series -- which is also sponsored by BD, RWJ Barnabas, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Newark Downtown District, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers Newark -- and inclement weather advisories, visit www.njpac.org.

Horizon Foundations Sounds of the City

NJPAC's Chambers Plaza

1 Center St., Newark. 888-GO-NJPAC.

No tickets are required for these outdoor performances. Concerts held every Thursday beginning July 12 and ending Aug. 30.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.