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By Lookout Staff

August 14 – The diverse sounds of three female singers from Italy, Argentina and Oklahoma (?) will all converge on the Santa Monica Pier during Thursday night’s free Twilight Dance Series concert.

Italian Cantatessa Carmen Consoli -- the most successful female singer-songwriter Italy has ever produced – will perform her unflinching emotional songs that examine the broad themes of love, illness, solitude and friendship from a feminine -- and feminist -- perspective.

Born in Sicily, Consoli, who is making her California debut, mixes Italian song with indie-rock influences, bossa nova rhythms and jazz and blues-inspired riffs to create a unique sound.

Likened to Ani DiFranco and Alanis Morissette, Consoli has sold millions of albums and been a multiple honoree at the MTV Italy Music Awards. She also won an award at the Taormina Film Festival for the soundtrack of the international hit film "L'Ultimo Bacio" (The Last Kiss).

In 2005 Consoli was chosen to represent Italy at the Africa Unite concert in Ethiopia celebrating the 60th anniversary of Bob Marley's birth.

Also taking the pier stage Thursday will be Juana Molina, an Argentinian Avant-Garde Singer whose quirky, atmospheric songs recall Bjork, Beth Orton, Lisa Germano and KT Tunstall.

Molina’s songs -- sung in her native Rioplatense Spanish and accompanied by acoustic guitar, among other instruments -- feature elements of ambient and electronica.

Molina has released four albums: Rara (1996), Segundo (2003), Tres Cosas (2004) and
Son (2006). Her second album was named "Best World Music Album" by Entertainment
Weekly and "Tres Cosas" made the New York Times Top Ten Records of 2004.

Kicking off the night of free music will be Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers. A Native American from Oklahoma, Crain’s music has been compared to equal parts Radiohead and Bob Dylan, balancing darkness and light, life and death.