By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Magic City Smooth Jazz and the Jazz in the Park program will return to the Helena Amphitheater on July 10, as the program enters its seventh year providing free jazz concerts at venues throughout the Birmingham area.

The free concert will be on Sunday, July 10 from 6-9 p.m. at the Helena Amphitheater highlighted by The Rubber Band Effect and Dirk K providing the entertainment.

Magic City Smooth Jazz is an IRS registered 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to enhancing cultural activities through various styles of jazz in the state of Alabama, according to the website.

Jazz in the Park began in 2008 and since its inception has hosted more than 75 free concerts to the public while presenting more than 275 emerging and established artists while impacting the lives of more than 20,000 adults and children.

Last summer, approximately 2,000 people made it out to the Helena Amphitheater to witness the RAW Jazz Trio and Willie Bradley perform and founder and executive director of Magic City Smooth Jazz Bernard Lockhart said the amphitheater was one of the best venues used in 2015.

“My tech crew said that this is one of the best parks to come to from a logistics standpoint,” Lockhart said after the show in 2015. “The power and everything is available, the hospitality from Mayor Hall and just his staff, it’s really a great venue and we love it. Everything that we need is available here to us and it’s just a great park and venue.”

Last year thousands of Helena couples and families brought lawn chairs and spent an evening listening to smooth jazz, and the atmosphere will be virtually the same in 2016.

Magic City Smooth Jazz is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to expose and engage audiences in underserved communities to various styles of jazz music.

For more information on Magic City Smooth and to view a full schedule for Jazz in the Park events, visit Magiccitysmoothjazz.com.