The City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation Department and Redmond Arts Commission 2012 Arts in the Parks series will begin July 19 at noon on the lawn at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th St.

This year’s schedule features a blend of world music including blues, reggae, salsa and artists from the Caribbean, India and Eastern Europe.

All concerts will be held on Thursdays at noon and are free to the public.

Here is the 2012 Arts in the Parks schedule:

• July 19 – Talavya: This globe-trotting tabla percussion group from India shares their contemporary spin on classical Indian music.
• July 26 – Mark DuFresne: Bluesy, full-throated vocals and harmonica that sounds like the smoky echoes of a Kansas City juke joint.
• August 2 – Clinton Fearon & the Boogie Brown Band: Boogie with this reggae master and his full band with horns. Fearon was a key member of legendary reggae group The Gladiators.
• August 9 – Sambatuque: Sway to the music and dance of Brazil and the Caribbean. This high-energy band features a samba dancer and is as much fun to watch as they are to hear.
• August 16 – Carlos Cascante y su Tumbao: Hot salsa dance music from the Grammy award-winning singer and his acclaimed Latin band. Bring a friend because the show starts with a free dance lesson.
• August 23 – Kafana Republik: The kafana (café) is a special place in the Balkans where people gather to share song, stories, food, drink and passion. Hear this spirited band play the music of Macedonia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia.

For more information visit Redmond.gov/ARTS or call (425) 556-2300