Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester once again will be home to free outdoor concerts starting next Thursday.

Morgan Huke of Cape Ann Concerts said that, for eight Thursday evenings, as the sun sets over Gloucester, music lovers can enjoy a variety of bands and solo performers while overlooking the historic Inner Harbor from the hillside of Fitz Henry Lane Park.

"With beach chairs, picnic baskets and blankets, families and friends are offered an inviting friendly environment," he said. "The afternoon Farmers Market just before the shows are an additional attraction."

Since 1973, The Harbor Loop concert series has provided free popular entertainment for the residents and visitors of Cape Ann.

The opening act on Thursday features Jenny Dee & The Deelinquints, a rising group from Boston. The band, which recently released a new CD, features vocalists Jen D'Angora, Rebecca D'Angora, Aimee Weakley and local producer, vocalist, guitarist Tony Goddess, guitarist and percussionist Eric Saulnier, keyboardist Phil Aiken, bassist Ed Valauskas and drummer Eric Anderson. They will be joined by local group The Goddesses, featuring Tony and Samantha Goddess.

The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

July 16: Norway native Inge Berge returns with his group and new music. He will be joined by locally formed urban poets and singers Da One 8, led by poet and singer Dmus.

July 23: Michael "Chipper" Chipperini returns to the Harbor Loop stage with the new incarnation of the Hoodoo Revelator. The group's first CD, "Do Me Right," made the playlists for blues on WZLX and WBOS radio stations. The group features Moe Moriarty on guitar, Jeff Fabrizio on bass, Chipperini on vocals and harmonica, Bob Palumbo on drums and Kevin Haney on lead vocals.

July 30: Local classic rockers and Harbor Loop staple Garfish, led by Gar Hiltz.

Aug. 6: Elegant Trash, led by Theresa Gray, will be joined by newly formed blues rockers Slingdaddy, led by guitarist Frank Hawks and singer Justin Tocco with John Donlon and Rick Geraghty.

Aug. 13: The group Groove, formerly known as Groove Therapy, led by Mark Pelosi, with new music recently produced by Bradley Royds in his Cape Ann studio. Royds opens the evening performing along with friends.

Aug. 20: The Walker Creek band brings their music back to Harbor Loop after a year's absence.

Aug. 27: Phat Maxx performs. The band features the music of Thad Bernard on vocals and bass, Peter Wostrel on guitar and vocals, and drummer Eric Brown, who will be joined by the newly created Megan Mackenzie Band with guitar duties handled by Frank Hawks.

The shows take place usually from 6 to 9 p.m., beginning as the weekly farmers' market closes.

For more information, visit www.capeannconcerts.com or www.capeannchamber.com. The concerts are presented by the City of Gloucester and Cape Ann Concerts.

The Cape Ann Farmers Market opens its new season on Harbor Loop from 3:30 to 6:30 today.

Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com