Thayrone X of Ypsilanti performs with the Witch Doctors during the June 19 Eat to the Beat lunchtime concert series at the City Centre Plaza in Southfield.

SOUTHFIELD — Dining with coworkers has gotten a bit more interesting since Southfield created its Eat to the Beat lunchtime summer concert series at the City Centre Plaza a few years ago.

From noon to 2 p.m. every Thursday throughout the summer, those in the area can swing by the plaza for food and entertainment, an event put on by the Southfield Parks and Recreation Department and the City Centre Advisory Board.

“It gives the office people a chance to get out of their cubicles and come on down and get some food and get in the sun and just hang out,” said David Duchene, cultural arts programmer for the city of Southfield.

The City Centre Plaza was designed to be a gathering place, and as such, the event draws quite a crowd.

“It was built as a pedestrian-friendly area,” Duchene said. “There are tables and chairs set up. And there are lots of benches and walls for more seating.”

Other events in the city typically attract the residential community, while the lunchtime concert series is geared toward businesses.

“The businesses in Southfield keep Southfield going and make Southfield what it is,” Duchene said. “I think we’d really be doing a disservice to those people not recognizing them. They all make a mighty contribution. Without them, we wouldn’t exist.”

Which is exactly why the City Centre Advisory Board supported the lunchtime concert series since its inception, according to Nik Banda, director of the city’s Planning and Development Department.

“It gives the workers in the area a chance to get out, socialize and relax,” Banda said. “It gives the building owners something else to offer as a tenant enhancement. I think people just like music and eating outdoors.”

And one can’t possibly beat the price. The event is free to the public. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own lunches or purchase food items from the vendors that are on hand.

“We’ve lined up some new acts, as well as some old stand-bys,” said Southfield Parks and Recreation Director Bill Waterhouse. “It’s a great schedule. We’ve got big bands, soul and rock acts. We want to give people a variety of entertainment.”

The lunchtime concert series kicked off June 19 with The Witch Doctors and continued June 26 with the Orbitsuns. On July 3, Robert Penn will perform the blues; on July 10, the Dave Hamilton Band will bring rock, ballads and psychedelic soul to the stage; on July 17, the Motor City Women will sing R&B and blues; on July 24, the virtuoso jazz ensemble Straight Ahead will entertain the masses; and on July 31, Motor City Josh & The Big 3 bring blues and boogie guitar slinger to the City Centre district.

The Brothers Groove will perform Aug. 7, followed by Planet “D” Nonet Aug. 14, the Skye Island Band Aug. 21 and Carl Cafagna & North Star Jazz Aug. 28. The Sun Messengers will take to the stage Sept. 4, and Larry Lee & Back in the Day will round out the summer concert series Sept. 11.

Broadening horizons is an important aspect of events like these, according to Waterhouse.

“We want to keep some cultural events going on in the city,” Waterhouse said. “We think it’s important to be able to diversify the activities that we have.”

The City Centre Plaza is located on Central Park Boulevard, one block west of Evergreen, between Civic Center Drive and the I-696 service drive.

For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at (248) 796-4620.

You can reach Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1108.