On Jan. 18, the 2014 Planet Music world music and dance series kicks off in North Austin.

Created by the History, Arts and Nature Division in the city of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Planet Music aims to highlight local musicians. Concerts will take place at least once per month at different venues throughout Austin.

The Asian American Resource Center hosts the first concert of the year with Naga Valli, an East Indian Soul musician from Mumbai. She has performed at local venues such as One World Theatre, Cactus Cafe, La Zona Rosa and Stubb's Bar-B-Q. Valli has also performed with local organizations such as the Austin Lyric Opera.

All concerts in the Planet Music series are free and open to the public. Each concert spotlights a particular music style, such as Eastern European, Texas folk, Mexican and Latino, Samba, African/African American, South Asian and swing.

Genevieve Kent, the city of Austin's History, Arts and Nature Division marketing coordinator, said the music series began in fall 2013 for holidays such as Dia De Los Muertos and New Year's Eve. Kent said the idea for the concert series came from division Manager Laura Esparza, who also helped create the Music in the Park Series concerts.

"I think she wanted a way to focus more on cultural arts and celebrate Austin's diversity and involve the local communities in activities that are educational and fun," Kent said.

For more information about the concert series, visit www.austintexas.gov/planetmusic.

The Valli concert is from 7:30–9 p.m. at the AARC, 8401 Cameron Road. Free parking is available at the AARC with additional parking at the Rutherford Lane Campus, 1520 Rutherford Lane. To find out more about the concert, visit www.austintexas.gov/aarc or call 512-974-1700.