Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

I’m a big fan of shaking it up and seeing new things tried out in our little town, and case in point, you can spend your lunchtime at the EP Foster Library in the Topping Room on Friday, January 31, while listening to Opera Santa Barbara, and it’s absolutely free!

Oak and Main’s social media post invites you to celebrate One Love in honor of Bob Marley’s birthday on Thursday, February 6, when they will host a Bob Marley Day with Kaya Now (Marley tribute band) and LayLow.

I spoke with Josh McNutt of Squashed Grapes to get an update on the new jazz club to be simply named, The Grape, and he told me while they have had several setbacks, they continue to overcome all the barriers they’ve come across and hope to be open early Summer. Meanwhile you can catch some great jazz at the Winery Ventura several nights a week located at 4746 Market Street.

Quick Notes: now that Monday Night Football is over for the season, Boatyard Pub welcomes back Milo Sledge with his Monday night residency; it’s good to see Jade Hendrix playing more shows, she’ll be at Topa Topa Brewing on Thompson, Wednesday, January 29; the band, Nein Lives, will debut during open mic night on Thursday, January 30 at Keynote Lounge; find out what the Namba performing arts space is all about during their open house on Thursday, January 30 (4 pm); there should be a packed house for the return of Porcelain Hill at the Sewer on Friday, January 31; you won’t want to miss Jen Staves & the Bluzfish at the Winery Ventura on Friday, January 31 (they’re also celebrating Nee Sackey’s birthday); the Vinyl Gypsies play classic rock on Saturday afternoon at Cantina 31 starting at 2 pm on Saturday, February 1; proving rock is not dead, Ninefinger returns to town with a gig at Red Cove on Saturday, February 1; Concrete Jungle Brewing has a hardcore show on Monday, February 3, kicking off at 5:30 with Born from Pain, Slowbleed and several other bands; in support of their newest release, Widow’s Weeds, the Silversun Pickups play the Ventura Theater on Tuesday, February 4; the Mentors with Social Conflict play the Garage, on Friday, February 7; Caught Red Handed plays Cantara Cellars on Saturday, February 8; and Anchor & Bear duo play Peirano’s on Saturday, February 8.

Don’t forget to check out my little local radio show which actually has the potential for a worldwide audience as it’s not only in Ventura at 104.1 FM, but on the internet at CapsMedia.org/radio. The Pam Baumgardner Music Hour airs Tuesdays at 5 with rebroadcasts on Friday at 5 and Sundays at noon and features mostly local music out of the 805. Do you have music you’d like to submit? Drop me an email.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Congratulations to Made West Brewing as they celebrate their four-year anniversary this month, and you know there is no better way to pack the house (other than with their excellent suds) than with live music. On Saturday, January 25, from 11 am to 9 pm they’ll have Sam Kulchin, Brother Earl, Lauren Hall, Peter Blackwelder and Ben Schneid (formerly of Foxtraxx); then on Sunday, January 26, 1 pm to 7 pm, it’s Fire Mist, Milo Sledge Trio and Jade Hendrix.

The Winery Ventura is bringing Blues promoter out of LA, Cadillac Zack, with their first show on Friday, January 17, featuring blues guitar legend, Chris Cain.

50 Sticks of Dynamite is back with new music and a gig at Bombay’s; be sure to get in early to catch their sets from 6-9 pm on Saturday, January 18.

Namba welcomes new executive director, Lorenzo Destefano; Lorenzo is the founder of the Ventura Film Society. There will be an open house meet and greet on Thursday, January 30 from 4-7 pm when you can learn more about Lorenzo’s vision for Namba. Meanwhile this month there are a couple of interesting shows to check out including Dirty Cello out of San Francisco with their blues/bluegrass unique blend of American music on Saturday, January 18; a Celebration of Joni Mitchell featuring Kimberly Ford falls on the following Saturday, January 25. Oh! And what sounds like lots of fun will be a “Grease! Sing-along” on Friday, January 24.

Quick Notes: Golden China’s open mic has moved to the Hong Kong Inn on Tuesdays 6-10 pm (drums and backline provided); Discovery has the English Beat Friday, January 17, and Ozomatli on Saturday, January 18; Leashless Brewing hosts a Singer/Songwriter showcase on Sunday, January 19; there will be a memorial fundraiser for Kanyon Morales on Sunday, January 19, at Oak and Main with the Question, Rising Son, After the Smoke, True Zion, the Ghetto Lions and more; Paradise Pantry’s debut Cabaret Series with Chris Pierce on Sunday, January 19, has sold out; Isla Vista Jazz Trio plays Grapes and Hops on Friday, January 24;
Club Fall takes over the Ventura Beach Club with dark electronic music on Friday, January 24;
get your punk rock fill with Agent Orange at Discovery on Saturday, January 25; and there will be live music at the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club on Sunday afternoon, January 26, with Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps.

Two final notes of interest: first, Motown Live at the Rubicon was simply fabulous, now I’m looking forward to the Platters performing this June! And just so you know, there is not a bad seat in the house. And finally, a big congratulations to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on their 3000th show this month! They continue to make Ventura proud!!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Happy New Year my friend! We are back to business as usual and as always already looking forward to a year filled with music which science has proven increases happiness and reduces stress as well as depression.  Now the type of music that soothes the average soul is totally subjective. As for me? I love punk to jazz and “most” points in between.

That being said, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for musicals from Broadway plays to small-town theater.  Here in Ventura we are so lucky to have the Rubicon which always offers stellar productions. This month and for three days only, the Rubicon will play host for a special event, “Forever Motown” with favorite hit songs from Motown Legends. The production not only features nine singers and a five-piece band, but includes special guests Glenn Leonard from the Temptations and G.C. Cameron, original lead singer of the Spinners. While the production is in town for only three days, there will be two shows on Friday, January 10 (2 and 8 pm), three shows on Saturday, January 11 (2, 5:30 and 8 pm), and two final shows on Sunday, January 12 (2 and 7 pm). Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.

Discovery Ventura has a number of shows lined up later in the month including Dave Wakeling and the English Beat on Friday, January 17, Ozomatli’s 25^th year celebration on Saturday, January 18 (Ozomatli presents Ozokids earlier that afternoon), Agent Orange on Saturday, January 25 and the Spazmatics on Friday, January 31. It’s always more affordable to get your tickets in advance at DiscoveryVentura.com.

Surf Rodeo tickets are already on sale with big news that they’ve expanded to three days!  Dates run July 17, 18 and 19 with prices going up as you get nearer the event.  Find out more at SurfRodeo.org.

Quick Notes: the 12^th Night Masquerade Ball at 1901 Speakeasy with Teresa Russell, Stephen Geyer and Mama Pat Russell on Saturday, January 4; brand new at the Saloon, it’s DJ Cid Hernandez and the Disco Soul Club every Friday at 9 pm; Pennywise and the Adolescents play the Ventura Theater on Saturday, January 11 and the Winery of Ventura plays host for a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research benefit on Saturday, January 11, featuring Joe La Barbera and Coda.

Along with reading my music scene article here in the Ventura Breeze, I’d like to invite you to check out a few of my other projects I either produce myself or give a platform to such as the VenturaRockSpot which highlights a band or artist every month, you can find that on my main outlet for supporting our music scene which is VenturaRocks.com and you can listen in for original music from artists out of the 805 on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ out of CAPS Media at 104.1 FM.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com.  For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

It’s the final weeks of the year with a handful of holiday shows and a whole lot of New Year’s Eve parties, so let’s get right to it.

On Thursday, December 19, Buena High School hosts their 7th annual Not-So-Silent-Night benefit concert in the Library Media Center. The following day, Friday, December 20, the Ventura Theater presents their 8th annual Holiday Sing-along featuring Disney hits and holidays tunes with the price of admission a new unwrapped child’s toy or pet supplies.

Topa Mountain Winery has three events lined up starting on Friday evening at 7 pm with an Ojai holiday concert featuring Smitty & Julia and Friends; then they’re back to their regularly scheduled afternoon live music 3-5 on Saturday with Patricia Avis Family Christmas and Sunday featuring the Hopeful Quartet Holiday Jazz ensemble.

Along with the final weeks of the musical “Forever Plaid” Plaid Tidings” at the Rubicon, there will be a Tiny Tots Holiday Concert featuring the Broadway Juniors on Saturday, December 21, at 10 am.

While we’re still on the subject of Christmas and music, I’d like to give one final plug for “the Local Love Project Holiday Album, The Spirit of Giving” which features over a dozen artists out of the 805 including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Charles Law and Jagged, Towse, Boom Duo and more. The proceeds from the sales stay in the community going to the Local Love Project which helps those who have been affected by a disaster here in the 805. It’s available at CD Baby, Amazon, and locally at most every record store in town. It is the perfect stocking stuffer!

Now on to New Year’s Eve parties starting with live music: FIDO plays until 9 pm with an east coast style NYE party at Leashless Brewing; the Brandon Ragan Project will keep you dancing at the Copa Cubana in the Ventura Harbor; it’s 80’s Invasion at the Crown Plaza at the top of the harbor overlooking the ocean and our fair city; the Shores in Oxnard has Teresa Russell & Friends; Grapes and Hops has the Diane Miller Band; the Self Righteous Brothers play Café Fiore; it’s an all-white party (meaning wear white) at Cantina 31 with Instone; Blues Bullet will keep it lively at Winchesters; it’s classic rock with Arockalypse Now at the Star Lounge; Yachtley Crew with their yacht rock will keep it festive at Discovery while Mandex will keep you rockin’ at Oak and Main downtown.

Venues with DJs and full party plans include Bombay’s, Paddy’s, El Rey Cantina, the Tavern, the Garage, the Keynote Lounge and Sans Souci. There will be cover charges most everywhere and some will sell out, so I highly recommend calling and making reservations now, and don’t forget to arrange for a safe ride home!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

There is plenty going on in Ventura to get you into the spirit of the holidays starting with the social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, December 7 downtown Ventura with a man-made snowfall and live music from the Adelaide Band, Upstream and Bruno and the Hooligans. If it’s not already sold out, get your tickets at www.VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

There will be a “Winter Wonder Rock Variety Show” at the Garage on Friday, December 6, with Slanted Land, the Volt per Octaves and Hard Six, then the following night a “Hawaiian Holiday” party with How to Live with Robots, Pink Droid and Identity Crisis.

Namba will be hosting, “Doc the Halls” on Saturday, December 7, with the 805 Gospel Allstars, Doc Ventura, Marley Rae Lovelace, Tamara Sue, the Ghetto Lions and special guest RJ Mischo; tickets are $15 the day of the event.

Jodi Farrell’s music studio student 25th Annual Holiday Concert will be held at the Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church on Saturday, December 7. The guest band will feature Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Ray Dean Mize and Manon Franklin.

The 19th Annual 4 Kids 2 Kids Toy Drive concert will be held at the Ventura Beach Club this year on Sunday, December 8 from 1 – 8 pm featuring Crooked Eye Tommy, Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers, Jim Guston & Truth Jones, Johnny & the Love Handles and more. There’s a $25 cover and they’re also asking for a new unwrapped toy.

There will be an afternoon a holiday popup market at Topa Mountain Winery for their “Shop, Sip & Be Merry” event. Providing the music will be the Brambles, and the Dales on Saturday, December 14 from 1-6 pm.

Quick Notes: enjoy Brazilian Jazz with Teka & New Bossa featuring Kevin Winard, Randy Tico and Doug Webb on Thursday, December 5, at the Winery Ventura; Oak and Main has Hed PE, Bazerk and United Rage on Friday, December 6; Chopperfest returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 8, and along with all the hot rides will be live music from the Zepp Heads, Jan Michael and the Vincents, Twisted Gypsy; featuring music out of the 60s Laurel Canyon scene will be California Dreams at Plan B Wine Cellars on Sunday afternoon, December 8; We were Giants (Idaho) and Next Door to Heaven (Russia) play The Garage on Thursday, December 12; there will be a special Listening Room Holiday Jam at Leashless on Sunday, December 15 at 3 pm; the Christmas musical, “Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” opens December 11 for a couple of weeks at the Rubicon Theater; the Ripkatz return to Sans Souci on Friday, December 13; and the Barrelhouse Wailers CD release party will be at the Winery Ventura on Friday, December 13.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

A very special project benefiting those affected by the Thomas Fire is the local Love project Holiday album featuring so many local artists and their holiday favorites. The brainchild behind Local Love Project of course is Kat Merrick who undertook this amazing endeavor earlier this year gathering the musicians, arranging studio times, producing the CDs, virtually everything it takes to pull off an enterprise of this scope. The end result is a holiday CD that will not only enhance your holidays, but will benefit fire survivors. You’re invited to attend the CD release party and 2nd Annual Thomas Fire Remembrance, all to benefit fire survivors on Friday, November 8, at the Masons Lodge (482 E. Santa Clara Street) with live performances from Guy Martin, RJ Mischo, Fish Fry and the Vonettes, the Bobby Hart Band, Raging Arb and more. If you can’t make the launch party, you can still support by purchasing a CD online at www.TotallyLocalVC.com.

The San Buenaventura Mission is the site for a special free concert of Missa Cellensis by Franz Josephy Haydn featuring the Ventura College choir, singers and chamber orchestra. This one is free to the public and starts at 7:30 pm.

Quick Notes: there’s a new jam night at the Blue Room in the Harbor called “The Get Down Jam” on Thursdays starting at 9:30 pm; Tommy Marsh’s the Session welcomes Keeshea Pratt on Thursday, November 7 at Grapes and Hops; Cantara Cellars in Camarillo is celebrating their one-year anniversary with Double Trouble and Ignition on Saturday, November 9 (2-10 pm); stop in for Jodi Farrell’s Performance Workshop on Saturday afternoon, November 9, at Namba; Radioactive Chicken Heads, the world’s most notorious band of genetically modified poultry punk rock mutants play Oak and Main on Saturday, November 9 and then The Dickies will play the venue the following Saturday, November 16; Noble Fabrication is hosting a 2019 Auto Show with art and live music from S.O.B.s, and Wired to benefit Food Share on Sunday, November 10 noon to 5 pm; the Ventura County Concert band play their annual free patriotic concert at Ventura High School’s auditorium Sunday afternoon, November 10 at 3 pm; Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts roll into town from Colorado with their outlaw country style for a date at The Red Cove on Thursday, November 14; Boom Duo’s CD release party will be held at Leashless Brewing on Friday, November 15; and the Channel Cities Jazz Club present The Barrelhouse Wailers on Sunday afternoon, November 17 at the Golden China.

And finally, congratulations to Kelly Z for celebrating 25 years performing (solo and as Kelly’s Lot). Her performance at the Mint was amazing, and I hear she plans to take the show on the road starting with Ventura very soon.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
With Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, I’m finding many venues are having their costume parties the weekend before with a few on Halloween; but there are several celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following, so almost two weeks of spooky fun at hand. Let’s start with HallowQueens, this one features bands with female lead singers on Saturday, October 26, at The Garage with The Guitar and Whiskey Club, Fallen Saints, Soup Hat and Sik Sik Sicks. Nasty Nights, the Halloween Edition, lands at the Hong Kong Inn with Idecline, Civil Conflict, Psychotic Barnyard, Bootleg Brigade, Guttural Riot (LA) and Plot (SB); and then the Alpine Camp Band hosts a Halloween Ball at Leashless on that Saturday as well. On Halloween, Copa Cubana has Sound Effect, there’s Discovery’s Emo Night performed by Class of 05, and there will be DJ’s hosting costume parties at Star Lounge, The Tavern, and Bombay’s.

Something new for downtown, many venues will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following Halloween. On Saturday afternoon, November 2 from noon to 6 pm, Chestnut will be shut down with lots of festivities for the entire family including strolling entertainment with Mariachi, Hermanos Hererra and Folkloricos. That evening, the Ventura Theater has Columbian group, La Sonora Dinamita (Cumbia music), and 50 Sticks of Dynamite will host Dia de los Muertos party at Grapes and Hops. Everyone is invited to dress to impress, I trust there will be loads of painted faces that day and night.

Quick Notes: Namba’s Spooktaculara Halloween Variety Show is Friday, October 25; Oak and Main has Trapt on Saturday, October 26 and Tantric on Sunday October 27, advance tickets available on their website and Facebook pages; there will be a special event at Topa Mountain Winery as they host Taste of Ojai on Sunday, October 27, featuring music from the Danny McGaw Band; you can enjoy live Reggae at Bombay’s 6-9 pm with Bomba Fiya and Lay Low on Saturday, October 26; Jonathan McEuen is the featured artist for a Music and Art for Youth fundraiser at Namba on Saturday, October 26; a second open mic dubbed “Acoustic Gathering” has landed at Golden China 6-9 pm on Thursdays; Danny D. continues to croon the room with Sinatra tunes Tuesdays at Prime and Casa Bella on Thursdays; Tammy offers Tango Tuesdays with dance lessons at Grapes and Hops; No Motiv celebrates the 25th anniversary of And the Sadness Prevails at Discovery on Friday, November 1 performing along with Out of Trust, Slowtrip and Omega Point; and finally, you’ll want to set aside Friday, November 8, for the Local Love project holiday CD release party at the Channel Islands Masonic Lodge (482 E Santa Clara in Ventura), I’ll have more on this special event next issue!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Back in the day as Program Director of KXBS the Bus here in Ventura in the 90s, one of our local bands that did pretty well for themselves was No Motiv. Well they are getting back together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their release And the Sadness Prevails. They’ll be playing a handful of shows including one at Discovery on Friday, November 1. Tickets are only $13 (in advance, $15 day of). Out of Trust, Slowtrip and Omega Point will also play.

Speaking of Discovery, along with giving local bands a stage to play and bringing amazing tribute and Reggae bands to town, they’ll have Good Riddance (supporting new album, Thoughts and Prayers) on Saturday, October 5 and English punk rock band, Subhumans on Monday, October 21.

You’ll want to hold a spot for these events coming up, so mark down on your calendar now so you don’t miss them, both fall over the same weekend too. First there’s CARLFest Blues & Roots Music Festival at Promenade Park on Saturday, October 12 with Kelly’s Lot, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jim Gustin & Truth Jones plus some special guests; and then there’s the Seaside Highland Games at the Fairgrounds over the entire weekend, October 12 and 13 with Sligo Rags, Cockswain, Seven Nations and Nerea playing on a number of stages.

Quick Notes: Limon y Sal hosts live bands on Saturday afternoons 1-4 pm; Dallas Hodge (worked with Canned Heat & Steve Marriott) returns to Grapes and Hops on Friday, September 27; The Garage hosts The Pretty Uglys, Amo Corps, Rising Elijah and Electric Children on Friday, September 27; Caught Red Handed plays Cantara Cellars on Saturday, September 28; Hip Hop, R&B artist Mo Stylez has a show at Knights of Columbus on Saturday, September 28; there will be a free Chamber concert with woodwind quintet at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 28; The Rubicon Theater’s run of “I Dig Rock and Roll” will come to an end on Sunday, September 29; The Dead Kennedys play with The Living End at the Ventura Theater on Friday, October 4; The Native Howl is on tour and will make a stop at Oak and Main on Saturday, October 5; The Colette Lovejoy Band plays Pier under the Stars on Saturday, October 5; and finally, Four Brix Winery is launching a SunDay FunDay the first Sunday of the month with Charlie Baker playing October 6.

Congratulations to Polly and Steve Hoganson for pulling off another wonderful Topa Mountain Music Fest at Libbey Bowl. I was so grateful to have been asked to emcee; it was truly a remarkable day with extraordinary talent all day long and for such a great cause. Net proceeds go to Stand Up to Cancer and the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.