Ventura Music Scene
Rocking Ventura – Jazz to Bluegrass
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
At his latest appearance at Squashed Grapes, Doug Webb told me about a couple of shows he’ll be performing with that he’s real excited about including Friday, April 3, when Norwegian artist, Haakon Graff makes his debut appearance at “The Grape”. But the show that really piqued my interest is the April 18th gig with Hendrik Meurkens. Webb explained that Meurkens is a jazz harmonica virtuoso. Astonished I asked, “Jazz harmonica?” To which Webb just smiled like a Cheshire Cat. Who knew!
The non-profit Ventura County Concert Band will hold one of their free, highly popular concerts Sunday, April 12, at the Ventura High School Auditorium. The theme is “Young at Heart,” featuring beautiful pieces selected to delight music lovers of all ages. The concert starts at 3 and is free for the entire family.
The Global Guitar Greats tour made a stop in Ventura to play to a packed house at the Earl Stanley Gardner Building during Ventura Music Week last year. The trio had so much fun and were so well received they decided to go into the studio this past year; the fruits of their labor will be offered up during their CD release party on Saturday, April 11, again at the corner of Main and California with Thomas Leeb, Stephen Inglis and Shawn Jones performing.
The Sandbox Coffeehouse is once again offering live music at noon on Saturday and Sunday with mostly singer/songwriters. On the bill this month so far: Licity Collins, Hudson Henry, Kyle Parrott and Skeleton Mattress, but they’ll kick it up a notch or two for the likes of the Hard Times Band. Oh! And don’t forget they hold an open mic on Thursday as well.
I don’t know when it happened, but Food Trucks have become cool and you can find a whole gaggle of them at the Poinsettia Pavilion during the monthly Foothill Food Truck Fest on Tuesday, April 7, with the Old-Time Country Bluegrass Music Assoc. performing 6 – 8:30 pm; and then every third Friday 5-9 pm, it’s Food Truck Friday at the Pacific View Mall, this month Mark Masson and Friends will be entertaining the crowd. I’ll admit, food truck fare does taste better while tapping one’s foot to cool tunes.
EcoFest is later this month on the 25th down along the promenade featuring live music from Spencer the Gardener, Dan Grimm, Afishnsea the Moon and Soul Tree. This is the type of event you want to be green and ride your bike to and if you do, there will be a free bike valet.
And finally, if you missed Geezer at the Garage, then go ahead and kick yourself. These guys were not only talented playing the music of Weezer and the Beastie Boys, but they were hilarious and put on quite the show.
If you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com.