Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze – 8/30 – 9/12

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

So exactly where did the summer go? Oh wait! There’s no need to panic, there’s still a lot of music and fun to be had. Let’s start with Bombay’s 33rd Annual Beach Party which runs Friday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Diego always pulls out all the stops with three stages of music including a mechanical bull, and outdoor bar and beer garden. Friday night rock out to the Vonettes, Deep Pockets, Operation 90’s and Mandex; Saturday features a return of Deep Pockets along with Brothers Fortune, Uproots, and Rey Fresco; then Sunday will have Channel, Goodnight Kiss and The Jelly. DJ Erok and DJ Cam will be in the house to help keep the party, plus I wouldn’t be surprised if Diego slipped in another band or two to boot.

The Ventura Nationals return to Ventura over the Labor Day weekend as well on Saturday, September 2, so if you’re wondering where all the cool hot rods and bikes came from, they came from all over to participate and to be seen. The event is held annually at the Ventura fairgrounds and this year’s music features Deadbolt, The Hubcap Stealers and Poor Man’s Change. There’s also an after party at Discovery that evening with music from Three Bad Jacks and Moonlight Trio.

Another party to help wrap up the summer is Discovery’s Backyard Bash on Sunday, September 3, featuring Reggae all day long from bands such as Herbal Rootz, Legalizer, Rital Movement, Dirty Rice, Tribal Theory, Hirie, Common Kings and more.

Music Under the Stars wraps up its summer concert series with their two final shows, Saturday, September 2 it’s Fantastic Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute show, then the grand finale features Lisa Haley & the Zedekates on Saturday, September 9. For ticket information on all remaining shows go to the City’s website (www.CityofVentura.ca.gov).

It’s early notice, but you won’t want to miss One’s to Watch Productions’ Topa Topa Folk Fest because this year the amazing Lucinda Williams headlines on Saturday, October 7. The event runs two days (Friday and Saturday) and also features great artists like Shooter Jennings, Lissie, Doug Pettibone, Bryan Titus, Tim Curran and many more. Get the lowdown on tickets at TopaTopaFolkFest.com.

Quick Notes: The final free concert at the Collection is Thursday, August 31 with Queen Nation, music starts at 7 pm; Hi Hat Entertainment brings back Teresa James to the Hong Kong Inn on Friday, September 1, and Joe Louis Walker on Friday, September 8; Check out Balkan Jazz at Squashed Grapes with Plotz! On Saturday, September 9; Goodnight Kiss just released a new EP called Abandon Ship; Bowlful of Blues returns to Libby Bowl September 16 you can get ticket information at BowfulOfBlues.org; and the Ventura Theater recently added Jimmy Eat World for Thursday, September 21.

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, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze – 8/16 – 8/29

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

I’d like to start off with sharing a couple of my favorite music highlights from the past few weeks. First there was Shinedown at the Ventura County Fair; Brent Smith’s vocals are just incredible! And then Squashed Grapes hosted Don Randi on Friday, August 11. Randi was one of the original members of the Wrecking Crew and opened The Baked Potato (famous jazz club in LA) in 1970. He not only played the keyboards like none other, but he shared so many anecdotes from the Wrecking Crew days. Stories about working with Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, Nancy Sinatra and Brian Wilson, but learning that he actually played on Pet Sounds, and tunes like “Good Vibrations” and “Cracklin’ Rosie” well, it was an amazing evening. Kudos to Squashed Grapes for their continuous support of jazz and bringing artists like this to our town. Yeah, I confess I dusted off my copy of Pet Sounds; it really holds up as one of the top LPs of all time.

Attention Deadheads! The Museum of Ventura County will host a special concert on Saturday, August 26 with the Grateful Dead tribute band Cubensis as they recreate the era’s unique and eclectic styles of rock, psychedelia and experimental music. Doors open at 4 p.m. The concert runs from 5-8 p.m. Admission is $15/members, $20/non-members. A no-host bar will be available.

Spencer Makenzie’s End of Summer Block Party will be held the final weekend of August with free music. On Friday, August 26, you can catch Rey Fresco, then on Saturday, August 27, it will be Highway Starr followed by Mandex. During the day, it’s their annual cornhole tournament called “The Throw Down” pulling in contestants from all over the U.S. competing for over $32,000 in cash payouts. There will be 192 teams competing so get out and cheer them on!

PRIDE Festival returns to Promenade Park this year on Saturday, August 19. All proceeds raised will go to sustain the Community Resource Center serving the LGBTQ community here in Ventura County. Entertainment will include Sean Wolf G & the Country Bear Jamboree, DJ Joseph with Music Box and Michelle Rosenblum. Lady Bunny will be on hand as Pride’s emcee.

Music Under the Stars continues with its summer concert series. Coming up Saturday, August 19, it’s a tribute to Oingo Boingo with the band Dead Man’s Party; and then Saturday, August 26, it’s a night of Motown sound with the Blues Breeze Band which has already sold out. For ticket information on all remaining shows go to the City’s website (www.CityofVentura.ca.gov).

Quick Notes: Goodnight Kiss EP release party will be held at Bombay’s Saturday, August 19; Fallen Saints will be opening for Great White at the Canyon Club on Friday, August 25; Agent Orange takes over Discovery on Sunday, August 27;

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, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Photos – August 2017

Beach House Tacos – August 27, 2017
Anchor & Bear (Photo credit: KC Staples)


Historic Olivas Adobe – Music Under the Stars – August 26, 2017
The Blues Breeze Band

Squashed Grapes – August 19, 2017
Paul Weitz Trio with Donna Deussen


Amigos – August 11, 2017
Los Dudes


Squashed Grapes – August 11, 2017
Don Randi (The Wrecking Crew)


Ventura County Fair – August 9, 2017
Shinedown