Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 3/28 – 4/10

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

I’m so happy it’s finally Spring because with it comes longer and warmer days and just in time for Discovery’s Backyard Bash on Saturday, April 7. The all-day concert kicks off at 12:30 pm with loads of Reggae bands on the bill including Matisyahu, Hirie, Leilani Wolfgramm, Diego’s Umbrella, Rising Son and others with an afterparty that evening featuring Dirty Rice and The Main Squeeze. The following day, Discovery is hosting what they call Triboo Festival with nothing but tribute bands on the bill: Queen Nation, What One’s Pink, Led Zepplica, Pettybreakers, Hollywood Stones, High Voltage, Sgt. Pepper and Santeria.

The Skull & Roses Festival returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds for three days over the weekend of April 6 through April 8 with about twenty performances (and I’m understanding they won’t be overlapping this year). Some of the bands scheduled to perform are Cubensis, Jerry’s Middle Finger, Golden Gate Wingmen, 9 Mile Skid and Circles Around the Sun.

Champagne on Main falls on Saturday, March 31 which begins with the Spring Street Fair throughout downtown starting at 11 am and then the bubbly event starts flowing from 3 to 6 pm at participating venues throughout downtown culminating with a dance party at the intersection of California and Main.

Iron and Resin on Main Street are looking to raise funds for Help California on Saturday, March 31 with an event called Ironstock. In the house will be The Shorelines, Channel, Noble Grizwald, Brother Earl, the Inside Break, Danielle Stacy, Moonily and Western Waters. This one kicks off at noon in their backyard. There is no cover and it falls on the same day as Champagne on Main.

Quick notes: With the warmer weather, Margarita Villa in the Harbor is back to offering more music over the weekend; Ozomatli (and an earlier performance of OzoKidz!) returns to Discovery on Saturday, March 31; B and the Hive have a stop on their current tour at The Garage on Friday, March 30 (they’ve previously opened for Elvis Costello, Chris Isaak, The Goo Goo Dolls…) the opening band His Eyes Have Fangs includes skateboard legend, Tony Alva; Emilio Barkett will be holding his CD release party at Squashed Grapes on Friday, March 30. Stephanie Franco has teamed with up JT Medlen and they’re calling themselves “Two’s Company” with their first gig at Winchesters on Friday, April 6.

And finally, it’s with a heavy heart that I pass along the news that our music community has lost another valued member. The tributes to Ryan Thomas on social media have been truly moving, he touched so many lives; he was one of those consummate musicians who jammed and played on so many different projects and with so much enthusiasm. It’s truly a loss to our music community; he was way too young.

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 3/14 – 3/27

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

You won’t want to miss the return of the Preachers Blues Band when they reunite for Thomas Fire relief show at the Hong Kong Inn on Saturday, March 17. It’s been almost five years and it may not happen again for who knows how long! I’m hearing many musicians who have sat in with the band in the past are on board to perform too including Rick Reeves, Guy Martin, Ashford Gordon, Ray Jaurique, Preston Smith, Kelly Zirbes, Perry Robertson, Glade Rassmussen, John Fincham, Jerry Breiner, Ian McFadyen, Jodi Farrell and more!

A popular event every year as a precursor to the Ventura Music Festival is the Student Jazz competition. Judges will award cash prizes to three of Southern California’s best high school jazz musicians and they’ll be invited to perform during the Festival’s run. The competition this year will be held at Squashed Grapes on Sunday, March 18, at 2 pm. While this one is free, donations for the Young Artists Fund will be gratefully appreciated.

Beware the bagpipers throughout the day at different venues on Saturday, March 17, but as St. Patrick’s Day actually falls on a Saturday, there will also be plenty of music during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Main Street downtown Ventura. Get the entire family there early so you can get a good seat to cheer on the participating entrees. It’s always a hoot!

Quick notes: Opera Santa Barbara is offering a free performance on Friday, March 16 during the lunch hour at EP Foster Library; Donavon Frankenreiter plays Discovery on Friday, March 16; The Galactic Polecats play Sans Souci on Saturday, March 17;
Cranberry Sauce debuts at Grapes and Hops on Sunday, March 18, offering music by The Beatles; The Majestic Ventura Theater has Flogging Molly on Monday, March 19, and Ministry on Friday, March 23; The Phantom Pomps CD release party at the Hong Kong Inn is on Saturday, March 24; Tickets for Frost and Fire IV have gone on sale for three nights at the Ventura Theater October 4, 5 and 6th with Cirith Ungol, Gygax, Night Demon, Screamer and more on the bill; the Ventura County Concert band holds one of their annual free shows at the Ventura High School Auditorium on Sunday afternoon, March 18, at 3 pm, this one is called “Simply…the Masters”; and ARC of Ventura is holding their annual “Let’s Go Out” event at Bombay’s on Sunday, March 24, with Fish Fry, the Vonettes and Seth Pettersen and Friends.

And finally, VenturaRocks.com is celebrating their 9th anniversary serving the community. There are a number of changes coming soon including the listing of only live music along with the inclusion of venues from neighboring cities.

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.