Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 11/21-12/4

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


There will be loads of music supporting this year’s Holiday Street Fair and Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, December 1, both from the promoters and several venues downtown. The Museum of Ventura County will host The Bomb with Victor Vega, but you’ll find music on several stages throughout downtown featuring Dax, Adelaide, DJ’s and more. Once you’ve had fun dancing at the corner of Main and California under “snowfall,” be sure to stick around and venture back to the venues for more music. Oak and Main will have Brother Earl and the Cousins, Grapes and Hops have Mikey and the Kryptonites, it’s The Tossers at Winchesters, Frank Barajas and the Corsican Brothers at Vintura at the Wine Rack, and a huge fundraiser at Iron and Resin where they’ll be raising money for Help California with several bands including Noble Grizwald, The Junglecats, Bad Leaf, Alonzo Delano and more.

Hi Hat Entertainment’s final blowout show will be held on Friday, November 23, at the Hong Kong Inn with Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, as well as Hot Roux with two-time Grammy winner, Albert Lee. Please don’t miss the opportunity to thank Jan and Jerry McWorter for bringing so many great blues artists to Ventura over the past ten years

And speaking of offering great artists, this time jazz, we are definitely feeling the void Squashed Grapes has left while they work on getting their new venue ready, and well, they could use a little help to get to the finish line. A benefit has been put together to help raise funds while giving us some jazz relief at the same time. The special concert will be held at the Hong Kong Inn on Sunday, November 25, with Rachel Flowers, Bevan Manson Quartet, mPhaka with Karl Hunter, Native Vibe, Coda and more.

Jodi Farrell’s Music Studio’s 24th Annual Holiday Concert will be held on Saturday, December 1, at Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church from 3-5 pm. Jodi has put together a special band for this year’s event including Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Manon Franklin and Ray Dean Mize.

Quick Notes: Friday, November 23, Guy Martin will be recording his show at Grapes and Hops as he hopes to get material for a new CD; classical guitarist, Yuri Liberzon, will perform at Namba on Saturday, November 24; The Gypsy Blues Band has moved their weekly Thursday night residency from the Hong Kong Inn to Oak and Main; Topa Mountain Winery’s annual Yuletide concert will be held Sunday, November 25 featuring Madrigali; Black Star, Bowie tribute band, play The Sewer on Friday, November 30; and finally, if you’re a Beatles fan, you won’t want to miss The Long and Winding Road Show at Ventura Center for Spiritual Living on Saturday, December 1.

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 11/7 – 11/20

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

I am sorry to report that Hi Hat Entertainment has decided to close their “figurative” doors once the Hong Kong Inn closes their literal doors at the end of November. As a supporter of the music scene, I do my best to report what’s good and what’s right about our music community, but I would be remiss if I didn’t give a hearty shout out and thanks to Jerry and Jan McWorter who have brought us amazing Blues shows to Ventura the past ten years. I was hoping they would continue after finding another home base, but after some soul searching they have decided to pull the plug. Meanwhile, the shows will continue for a few more Friday nights with Morry Sochat featuring Mondo Cortez on November 9, Shari Puorto Band on November 16, and a huge blow out farewell show on November 23 with Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps as well as Hot Roux featuring two-time Grammy award winner, Albert Lee.

Ones to Watch Productions have been busy bringing a number of shows to the area, the next one will feature Chris Pierce and The Brambles in an intimate setting at the Ojai Underground on Friday, November 9.

Just a word of warning about December 1 as there are several events planned on the same day. Let’s start with Totally Local VC’s One-Year Thomas Fire Remembrance concert at the Libbey Bowl with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; then there’s the 4 Kids 2 Kids’ 18th annual toy drive and concert at the Ventura Beach Club with Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers; and finally “the social event of the year” with the holiday street fair and Ventura Winter Wine Walk downtown Ventura. All three events promise to be a good time, so choose wisely!

Quick Notes: Joe Vandenberg, singer/songwriter, will be at Namba on Friday, November 9; The Ventura Theater has Andy Grammer on Friday, November 9, The Selector on Saturday, November 10 and SuicideGirls on Saturday, November 17; The Freedom Ledges with their unique brand of dirty Blues and Rock & Roll will be at Oak and Main on Saturday, November 10; Noble Grizwald return to Saloon BBQ on Saturday, November 10; Allvaret from Sweden play The Garage on Saturday, November 17; Yachtley Crew cruise into Discovery on Saturday, November 17; and Broadway star, Lesli Margherita, plays the Rubicon Theater for two days in a brand new concert, “This Broad’s Way” on November 17 and 18th.

And finally, my condolences going out to family, friends and musicians who are grieving the loss of George Hawkins, Jr. who passed away after a lengthy illness on October 26, 2018. He touched many a soul, was a musician’s musician and a good friend to so many.

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.