Ventura Music Scene 12/28/22 – 1/10/2023

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

Happy New Year!!! Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? May I suggest one you can add to your list? Why not make it a point to get out more often to support our local original artists this year? We have such an abundance of talent right here in the 805 spanning from Simi Valley all the up to Slo town (San Luis Obispo); and between Ventura and Santa Barbara it’s a rare week that goes by without a show featuring original music.

It’s a passion of mine to help get the word out on live music because it helps raise your spirits and it can put a smile on that mug of yours. Research as shown that listening to music releases dopamine which has a positive effect on your mood. It’s a tonic of sorts which can help relieve stress, and literally lift your spirits. And while I can’t say firsthand that it enhances intelligence (though it would be scary to see how dumb I’d be without it), research also suggests that it can increase your IQ along with lowering blood pressure and boosting your immune system.

And as you should know by now, my passion is all about original artists. Of course, I’m a fan of cover bands and artists, but I’m always thrilled when they’ll slip in an original tune they wrote. I know it can be disheartening to perform at a venue, play your heart out while the audience is busy talking or dancing or not paying attention at all. Most venues are designed for this, which is why I’m a fan of the smaller listening rooms such as Namba Arts or Ojai Underground; you’re there to listen to the performance.

One can forget what music does and the effects it can cause as we listen to it while driving, studying, working and relaxing. We can listen to it while soaking in a tub, or while eating dinner. It’s enmeshed in so much of our lives that we forget it takes talented individuals to create it for us. And now getting back to my original suggestion of supporting our local talent, let’s give back and show our love by attending their shows, buying their merch, leaving a large tip and paying to download their music. Trust me when I say, your validation and support encourages and makes them realize what a difference their contributions of original music makes on other’s lives.

And now onto New Year’s Eve celebrations featuring the best of cover bands to help bring in 2023. Most venues will have a party whether it be East Coast style (9 pm our time is when the proverbial ball drops on the East Coast), or they’ll go to at least midnight to bring in the official new year. Many request reservations and a lot will have cover charges for all the extras they’ll offer. There are a few parties being held at locations such as the Crowne Plaza, The Greek and the Moose Lodge where they’re not typical places you would go to listen to live music. I suggest you take a look at the listings.  Here’s a link to the VenturaRocks Calendar page.  Up top under search, type “NYE” to see all listings:

In closing, thanks for your continued support of the Ventura Breeze newspaper, and for reading all the way through this article so I can tell you just how much I love this community. We not only have the beach, the hillsides, downtown, the Harbor but interspersed all over, we have dozens of venues offering live music. While thinking of where I would like to retire someday, I realized after contemplating about it for a year, “Why would I ever leave?” Ventura Rocks!

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 Scene 12/14/22 – 12/27/22

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

Happy Holidays to you and yours! I love the lights, the warm jackets and colorful scarves, family and friend get togethers and especially the music that goes with it all. Don’t forget to make your plans now for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Most venues will have a special party, but some will include tickets and reservations, so do your due diligence. I’ll have more specifics next time around, but you’re welcome to go to VenturaRocks.com website, and on the calendar page, search “NYE Party” to see what’s lined up so far.

It seems Ugly Sweater Parties won’t be going away anytime soon. I’m seeing a number of them lined up leading up to Christmas. Strey Cellars has one on Friday, December 16 with Holger’s Heroes, Naughty Pine in Westlake has Lynnzee Fraye on Friday, December 23 and the Raven Tavern has the Doc Rogers band also on Friday, December 23.

Other holiday themed events include Michael Falcone Christmas songs at the Manhattan in Camarillo on Thursday, December 15, Tilford Jackson’s Christmas Sing-a-Long will be held at the Grape in Ventura on Thursday, December 22, Paulie Cerra, a Blues Christmas on Friday, December 23 at Cantera Cellars, Smitty & Julija will sing carols at Feros Ferio Winery in Ojai on Friday, December 23, and Bella Lucarelli performs a Christmas special at the Twist on Main on Christmas Eve afternoon.

Ventura High School Winter concert series runs Wednesday and Thursday, December 14 – 15 with their Wind Ensemble I, Concert Band and Jazz performing on Wednesday, and the following evening it’s their Orchestra I, String Orchestra II Honors and Full Orchestra. Across town the Bulldogs at Buena High will also have their Winter Concert which will be held on Thursday, December 14 with music from their music ensembles along with some soloist performances. Show your love to one or both of these schools by showing up and supporting our younger musicians here in town.

And speaking of supporting local high school music departments, Namba will host “Rock ‘n’ Roll High” on Sunday, December 18 with Burch Studio presenting a showcase for middle school and high school kids. Since 2004, Rock and Roll High has been southern California’s premier teen band program. Students have gone on to perform at Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel, and many successful bands in the music industry. The founder of Rock and Roll High, Aaron Burch opened Burch Studio in Ventura where he teaches the course today.

And the only live music event I’ve found, year to year on Christmas day, features Saint Pierre who had done this previously at Amigos, but now will be performing along with Rebekah Scogin at Vaquero y Mar from 4 – 7 pm.

Quick Notes: Shawn Jones performs the Deer Lodge on Friday, December 16; Looking West plays the Downtown Stage at California and Main Streets on Saturday, December 17; The House of Dance will be hopping on Sunday, December 18 with Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats performing; Ben Garcia plays Surfer’s Point Café on Sunday, December 18; there’s a special show at All Kinds in Zander Alley on Monday, December 19 with the Addalemon and Halibut Head out of Sacramento performing along with Greater View and the Derivatives; and finally Denny Seiwell, founding member of Wings, returns to Ventura for a date at the Grape on Wednesday, December 21.

And finally, my condolences go out to Namba Arts as they mourn the passing of their founder, Julia Frances Campbell Namba earlier this month, as well as to the many fans of Mark Searcy, aka Hip E. Mark.

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 Scene 11/30/22 – 12/13/22

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

With Thanksgiving under our collective belts, the holiday season is in full swing and there are several special events to help raise your spirits whilst enjoying live music.

The Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair is Saturday, December 3, downtown Ventura. The street fair with vendors and food trucks is open all day and free to the public (noon – 8 pm), but you need to purchase tickets if you want to participate in the wine walk (4-7 pm). The live entertainment is also free and family friendly with Victor Vega and the Bomb culminating the day at Main and California with a gorgeous snowfall; but trust me when I say, no matter how pretty or real it looks, don’t stick out your tongue to catch “snowflakes.”

Jodi Farrell’s 28th Annual Student Holiday Concert is always a treat. This year’s show will be held at Connect Church on Kimball Road in Ventura on Saturday, December 3 from 4-6 pm. The special guest band will feature Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Manon Franklin and Hekar Rivera. Though this is free, donations are appreciated.

The 22nd annual 4 Kids 2 Kids holiday fundraiser will be held at Cantara Cellars in Camarillo on Sunday, December 4 from 2 – 7 pm with the cost of admission only $5 plus a new unwrapped toy. Bands on tap: RJ Mischo w/ Debbie Davies, Ray Jaurique Big Band w/ Flattop Tom, Shawn Jones, Katie Skene, Hot Roux and Milo Sledge.

Poseidon Brewing Company will host their annual holiday pajama party on Friday, December 9 featuring live music from the Vanise Terry Band.

Cantara Cellars bring Britain’s Finest to the venue for “Christmas with the Beatles” on Saturday, December 10.

Doc the Halls Holiday Blues with Doc Ventura will be held at Namba on Saturday, December 10, at 7 pm. The $20 cover gets you Bombafiya, Preston Smith, RJ Mischo, Bill Flores, James Schulfer, Fito de la Parra and Doc Ventura.

The 9th Annual Holiday Sing a Long and Toy Drive at the Majestic Ventura Theater will be held on Sunday, December 11 at 7 pm. Admission is one new unwrapped toy per family. This year’s concert will feature favorite Disney and holiday songs.

And though not exactually holiday themed, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the 17th annual Chopperfest Art and Culture Show returns to Ventura at the Ventura Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 11 and will host a special motorcycle art exhibit, an all-brand antique and custom motorcycle show, custom bike builder displays and hundreds of motorcycle/culture vendors; plus, they’ll have live music from Awesome Blue and the Midnight Rider Band (Allman Brothers Revival). Find out more and get your tickets at Chopperfestival.com

Quick Notes: Tickets are on sale now for Dr. Know and Stalag 13 with original singer Ron Baird for January 7 at the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme through EventBrite; Angelo Moore’s Dr. Madd Vibe and the Missing Links play The Grape on Friday, December 2; Long Beach Dub Allstars play the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, December 3; WonderHouse on Knoll Drive in Ventura has a show featuring Shaky Feelin’ and the Katie Skene Band on Saturday, December 3, $20 at the door; Feros Ferio Winery in Ojai hosts live music with Two Tossers on Saturday, December 3; it’s an evening of Brazilian Bossa Nova, Samba and Jazz with Teka & Friends when they play the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Upper Ojai on Sunday, December 4, on the following Sunday, December 11, the special jury prize winner of 13th International Tchaikovsky competition, Evgeny Tonkha, will perform; All Kinds continues to offer live music for the younger generation in Zander Alley at 433 E. Main Street downtown Ventura. It’s a sober space for all ages with live music on Sunday, December 4 with Sound that Ends Creation, Cel Damage, Two Brothers, Black Moon Lilith, Crave and Stood Up with a $10 cover; and Phil Salazar and Tom Corbett team up for a show at the Ojai Underground on Saturday, December 10.

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