Ozomatli celebrates 30 years of music, activism and culture
Ventura Music Hall
Friday, June 27, 2025
Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The hot place to be the last weekend of June is at Surfers Point Live at the Ventura Fairgrounds where two full-day concerts will be held. First on Saturday, June 28, it’s a full day of reggae with Ziggy Marley headlining; supporting acts include Matisyahu, Lupe Fiasco, Rey Fresco and OnePeople, Then the following day on Sunday, June 29, it’s Boots & Brews Country Music Festival with Kane Brown headlining; supporting acts include Jackson Dean, Mackenzie Carpenter and Jayden Secor. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to SurfersPointLive.com. By the way, Surfers Point Live’s next event is Tequila & Taco Music Festival, July 19-20 with headliner, Lil Kim.
Staying with the fairgrounds, this summer’s Grandstand entertainment has mostly been announced though Sunday, August 3, remains “Announcement coming soon.” There’s a little something for everyone from a beach block party style concert to kick off the series on Wednesday, July 30, with Tone Loc, Ying Yang Twins, Fat Joe, and Pepa of Salt-n-Pepa. Then it’s Diplo on Thursday, July 31, Dirty Heads on Friday, August 1, Lee Brice on Saturday, August 2, Flo Rida on Monday, August 4, Dylan Scott on Tuesday, August 5 and wrapping up the series, it’s Scotty McCreery on Wednesday, August 6. This is the second year where the grandstand music remains free, but if you want to be closer to the action, you need to purchase VIP tickets which range from $40-$70 on top of your fair entrance fee. You can get more info at VenturaCountyFair.org.
Ozomatli is celebrating 30 years of music, activism and culture at the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, June 27. If you’ve never seen the band live, do yourself a favor and get a ticket as I’m sure you’ll love their blend of Latin, hip-hop, funk, reggae and more. You can always rewatch the Drew Barrymore movie, Never Been Kissed where you can see them perform in the club scene.
Camarillo’s Summer Concert Series features the band Gold Rush Country on Saturday, June 28 from 7 – 9 pm at Constitution Park. All their concerts will be free over the summer when you’re invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnics. Food trucks will be on site.
If you want your July 4th to include live music, then you have a number of venues to choose from including Tony’s Pizzeria with House Arrest, Ojai Valley Brewing with Josephoenix and Blues Bullet, Onyx Bistro in Camarillo hosts Ray Jaurique Trio, The Ska Daddyz take over Duke’s Beach Grill in Ventura, and Heritage Square will have The Soul City Revival Band. As an aside, the Ventura Rotary Club will once again host fireworks at Ventura College with live music, but there’s no telling who will be performing from their website or social media posts.
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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
There are quite a few live outdoor music series over the summer with so much of it free to the community! Let’s start with the Downtown Ventura Summer Concert Series at Main and California launching Thursday, June 12 with The Gamble. The following week it’s The Ooo Wee Ooo’s, then Looking West on the 26th and Dyland Cunningham on July 3. You’re invited to bring a chair, picnic basket or better yet, stop in one of the many fine restaurants downtown and take your meal to go.
The 2025 Heritage Square Summer Concert Season kicks off Friday, June 13 with the Brandon Ragan Project followed by Los Amigos 805 on the 20th, and Heart and Soul on the 27th. Chairs and picnic baskets are also allowed though you can purchase individual seats up front on a first come first served basis; concert tables available though an online process at heritagesquareoxnard.com.
The Channel Island Harbor free concerts start in July as do the Constitution Park series in Camarillo and The Collection at Riverpark won’t occur in August. And though not a “concert series” I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of ongoing free reggae shows at Tony’s Pizzeria on Thursdays, and Café Fiore on Sundays.
The inaugural Palomazo Music Fest to celebrate sound, culture and community is coming up on Saturday, June 14, at Heritage Square in Oxnard with an eclectic mix of live music from Los Xiquenos, Giselle Woo and the Night Owls, Maria Sanchez & the Midnight Groove and more. For tickets and more information go to Pipiripau.com.
And a big congratulations to Topa Topa Brewing Co. on their 10th anniversary. Celebrations are being held on Saturday, June 14, at their headquarters on Colt Street with a carnival-themed party with lots of activities to keep the kids busy and plenty of music from Denim Emperor, Soft Drugs and Some of These are Planets (yes, those are bands), then there will be an after party at the downtown taproom on Thompson Blvd. This ticketed event ($20 at the door) benefits Tierra Sol with performances by Vetiver, Sam Blasucci of Mapache, Farmer Dave & the Wizards of the West.
The Ventura County Fair Grandstand entertainment is being rolled out via social media here and there and they have yet to post the lineup on their website at the time of my deadline. I trust all will be revealed by our next issue.
Quick Notes: The Boatyard is super close to reopening with live music after undergoing renovations; Winchesters Grill & Saloon has reduced their live music to two days on Saturdays and Sundays; Tommy Castro and the Painkillers play the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, June 13; and Rhiannon Giddens plays the Ventura Theater Monday, June 16 (she next plays the Hollywood Bowl on June 18).
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.