Ventura Music Scene 9/3/25 – 9/16/25

Posted on August 31, 2025 by venturarocks

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

With Labor Day behind us, the summer music season officially ends. Though fall doesn’t officially start until September 22, it’s still weird to see Halloween items popping up in stores already.

I don’t often look back on my column, but I would like to thank the Rubicon for including in their Ventura Live ’25 Festival a night for punk rockers. The emcee said the venue was trying to expand on its genres, and he wasn’t kidding. Along with the folk, Americana, Broadway and tributes to Van Morrison and Nat King Cole shows, was a night where they screened the documentary, Desolation Center, which in itself was pretty cool, but opening the evening were Mike Watt from Minutemen and Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros. Drummer and bassist rocked the venue with high intensity and precision that left goosebumps on this fan’s arms. Wow!

The 2025 Ojai Fall Fest at St. Thomas Aquinas falls over the first weekend in September with live music all three days. On Friday the 5th, it’s 90s Babiez, The Breakfast Club, Maclovia and more. On Saturday the 6th, the bands include The Chillz, Old Man Group, King Bee, Moondawgs and Jacob & the Good Vibes. Then on Sunday, Brittney & the Bsides, The Renegades, Equipo Elite and Mariachi Los Arrieros. For all three days, admission is free!

Tickets just went on sale, and I’ve already secured mine for Glenn Tilbrook for his November 2 show at the Ventura Music Hall. Not only is this the amazing voice behind the band Squeeze, but it’s a fully seated show. Two wins! Though Tilbrook is touring with the band this year, he will be doing several solo, more intimate performances, such as the one coming to town. If you were a fan of ‘80s new wave music, then the tunes to jar your memory would be “Tempted,” “Pulling Muscles (From a Shell),” “Cool for Cats,” and my favorite, “Hot Coffee in Bed.”

Lost in Sound, showcasing local bands on Thursdays at Gibson’s Neighbor Bar, continues with Pondt, In Ivy, Kyler Joseph & Co. on September 4, and Varazuni, Darjeeling Photo Club, DreamHeroZero and Kilbron on September 11. Encourage local new music and get out there and support. There is a $10 cover for these shows.

Quick Notes: The final sold out Music Under the Stars with Classic Journey is Saturday, September 6; Tuxedo Junction Jazz Band and Phoenyx Big Band play a free show at the Libbey Bowl on Sunday, September 7; Bon Jovi tribute band, Wanted, plays the Rock the Collection series on Wednesday, September 10; Albert Lee plays the Grape on Friday, September 12; and Country is Dead, Country inspired Grateful Dead Favorites plays the Rubicon on Friday, September 12.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows that you would like help publicizing? Please send all information, short or long, to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, visit www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Photos August 2025

Posted on August 17, 2025 by venturarocks

Rubicon Theater – August 29, 2025
Stephen Perkins & Mike Watt (Screening of Desolation Center)
The Grape – August 15, 2025
Canned Heat

Music Under the Stars – August 9, 2025
Petty and the Heartshakers

Ventura County Fair – August 7, 2025
The White Buffalo

Ventura Music Scene 8/20/25 – 9/2/25

Posted on August 17, 2025 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Ventura has so many live music hotspots. We have concert halls such as the Majestic Ventura Theater and the Ventura Music Hall, there are bars with bands such as Bombay Bar and Grill, Gibson’s Neighborhood Bar and Winchesters (all just minutes of walking distance from each other downtown) and my favorite type of venue, the listening room where chitchat is frowned upon and the focus is on the artist and not on other attendees. The Grape comes very close, and depending on the performance, talking is kept to a minimum. However, I’m talking about places like Namba Performing Arts, and on a bigger scale, the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, and The Rubicon Theatre Company.

The Rubicon’s summer festival is currently underway, and I highly recommend checking out their lineup, which features 30 shows in 30 days, with most showcasing live musical performances ranging from Broadway stars to tribute bands and covering a wide range of genres. I snagged my ticket for Desolation Center, which includes a film screening of the documentary, a Q&A with the filmmakers, and wait for it, performances by Mike Watt (Minutemen, The Stooges) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction, Porno for Pyros). But I can understand if punk is not your cup of tea, so then you might consider Country is Dead (Classic country-inspired Grateful Dead favorites), Wild Night (a Van Morrison tribute), or The Folk Legacy Trio featuring lifetime Grammy winners. Visit RubiconTheatre.org for a full listing of shows and more information on how to buy tickets.

Another venue, which is also known mostly for its theater performances, is the High Street Arts Center. This month, they have several shows just like The Rubicon, but all of them are tribute bands. The final three this month feature homage to specific genres of music with The Laurel Canyon Band on August 29, The Yacht Groove on August 30, and The Surf City Allstars on August 31. Find out more at HighStreetArtsCenter.com.

Quick Notes: HR from Bad Brains, The Upbeat, Ska Ogs and more will hold a show at Mrs. Olson’s on Thursday, August 21; The Throw Down Cornhole Festival with number of bands (see listings) runs Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24 at the Ventura Fairgrounds; The Ojai Pops 2025 concert series kicks off Sunday, August 24, with a free concert at the Libbey Bowl; tickets are on sale now for Nathan McEuen w/ Alan Thornhill for September 26 at the Ojai Underground Exchange; Rock the Collection’s next show is Wednesday, August 27, featuring The Long Run, an Eagles tribute; and the Shores in Oxnard is holding their Summer Bash on Sunday August 31 with Rhythm 805 and Lil Big of Everything.

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, visit www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene 8/6/25 – 8/19/25

Posted on August 3, 2025 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The highly popular Rock the Collection summer concert series kicks off August 13 with The Yellow Brick Band (formerly known as Rocket Men, a tribute to Elton John). The family-friendly free concerts run on alternate Wednesdays. You’re encouraged to arrive early (after 11 am, day of the show), and you’re welcome to bring picnic low-backed chairs and blankets. Upcoming shows: The Long Run, tribute to the Eagles on August 27; Wanted, tribute to Bon Jovi on September 10; and Kings of Queen, tribute to Queen on September 24.

Congratulations to the Ventura Music Festival’s successful 30th summer season which wrapped up last week. You might want to secure tickets now for one of their October series concerts which feature the likes of The Moanin’ Frogs, an Evening with Branford Marsalis, Twanguero, and more. Go to VenturaMusicFesival.org for information on dates and tickets.

There are more congratulations to be had, this time for Poseidon Brewing who is celebrating their 11th anniversary with live music over the weekend of August 8-10 featuring the CocoKnots on Friday, Morrison Drive and Vanise Terry Band on Saturday, and Looking West Sunday afternoon.

The Grape has an excellent reputation for providing top-notch entertainment and if jazz is not your cup of tea, no worries, you can find blues, Americana and rock artists as well. Case in point, blues rock legend (performed at both Monterey and Woodstock in the ‘60s), Canned Heat will be there on Friday, August 15. While the band has endured several losses over the years, drummer, Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, is the “historian” and original member, along with New Orlean’s legend on harp, guitar and lead vocals, Dale Spalding, Rick Reed on bass (Paul Butterfield, John Mayall and Chicago Blues Reunion), and Jimmy Vivino best known as guitarist and arranger for Late Night with Conan O’Brien for over 28 years.

But if you do love jazz, and more specifically, a 16-member energetic jazz orchestra, then you won’t want to miss The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel on Saturday, August 9. Dresel, drummer/percussionist, is one of the busiest studio and live musicians having supported Maynard Ferguson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in the past. He also has many movie and television credits including Incredibles 2, The Simpsons and Family Guy.

Quick Notes: Winchester’s Bar and Grill opened escrow to sell to Ventiki Operations, Inc, word is they plan to continue the venue’s 28-year legacy with live music and more; tickets for the Aquabats! At the Majestic Ventura Theater went on sale via Ticketweb for Saturday, November 15; Órale 805 performs at First Thursdays Food Trucks at Plaza Park in Oxnard on August 7; and Shawn Jones, Shane Alexander and Paulo Coelho perform at Namba on Saturday, August 16.

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

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Monthly Archives: August 2025

Ventura Music Scene 9/3/25 – 9/16/25

Ventura Music Photos August 2025

Ventura Music Scene 8/20/25 – 9/2/25

Ventura Music Scene 8/6/25 – 8/19/25