November | 2025 | Ventura Rocks

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

And just like that, the holiday season has begun! For me, it all starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving running into friends at several venues providing live music. This year, downtown Ventura will be the happening spot with DNA & Bloody Mary Morning at Tony’s Pizzeria, The Gamble at Winchesters, Kyle Brown at Gibson’s, Big Adventure at the Aqua Bar and Donna Greene at Café Fiore. Just a little down the road, midtown Ventura, the Guy Martin Band will be tearing it up at The Grape and if you find yourself in Ojai, then your best bet is the Deer Lodge where Redbone 2.0 carries on the 70s Native American rock band legacy (check for ticket availability).

And as for post-Thanksgiving plans, my money is on the Majestic Ventura Theater where Mandex will reunite for retro big-hair rock metal favorites along with Blackstar (Bowie covers) and A Rock Legend (Thin Lizzy covers). Don’t forget classic rockers Kansas will play there the following week on Wednesday, December 3.

The social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk, is Saturday, December 6, with live music from Adelaide and the Pistol Blonde. I find snagging VIP tickets is the way to go, but if they’re all sold out, or you’re on a budget, then walking from venue to venue is a great way to bump into neighbors while checking out shops you may have overlooked in the past. The wine tasting event is a ticketed item but downtown will host a free holiday street fair which includes live music at the California and Main Street stage along with a traditional snowfall and other entertainment for the whole family. Find out more at VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

The Grape hosts Staci Griesbach’s Jazz Trio as she celebrates HOLIDAZE, her latest EP featuring new fresh holiday originals along with beloved classics reimagined through a vibrant mix of swing, bossa, and blues that’s sure to get everyone in the Christmas mood!

This year Doc Ventura’s Doc the Halls will run two nights at Namba Arts Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7. Along with bluesman Doc Ventura and Delta by the Beach, there will be RJ Mischo, Debbie Davies, Fito de la Parro (Canned Heat), Hank Van Sickle, Donna Lynn Caskey and more. Advance tickets on sale at NambaArts.com.

And of course, nothing gets one into the holiday spirit faster than the Majestic Theater’s 13th Annual Holiday Sing-along which falls on Sunday, December 7. This family-friendly event is free with a new unwrapped toy. The toys will then be delivered “by sleigh” to Santa’s South California headquarters at Spark of Love. The venue will also collect canned goods for their holiday food drive as well.

Quick Notes: Blame my Youth & Spam play Gibson’s on Saturday, November 29; Kansas plays the Ventura Theater on Wednesday, December 3; hardcore, Desmadre, plays Mrs. Olson’s on Friday, December 5; and the New West Symphony’s Winter Dreams will be at the Performing Arts Center in Camarillo on Sunday, December 7.

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

When I think of Todd Rungren, I think hit radio and immediately get, ”Hello, It’s Me”, stuck in my head the rest of the day…and I don’t mind. Others popular songs he’s written include “Bang on the Drum All Day,” and “I Saw the Light.” The man is quite the gifted singer/songwriter and record producer, and he has a date at the Libbey Bowl where at last I checked, tickets were still available for Friday, November 21 via Ticketmaster.

The Beat Farmers play the Deer Lodge December 14 with John Surge and the Haymakers. Advance tickets are available at DeerLodgeOjai.com. They call themselves, “wreckless western” and you may recall the band was a big part of the 80s roots/rock/Americana movement which included Los Lobos, The Blasters, Lone Justic and Rank & File. They’ve reunited and have been playing special shows the past couple of years.

Three-time Grammy award-winning composer/producer/saxophonist, Tom Scott & the LA Express returns for a show at the Grape on Friday, November 21. Securing advance tickets is highly encouraged via TheGrapeVentura.com website. As an aside, Scott was a guest artist with such recording heavy hitters as Streisand, Quincy Jones, Thelonius Monk, Sinatra, Aretha and more.

The social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk is coming up fast. Along with the ticketed wine walk where you can leisurely stroll all along downtown visiting all the participating wine tasting venues, there will also be a free holiday street fair along with live entertainment at the corner of California and Main downtown Ventura. Tickets for this year’s event for Saturday, December 6, are available at VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is a good night to get out and decompress with friends before confronting the family the next day. Choices include Guy Martin at the Grape, DNA and Bloody Mary Morning at Tony’s Pizzeria, TD Lind at the Ojai Valley Brewing and The Gamble at Winchesters. I’ll have more in the next issue.

Quick Notes: Winchester’s Grill weekend music hours now run an hour earlier, 2-5 pm; Heavy metal artists, Y&T, play the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, November 14; The always humorous ska punk band, The Aquabats, play the Majestic Ventura Theater on Friday, November 14; Mistress of Reality, an all-female Black Sabbath tribute band, play Copper Blues on Saturday, November 15; The Vonettes return to Bombay’s for a date Saturday, November 15; Harley’s Camarillo Bowling has the Phester’s Blues Band on Saturday, November 15; and Duane Bartels has a Monday evening residency at Night Owl Ciderworks in downtown Ventura;

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Monthly Archives: November 2025

Music Scene 11/26/25 – 12/9/25

Music Scene 11/12/25 – 11/25/25