Ventura Music Scene 10/16/24 – 10/29/24

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

We’re halfway through October and a lot of folks are looking forward to celebrating Halloween, but with the holiday falling on a Thursday, I’m finding a lot of venues are pre-celebrating the weekend before with a handful the weekend afterwards. This issue of the Breeze covers October 16th through the 29th, so there are a few noteworthy live music parties that fall within that time frame. Halloween parties on Saturday October 26, include Leashless with the Heavy Hitters, Strey Cellers has Ignition, and Ric’s in Camarillo has Steph’s Rockin’ Roadshow. On Sunday, there’s Heart & Soul at Tony’s Pizzeria and Kelly’s Lot will host CarlFest (CARL stands for Canine Adoption and Rescue League) with a Halloween themed fundraiser at Topa Topa Brewing’s headquarters on Colt Street in Ventura.

Ojai Day falls on Saturday, October 19, and will run 10 to 5 pm with live performances at the Libbey Fountain Stage by Josephoenix, Spencer the Gardener, Dianne Miller Band, and the Van Allen Twins. According to their official Facebook page, Ojai Day is not your ordinary festival, but a cultural explosion bursting with art, food, spiritual incantations, multi-ethic celebrations and good old fashion fun.

Two legendary women of note play in two different venues coming up. First, it’s Macy Gray (5 Grammy nods) on Wednesday, October 16, at the Ventura Music Hall, and then Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band (Midnight at the Oasis fame) plays on Saturday, October 19. Both women have their distinctive styles and are sure to deliver amazing shows.

Aaron Burch Studios will hold its next Songwriter Showcase at the Deer Lodge on Sunday, October 20. This one will feature Ahoy!, Electric Shadow, Purely Grey, Star Synth and Dead Syndicate.

Congratulations to Rincon Brewery celebrating their 10th Anniversary with Octoberfest games and specials. You can join the party at their Ventura location on Saturday, October 19, with local legends, the SkaDaddyz, in the house.

Quick Notes: Less Than Jake brings their brand of ska to the Majestic Ventura Theater on Wednesday, October 16; Adrian Floy and THC play San Souci on Friday, October 18; Monarch Fest with Sonic Butterfly and Star Goes Nova will be held on Friday, October 18 at Taft Gardens & Nature Preserve in Ojai; a tribute to all things Phil Collins, In the Air Tonight, is at the Libbey Bowl on Friday, October 18; Guy Martin along with Jayden Secor play the Twist on Saturday, October 19; Sunday afternoon House of Dance this month features Lenny and Susan LaCroix Septet on October 20; TD Lind and the Aviators return to the Grape on Thursday, October 24;
pop band, 98 Degrees, plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 25; and the Brasscals return to Ventura Coast Brew Co on Friday, October 25.

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 4/3/2024 – 4/16/2024

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

It’s almost becoming a distant memory, those days when outdoor shows never rained out. Even as I’m writing this, I’m “knocking on wood” that the drought is over. We most certainly need the rain and it looks like the proverbial April showers just might continue to dampen some of the outdoor shows including the upcoming concert at Art City with Elaine Alarcon, Agie Williams and more on Friday, April 6 and “Whale of a Concert” featuring the Pier101 Band at Harbor View Park in Oxnard on Sunday, April 7. But then again, the weather has been unpredictable this year, so hopefully we’ll get sunny weather for all live music. Keep in mind, some venues might accommodate the inclement weather by bringing the music indoors such as Winchesters, the Aqua Bar at the Crowne Plaza or Leashless Brewing, albeit, in a smaller capacity.

I attended one of those Candlelight concerts at the Oxnard performing Arts Center last fall featuring Halloween type music, and I thought it was fabulous. The room is lit up with candles (battery operated, no open flames), while the Listeso String Quartet performs. The next session of concerts will be held at the Majestic Ventura Theater over two dates with two shows each day (early show at 6:30 pm and later show at 9 pm). The early show on Tuesday April 16 features a tribute to Adele and the later show a tribute to Coldplay. Then on Thursday April 18, the early show is a tribute to Queen and the later one a tribute to Taylor Swift. Tickets are available through Feverup.com.

Kelly Zirbes is passionate about so many things: writing, recording, performing and doing her part to raise funds for the Canine Adoption and Rescue League or CARL. This year CarlFest will be held at Topa Topa Brewing at the Colt Street location on Sunday, April 14, Noon to 3:30 pm, with a performance by Kelly’s Lot. But wait…the fun doesn’t stop there as they’ll also have a silent auction, raffle and food trucks available. This is a family friendly event with a suggested donation to CARL at $10, but you can give more.

Quick Notes: Spider Baby, Public Nuisance, FSKD, The Indignants, Toledo Panic play an afternoon show at Harley’s Camarillo Bowl on Saturday April 6; The New West Symphony performs Messiah at the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center on Sunday April 7; The Collection will offer singer/songwriters this month on Tuesday evenings at the Park View Court, 5:30 – 7 pm, on the 9 it’s Adam Lasher and on the 16, Lynnzee Fraye; Josh Heinrichs 2024 Smoke Out Tour will land at Mrs. Olson’s on Friday, April 12 with One People and Pipe Down, tickets are available via EventBrite.com; and Dan Grimm plays Ojai Valley Brewing on Saturday April 13.

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 10/9 – 10/22

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
I’m really looking forward to a number of special events of the next two weekends starting with C.A.R.Lfest on Saturday, October 12 at Promenade Park along the boardwalk at the beach. Funds are being raised to support the Canine Adoption and Rescue League serving Ventura County. Bands on the bill include Kelly’s Lot, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jim Gustin & Truth Jones plus a number of special guests (I hear Teresa James is just one of them). This one runs noon to 6 pm with the music starting at 1 pm; tickets are $25 and Bike Ventura will be on hand providing a free bike corral for those riding to the event.

Namba on Oak in downtown Ventura will have a special all-ages “Families Rock!” show on Saturday, October 12, where each band is comprised of moms, dads, and the kids! Don’t miss performances by The Cheesebergens, Sepiatone, and The Rockin’ Henrys. Namba will also host a fundraiser for the Ventura County Rescue Mission featuring Charlie Baker, Mark & Michael Lennon on Friday, October 18. For ticket information, go to NambaArts.com.

The Seaside Highland Games return to the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of October 12 and 13 with such fabulous bands as Cockswain, Nerea, Seven Nations and Sligo Rags playing both days.

The Ventura Marathon falls over the weekend of October 19 and 20 with the staging area moving from the pier to Mission Park downtown, and because so many runners (and those supporting them) love the suds, there will be a Ventura Brew Fest on Saturday. Music over the weekend will include Kistmit, Acoustic Generation, Lightnin’ Willie, Deadrock and Power Syndicate.

Quick Notes: I’m sorry to report that Andy is cutting back on live music at Copa Cobana (and the Blue Room) for now with the Jerry McWorter Trio on Tuesday and live bands on Sunday afternoon only; the Sushi House on Seaward has Gary Ballen playing acoustic favorites every Saturday afternoon 1 – 3:30 pm; though the Angry Brians won’t be at Seaside Highland Games, they will be performing at Grapes and Hops on Friday, October 11; before the DJs, there will be live music at 6 pm at Bombay’s on Saturday, October 12, with The Mighty Cash Cats and Silver Threads, then Saturday, October 19, with Solidmente and Kris Simeon; Alan Thornhill, Martin Young and Jim Monahan play Topa Mountain Winery on Sunday afternoon, October 13; there will be a punk show at Golden China on Tuesday, October 15, with D.R.I., Intent, Cholos on Acid and No Divide; Buck-O-Nine plays The Garage along with The Upbeat and The Robot Uprising on Friday, October 18; and finally, the Ventura Beach Club hosts The Apartment 805 with a tech night featuring Allan Guerrero, CMVib3 and more on Friday, October 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. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.