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

Every now and then an event is planned where a special milestone is celebrated; and so it goes with Army of Freshmen’s 20th anniversary hometown show at Discovery on Saturday, October 13. Earlier this year, they played dates in Europe to commemorate the occasion by touring with Bowling for Soup and Lit, but when they returned, they kept getting hit up with “What about your hometown?!!” This is a big deal, so get out and support. And if by chance you’ve never ventured out to see them live, do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one. Advance tickets are only $10, night of the show, $15 at the door.

You may have noticed on social media a new venue called Oak and Main, and while the location is a few doors down from Oak, it’s definitely on Main Street having taken over where Rookees used to be. The great news is that they plan on offering live music, case in point, they’ll have D.on Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers on Friday, October 12. I’m so looking forward to having more live music downtown, especially since losing Zoey’s, The Watermark, Amigos and The Good Bar the past few years.

Vintura at the Wine Rack will host a Breast Cancer Fund-raiser with breast cancer survivor, Karyn 805 on Friday, October 12 from 8-11 pm. They’ll donate 25% of net proceeds to the Ventura Cancer Resource Center as well as all of Karyn’s tips for local women who need assistance with treatment.

All ye men and women: get out the kilts and head over for fun, games and Celtic music at the Seaside Highland Games over the weekend of October 13 and 14 at Seaside Park. The music will abound throughout both days on multiple stages with such acts as The Angry Brians, Ploughboys, Hidden Fifth, The Brown Sisters, LA Fife and Drum, Three for Joy as well as many more acts. The event runs 9 to 5, but Saturday night, you’ll want to continue the fun and stop in at Grapes and Hops for a special performance from The Angry Brians.

Quick notes: Ben Katzman’s DeGreaser out of Florida has a date at the Hong Kong Inn on Wednesday, October 10; Plan B Winery celebrates their 6th anniversary with Native Vibe on Sunday, October 14; new punk bands on the scene will play The Garage including Soul Wring, Section 5, and Ran Aground on Wednesday, October 17; Necrodancer from France will be at Red Cove on Friday, October 19; The Spazmatics will be at Discovery, Friday, October 19; Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians at Ventura Theater on Friday, October 19; and 50 Sticks of Dynamite will play a benefit concert for Step Up Ventura at Ventura Center for Spiritual Living on Saturday, October 20.

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.