Ventura Music Scene
Summer Music is Really Heating Up!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
We had two days of the best summer weather for Surf Rodeo. There was so much to see and do with Pato Baton doing a superb performance at sunset on Sunday to wrap it all up. Congratulations JD Drury on another successful Surf Rodeo!
Hi-Hat Entertainment’s Jerry McWorter’s 50th Birthday Bash was a blast at Yolies July 18. It was so cool to see so many top-notch artists in the room and up on the stage performing. When we swung by it was Jerry on drums, Brent Harding on bass, Jimmy Calire on keyboards and Albert Lee on guitar. Legendary!
It was great seeing so many ArtWalk 2014 venues supplementing this city-wide art event with live music this year! Bell Arts Factory, the WAV, Mission Park, Stoneworks Studios and many more featured such artists as Jonathan McEuen, Mitchell Blake, The Deer Leg Band, Rey Fresco, and SoulVang.
The fair kicks off July 30 with the ever popular fair parade on Main Street on Saturday, August 2. Ventura Rocks will be hitching a ride on the Squashed Grapes float with some of our favorite jazz performers playing the parade route: Fausto Cuevas, Jacob Scesney, Trey O’Toole, Andrew Hill, RJ Root and perhaps a surprise or two. Speaking of music and the Ventura County Fair, their entertainment lineup is amongst the best of recent history with the Beach Boys, Little Big Town, The Spinners, Barenaked Ladies, Deep Purple, Seether, Jake Owen and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. All shows are included in the price of admission.
The Music Under the Stars series continues with Spencer the Gardener taking over Olivas Adobe on Saturday, July 26. Joining his beloved cast of characters, um, I mean musicians, will be former members Cougar Estrada and Nate Birkey who will kick it up just a notch or two. The following week will be a Carlos Santana tribute band. Call (805) 658-4726 for ticket information.
Bombay Bar and Grill has nailed down the date for their 30th annual Indoor/Outdoor Beach Party; and though Diego wasn’t quite ready to share their music line-up, you’ll want to mark down the dates which cover the last three days of the month, August 29 – August 31. This is sure to be off-the-hook!!
Chiodos, along with Bless the Fall, will take over the Ventura Theater on Friday, August 1. They’ve been out on tour in support of their new CD, “Devil” which was produced by David Botrill (Tool, Muse, Stone Sour).
And finally, just added to the VenturaRocks.com Listening Station at Very Ventura store on California Street are Ashford Gordon, the new one from Mother of Dissension, and “Struggle Makes You Stronger” from Shawn Jones. You have no idea what it means to our local musicians when someone purchases their music. It really does make a difference.
Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com.