Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 2/14 – 2/27

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

There have been a number of events that have brought our community together over the years but few made as big an impact as the Thomas Fire Benefit Festival did. They were able to raise over $700,000.00 for victims of the Thomas Fire. One hundred percent of the ticket sales along with a percentage of the food, beverage and t-shirt sales went to the fund. Add to that the fact that day was virtually flawless what with the videos in between acts (produced by Mark Gillard), the speeches, the performances by Olivia Newton-John, Kevin Costner and Modern West, Colbie Caillat and all the others, it was an amazing day that brought us together so we could stand with those who lost everything. Mark Hartley told me that for him the most important aspect of the day was that everyone rose to the occasion to help, from City staff, PD, the artists performing for free, the sponsors, all those who rolled up their sleeves and got it done, to the people who showed up to support, he confessed that it was a tremendous feeling.

It truly was cathartic and I couldn’t love this town more.

And yet another event to help our community heal through music will be held at Mission Park on Sunday, February 25. This one features Grammy-nominated, Perla Batalla; Tom Scott and the LA Express; Grammy-winning artist, Diego Garcia; Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director, Nuvi Mehta as well as other special guests. This family friendly event is absolutely free to the public, no tickets or reservations are necessary and you’re invited to bring low profile chairs or blankets to sit on at the park. The concert is expected to run from 3 – 4:30 pm.

I’m looking forward to new music coming from Jade Hendrix, the first single, “Purpose” is set to be released February 15. Hologram Empire has a new album with a June 22 release date. It features other local artists including Danielle Stacy, Lauren Peterson as well as other guest artists; the band had their television debut January 31 on the PBS show, Celebration of Music.

Congratulations to Jon Gindick for pulling off another successful Blues Harmonica Jam Camp at the Pierpont Inn this past week. It was a treat for those who caught a couple of the outings so camp players could perform in front of an audience including gigs at the Hong Kong Inn and a Jam Camp Revue at Grapes and Hops.

Quick notes: Yachtley Crew continues their Thursday night residency at Bombay’s through February; Tribal Seeds “Roots Party” with the original Wailers and the Expanders will be at the Ventura Theater, Saturday, February 17; the Young Dubliners return to Ventura for a show at Discovery on Wednesday, February 21; and the Dive Bar Messiahs make their debut appearance at Grapes and Hops on Saturday, February 24, you know it’s gonna be a scene!

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.

Thomas Fire Benefit Festival

Saturday, February 3, 2018
Plaza Park, Downtown Ventura

Kevin Costner and Modern West


Olivia Newton-John

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Colbie Caillat

And more!!

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 1/30 – 2/13

Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

It should come as no surprise that the Thomas Fire Benefit Festival sold out one week before the concert having only been announced less than two and half weeks previously. For those of us who have tickets, the event takes place at Plaza Park at the corner of Chestnut and Santa Clara downtown Ventura on Saturday, February 3. Gates open at 2 pm for VIPs with general admission at 4 pm; blankets and chairs welcomed as there will be no priority seating so get there early for a good seat to catch Kevin Costner and Modern West, Olivia Newton-John, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the rest of the acts on the bill.

Just a quick follow up on two past events, first the Delgado Brothers headlining the fundraiser at Discovery on January 19, raised $3705 for Ventura Food Share and the Ventura United Way Thomas Fire Fund; and the 805 Love Notes on Sunday, January 14, raised $8,000, and those funds go directly to the families and individuals in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties through 805Arise, Help California and Santa Barbara Music Foundation.

Back to the business at hand, Chopper Fest falls on Sunday, February 4th at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, it had to be rescheduled due to the Thomas Fire in December. Along with all the hot rides to check out, you can enjoy music from Gethen Jenkins, Kelly’s Lot and The Bob Carrillo Blues Band.

Paulie Cerra returns to Ventura for a show at the Hong Kong Inn on Saturday, February 10th. While he may be best known as Joe Bonamassa and John Scofield’s touring tenor sax player, this show will focus on his songwriting, singing and keyboard work. Ray Jaurique & The Uptown Brothers will open the show at 7pm with new songs to be featured on their upcoming CD being recorded at Ventura’s Castaway7 studios.

A couple more artists back in the studio include Tommy Marsh who has been working overtime producing a new album for Crooked Eye Tommy at Brotheryn Studios, where I was invited to hang out and watch the recording process recently, and let me tell you, it was too cool for school! And Stephanie Gladhart and Jerry Careaga of The Blue Music are tracking their next LP down at Capital Records early February. Their debut EP has already started getting radio play around the country and in Europe.

Quick notes: The Tossers first Sunday residency has landed at Grapes and Hops starting at 3 pm; Leashless Brewery is offering up jazz twice a week, Tuesdays with John Bardi and Thursdays with Davey Miller; Emergenz has regrouped as Dry Creek Strangers, you can catch them at noon on Sunday, February 4 at the Sandbox Coffeehouse; and The Blasters return to town for a gig at Discovery on Saturday, February 10.

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.

Kevin Costner on the Thomas Fire Benefit Festival

I admit, I was nervous to be speaking with three-time Golden Globe and Academy Award winning actor, producer, director and musician, Kevin Costner. I’ve been a long-time fan of his work and have seen him twice in concert with his band Modern West. But within a few moments, I was at ease as I found him as down-to-earth as the Iowan farmer, Ray, he portrayed in the movie Field of Dreams.

Kevin had hoped to be in town for one-on-one interviews to help promote the Thomas Fire Benefit Festival, but the tragic mudslides in Santa Barbara and Montecito had closed down the 101 keeping him homebound so we spoke over the phone and he gave me some background on how the benefit came about.

It was back in 2008 when Kevin reached out to his good friend Tim Hoctor to help produce his concert at Main and California in support of his latest film, “Swing Vote.” It was a huge undertaking, not an easy feat, so it wasn’t something Kevin thought Tim would want to do again, but he made the phone call to Tim who then reached out to Mark Hartley, and the proverbial ball was soon rolling.

Kevin’s love, care and concern for this town soon became evident. He told me it was just days after the start of the Thomas Fire that he knew he had to do something to help. He realizes one can’t know the true devastation of losing one’s home to a wildfire unless you personally have lost your home, but you can be there for people. You can stand with them. And that’s exactly what he wants to do for those who are suffering.
During our conversation Kevin also told me how he had personally taken a drive with a friend to Santa Paula to survey the damage and on their way back he stopped at the home where he grew up at here in Ventura for the first time in forty years. This was his history. The room where his brother left for Vietnam. The same TV room where he saw Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald when Kevin was only four years old, and where little did he know he’d star in a film on the same subject almost thirty years later (JFK).

The Thomas Fire Benefit Festival will be held at Plaza Park on Saturday, February 3, and will kick off with a VIP Chef Experience followed with live music featuring Kevin Costner and Modern West; Olivia Newton John (on her own recovery tour after second bout with breast cancer); three-time platinum hip hop and rap artist from Ventura, Super Duper Kyle; Grammy award winner, Colbie Caillat; Ventura’s own Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and as Mark Hartley teased, there may be a few more bands added. To keep up-to-date and purchase tickets, go to www.ThomasFireBenefit.com.