Tag Archives: Ventura Nationals

Ventura Music Scene 8/21/24 – 9/3/24

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

The Throw Down Cornhole Tournament and Music Festival will be held August 23 – 25 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. What started as a cornhole competition out in front of Spencer Makenzie’s has turned into the world’s largest with competitors coming from around the world. Along with the high stakes of tossing a bean bag into a hole 27 feet away, live music will abound with performances by Rey Fresco, Sunny Ledfurd, Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Whisky Business, Bad Habit, Dave Rae & DNA and more. Get ticket information at TheThrowDown.co.

The Ojai Pops Orchestra will have a free concert at Ojai Libbey Bowl on Sunday, August 25 starting at 3:30 pm.  The orchestra brings together musicians, conductors and composers to play Pops music in a full orchestra for the community including showtunes, jazz, movie scores and more. While the concert is free, your donation helps to fund music education for youth.

The Aloha Festival is back this year covering two days at Surfers Point Promenade Park where admission is absolutely free. There will be plenty of vendors, a K9 frisbee demonstration, Polynesian style dance exhibitions and live music from Heavy Rotation, Ska Daddyz, Jill Martini & the Shrunken Heads, Rising Son, Jacob Marquez and the Good Vibes and more. The two-day family-friendly event runs 10 am to 8 pm Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.

The 21st Annual Ventura Nationals will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 31, featuring not only crazy hot rods and custom cars, but this year there’s a skate deck art show and of course a lot of live music. Included in the price of admission are sets from The Kid Ramos Band, Wyld Gooms, HeXXers and Gethen Jenkins. Find out more at VenturaNationals.com.

The final shows for the High Street Arts Center summer concert series include Mick Adams and the Stones on Friday, August 30, Billy Nation (Billy Joel tribute) on Saturday, August 31, and it’s the Surf City Allstars on Sunday, September 1.

Quick Notes: Tony’s Pizzeria is celebrating their 65th anniversary over the last weekend of August with Spencer the Gardener, The Heavy Hitters, Brandon Ragan Project and more; tickets are on sale now for the Mad Caddies at the Ventura Music Hall for Sunday, November 17; Shawn Jones returns to Namba for an intimate show of stories and song on Saturday, August 24; Kelly’s Lot plays Four Brix on Saturday, August 24; The Collection summer series show on Thursday, August 29 will feature Wanted playing Bon Jovi covers; LA based band, The Centuries, bring their brand of rockabilly to the Garage on Saturday, August 31; and Danny Carey of TOOL, returns to the Grape with the Doug Webb Group on Saturday, August 31.

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 8/26/19 – 9/9/10/19

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

We’re wrapping up the summer season with a number of events including Bombay’s Annual Beach Party with stages indoors and out, a beer garden, mechanical bull and more. DJs will keep you dancing all night long with bands performing earlier in the evening, Dudeo Perez, Strange Case and The Swells on Saturday starting at 6:30 and Uproots on Sunday at 3 pm followed by Black Star at 6 pm.

Another event over the Labor Day weekend will be the Ventura Nationals at the fairgrounds, along with the hot rides will be plenty of live music from Jesse Dayton, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, Eddie & the Scorpions, The Moontones and The Rockin’ Henrys.

Topa Mountain Winery in Ojai is hosting a Make-a-Wish fundraiser dubbing it “Rock the Wish” featuring Dennis Quaid and the Sharks; opening, will be three amazing local ladies, Cindy Kalmenson, Patricia Avis and Natalie Gelman. Music starts at 5:30 pm followed by a screening of Quaid’s movie The Rookie at 8 pm. According to a press release, Quaid said the shows are as much fun for those in attendance as they are for the band. “(The audiences) have a blast, which is all we want. I make a complete and utter fool of myself,” Quaid said. He added, “I think that’s the only way to have fun (onstage), instead of trying to pretend to be cool and all the rest of that stuff.” Okay, I’m in!

Stephen “Ragga” Marley makes a stop during his fifty-city tour across the U.S. at Discovery on Friday, September 6. Son to Bob Marley, Stephen has earned his own legacy garnering eight Grammy awards over the years. The tour name honors his father’s iconic live album with the Wailers, calling it “Babylon by Bus” tour.

The Music Under the Stars series wraps up the season on Saturday, August 31 with The Swing Kings at Olivas Adobe; unfortunately, this show is also sold out. With so many shows selling out so fast, perhaps the City will entertain adding another show on Friday nights.

Quick Notes: Don’t miss punk rock fun with The Adolescents and Love Canal at The Garage on Friday, August 30; Rey Fresco with The Collective will be at El Rey Cantina on Friday, August 30; The Lab on Azahar has Like the Morning and Edukated on Saturday, August 31; IDEAL Music Collective will land at the Golden China on Saturday, August 31; The Sunday Drivers play Dargan’s on Sunday, September 1; Flying Colors play the Ventura Theater on Thursday, September 5; First Friday music at Harvest Café features Shay Moulder on September 6; Second Sunday Supper at Plan B Wine Cellars will host The Beatunes on the 8 of September; and finally Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul at Ventura Theater Monday, September 9.

And finally, I am sad to report the passing of Neal Casal who lived locally yet work with such bands as Ryan Adams and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. I was lucky to catch him jamming with Crazy Rust at Bombay’s in the backroom several years ago. R.I.P. Neal.

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.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 8/14 – 8/27

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

The Ventura County Fair really delivered this year with their Grandstand Stage lineup; there was something for most everyone. I caught and shot several shows including Melissa Etheridge, X Ambassadors, George Thorogood and of course Collective Soul. If you’re so inclined, go to VenturaRocks.com for the August 2019 photo gallery to check out some pretty cool photos of those bands.

Spencer Makenzie’s annual End of Summer Block Party will feature a free concert on the evening of Saturday, August 24, with Johnny and the Love Handles, A.D.D. and wrapping up the evening in their finest 80’s fashion will be Mandex!

Coming up before you know it, the Ventura Nationals will return to the fairgrounds over Labor Day Weekend. Along with all the hot rods, “kustoms” and motorcycles, will be plenty of live music from Jesse Dayton, Tom Kenny & the Hi-Seas, Eddie & the Scorpions, The Moontones, and Ventura’s own, The Rockin’ Henrys.

The Music Under the Stars series continues on Saturday nights at Olivas Adobe with Blue Breeze Band on August 17 and Savor on the 24; unfortunately, all remaining shows are sold out.

Quick Notes: The Speakeasy Project’s American Roadhouse will be held the next two weekends at Ventura Vineyard in the Suite J Theater; Goodnight Kiss is back with new music and a gig at Bombay’s on Saturday, August 17 (6-9 pm); Benjamin Buttner is the Munch artist this month for the Museum of Ventura County’s free lunch time music on Thursday, August 15, (11:30 – 1:30 pm); Toni Dodd joins Tommy Marsh for the Session at Grapes and Hops on Thursday, August 15; Food Truck Friday this month falls on Thursday, August 16 with Alter Ego playing Classic Rock at the Pacific View Mall (outside Trader Joe’s); you’ll find the Pretty Uglys along with Johnny Thunders and an open jam with Deep Cuts at Red Cove on Saturday, August 17; The Rubicon’s annual fundraiser, Kids for Kids benefit, features Broadway’s hottest tunes on Sunday, August 18; Fausto Cuevas & su Cinquillo host Havana Nights at Limon y Sal on Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30 pm; there will be live music at the Garage on the afternoon of Sunday, August 25, starting at 2 pm featuring Dangerously Sleazy, The Hymen Blasters and Fred Burger; another fundraiser, Jamming for Hose, is at Bombay’s with several bands playing from 2 -9 pm on Saturday, August 24 this one has The Doc Ventura Band, Marley Rae, Shades of Blue, The Sea Hunters, The References and The Lavender Experience – they’re asking for a $10 donation at the door; Nathan McEuen plays Topa Mountain Winery on the afternoon of Sunday, August 25; and Justin Hayward, songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the Moody Blues plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Saturday, August 24.

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.