Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
I want to wish Happy Holidays to one and all as we approach 2026. As you may or may not know, I started VenturaRocks.com in 2009 as a small way of helping when the economy took a hit and I wanted to inspire people to get out and spend money in venues who supported my favorite thing in the whole wide world, live music. A few years later in 2013 I was recruited by Sheldon Brown to write for the Ventura Breeze and with twelve years under my belt I haven’t missed a music scene deadline yet (knock on wood). So, to the community and to the Ventura Breeze, thanks for your continued support of live music!
Now on to New Year’s Eve festivities when most venues will be closing out 2025 in fine fashion. As you make your plans, I highly recommend calling the venue of your choice to find out if reservations are required, if there is a cover charge, and especially the hours they’ll be providing live music as some venues celebrate earlier with European New Year’s when the ball drops at 7 pm our time, or the East Coast timeline which is 9 pm as opposed to the most traditional time of midnight when it officially becomes 2026.
The Crowne Plaza has two parties in two different rooms, one with Mason’s Children, Katie Skene Band and Jax Plays Dead, and the other playing hit radio favorites with the Colette Lovejoy Band. Winchesters Grill & Saloon hosts Cory B. Clay & the Twains, Café Fiore has Heathers on Fire, The Garage with Operation 90s, Keynote has The Way, Gigi’s has Vault 13, the Shores with Ventu Park, Boatyard has Frank Barajas, Leashless with Jayden Secor, and it’s Nova Quartet at Twisted Oak in Camarillo. See listings for more or check out VenturaRocks.com as I add gigs almost daily.
If you’re not seeing one of your favorite venues then they may be offering up DJs such as Bombay’s, the Greek or the Ventura Music Hall who has Gimme Gimme Disco. And even comedy might be an option for you at the Rubicon or Strey Cellars. The bottom line is for you to call ahead and see what’s what.
By the way, a handful of venues will be closed as they are taking some well-deserved time off through the end of the year including The Grape, Four Brix and Cantara Cellars.
Quick Notes: The Ventura Music Hall calendar is filling up quickly with dates for 2026 including
Dave Wakeling’s English Beat on January 31, two nights for Thee Sinseers and The Altons, February 27 and 28, Silversun Pickups March 11, and Paul Thorn on April 10; Spider Baby, Neurotics, Boilerman will be playing a free show at Gibson’s Neighborhood Bar on Friday, January 2; and don’t forget to give your congratulations to Steve and Sally Williams who will be celebrating their 40th anniversary playing at Winchesters on Sunday, January 4.
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows that you would like help publicizing? Please send all information, short or long, to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, visit www.VenturaRocks.com.