Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
We’re quickly heading towards midsummer and with it the highlight of the season, the Ventura County Fair and specifically all the Grandstand Stage performances. On opening night, Wednesday, July 30, there will be a collective, hip hop/rap “Beach Block Party” featuring Tone Loc, Ying Yang Twins, Fat Joe and Pepa (of Salt-n-Pepa). I’m putting my money on “Wild Thing,” well maybe “Push It” as the collective post-concert earworm. Then on Thursday, July 31, it’s Diplo for a night of electronica; Friday, August 1, it’s Dirty Heads with reggae/rock; Saturday, August 2, Lee Brice, country; Sunday, August 3, La Maquinaria Norteña & La Séptima Banda ft. Mi Banda El Mexicano; Monday, August 4, Flo Rida Featuring Bubba Sparxxx, more rap; Tuesday, August 5 it’s Dylan Scott featuring Cheat Codes with modern country and the last night has more country with Scotty McCreery featuring Kruse Brothers. Don’t forget if you want to be up close to the stage, you’ll need to purchase VIP tickets. But for the rest of us, the shows are included in the price of admission to the fair. Another noteworthy tidbit, while most nights feature tribute bands on the Station Stage, The Outlaw Mariachi play August 4, Kruse Brothers August 5, and The White Buffalo will perform on Thursday, August 7
The week before the fair opens, Summer Dead Fest lands at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for four days and nights of jams. The poolside deck stage outside the Aqua Bar has free access to the bands, but if you want the Friday and Saturday night concerts which conclude a “Sunset Vibes Silent Disco” until 3 am, you’ll need tickets. For more data, go to VenturaGratefulDead.info.
The Ventura Music Festival has several more shows this week including Ventura’s own, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with Barrelhouse Wailers opening. Their July 25 show is sold out and the venue has been moved to the College’s Performing Arts Center.
Music Under the Stars at Olivas Adobe continues its summer series of Friday night concerts with Psychedelic Summer on July 26, and Stone Soul on August 2. Both nights are sold out. As mentioned in our last issue, all shows are sold out except August 23 with Conjunto Oye, who promise to deliver high-energy danceable Latin music with Cuban rhythms and Puerto Rican flair; so, you know, take the hint.
Quick Notes: The Psychedelic Furs play the Ventura Theater on Wednesday, July 23 and Billy Vera & the Beaters on Saturday, July 26; Shawn Jones plays Bombay’s on Thursday, July 24; reuniting, it’s Preachers and Pornstars for a date at Gigi’s on Friday, July 25; it’s Bee Gee Fever over at Camarillo Constitution Park on Saturday, July 26; and Swing Shift big band plays the Sportsman in Camarillo on Sunday, July 27.
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.