Ventura Music Scene
Lining it Up!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The holidays are a dim memory as 2015 rolls on and the venues in Ventura continue to offer some of the coolest bands around.  Congratulations to Discovery on their one-year anniversary.  The first year with any business can be precarious at best and so it’s been for Discovery, but they’ve made it this far settling permitting issues and working through their growing pains and we’re looking forward to another fabulous year for this innovative venue.   January 21 – 25 includes a Country night, Lee Koch who was featured on American Idol, Natural Vibrations & Junior Reid for reggae night and hometown favorites Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  See their website for dates and prices at www.DiscoveryVentura.com.   Trust me; you’ll want to be a part of the celebration for sure!

Speaking of new businesses, Poncho’s is out, Padrino’s is in.  Haven’t heard of either?  Well it’s Zoey’s former location on Santa Clara.  Switching form Mexican to Italian food, it looks like the new owners are leaning towards jazz.

And as for Billy O’s? I can only imagine what the joint will look like after they close the doors on their final shows at 2819 E. Main Street.  Ill Repute, False Confession, Stop Breathing and almost ten more bands are lined up for Friday the 30th and then on Saturday the 31, the final night will see Death Benefit, All-a-Blur, Cupcake, the NaVaNax , Crazy D & the Nutz and a half dozen or so more.  As of press time, a new joint had not been found yet.

The Expendables will bring their own special brand of reggae to the Ventura Theater on Friday, January 23rd as they tour in support of their latest record, “Sand in the Sky” (mixed by Butthole Surfer guitarist & producer Paul Leary); then on Saturday, January 31, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting with quartet will do a special performance with Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket opening.

The Ventura Music Festival announced their 2015 season and along with the traditional music you would expect, including a special night with Herp Alpert and wife Lani Hall on May 8th, it’s going to an extraordinary evening at the Ventura College Stadium with Grammy winners Ozomatli delivering jams mixing samba, hip hop, swing and soul.
This year’s Roadshow Revival, a Tribute to the Music of Jonny Cash will not only move to a new location, but will span over two days!  Mark your calendar now for June 27 and June 28 at Mission Park downtown Ventura for one of the most popular music events in our city. Bands will be announced soon.

And the Van’s Warped Tour will be coming through town making their annual stop at the Fairgrounds the week before Roadshow Revival on Saturday, June 21.  Bands are being announced weekly and tickets are already available online www.VansWarpedTour.com.

If you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing?  Send all information short or long to  Pam@VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene
2015 Will Rock!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

We’ve wrapped up 2014 and we’re looking forward to what Ventura’s music scene will bring in 2015.  I always love meeting new people, shaking hands, kissing babies and getting generous hugs from fellow music lovers.  Ventura has about the coolest vibe going whether it’s catching a national touring act at the Ventura Theater, or attending a live show with visiting and local acts at Bombay’s, Squashed Grapes or Discovery who by the way welcome hometown big shots Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on January 23 in celebration of their one-year anniversary.

There’s new management at the Hong Kong Inn. They’ll continue to offer the Polynesian Review on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 then a live band to follow at 9:30.  This month they’ve lined up Smokey and Friends, Martin and Macias, Teresa Russell, and Jodi Farrell.  The shenanigans of The Velveteen Band will now hold down the fort the first Friday of the month at Bombay’s; however in February they’ll be rockin’ on the second Friday, Friday the 13^th, which seems apropos.

It’s no secret that Billy O’s will be closing their doors at their current location as the new hospital takes over the city block; but I’m assured they are looking for a new location. This town needs Billy O’s and the punk shows that come through there, not to mention those big ass pizzas!  Sorry to hear that Mute on the Floor will be holding their final show Sunday, January 11; but what an amazing line up with the day starting at 1 pm with The Dictators NYC, Motor 666, Stalag 13 and at least eight more bands.  Best wishes to Joel Perkins who will continue to be a force to deal with, just in different avenues promoting his bands.

Not only does the Tavern offer up Metal Wednesdays, but on Saturday, January 10 if metal is your brand of rock, you won’t want to miss New Year’s Metalution with Ruthless, Heretic, Six Pack of Doom and Raiju.

Hi Hat Entertainment welcomes Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown to the Ventura Beach Club on Friday, January 16.

Since the Ban-Dar called it quits so many years ago, we haven’t had too many country bands to support, so it’s way cool that Willie Nelson and friends are playing the Ventura Theater February 4, but bands like Highway Starr, CRV and now a new band on the scene, Pull the Trigger are giving country music fans a reason to get out of the house!

I spoke to JD Drury about Surf Rodeo and it’s been written in ink…well, make that “written in the sand,” that this year Surf Rodeo will inhabit lower Seaward and the beach for two days July 11 and 12^th.  JD promised he’d keep me in the loop as soon as bands are announced later this spring, but do mark it on the calendar and plan to be a part of this two day family oriented music and surf event.

If you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing?  Send all information short or long to  Pam@VenturaRocks.com.