Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 7/18-7/31

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

So far this summer the weather’s been great and the music hot, once again reminding me, Ventura Rocks! Top of my “hits list” of course was this year’s Surf Rodeo. Our cowboy hats off to the one and only JD Drury for pulling off another successful event, especially when one of the headlining bands, The Untouchables had to pull out at the last moment, and JD saved the day with Bow Wow Wow!

Now we’re looking at Tequila and Tacos music festival where tequila is the starring attraction while enjoying music from DAX, Adelaide, Patron Latin Rhythms and Mariachi Reyes. This one will be held at Plaza Park (corner of Santa Clara and Chestnut) downtown Ventura over the weekend of July 21st and 22nd.

The Ventura Music Festival continues into its second and final week with Jarabe Mexicano performing a free concert at Mission Park on Wednesday, July 18, at 5 pm; you’ll want to bring blankets and chairs for this one. Then two performances will be hosted at the Ventura Performing Arts Center at Ventura College; first it’s Akropolis on Friday, July 20, and then Perla Batalla’s “Frida Kahlo Song Cycle” on Saturday, July 21. Oh! Just added, “All that Jazz” at Namba Performing Arts Space (Oak Street, Downtown) on Thursday, July 19th with seasoned pros, CODA opening with a set and to be joined by the 2018 Student Jazz Competition winners, Matthew Kuperberg, Henry Urschel and Finn Dunham. This one is free, but donations appreciated.

As a reminder, you’ll want to check in with the City of Ventura before venturing over for Music Under the Stars this year hoping to buy tickets at the door. This event gets more popular every year and as a result more and more shows are selling out such as Blue Breeze on Saturday, July 21st, but at press time, the 28th show with Bleeding Harp had not.

Beach House Tacos on the Ventura pier is offering live music on Saturdays outside with Kyle Smith on the 21st and Jason Ho on the 28th; they’ll also have live music indoors from time to time, so far they have a jazz trio, The Dynasties, on Friday, July 20th.

Discovery has a couple of interesting tribute bands lined up including Twisted Gypsy, a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, on Friday, July 20th; Hotel California, all about The Eagles, on Friday, July 27th and it’s Blink-180 True on Saturday, August 4th a tribute to, yeah you guessed it, Blink-182.

And finally, a big congratulations go out to the Ventura Theater as they celebrate their 90th anniversary on Saturday, July 28th, with a concert featuring Robot Nature, Plan Your Escape, The Inside Break, Herbal Rootz and The Velveteen Band.

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 7/4-7/17

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

There’s no denying it’s Summer what with the Fourth of July at hand and Surf Rodeo just around the corner, and what better to celebrate than with live music? The City’s 4th of July Downtown Street Fair, which runs 10 am – 5 pm, will not only have tons of vendors, and food, but there will be plenty of live music from The Mighty Cash Cats, Raised on Vinyl and 805 Rhythm. To avoid looking for parking, why not ride your bike? The City is providing a free bike valet on California near Main Street.

Along with their Saturday and Sunday afternoon music lineup, Topa Mountain Winery will host a fundraiser for Safety Harbor Kids on Friday, July 6 featuring Paul Barrere, Fred Tackette and friends of Little Feat; Shaky Feelin’ will open.

The Ventura Music Festival runs July 12th through the 22 at a handful of venues throughout the City. Just a couple highlights include the John Jorgenson Quintet at Olivas Adobe on Thursday, July 12; double Latin Grammy winner, Diego Garcia at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on Friday, July 13; there will be a free concert with Jarabe Mexicano on Wednesday, July 18 at Mission Park. For the complete line up and ticket information, go to www.VenturaMusicFestival.org.

Dust off the cowboy hat and get your sunscreen ready for this year’s Surf Rodeo over the weekend of July 14th and 15th at Pierpont Beach at Seaward. There’s plenty to do between the vendors along Seaward, the surf competition, bikini cowgirl contest and the Cornhole tournament, but of course my favorite reason for going would be all the great music. Along with a bunch of amazing local bands, JD Drury is bringing Fishbone, the Long Beach Dub Allstars, Shwayze, and the Untouchables to town. Confidence is high this one will be for the books!

Quick notes: The Garage is kicking it up a notch with Hard Six and Stock Shot on Friday, July 6, it’s a full line up starting at 5 pm on Saturday, July 7 with Char-Man, Slow Season, Sweet Reaper, Glam Skanks, The Pullmen and The Birth Defects, and then the following week on Friday the 13th it’s Negative Approach, Stalag 13, Take Offense and Skullcrack; Shawn Jones returns from his most recent European tour with a show at Grapes and Hops on Saturday, July 7, and again on Saturday, July 14, at The Star Lounge; on Saturday, July 7, Art City Gallery and Studios is hosting a Summer Jam with Herbal Rootz, Bomba Fiya, Crying 4 Kafka and more, they’re asking for a $10 donation at the door; the Second Sunday Supper at Plan B Winery will feature reggae with Soltree on Sunday, July 8; and finally, it’s “Latin meets Jazz” with Justo Almario, internationally renowned jazz saxman at the Hong Kong Inn on Tuesday, July 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.