2023

Posted on June 25, 2023 by venturarocks

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

Independence Day falls on a Tuesday this year with live music being offered at several venues including Ojai Valley Brewing with Blues Bullet immediately following the city’s annual parade downtown; Raging Arb and the Redheads along with the return of Jackass will rock Bombay’s during the afternoon (2-5); you’ll find the Corsican Brothers at Winchesters from 6-9; and Los Amigos play Margarita Villa in the Harbor from 7 to 10 pm. If you plan your day just right, you could possibly cover all venues and still see the fireworks show at Ventura College.

Ventura Music Hall added a few dates to take note of including this year’s American Idol winner, Iam Tongi on July 22, Then, there’s the Kottonmouth Kings who play August 18, and another show I wouldn’t want you to miss is Henry Rollins on November 7; it’s his “Good to See You,” spoken word tour which is a seated event.

If you’re in the mood for aggressive rock/punk, then you won’t want to miss Nardfest over the weekend of July 7 and 8 at the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme. Both days feature some of the greatest bands coming out of the Nardcore scene with Hirax, Downpresser, Dr. Know, Section H8, False Confession, Total Resistance, Burning Dog, Romper and Boilerman playing on Saturday; then it’s JFA, Stalag 13, Punk Rock Karaoke, Grim, iDecline, Crucial Thought, Char-Man, No Remorse, The Robot Uprising and Indignants on Sunday. This is an all ages show with tickets through EventBrite, or pay no fees at the venue’s box office.

Libbey Bowl concerts over the next two weeks include The Long Run (Eagles tribute) on Friday, June 30, Gin Blossoms on Saturday, July 1, Toad the Wet Sprocket on Wednesday, July 5; Lyle Lovett & his Large Band on Friday July 7, and the Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw and Dishwalla on Saturday, July 8.

There’s a new music studio called Creativity Through Music at Portside Ventura where they plan to offer ticketed events for a smaller intimate audience. Their first concert on Sunday, July 2 features Nicole Taylor, soprano and Natsha Marin on piano. Songs being performed will by Brahms, Rachmaninov, R. Strauss, Chausson and Hahn. You can find tickets on EventBrite.

Quick Notes: The Brite Room in Camarillo is offering an “adult” open mic on Wednesday, June 28; The Doug Webb Group will perform a special tribute to John Coltrane on Saturday, July 1 at the Grape; Heritage Square Summer Concert Series has the Brandon Ragan Project on Friday, July 7; Music Under the Stars kicks off the summer concert series with British Beat on Saturday, July 8 at the Olivas Adobe; Leashless Brewing celebrates their 6th anniversary with Morie & the Heavy Hitters and Kat Hall on Saturday, July 8; And Tommy Quayle returns for another night of his original music at Namba on Saturday, July 8.

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 Music Scene 6/14/23 – 6/27/23

Posted on June 13, 2023 by venturarocks

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

I love summer so much!!! Longer days, more activities including live music and all the beauty that our county provides. I hope you’ll take advantage of some of these events.

Free concerts in the park return to Constitution Park in Camarillo this summer with 24K Magic on June 24, the Kings of 88 on July 8, The 805 Social Club on July 22 and Garth Live on August 5. Residents are encouraged to bring low folding chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. Food trucks will be on site.

The 67^th Conejo Valley Days will run Thursday, June 15 – Sunday, June 25 at Conejo Creek Park South (Janss Road off the 23 Freeway). Typically, the event runs four consecutive days, but this year it will be over two weekends. Live music includes performances from Mike Scully and the Weary Travelers, 805 Social Club, Colette Lovejoy Band and more. Admission is $10 (kids under five are free) and includes the entertainment, but not the carnival rides.Chick Singer Night is switching locations to Namba Arts, downtown Ventura with Kimberly Ford, Karen 805, Sharon Hendrix, Annyett Royale, and Mary Scholz, on Sunday, June 25. And staying with Namba, they’ll host “Ventura City Blitz” featuring local artists such as Blurry Stars (also their summer release party), Aaron Burch, the Late Knights, Dielectric, and Ardi on Saturday, June 17.

New West Summerfest lands at Moorpark College for two days, Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25. It’s quite an eclectic lineup of performers such as Ilya Serov, B. Valentine, Gods of Rock, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and more. Ticket information available at NewWestSymphony.com.

And of course, you’ll want to mark off your calendar for which concerts you want to attend at this year’s Ventura County Fair. There’re only eight concerts this year on the Grandstand Arena stage: Midland, Patti Labelle, Collective Soul, Ashanti, Trace Adkins, 38 Special, Tesla and Dia de la Familia. And as always, the concerts are included in the price of admission to the fair. The fair runs August 2 – 13.

Hozier did an in-store Meet and Greet at Salzer’s Records on Saturday, June 3 with over 400 showing up. Salzer’s reports there were people who came as far as Canada and Brazil to meet him! He couldn’t have been more gracious, polite! Hozier plays the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 28, his newest release, Unreal Unearth drops August 18.

Quick Notes: Elvis Costello & the Imposters at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Wednesday, June 14; Duncan & the Dragonslayers, Stellar Ruins and Los Xiquenos play Bombays on Thursday, June 15; Barrelhouse Wailers will do an in store performance at Salzer’s Records to promote their latest release, “Never Look Back” on Saturday, June 17; Topa Topa Brewing will host their 8th anniversary party on Saturday, June 17, at their Colt Street location with live music throughout the day; Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna play a salsa evening of dance at Cantara Cellars on Thursday, June 22; and Danny Carey (TOOL) returns to the Grape with the Doug Webb Group on Sunday, June 25.