Monthly Archives: May 2024

Ventura Music Scene 5/29/24 – 6/11/24

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
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With Memorial Day behind us, we’re looking at the summer season with so many special events involving live music from tribute bands, to classical music to rock, rap and more. You may want to schedule vacations around these happenings, many of which reoccur every year.

The Ojai Blues fest returns to the Ojai Art Center with a Friday night kick-off party featuring Deb Ryder and RJ Mischo, then on Saturday, June 1, it’s a full afternoon of blues with Crooked Eye Tommy and Friends, Dianne Miller, Red-Headed Stepchild, Blues Bullet and more! Tickets for this one available through EventBrite.com.

The Ojai Music Festival features classical and contemporary music and will run Thursday, June 6, through Sunday, June 9, at a couple of different venues starting with a free concert at the Libbey Park Gazebo on Thursday at 6:30 pm followed by the official opening concert at Libbey Bowl at 8 pm. The entire line-up including programs and ticket availability can be found at OjaiFestival.org.

Surf Rodeo released a poster highlighting artists playing Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6, though I can’t decipher who is playing when and which day. The lineup includes Chris Janson, Iam Tongi, Denm, Jim Lindberg from Pennywise, The Aquadolls and more plus several local bands such as Shaky Feelin, Looking West, Jayden Secor, Tribal Me, Honey Owl and of course the obligatory set from Raging Arb and the Redheads. You can get the lowdown at SurfRodeo.org.

Happy to report the X Games will feature live music all three days which will be included in the price of admission. Their schedule has been posted with Oxymorrons, AG Club and Wiz Khallifa on Friday, June 28, Mija, Devault and Kaskade on Saturday, June 29, and Metalachi, Blame my Youth and Fever 333 on Sunday, June 30.

I’m seeing mixed responses on social media to the Ventura County Fair’s lineup as well as their new VIP section located in front of the stage. They’re branding it as “Go free, or go VIP,” but not everyone is happy to have to pay to be in front of the stage now. All concerts will continue to be included in the price of admission, but if you want to be up close, you will need to buy a VIP ticket for that specific concert. Rolled out so far, I Love the 90s tour, Sublime with Rome, Dustin Lynch, Ludacris and Gary Allan. Tickets go on sale May 30 at VenturaCountyFair.org.

Quick Notes: The Rubicon’s “Ventura Live” concert series continues through the middle of June; TD Lind and the Aviators play June 1 at the Santa Paula Theater Center; and there will be a special Sunday matinee show at the Garage on June 9 with Nocturnal Drifters along with special guest, Hard Rooster.

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 5/15/24 – 5/28/24

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

The Strawberry Festival returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds for the second year in a row and let’s hope lessons were learned on traffic control because last year was a hot mess. Go to their website which provides information on free shuttle services which not only saves you $20 in parking fees, but you also won’t have to deal with stop and go traffic. There will also be a free bike valet (first come, first served) for those of us close enough to ride our bikes to the fairgrounds. Enjoy live music which is included in the price of admission from Drew Dolan, Smooth Sound of Santana, Surf City All-Stars, Petty or Not, Conner Cherland, Will Breman, Rey Fresco and more. Tickets for Saturday, May 18 and Sunday May 19 can be found at CaStrawberryFestival.org.

The Rubicon concert series, Ventura Live, continues with a special event coming up on May 26 called The Palomino Nights Country and Rhythm Revue benefit concert. There will be performances by Mark Masson & Jam Grass, Beau Ted & Tailor Maide, the Van Allen Twins, Buck Moon, Josephoenix and Jay Ponti. The evening is sure to get your toes tapping and your heart racing to the sounds of bluegrass and true-blue country standards. Proceeds support Rubicon’s leadership and acting programs to empower economically challenged young people. Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.

I kept waiting to find out what the music would be for X Games hailed as sports & music festival last summer to no avail, but I’m pumped to announce there will be live music included in the price of admission for X Games Ventura 2024. As a press time, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated rap artist Wiz Khalifa will perform on Friday, June 28 and eight-time Grammy nominated Kaskade will offer up electronic dance music on Saturday, June 29. More to come as they roll the artists out.

Shout Outs: Firstly, congratulations to local musician Jayden Secor for graduating Magna Cum Laude with both a music production degree and a business administration degree from Cal Lutheran; and secondly, I couldn’t be more proud of Gaby Montiel for being selected by Successfully, a global outlet, which highlights a handful of people for 2024 from around the world from all different walks of life who inspire. I hope you take a moment to click here and read Gaby’s story on Successfully.World.

Quick Notes: Angry Ferret in Moorpark is celebrating their 3rd anniversary with DVR on Saturday, May 18; Gigi’s has a free show with Popperz and Dogsled out of Houston, TX, on Thursday, May 16; locals Romper open for Stiff Little Fingers and Ricky Warwick at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Thursday, May 23; and reggae legends, Burning Spear play the Ventura Music Hall on Tuesday, May 28.

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 5/1/24 – 5/14/24

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

Sheldon Brown, thank you for giving me the opportunity to cover Ventura’s music scene. Your paper brings so much happiness to those who read it; your contribution to our town has been immense. I’m sure your son will carry the torch in fine fashion. I’d say I’ll miss you, but I know we’ll continue to see you out and about and of course we’ll have those occasional lunches to catch up. Love you!!

Now to business… while the Strawberry Festival will be held later this month at the Ventura Fairgrounds, the Moorpark Apricot Festival returns after a five-year hiatus. Fun fact: Moorpark is actually named after the fruit, the Moorpark Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) which is the most common apricot in the world. Over half a century ago they were known for growing this variety and for a while were known as the Apricot Capital of the World. Unlike the Strawberry Festival, this one is free to the public sponsored by the Daly Group and the City of Moorpark. Live music will include performances by CLU Mariachi ensemble, Conjunto Zacamandu, Moorpark Symphony Orchestra and Moorpark College Jazz. This fun-filled day falls on Saturday, May 11, 11 am – 5 pm on Historic High Street. Get all the data you need at MoorparkApricotFestival.com including where to park and all the other activities and art exhibits for the day.

The Rubicon Theatre’s “Ventura Live” music series offers up a variety of one-night shows from Heather Youman’s evening celebrating the 60s and 70s most iconic women in music to Tony and Emmy award-winner, Lillias White who performs some of Broadway’s best-loved songs. You’ll want to go to the Rubicon website (RubiconTheatre.org) to see all performances which will run through June so far.

The Ventura Music Hall added a number of Reggae shows including Fortunate Youth on May 23, Burning Spear on May 28, and Katchafire on July 20.

And the Libbey Bowl calendar keeps filling up for the summer as they just added Queen Nation and So Petty for August, Thievery Corporation for Thursday, Sept 5, and Angel Olsen for September 11.

Quick Notes: Cantara Cellars hosts Kelly’s Lot on Friday, May 3; Duncan and the Dragonslayers return to Bombay’s on Saturday, May 4, along with RXTC and Casual Business; Be warned, Raging Arb and Friends take over Duke’s on Saturday, May 4; Plan B is providing live music again with Taylor Made Tapestry on Sunday, May 5, and Rock the Boat on Saturday, May 11; The Park View Courts music series continues with a performance by Will Breman on Tuesday, May 7; Guy Martin plays the Grape on Saturday afternoon, May 11; and The Psychedelic Furs play the Majestic Ventura Theater on Tuesday, May 14 with opening act John Doe and Exene.

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.