Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Have you settled on a New Year’s resolution yet? If not, may I suggest “dance more” should be at or near the top of your list? If so, you’ll be off to a good start as Ventura County has a plethora of venues offering up New Year’s Eve parties to usher in 2025.
First off, it never ceases to amaze me how terrible some venues continue to be when it comes to promoting their music let alone special events such as New Year’s Eve. I scan social media (Facebook and Instagram), go to their websites, check my email, text and voice mail, and yet I still “stumble upon” last minute gigs. So, for full disclosure, this is the best I have to offer, and as always, most have live music (though I snuck in a DJ or two).
I’ve found three different New Year’s Eve style parties starting with “German” style at Enegren Brewing in Moorpark with Festmeister Hans, Fraulein Roxy and Die Sauerkrauts. Their party runs 11 am – 6 pm.
Then on to the more popular “New York” style parties where the “ball drop” is at 9 pm our time. Onyx in Camarillo has Ray Jaurique; Leashless Brewing has Boom Duo; Poseidon Brewing has the Ronda Ray Band; it’s Tour Support at Ric’s in Camarillo; and Northwind Rhythm perform at the Illocano Association’s New Year’s Eve party in one of the rooms at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
Then the traditional time events where the “ball drops” at midnight west coast time:
Ventura
Doc Rogers Band at the Garage
Easy Wind, People’s Dead at the top room in the Crowne Plaza
Colette Lovejoy Band in a ballroom on the ground floor at the Crowne Plaza
Karen Eden and the Bad Apples at The Greek
The Pennies Band at The Twist on Main
Gio & the High Revivals at Café Fiore
Heart and Soul at Vaquero y Mar
Ojai
Beau Red & the Tailor Maide at the Deer Lodge
Oxnard
Lil Bit of Everything at the Shores
Los Amigos at Knights of Columbus
Vinyl Gypsies with Bruce Barrios MC/DJ at Tides Ballroom, Mandalay Beach
Camarillo
Tin Drum Family at the Twisted Oak
Jeanne Tatum Trio at The Manhattan
I didn’t find live music listed for the following venues, but you know they’ll be hopping with DJs including: Bombay Bar and Grill, Winchesters Grill & Saloon, The Saloon Ventura, The Star Lounge, Sans Souci and Rocks and Drams.
As always, call ahead to see what the cover charge will be and if you require reservations or not; and please, have a designated driver or use a Taxi/Lyft/Uber to get you home safely.
Quick Notes: The Majestic Ventura Theater just added John Oates to their calendar for Thursday, March 13; The Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carrey (TOOL) returns to the Grape on Saturday, December 28; LA Guns play the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, December 28; Katie Leigh is celebrating her birthday by playing the Ojai Pub on Saturday, December 28; Peirano’s hosts the Ventura High Jazz Band on Sunday, December 29; and
TSOL with Radolescents play the Ventura Theater on Thursday, January 2;
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.
