Monthly Archives: March 2025

Ventura Music Scene 3/19/25 – 4/1/25

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

It looks like yours truly will be the emcee for this year’s Ojai Blues Fest scheduled for Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 at the Ojai Arts Center. Tommy Marsh returns with a stellar lineup including performances by Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, Joey Delgado, Katie Skene, Smokey & Friends, and Teresa Russell on Saturday, but the night before not only will Crooked Eye Tommy play, but there will be a special concert by Celso Salim & Darryl Cariere. Celso has won five Independent Music Awards including Best Blues Album and finished 3rd place at the 2019 Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge; and that same year the Celso Salim Band won the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award as best harp player of the year. Tickets are on sale now at OjaiBluesFest.BrownPaperTickets.com.

The KHAY Fest is coming up fast. This year the headliner is Justin Moore along with performances by Locash, Dillon Carmichael and Caught Red Handed. This one will be held at the Camarillo Airport on Saturday, April 12. Proceeds will benefit First Responders, Ride for the Blue, and Food Share. You can find out more and secure your tickets at KHAY.com.

Saturday, March 22, will be a special night with tributes to the music that has been engrained in our subconscious over the decades. I’m talking about songs that evoke a time in our past that at least for me, always brings a smile to my face. First at the Majestic Ventura Theater, it’s “What the World Needs Now: the Bacharach Songbook Live” featuring Todd Rundgren and special guests. Bacharach had so many award-winning songs with no less than 50 top 40 hits, six Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and an Emmy; if you’re over 40 (and for many under), I’m sure his music has touched your life.

Then, a couple blocks over from the Majestic on a smaller scale, Namba Arts will host local artists covering several Oscar-winning songs, from “Moon River” to “Over the Rainbow.” Expect performances by Jodi Farrell, Michael Henszey, Lauren Brown, Kerri Climer, Julie Hamann and more.

Quick Notes: Live music returns to the re-branded Victorian Tavern on Thursday, March 20 with Cory B. Clay & the Twains; the rescheduled Jerry’s Middle Finger is set for Friday, March 21, at the Ventura Music Hall; Shaky Feelin’ plays the Harbor Cove Café on Saturday, March 22; the Ventura Music Festivals brings Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles to the Crowne Plaza on Saturday, March 22 with a concert by Ticket to Ride; it’s an afternoon of hard rock anthems and more at Tony’s Pizzeria on Saturday, March 29 featuring the Monsters of Pop, Fallen Saints, Super Freaks and the M-80s; and Portside Ventura hosts the Ska Daddyz on Saturday, March 29.

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 3/5/25 – 3/18/25

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
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St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday this year, so most celebrations at local venues will offer all the bells and whistles, along with Irish Whiskey, Celtic music and more the weekend before. That being said, a number of venues will also have live music on the actual day including Boatyard Pub with Ken Devoe, Damaged Goods at the Ojai Valley Brewery and you can count on Ventura City Firefighters Pipes & Drums to make the circuit as well as Gold Coast Bag Pipes who will play 15-20 minutes from venue to venue including The Shores, Gigi’s, Ric’s in Camarillo, Lookout Bar & Grill in Oxnard and O’Leary’s. And though I couldn’t find anything documented on what Dargan’s has planned for the big day, you know there will be a line to get in, and I’m pretty sure Celtic music will be involved.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be hosted on Saturday, March 15, starting at 10 am on Main Street. The procession starts at Lincoln Drive and will end up at Fir Street, which is where Downtown Main Street Moves begins. This year’s theme is “Show-Me You’re Irish.” You can count on spirited dancers, amazing costumes, horses, antique cars, service organizations, high school bands, and of course floats with music typically including those from Totally Local VC, and the Grape.

As the parade ends, the Main Street Moves St. Paddy’s Street Fair begins with over 45 vendors and live music dispersed throughout downtown including the Pipes at Winchesters. Then at 4 pm, “The Ultimate St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl” begins with several venues participating; this is a ticketed event via EventBrite, but you can still take in all the fun just being downtown!

A Fundraising event for the Ventura Music Festival will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday, March 22 featuring Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles including a special performance by The Beatles tribute band, Ticket to Ride. An optional VIP dinner fundraiser will precede the event. Find out more and get your tickets at VenturaMusicFestival.org.

The Twist on Main has gone through many changes and many ownerships over the past ten or so years, and it’s going through yet another one with a new partner and new name and branding, Gibson’s Neighborhood Bar. The announcement was posted via social media on February 25.

Quick Notes: Jerry Cantrell plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Wednesday, March 5; Raging Arb plays an afternoon gig at Bombay’s on Saturday, March 15, starting at 1 pm; Vaquero y Mar hosts a punk rock show on Saturday afternoon, March 15, starting at 3 pm with the Neurotics, Romper and All-a-Blur; Katie Skene’s album release party will be held at the Ojai Deer Lodge on Saturday, March 15 with Max Kasch opening; John Oates plays the Majestic Ventura Theatre on Thursday, March 13; and finally, on March 17, VenturaRocks.com celebrates 16 years providing live music listings to the community.

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.