Monthly Archives: September 2026

Ventura Music Scene 9/30/26 – 10/13/26

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
artworkWith fall comes all the Oktoberfest festivities through October. One of the biggest evnts will be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, over 3 days, October 2, 3 and 4. Along with beers, pretzels, German food, an artisan market with local vendors and carnival rides for the kids there will be plenty of live music from Ladyhosen, Die Matterhorns, Zeitgist Oktoberfest Band, Hazelnuss Das Music and a lot more! The VenturaCountyFair.org website will have all the details and ticket information.

Because of his huge impact on the Nardcore music scene, a memorial show for Joe Rivas will be held at the Ventura Theater on October 20 featuring such bands as Good Riddance, No Motiv, The Missing 23rd, In Control, Whereabouts and more. Tickets go for under $30 (depending on place of purchase) but the monies raised will benefit the Joe Rivas Memorial Fund which will grant awards to local Ventura County youth to further their passion in the musical arts.

Pianist, Mike Garson, returns to the Grape for an evening featuring Bowie on Saturday, October 10. Garson played with Bowie as early as 1972 (the best years in my humble opinion) for about 20 years. A quote found on Garson’s website from Bowie states, ““It is pointless to talk about his ability as a pianist. He is exceptional. However, there are very, very few musicians, let alone pianists, who naturally understand the movement and free thinking necessary to hurl themselves into experimental or traditional areas of music, sometimes, ironically, at the same time. Mike does this with such enthusiasm that it makes my heart glad just to be in the same room with him.” If you’re a Bowie fan, you won’t want to miss this one.

British reggae artist and Grammy-nominated artist, Pato Banton, has a couple of shows in the area. First, he’ll do a show along with Kainoa Tiger & Aloha 805 and Chasing Sun at Tony’s Pizzeria on Thursday, October 1, and then he’ll be at Heritage Square for Reggae Sunday on Sunday, October 11 with OnePeople and Kainoa Tiger & Aloha 805. Banton is also a member of the British Music Hall of Fame and received a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for his community work to reduce gun crime as well as his youth outreach efforts.

Quick Notes: Ventura Music Festival is just around the corner, October 15 – 18, check out VenturaMusicFestival.org for all the shows and for ticket information; tickets for Elvin Bishop are on sale now for his November 18th fully seated show at the Ventura Music Hall; The Used show at the Ventura Theater for October 8 is sold out; Kyle Smith returns for a show at Mrs. Olson’s on Friday, October 9; and the Blues Jam on Wednesdays continues to pick up steam at Bombay’s.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows that you would like help publicizing? Please send all information, short or long, to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, visit www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Scene 9/16/26 – 9/29/26

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

It’s time to get those cowboy boots and hats on and scoot on over to Plaza Park in Ventura for the Boots & Brews Country Music Festival on Sunday, September 20. If you’re a tad bit confused wondering whether we already had a Boots and Brews this year, well don’t be, because the good folks at CBF Productions also held one in June. This installment features country music stars, Bailey Zimmerman, Rodney Atkins, Frankie Ballard, and Ventura’s own, Jayden Secor. For tickets and more information, go to BootsAndBrews.com.

Art Walk Ventura features over 300 artists, in over two dozen venues, including a cinefest, and of course loads of live music. Just downtown alone, there will be two stages, one across from Mission Park and one at California and Main Streets, plus the WAV outdoor amphitheater will have performances both days as well. The event runs on both Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, and will feature performances by Shaky Feelin’, Mathew Bartels, Ashford Gordon & Bop City, Mister Ree Sade Champagne, Jesse Rivkin & Friends, and lots more. Go to Artwalkventura.org for full schedule of events.

If you love clam chowder, and you love live music, then you won’t want to miss this year’s ChowderFest at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard on Saturday, September 19. This ticketed event features savory chowders from the area’s top seafood venues, and when you add to that live music from Kelly’s Lot, well that’s a day well spent. For advance tickets, go to cimmvc.org.

From chowder to bananas, this next event is free for the whole family. The Banana Festival will be held on Saturday, September 26 at the Port of Hueneme and runs from 11-6 pm with live music all day featuring Instone, Twisted Gypsy, Gabrielito y La Verdad and Ocho Estrellas Mariachi. Along with the live music, there will be port tours available as well as a kid’s zone, vendors and of course tasty eats! Find out more at Bananaportfest.com.

Quick Notes: Big Thief plays two sold out shows at the Libbey Bowl September 19 and 20; Ashley Hoyer & Jade Hendrix play OVA Arts Gallery in Ojai on Friday, September 19; Casual Business date at VCBC on Saturday, September 19; the music at Bombay’s on Saturday, September 19 is a fundraiser for Amanda Peacock; Spencer the Gardener plays Bombay’s on Sunday, September 20; Keanu Reeve’s band, Dogstar, returns to Ventura for a show at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Fri 9/25; Shawn Jones Big Band Project returns to the Grape on Friday, September 25; and just a head’s up, the Thursday Grateful Dead night continues at Winchester’s, but the band name is now officially called Anthem of the Sun as they retire the name, People’s Dead.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows that you would like help publicizing? Please send all information, short or long, to Pam@VenturaRocks.com. For updated music listings daily, visit www.VenturaRocks.com.