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