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

There have been a number of announcements for live music events as it appears we’re turning the corner on (knock on wood) this pandemic.

The Ojai Blues Fest at the Ojai Art Center was announced with that show being held on Saturday June 4 with Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers, Crooked Eye Tommy, Guy Martin, Chuck Strong & SRBQ, Sandy Haley, and Milo Sledge. Tickets will go for $30 a head and are available through EventBrite.com.

The Ventura Music Festival announced their lineup for their 27th festival for next summer starting Wednesday, July 27 with Adaawe and a free concert in the park. Neither their website, nor their poster indicates which park, but my money is on Mission Park downtown. Adaawe is seven women of the voice and drum performing global soul and African rhythm. Then there’s two weeks with shows Friday through Sunday, July 29 through August 7; all shows at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. Go to VenturaMusicFestival.org for full lineup and ticket information.

JD Drury is starting to announce bands for next summer’s Surf Rodeo. As of yet, no major acts, but a lot of local area favorites will be on the bill including Raging Arb and the Redheads, Yachtley Crew, Highway Starr, Fortunate Youth and a lot more to cover the three days from July 15 – 17 at the Ventura Pier. To keep up with bands and to secure your tickets, go to SurfRodeo.org.

Two shows to entertain attending at Namba Performing Arts include Jazz Modes on February 25 featuring a four-piece jazz outfit with Robert Kyle, Bevan Manson, Sean Riddle and Dean Thomas, and then for something completely different the following evening, February 26, it’s Andre Thierry, award winning musician whose masterful accordion style playing is sure to get you on your feet and in the mood for Mardi Gras. Ticket information for both events can be found at NambaArts.com.

Ventura Music Hall is still on track for their first show on March 22 with G. Love & the Juice. More details coming next issue.

Quick Notes: live music returns to the Margarita Villa in the Ventura Harbor; Chuck Dennis presents jazz, funk and soul with Johnny Britt and special guest Isaiah Venegas at the Grape on Friday, February 25; Mike Watt and the Missingmen play Rock & Roll Pizza in Simi Valley on Friday, February 25; Strey Cellars celebrates their 8th anniversary on Sunday, February 27 with Vanise Terry Band; Kyle Smith is back in town with a date at Winchesters on Sunday, February 27; The Garage is throwing a Mardi Gras party on Saturday, March 5 with Barrelhouse Wailers; a Tribute to the Greats returns for an encore show at the Grape on Saturday, March 5; there’s a punk rock show at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center with Dr. Know, Pink Mist, Tung, and more on Friday, March 4; and Chick Singer Night returns to the Sound Palace with Jodi Farrell, Brittney Burchett, Mia Mormino, Tamara Sue and Meghan Monroe on Saturday, March 5.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Tickets go on sale February 15 for the 5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival which will take place over the weekend of September 9-11. The event will be held at Oxnard Beach Park after a two-year hiatus. Artists on the roster include Althea Rene, Paula Atherton, Eric Darius, Jeannette Harris, Hiroshima, Najee and Jeffrey Osborne. In order to attend, you must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Masks will be highly encouraged for everyone. For more information and to snap up your tickets, go to OxnardJazzFesitval.com.

Concerts for Causes date at the Ventura Theater will be on Saturday, February 12 and will feature Mike Scully & the Weary Travelers, Adaptive, Lira and No Idea. This evening’s show raises money for the Last Stop Cat Sanctuary, a pet sanctuary for aging, sick, and terminally ill pets. There will be a $12 cover. Go VenturaTheater.net for COVID protocols.

The Ventura Harbor Comedy Club will host two shows over the weekend of the 18th. First, it’s the Conga Sessions with Fausto Cuevas III on Friday evening with a $10 cover and then Bubbly Brunch & Brazil with Catina de Luna featuring Otmaro Ruiz on Sunday, February 20 with a $20 cover.

A number of acts have cancelled/postponed dates at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center but those still scheduled include Rockapella on Friday, February 11, Kenny G on Sunday, February 20, and Chicago who continues to tour with three out of seven of their original members on Tuesday, February 22.

Quick Notes: Soulfly plays the Ventura Room at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, February 9 along with Short Fuse, I Greater Than He, Boilerman and Slowbleed; Cadillac Zack presents Teresa James at Cantara Cellars on Friday, February 11, call for tickets (323) 377-5291; The Radolescents will play the Adolescents Blue Album in sequence in its entirety at Rock & Roll Pizza in Simi Valley on Friday, February 11, other bands include the Hajj, iDecline, and the Afraid; Melinda Gibson plays the Angry Ferret Brewing Co. on Saturday, February 12; Donna Butler performs jazz standards for Valentine’s day dinner at Café Fiore; Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta play the Grape on Saturday, February 19; the Storyplayers perform at the Ojai Underground on Saturday, February 19; and the rescheduled Circle Jerks show is Sunday, February 20 at the Ventura Theater.

Then finally, since KPPQ is celebrating its five-year anniversary providing public access radio to the community, that means I too am celebrating five years producing my music show highlighting mostly artists out of the 805. FIVE YEARS!!! Where does the time go? If you’ve produced music sometime during your life and would like to share it with the community, just drop me a line and we’ll see about getting you some airtime on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour. I produce a show every two weeks with each show getting aired Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 pm and Sundays at noon.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

Though the sign wasn’t up the last time I drove past, the construction continues on the Ventura Music Hall (where Discovery was formerly located on Thompson Blvd). More and more shows are being added to their roster, many of which are indie bands, but several are more well known such as Flogging Molly, Gary Numan, and country/bluegrass legend Marty Stuart. At press time, the first show continues to be G. Love & the Juice on March 22. Keep in the loop and bookmark their website VenturaMusicHall.com.

I had to take a double take at the new festival making the circuit with a date coming up in early spring for Ventura, it’s called the Punk in Drublic Craft Beer & Music Festival landing at the Ventura Fairgrounds on March 27. As the website states, the festival is created from the mind and livers of NOFX’s front man Fat Mike and craft beer fanatic/festival promoter Cameron Collins. Ventura’s date features NOFX, Pennywise, Face to Face, Lagwagon, Ill Repute, Dr. Know, the Last Gang and more. Get more information and purchase your tickets at PunkInDrublicFest.com.

I’m so proud of the Grape bringing such talent to Ventura. Case in point, on Thursday, January 27, it’s Brian Charette Trio; Charette was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star: Organ” award and 2015 Hot House Magazine’s “Fan’s Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist”. Last year he placed 3rd in the 2021 Downbeat Critic’s Poll. Rounding out the trio will be Joel Taylor on drums, and Doug Webb on sax.

The Circle Jerks pulled the plug on their 2021 tour, but they’ve rescheduled dates for 2022. You can catch them at the Ventura Theater on Sunday, February 20 with all tickets previously purchased being honored. Don’t forget the Ventura Theater requires a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event, OR proof of vaccination for entry. Masks are also required when not actively eating or drinking; and as a gentle reminder per the Ventura Theater’s website, no moshing is allowed.

Quick Notes: Twist on Main is temporarily closed for upgrades, but reopening early February; Michael Feinstein plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Saturday, February 5; SuperDuperKyle returns to Ventura Theater Friday, March 18; and the Young Ones showcase features up and coming talent at the Vine on Monday evenings with Beckett & the Rebels playing January 31.

And finally, congratulations to Tommy Quayle on the release of his latest record Awakenings. It was recorded over the past two years during the pandemic. JP Hesser co-produced, mixed and recorded most of the cuts. You can hear the title single on my radio show, the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM, or listen online at CAPSMedia.org/radio. The program runs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 and Sundays at noon.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The winner of the first BlackCouch Studios Music Showdown was announced this week! The friendly competition between 16 musicians here in Ventura was the brainchild of Jerry McWorter (Hi-Hat Entertainment) and Guy Martin (BlackCouch Studios). They placed sixteen names in three different hats (8 guitarists, four bass players, four drummers) then arbitrarily put together four bands by pulling names out of the hat. The members showed up without knowing who their bandmates were, nor the song they were to record. They were given three hours to record their rendition of Midnight Rambler. The winner of the first round (group 1 & group 2) and the winner of the second round (group 3 & group 4) went head to head on YouTube with viewers voting for their favorite rendition without knowing who the players were. I want to thank both Guy and Jerry for being on my radio show and for letting me play the winner on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour this week. The winning group was #2 with winning musicians Ray Jaurique, Joe Baugh, Hank Van Sickel and Chris Jenson. Speaking from the heart, I loved every single rendition and as we discussed on my radio show, this project was great for the heart and soul of Ventura’s music scene. I’m looking forward to the next installment of the BlackCouch Studios Music Showdown!

The Tavern at 211 E. Santa Clara Street in Ventura has switched gears and as the first of the year are now called A Bar Called Country where they’ll be offering line dancing every Sunday at 5. The live music I’ve found so far includes Hard Rooster, Brother Earl and the Cousins and Dan Hitchcock on Thursday, January 13, and Medicine Hat with the full band on Fri January 14.

According to their official website, Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen’s project, Smith/Kotzen’s very first live date in the US is schedule for the Ventura Theater on January 15. Smith is best known as one of the main guitarists for Iron Maiden and Kotzen from the Winery Dogs, as well as having worked with both Mr. Big and Poison. Also playing the theater this month the Stuts on January 23 and Subtronics on January 27.

Quick Notes: The Bank of America Performing Arts Center in TO has REO Speedwagon on January 12, and David Foster on January 19; Kruelty, a band marketed as Tokyo disgusting music, plays with Apparition, Slowbleed and Upon Stone at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Friday, January 14; The Sewer has a special Sunday Psycho Sunday event on January 16 with Frenetic Trio from Brazil, joining the bill, The Cursed Bastards; and Kelly’s Lot’s performance at Namba has been rescheduled to March 26, but still on the books are Franck Goldwasser aka Paris Slim on January 15 and Dreamland, music of Joni Mitchell featuring Kimberly Ford on January 22.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

I would like to thank all Ventura Breeze readers for their continued support of this publication. Publisher and owner, Sheldon Brown, truly loves this town as do all the staff. It’s pretty amazing to see what goes into publishing a newspaper and the care and respect the writers have for this town. As we usher in 2022, I would like to personally wish you a happy, safe and prosperous New Year!

In our last issue, I covered a lot of the bars and venues holding New Year’s Eve parties (which is available online on the Breeze website at VenturaBreeze.com), but you can also find the parties listed here on this page. New York style means they’ll be celebrating the New Year at 9 pm (same as New York), otherwise it’s Midnight our time. If you need more details like times and whether there is a cover charge, you can go to Venturarocks.com for more information; the website now covers all of Ventura County.

Ventura Music Festival is bringing guitarist extraordinaire, Tommy Emmanuel to town on January 20 at Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Added to the bill, English guitar star Mike Dawes. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

It’s good to see the Ventura Theater booking more concerts. Shows coming up include January 15 with Smith/Kotzen, which is a collaboration between Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden and Richie Kotzen of the Winery Dogs; The Struts, Strange Days are Over Tour, is on January 23, and Subtronics, Boogie T, Levell Up, Phonon and Space Wizard on January 27.

Quick Notes: The Ventura City Council has voted to continue Main Street Moves which means not only will that four block section will remain closed to thru traffic, but the music downtown at Main and California will continue; enjoy Mariachi Gallos de Oro Sundays at Vaquero y Mar (formerly the Hong Kong Inn) from 11 am – 2 pm; Kelly’s Lot plays Namba on Saturday, January 8; and Tharon Weighill from Dr. T and the Blues Criminals is the latest featured artist on the VenturaRockSpot.com.

And finally, condolences going out to the family and friends of Dustin Maddalone. I remember him best as the singer for the Ska Daddyz out of the Nard some 25-30 years ago. The memorial posts on social media speak to his kindness and talent, he touched so many lives. R.I.P. Dustin.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

The Breeze officially has one more issue before the end of 2021, but I know you need to make those plans now on how you want to usher in the New Year, so I have a few suggestions for you. Be sure to call places like the Crowne Plaza, Twist on Main, the Greek, the Manhattan and Café Fiore to see if advance tickets are necessary and to reserve your place.

It’s Dance Invasion at the Crowne Plaza, Free Love Project at Café Fiore, Magnificent Bastards at Gigi’s Cocktails, CRV at the Greek in the Harbor, Breaking Bored play the Keynote Lounge, the Mighty Cash Cats and the Linda Ronstadt Experience at the Moose Lodge in Ventura, Peirano’s has a silent DJ, it’s the House Arrest Band at the Twist on Main, Jayden Secor at Winchesters, plus your rockin’ DJs at Bombay’s, the Tavern, the Garage, Six Chow House and all the other bars around town. Nearby, it’s Jeanne Tatum at the Manhattan in Camarillo, Vinyl Gypsies at the Raven Tavern in Oxnard, Steph’s Rockin’ Road Show at the Shores in Oxnard, Toxic Sushi at the Twisted Oak Tavern & Brewery in Camarillo, plus you know it’s going to be a party when the legendary funk/rock/soul band War (“Why Can’t We be Friends?,” “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine,” “The Cisco Kid” and more) plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

And for those who can’t last until midnight, you can still have fun via “East Coast Style NYE parties” meaning they celebrate at 9 pm (Midnight East Coast time) with Jacob Marquez & the Good Vibes at Leashless Brewing and Double Trouble at Poseidon Brewing Co.

Though the Ventura Music Hall is still under construction, bands are being lined up and advance tickets are on sale for dates in late March and April including G. Love & the Juice on March 22, Collie Buddz on March 27, Gary Numan plus I speak Machine on April 5, and Hot Chip with LA Priest on April 15. Tickets are averaging just under $30. Keep up via their website VenturaMusicHall.com.

Quick Notes: Grapes and Hops with a Twist is changing their name again, this time to the Twist on Main; Cadillac Zack presents Eugene Hideaway Bridges at Cantara Cellars on Friday, December 17; Danny Carey of Tool returns to town with a jazz gig at the Grape on Friday, December 17, when he plays drums for the Doug Webb Group; it’s Punk Rock Tuesday at Rock & Roll Pizza in Camarillo on the 21st with the Robot Uprising, FUSE, and the Afraid; and Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer host their traditional Christmas day gig at the Lookout Bar & Grill, it’s a potluck with the kitchen closed, but bar opened;

And finally, just a quick editorial comment from the peanut gallery (me): We are still in the middle of a pandemic and we still have a mask mandate in place; the Ventura County Public Health issued a health order requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. With that being said, if a venue decides to not adhere, or they don’t require their wait staff to wear masks, then I would highly recommend posting a notice before charging patrons to enter said venue; if they don’t, in my opinion. that’s just bad manners.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

I had to think long and hard to figure out the last time I took off two weeks for a real vacation and honestly, I couldn’t think of a single time! I’m back newly refreshed from Italy where I avoided the news, I was without social media, in fact, I didn’t even bring a laptop! So now I’m ready to take in live music again, and thankfully there is plenty to be had!

Let’s start with the next Chick Singer Night (CSN) which will headline Rosemary Butler at the Sound Palace/Studio B on Saturday, November 6. Butler has not only opened for the Rolling Stones with the Ladybirds in 1964, but she went on to be a backup singer for the likes of Bonnie Raitt Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Neil Young, Boz Scaggs and more! This one helps benefit Foodshare of Ventura County and will also feature performances from Melanie Taylor, Kiki Ebsen, Natalie Gelman and Michael Henszey.

I took a look at the Carolyn Sills Combo tour schedule and I have to admit, it is impressive with dates starting up in July playing gigs up and down California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. Then I took a look at all the impressive quotes about the band, well if you’re into Americana Folk, you won’t want to miss their date at Namba Arts on Saturday, November 13. Named Academy of Western Artists Western Swing Female of the Year in 2021, the 2020 NEXTie band of the year, and 2018 Ameripolitan award winner, you know you’ll get your money’s worth! You’ll need proof of vaccination or Covid test to enter; tickets are only $20.

John Batdorf whose credits include singing lead on Silver’s “Wham Bam” which appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 in 2017, will play the Ojai Underground on Friday, November 5 and then with 12 albums under their belt, recording and touring since the mid-80s, Marleys Ghost will play the following night, Saturday, November 6.

The Canyon at Oxnard Performing Arts Center has several shows lined up in the next week or so starting with a Holiday Spectacular from Cirque Musica on Thursday, November 11, it’s Lisa Lisa & Trinere on Friday, November 12, then on Saturday, the 13th, it’s Lou Gramm of Foreigner with Asia featuring John Payne. The OPAC also continues to host R&B Sundays on the patio with the House Arrest Band from 1-4 pm.

And in the battle for best dive bar, Gigi’s is offering up live music with Teenage Bottlerocket and the Last Gang on Friday, November 5; and the following week it’s Bone Maggot, I Greater than He, Seconds to Centures and Glass Stab on Saturday, November 13. Both shows have a cover charge at the door.

Quick Notes: West Side Story is now playing at the High Street Arts Center in Moorpark through November 14; Cadillac Zack presents Nick Schnebelen at Cantara Cellars on Friday, November 5; The 805 Brass and Los Padres Sound Horn Quartet play Libbey Bowl on Sunday, November 7; and the Doug Webb Quartet featuring Jimmy Haslip from Yellowjackets will perform at the Grape on Wednesday, November 10.

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.