Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The Strawberry Festival returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds for the second year in a row and let’s hope lessons were learned on traffic control because last year was a hot mess. Go to their website which provides information on free shuttle services which not only saves you $20 in parking fees, but you also won’t have to deal with stop and go traffic. There will also be a free bike valet (first come, first served) for those of us close enough to ride our bikes to the fairgrounds. Enjoy live music which is included in the price of admission from Drew Dolan, Smooth Sound of Santana, Surf City All-Stars, Petty or Not, Conner Cherland, Will Breman, Rey Fresco and more. Tickets for Saturday, May 18 and Sunday May 19 can be found at CaStrawberryFestival.org.
The Rubicon concert series, Ventura Live, continues with a special event coming up on May 26 called The Palomino Nights Country and Rhythm Revue benefit concert. There will be performances by Mark Masson & Jam Grass, Beau Ted & Tailor Maide, the Van Allen Twins, Buck Moon, Josephoenix and Jay Ponti. The evening is sure to get your toes tapping and your heart racing to the sounds of bluegrass and true-blue country standards. Proceeds support Rubicon’s leadership and acting programs to empower economically challenged young people. Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.
I kept waiting to find out what the music would be for X Games hailed as sports & music festival last summer to no avail, but I’m pumped to announce there will be live music included in the price of admission for X Games Ventura 2024. As a press time, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated rap artist Wiz Khalifa will perform on Friday, June 28 and eight-time Grammy nominated Kaskade will offer up electronic dance music on Saturday, June 29. More to come as they roll the artists out.
Shout Outs: Firstly, congratulations to local musician Jayden Secor for graduating Magna Cum Laude with both a music production degree and a business administration degree from Cal Lutheran; and secondly, I couldn’t be more proud of Gaby Montiel for being selected by Successfully, a global outlet, which highlights a handful of people for 2024 from around the world from all different walks of life who inspire. I hope you take a moment to click here and read Gaby’s story on Successfully.World.
Quick Notes: Angry Ferret in Moorpark is celebrating their 3rd anniversary with DVR on Saturday, May 18; Gigi’s has a free show with Popperz and Dogsled out of Houston, TX, on Thursday, May 16; locals Romper open for Stiff Little Fingers and Ricky Warwick at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Thursday, May 23; and reggae legends, Burning Spear play the Ventura Music Hall on Tuesday, May 28.
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.
