Tag Archives: Local Love Project

Ventura Music Scene 4/30/25 – 5/13/25

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
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The Ventura Music Festival’s free concert this year on Saturday, May 3, is coming up fast with such bands as Ticket to Ride (Beatles covers), the Blue Mountain Tribe, Barrelhouse Wailers, Rey Fresco and more. The family-friendly event starts at Mission Park next to the museum at noon, then after the last performance, the second stage takes over at Main and Chestnut aligning with Limon y Sal’s Cinco de May celebration at around 5 pm with not only Rey Fresco, but several salsa and mariachi bands. Along with the music, vendors will be set up as well as a vintage car show.

Another Ventura Music Festival event (this one ticketed) comes the following Friday, May 9th, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with Donny Most and his Band (Most played Ralph Malph, Richie’s redheaded friend on Happy Days). The band will perform standards from legends such as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dean Martin. Go to VenturaMusicFestival.org to see if tickets are still available.

May the 4th (be with you) will see the community gather to support The Local Love Project and their 3rd Annual Blues, BBQ & Portside Views benefit. This year features music from Kelly’s Lot and the Erik Lemaire Band and it is being held at Portside Ventura Harbor on Sunday, May 4th from 1-5 pm. Tickets are $20 and available via TotalLocalVC.com.

Namba Arts is helping to celebrate Mother’s Day with a concert featuring American Songbook Today performing, “Songs for Mothers and Those They Love.” This joyful tribute to moms everywhere will include songs from David Crosby, Stephen Sondheim, Janis Ian, Simon and Garfunkel and more. Find out more at NambaArts.com.

Ozomatli is celebrating 30 years with a show at the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, June 27. General admission tickets are on sale now. I also saw the venue added a show with Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel for Friday, July 18. This one will be a fully-seated concert featuring the son of the legendary Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) who recently passed away in 2024.

Mackenzie Carpenter and Jackson Dean have been added along with headliner, Kane Brown, for this summer’s Boots & Brews Country Music Festival on Sunday, June 29, presented by Surfers Point Live at the fairgrounds.

Don’t forget tickets for Music Under the Stars go on sale Tuesday, May 6. You won’t want to wait too long as most concerts do sell out.

Quick Notes: Looking West plays Rincon Brewery on Friday May 2; Sick Boy plays Poseidon Brewing on Friday, May 3; Dirty Cello return to Ventura County for a show at the Ojai Underground on Saturday, May 3; Bloody Mary Morning bring new music to their show at Bombay’s on Friday, May 9; and Robyn Hitchcock plays the Deer Lodge on Tuesday, May 13 (tickets available through EventBrite).

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 5/18/23 – 5/30/23

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
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Congratulations to Brandon, aka Anderson .Paak and his sell out annual fundraiser for the Brandon Anderson Foundation. The concert on Friday, May 12 at the fairgrounds didn’t disappoint fans with performances from local artists and headliners the Isley Brothers and none other than the legendary, Smokey Robinson. At 83, the man is still bringing it, releasing new music, Gasms, and kicking off a tour of his own. .Paak House 23 was his first date on his Summer tour.

The California Strawberry Festival will be held for the first time at the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of May 20 and May 21. Along with all the vendors, and strawberry related food items, music will fill both days on a few different stages. Among the entertainment will be performances from Arise Roots, Jayden Secor Band, Music Freqs Band, Caliente 805 and more.

And if you’re willing to travel a bit, the Happy Face Music Festival will take place on Saturday, May 27, at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley. Headlining this one will be The Spazmatics (always a hoot), along with performances from The Fabba Show, Kelly’s Lot, The Yacht Groove, and Barry Keenan. This one is hosted by the Rotary Club of Simi Runrise.

Props going out to Spencer Barnitz of Spencer the Gardener on the documentary, “More Than Just a Party” which chronicles Spencer’s musical journey from the 70s to today. The sold-out premiere of the documentary will be held at the New Vic Theater in Santa Barbara. You won’t want to miss the band performing at Tony’s Pizzeria on Thursday, May 27.

Keep this one on your radar, a fundraiser for the Local Love Project will be held on Sunday, June 4th with performances from Kelly’s Lot, Shawn Jones, and the Bobby Hart Band. Along with all the music, a BBQ, local wine and beers will be available for sale. The primary goal of Totally Local VC’s- the Local Love Project is to activate and organize members of our community in the aftermath of a disaster within our 805 communities and to provide relief and support to those affected by disaster. This one will be held at the Portside Club House (1196 Portside Drive).

Congratulations to Winchesters Grill & Saloon on their 26th anniversary. Join in on the celebrations, Sunday, May 21, with the 805’s dance party band favorite, The Bomb (3-6 pm).

Quick Notes: Tickets are on sale now for Yngwie Malmsteen & Glenn Hughes at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center for September 9; Creatures of Content (Pennsylvania) play The Six on Friday May 19; Big Bad Voodoo plays the Libbey Bowl on Saturday, May 20; and The Winery Dogs (Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Richie Kotzen) play the Ventura Theater on Saturday, May 20.

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.