Maybe it was the roses | Ventura Rocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Deadheads rejoice with the inaugural Maybe It was the Roses music festival to be held at the Crowne Plaza running Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31. The ticketed event promotes music, spirit and connection, inspired by the legacy of the Grateful Dead (GoldenRoadFestival.com). Typically, concerts are either held upstairs in the ballroom, or along the beachfront promenade, but this three-day festival will take over the Crowne Plaza’s parking lot. I highly recommend using a rideshare service or park downtown as the City’s parking structure will fill up quickly. Some of the highlights to look forward to include special performances with artists sitting in with several bands such as the legendary Don Was, Kanika Moore, Jeffrey Brown (Blue Man Group sans blue make up), Zoe Ellis (Phil Lesh and Frends) and more.

The final week of May also offers the Ojai Blues Fest at the Ojai Art Center which runs Friday and Saturday with several local blues artists including Ray Jaurique, TD Lind and the Aviators, Ashford Gordon, Tommy Marsh (who returns from Nashville to produce the event) and several other artists. For ticket information go to OjaiArtcenter.org/special-events. But if you’re in town, and low on cash, then you can check out two extra side shows for free: Eric Lemaire will be at Sam’s Place on Friday and Milo Sledge at Feros Ferio on Saturday.

With two months to go, the Ventura County Fair has finally started rolling out this year’s Grandstand Stage concerts. By my press deadline, the lineup includes Bush on Wednesday, July 29, Iration on Friday, July 31, Jake Owen on Saturday, August 1, Ashanti featuring Bow Wow on Monday, August 3, Switchfoot & Hoobastank on Tuesday, August 4 and Nate Smith on Wednesday, August 5. Don’t forget, all concerts are included in the price of admission to the fair, however if you want VIP to get closer to the stage, you’ll need to pay an additional fee which is available starting Wednesday, May 27 (VCfair.org)

The Boots & Brews Country Music Festival will be held at Plaza Park this year on June 13 with Cole Swindell, Gretchen Wilson, Lanco, Jayden Secor and Caiden Wallace. Get your tickets at BootsandBrews.com.Quick Notes: OakHeart Music Festival is being held Saturday, May 30 in Thousand Oaks with Tyler Hubbard, Uncle Kracker and more; Downtown Ventura hosts line dancing on Wednesdays with Jayden Secor and the Ventucky Stompers; Palomazo Music Series continues with LaOx on Friday, May 29, downtown Oxnard; and Santa Paula Cruise night hosts the Red Rock Road Band on Friday, June 5.

Finally, I’m sorry to report Onyx is closing their doors with their last day of business being Sunday, May 31. Their new chapter is Olive & Quince, a catering & personal chef business.

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
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

There is no better place than Ventura for “a seaside celebration of music and community.” That’s the tagline for Maybe It Was the Roses Music Festival, a three-day celebration of the music, spirit and connection inspired by the legacy of the Grateful Dead and Bob Weir. The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Ventura Friday, May 29 through Sunday May 31. I’ve seen speculation that this replaces the defunct Skull and Roses, but who cares, if they pull this one off! Performances include those by Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Dead Aces, Stu Allen with Mars Hotel, Jerry & Dawg, and many more. Get the lowdown at GoldenRoadFestival.com. And in case you’re wondering, “maybe it was the roses” is a lyric from “It Must Have Been the Roses” from the Grateful Dead. Information at GoldenRoadFestival.com.
Earlier the same month, the California Strawberry Festival falls over the weekend of May 16 and 17 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Along with all the fabulous strawberry concoctions, there will be arts and crafts, Strawberryland for the kids, a festival fun zone with carnival rides, and of course lots of live entertainment spread throughout the venue on a minimum of four stages. Some of the highlights will be Hot Southern Nights, The Long Run Eagles Experience, Corazon de Mana, Kings of Queen, and a special appearance by the Ventura College Jazz Band. Information at CAStrawberryFestival.org.

Moorpark’s High Street Arts Center added their summer tribute series to the calendar for dates July 31 through August 16. Tributes to Bruno Mars, Motown, Country, Billy Joel, Selena, Elvis and surf music. Shows do sell out, so secure your tickets now at HighStreetArtsCenter.com
Ojai Music Festival schedule with ticket information at OjaiFestival.org. The festival runs June 11 – June 14 with most concerts at the Libbey Bowl.

Quick Notes: Modest Mouse added to the Libbey Bowl concert season for Tuesday, August 4; the Easter performance at Beatice Woods Center for the Arts with George Kahumoku Jr. and Jim “Kimo” West is sold out; the musical, Somebody to Love, is now running at the Rubicon through April 19; the Beta Macks play First Thursdays Food Truck event at Plaza Park in Oxnard on April 2; it’s a punk rock Saturday afternoon at Vaquero y Mar on April 11 with SRA, Spider Baby and Opaula; reservations/tickets on sale now for the Sinatra tribute band featuring Michael Falcone at the Manhattan for Thursday, April 23; and finally, see you at Paul Thorn Friday, April 10, at the Ventura Music Hall.

Fun observation: you can tell who the target audience is when it’s a fully seated show starting earlier as is the case for when Ambrosia who play the Ventura Music Hall on June 7 at 7 pm 😊

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