Tag Archives: Namba

Ventura Music Scene 6/14/23 – 6/27/23

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
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I love summer so much!!! Longer days, more activities including live music and all the beauty that our county provides. I hope you’ll take advantage of some of these events.

Free concerts in the park return to Constitution Park in Camarillo this summer with 24K Magic on June 24, the Kings of 88 on July 8, The 805 Social Club on July 22 and Garth Live on August 5. Residents are encouraged to bring low folding chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. Food trucks will be on site.

The 67th Conejo Valley Days will run Thursday, June 15 – Sunday, June 25 at Conejo Creek Park South (Janss Road off the 23 Freeway). Typically, the event runs four consecutive days, but this year it will be over two weekends.  Live music includes performances from Mike Scully and the Weary Travelers, 805 Social Club, Colette Lovejoy Band and more. Admission is $10 (kids under five are free) and includes the entertainment, but not the carnival rides.Graphic for Chick Singer NightChick Singer Night is switching locations to Namba Arts, downtown Ventura with Kimberly Ford, Karen 805, Sharon Hendrix, Annyett Royale, and Mary Scholz, on Sunday, June 25. And staying with Namba, they’ll host “Ventura City Blitz” featuring local artists such as Blurry Stars (also their summer release party), Aaron Burch, the Late Knights, Dielectric, and Ardi on Saturday, June 17.

New West Summerfest lands at Moorpark College for two days, Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25. It’s quite an eclectic lineup of performers such as Ilya Serov, B. Valentine, Gods of Rock, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and more. Ticket information available at NewWestSymphony.com.

And of course, you’ll want to mark off your calendar for which concerts you want to attend at this year’s Ventura County Fair. There’re only eight concerts this year on the Grandstand Arena stage: Midland, Patti Labelle, Collective Soul, Ashanti, Trace Adkins, 38 Special, Tesla and Dia de la Familia. And as always, the concerts are included in the price of admission to the fair. The fair runs August 2 – 13.

Photo of HozierHozier did an in-store Meet and Greet at Salzer’s Records on Saturday, June 3 with over 400 showing up. Salzer’s reports there were people who came as far as Canada and Brazil to meet him!  He couldn’t have been more gracious, polite!  Hozier plays the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 28, his newest release, Unreal Unearth drops August 18.

Quick Notes: Elvis Costello & the Imposters at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Wednesday, June 14; Duncan & the Dragonslayers, Stellar Ruins and Los Xiquenos play Bombays on Thursday, June 15; Barrelhouse Wailers will do an in store performance at Salzer’s Records to promote their latest release, “Never Look Back” on Saturday, June 17; Topa Topa Brewing will host their 8th anniversary party on Saturday, June 17, at their Colt Street location with live music throughout the day; Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna play a salsa evening of dance at Cantara Cellars on Thursday, June 22; and Danny Carey (TOOL) returns to the Grape with the Doug Webb Group on Sunday, June 25.

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 2/22/23 – 3/7/23

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

Between local promoters and the Canyon Club, there are a lot of great shows coming to the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. I don’t need to tell you that it’s pretty great to be able to take in a show locally as opposed to traveling to Agoura Hills, plus they have quite a mix of genres to choose from including Grupo Bronco on Friday, February 24; a Pink Floyd tribute band, Which One’s Pink on Saturday, February 25 (opening acts are Prima Donna Rising & Zack Kirkorkian); the Ventura Music Festival presents Mnozil Brass on Thursday, March 2; The 3 Divas: Pops, Kuh & Jaya on Saturday, March 4; and Los Lobos on Sunday March 12 with special guest Gaby Moreno.

Namba Arts welcomes Ventura City Blitz on Saturday, February 25 for an evening of live rock, and eclectic music from several local artists including Sean Alan, Aaron Burch, The Late Knights, Tyler Indigo and more, then the following weekend, it’s a night of reggae with Bombafiya and Singular Nature on Saturday, March 4 followed up with a Sunday show featuring cool improvisational music from Boom Duo.

The Museum of Ventura County will play host for another brilliant Camerata Pacifica show, Emi Ferguson and Ruckus Play Bach. With a slew of period instruments including theorbo, baroque guitar and bassoon, viola da gamba, and harpsichord, they’ll explore Johann Sebastian Bach’s genius from multiple angles, bringing to life the limitless colors and nuances of his music.

Punk in the Park is coming up fast with Pennywise, Suicidal Tendencies, the Bouncing Souls, Strung Out, Fear, Dwarves and more. There will be two stages (they say set times will not overlap) and the day includes 3 hours of unlimited beer tastings. The event falls on Saturday, March 25 with tickets on sale through the promoter’s website at PunkInThePark.com.

Quick Notes: Tickets are on sale for Night Demon’s record release show at Bombay’s on March 16 with Romper opening; tickets are also on sale for Boots & Brews starring Chris Young on May 7th at Surfer’s Point Live; the reschedule Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore at the Ventura Music Hall is Thursday, February 23; it’s old school punk night with Roman’s Weirdos at Gigi’s on Saturday, February 25; Shawn Jones along with Sam Bolle play the Ojai Underground on Saturday, February 25; Margarita Villa will have music on Sunday, March 26 with CRV (acoustic); Swing Shift play the Sportsman in Camarillo on Sunday February 26; Angelo Moore’s Dr. Madd Vibe and the Missing Links returns to the Grape for a date with Barrelhouse Wailers on Friday, March 3; and The White Buffalo returns to Ventura for a show at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Saturday, March 4;

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 Rocks Music Scene Column 9/7/22 – 9/20/22

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

How hot was that Labor Day weekend? I hope you were able to get out and catch some of the many live music events along the coast where it was mostly bearable. As for the rest of September, it looks like the weather should remain warm to hot…just not Vegas hot.

Taste of Local adAs always, at the top of my list of recommendations is anything I’m involved with, so I hope you’ll consider Taste of Local as it returns this year on Sunday, September 11 presented by Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation. VenturaRocks (myself) will help to host the music stage where Spencer the Gardener, Dan Grimm and the Rose Valley Thorns will be performing. Along with the live music, there will be a local homebrew challenge, a farm-to-glass mixology throwdown and dozens of booths where you can taste delicious samples from local chefs. There is expected to be over 60 area chefs, farmers, purveyors, wineries, breweries and distilleries showcasing their culinary expertise. You can find out more about this wonderful event at TotallyLocalVC.com and I hope to see you there!

artwork Oxnard Jazz FestivalThe 5th annual Oxnard Jazz Festival runs three days this year at Oxnard Beach Park (1601 Harbor Blvd.) Friday, September 9 – Sunday, September 11. This ticketed event will feature live music all three days. Delta by the Beach kicks off the live music on Friday; Kelly’s Lot, Hiroshima, Jeffrey Osborne, Jeff Ryan and others on Saturday, and Sunday it’s Paula Atherton, Bunny Brunel, Erin Stevenson, the Emotions and more. You can get the full list of acts, Covid-19 updates and ticket information at OxnardJazzFestival.com.

artwork for 805 Roots JamThe Roots 805 Jam is Saturday, September 10 at Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme from 3 – 11 pm with Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Kyle Smith, Krooked Treez, Synrgy, Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Rising son, Jacob Marquez & the Good vibes and more. Tickets range from $30 to $65 on EventBrite.

logo for Chick Singer NightThe 34th Anniversary show for Chick Singer Night will be held on Saturday, September 10, with Martha V, Diana Bacon, Olivia Mucha, Kerri Climer and Vanise Terry. The location is Sound Palace, Studio B in Oxnard. Tickets are $25 through EventBrite.com.

Dirty Cello returns to Ventura with a show at Namba Performing Arts Space on Saturday, September 10. Band leader and cellist Rebecca Roudman is also a member of classical orchestras, but with the Dirty Cello band she lets her hair down and uses her classical training to push the cello to its limits – more Jimi Hendrix than Yo -Yo Ma. Roudman says, “We play what folks want to hear, from the Devil Went Down to Georgia to Led Zeppelin, we go on stage with a huge collection of songs and then just have a ton of fun – we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we just want the audience to have a good time too.”

The Leashless Brewing End-of-Summer Lu’au party falls on Saturday, September 17. You’re invited to dress in your lava-lavas, sarongs, or your aloha shirts…and bring on the island vibe because this will be a party! Morie and the Heavy Hitters play from 6 to 9 with proceeds from the event donated to the Ventura State Rescue Association.

photos of artistsSaturday September 17 at the Beatrice Wood Center for Arts in upper Ojai will have an event being billed as Gypsy Meets Choro, featuring Finnish guitarist Olli Soikkeli and Italian-Brazilian 7-string guitarist, Cesar Garabini. The duo offers up an exquisite duet paring swinging Django Reinhardt-style gypsy jazz guitar and spicy choro style jazz guitar. You can get more information at BeatriceWood.com

The Grape logoThe Grape always has a number of noteworthy performances scheduled at their gorgeous venue, tagline, “House of Jazz and Spirits” however, that doesn’t mean they exclude other genres of music, case in point, Billy Vera and the Beaters on September 22.  I recommend you bookmark their events page or better yet, request to be on their email list so you don’t miss any of their upcoming shows. (TheGrapeVentura.com)

New shows added at Ventura Music Hall
Tribal Seeds feat. Hector Roots Lewis – October 4
Atmosphere – October 19
Klangstof – October 25
Big Head Todd and the Monsters – November 11
Zepparella – December 8
Mat Kearney – February 11

Mark your calendar (more details next issue) for Saturday, September 24: The Banana Festival in Port Hueneme, Oktoberfest at Lucas Sellers in Moorpark and it’s the Rudder Room’s 60th anniversary with Teresa Russell.

Quick Notes: Starship feat. Mickey Thomas at Libbey Bowl on September 4 was cancelled; The Fabulous Thunders play Ventura Music Hall on Wednesday, September 7; Flipper, Mike Watt and The Robot Uprising play Gigi’s on Thursday, September 8; IDKHow plays the Ventura Theater on Friday, September 9; Bart Davenport plays the Deer Lodge on Friday, September 9; Blood, Sweat and Tears play Libbey Bowl on Saturday, September 10; Kansas plays the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center on Thursday, September 15; Josh Damigo will open for Allen Stone at the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, September 16; And Panteon Rococo plays the Ventura Theater on Tuesday, September 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.

Ventura Rocks Music Scene Column 8/10/22 – 8/23/22

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.commusic scene artwork logoAugust is in full swing and with it a whole lotta live music in and around Ventura County. The Ventura County Fair is in its second week of its 10-day run and the final Grandstand Stage concert is Wednesday, August 10, with Cheap Trick. That being said, the Station Stage will continue to rock with local favorites through Sunday, August 14. Be sure to check out VenturaRocks.com photo gallery for band photos taken at the Fair this season.

Chick Singer Night just announced their newest City Chapter Director is Ventura’s own Jodi Farrell. Jodi has been an integral part of Ventura’s music scene fPhoto of Jodi Farrellor so many years fronting the Front Street Prophets, performing with TreCoustics, and now with Jim Rankin as a duo. So many performers have been tutored and mentored via Jodi Farrell’s Music Studio and before that when she taught at Ventura Community College. She teaches voice, guitar and piano for all skill levels. She’s received many awards along the way including the 2016 Mayor’s Art Award for Arts Educator. Congratulations Jodi, this is so well deserved!!

Cadillac Zack presents 1960’s blues & rock legends Canned Heat at Cantara Cellars in Camarillo, on Thursday, August 18. If your memory is straining to remember, let me help you out. They had hits such as “Let’s Work Together,” “On the Road Again,” and “Going Up the Country.” They played the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and had a headlining slot at the original Woodstock. Trust me when I say, you won’t want to miss this amazing night of live music with Delta by the Beach opening.  Just text Zack for ticket information at (323) 377-5291. photo of Oliva Newton-JohnI was very sad to hear about the passing of pop icon, Olivia Newton-John.  Her music instantly brings back memories, and I can’t even count how many times I watched “Grease,” but I think I will always remember her generosity and love when she performed here in Ventura, February of 2018, for the Thomas Fire Benefit. What a sweet being, and what a tremendous loss. Poseidon Brewing will be celebrating their 8th anniversary over the weekend of 8/12-8/14 with Vanise Terry Band, The Dynasties, Morrison Drive and Let’s be Frank performing. Boots and Brews logoTo satisfy your need for live country music, there’s Boots and Brews on Saturday August 20 with Cole Swindell, Eddie Montgomery an Raelynn. Surfer’s Point Live at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Get your tickets at BootsAndBrews.com.

I admit that I absolutely love the different community sponsored music events such as Music Under the Stars at Olivas Adobe whose shows are all sold out for the rest of the season, but rest assured there are a number of free events nearby including the Heritage Square Summer Concert Series in Oxnard with The British Beat on Friday, August 12 6 – 8:30pm and Caliente 805 on Friday August 19; the Summer Concert Series at Constitution Park in Camarillo will have Country Nation on Saturday, August 27 from 7 -9 pm; and the Collection in Oxnard has DSB (tribute to Journey) on Wednesday, August 10 6 – 8:30 pm.

poster artwork of the movie YesterdayAnd though they’re not live music events, the Ojai Film Society is offering free screenings of a couple of music related movies at the Libbey Bowl. First the documentary, “Summer of Soul” on Friday, August 12, and then “Yesterday” which features the Beatles reimagined when a phenomena hits during a blackout and wipes out most people’s memories of the Beatles, this one screens on Friday, August 26. Though free, you’ll need to RSVP through Eventbrite.

Emmy winning artist, Camara Kambon (for his score in the HBO film, “Sonny Liston” the Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion”) performs at Namba with Javier Vergara on tenor sax, Adam Cohen on bass and Chris Blondal on drums. Tickets are only $20 for this intimate show on Friday, August 12.

New shows added at the Ventura Theater:
Silversun Pickups Sunday, October 2
Marcus Mumford Tuesday, October 4
Gogol Bordello on Saturday, November 5
The Wrecks on Saturday, November 19

New shows at Ventura Music Hall
Too Many Zooz, September 29
Ocean All, October 7
The Slackers, December 9
Squirrel Nut Zippers, December 17
Hirie, February 22

New shows at Libbey Bowl:
Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite on September 30
Ben Harper on October 6

Mark on your calendars for upcoming events: the Hueneme Beach Festival the last weekend of August, and the return of the Aloha Beach Festival along at Promenade Park (Surfer’s Point) the following weekend, September 3 and 4. What’s also so very nice is that both of these events are free!! I’ll have more in the next issue of the Ventura Breeze.

Quick Notes: Tommy Foytek’s Variety Show continues on Wednesday nights at the Lookout Bar & Grill in Oxnard; reggae Sundays continue at Café Fiore through the end of summer; Glenn Bennett has a Thursday afternoon residency at the Copa Cubana; Mustangs of the West play the Ojai Underground on Thursday, August 11; Katie Shorey has a Disco Nite at Cantara on Friday, August 12; Romper plays at date at the Deer Lodge on Friday, August 12; Barrelhouse Wailers play Strey Cellars in Oxnard on Friday, August 19; the legendary Three Dog Night play Libbey Bowl on Friday, August 19; and Pato Banton plays Mrs. Olson’s on Saturday, August 20.

Taste of Local adAnd then finally, Taste of Local returns this year on Sunday, September 11 presented by Totally Local VC Agricultural Education Foundation. I was thrill when Kat Merrick reached out and invited VenturaRocks to host the music stage where the Rose Valley Thorns will be just one of the acts performing. You can find out more about this wonderful event at TotallyLocalVC.com and I hope to see you there!

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 Rocks Music Scene Column 6/29/22 – 7/12/22

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

I am amped up and happy to see the Ventura County Fair has announced their 2022 Grandstand Stage entertainment line up finally! The fair has always tried to “spread the love” by offering diverse genres for their attendees. You can’t just do rock, or country, or pop meaning you can’t please all the people all the time, but they do their best to offer a wide range of musical entertainment:

Wednesday, 8/3: Martina McBride
Thursday, 8/4: KC & the Sunshine Band
Friday, 8/5: The All-American Rejects
Saturday, 8/6: Blue Oyster Cult
Sunday, 8/7: Dia de la Familia concert
Monday, 8/8: The Beach Boys
Tuesday, 8/9: Clay Walker
Wednesday, 8/10: Cheap Trick

All concerts are included in the price of admission and start at 7:30 pm, except for Sunday which starts at 3 pm. I can’t help but hope Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) will return to play with the Beach Boys again, and I’ll be honest, my heart stopped ever so briefly when I saw that Cheap Trick would be playing; they were a huge part of the soundtrack to my high school days.

I love sharing cool news. The all-new Ventura Music Hall has committed to donating one dollar per ticket sold to community non-profits which means, they’re hoping to donate up to $40,000 annually! Their first donation of $10,000 was presented to the Ventura Music Festival during the venue’s ribbon cutting ceremony on June 16. Susan Scott, Ventura Music Festival’s Executive Director was quoted as saying, “Having a new live music venue in Ventura is a good thing and the Ventura Music Festival is delighted to be the first beneficiary of their unique grant awards to Ventura nonprofits.” I under stand their next recipient will be the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura.

The Tequila & Taco Festival will be held on July 9 – July 10 at Surfer’s Point Live at the Ventura County Fairgrounds parking lot. Along with one of my favorite libations, the event features live music with Sugar Ray, Adelaide and Smooth Sounds of Santana on Saturday, and then Bone Thugs n Harmony, la Sonora Dinamita, and Sambada on Sunday. For ticket information, go to TequilaAndTacoMusicFestival.com.

The Seabridge Summer Concert Series kicks off on Saturday, July 2, with Vinyl Gypsies, Jayden Secor, In Stone, Jazz on the Rocks and Brandon Ragan Project. The free event runs noon – 8 pm at the Seabridge Amphitheater located at 1185 Victoria Ave. in Oxnard below the Fishermen’s Catch.

Libbey Bowl’s website has been updated which now lists all the great concerts for the summer. If you’ve never taken in a show there, do yourself a favor, select a concert and go for it. It’s such a relaxing space surrounded by oak trees, and after 5 pm the temperatures drop to a comfortable level where a light sweater may or may not be necessary by the time the show is over. Their annual free Independence Day concert will be held on Sunday, July 3 at 6 pm, but all other ticketed events begin at 5 pm with opening acts and the headliners usually by 7 pm. Here’s just a few shows lined up:
Friday, July 8: Stephen Pearcy (Ratt)
Saturday, July 16: Oingo Boing former Members
Sunday, July 17: ABC
Friday, July 22: the Zombies with Rooney
Saturday, July 30: Grateful Shred (Ojai Valley Land Conservancy benefit)
Sunday, July 31: Grateful Shred (Ojai Valley Land Conservancy benefit)

Other Libbey Bowl concerts coming up include Three Dog Night, Michael Feinstein, Air Supply, Bruce Hornsby, Richie Kotzen, Blood Sweat and Tear, Starship with Mickey Thomas and more.

It looks like Pedals & Pints Brewing Company and Tarantula Hill Brewing Company in Thousand Oaks are presenting the inaugural Down the Rabbit Hole Festival of Music and Beer on Saturday, July 30 from 11 am to 11 pm and it will feature 10 bands between the two breweries. Tickets are $60 for both venues, which includes your first beer at both locations, and a free shuttle between the two. Bands on the bill are Robert Jon & the Wreck, Beaux Gris Gris & the Apocalypse, Shaky Feelin’, Jacob Marquez & the Good Vibes, a Dustland Fairytail, OPM, Weekend Celebrity, Garrett Lee Robinson, Those Animals and Better off Blonde.

Congratulations to John and the crew at Leashless Brewing on their 5th anniversary. John has been consistently offering a place for people to enjoy live music Thursday through Sunday while providing their certified organic beers. To celebrate, they’ll be offering up three days of epic local reggae starting with Jacob Marquez and the Good Vibes on Friday, July 8, on Saturday, July 9, it’s Heavy Rotation, and then on Sunday, July 10, Levi acoustic.

This 4th of July, the City of Ventura brings back the downtown Street Fair along with the Pushem-Pullem parade which starts at 10 am. This is the only parade I’ve seen, where there are more people in the parade than viewers. Participants are invited to bring their bikes, scooters, strollers and wagons as long as they’re not motorized; it’s quite charming. The theme this year is “2022: Red, White & Blue!” Afterwards, the street fair typically offers a number of bands playing throughout downtown from 10 am – 4 pm.

Quick Notes: Jodi Farrell’s next singer/songwriters’ dinner event at Pierano’s is Wednesday, June 29 with Dylan Brehm, Marina Miller, Emma Wright, Tamara Varney, Jodi Farrell, Luke Hannington, Ella Robles and Aaron Burch; your last chance to catch Luis Munoz before he leaves California will be on July 16 at Namba; Mario Calire is on the road with Jewel this summer and their first week out had the band performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers (Monday 6/13); Surf Rodeo runs July 15 – 17 on the southside of the Ventura pier, get tickets at SurfRodeo.org; the 27th season of the Ventura Music Festival runs July 29 through August 7; and the November 25 show with AFI at the Majestic Ventura Theater is sold out.

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 Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 10/9 – 10/22

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Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
I’m really looking forward to a number of special events of the next two weekends starting with C.A.R.Lfest on Saturday, October 12 at Promenade Park along the boardwalk at the beach. Funds are being raised to support the Canine Adoption and Rescue League serving Ventura County. Bands on the bill include Kelly’s Lot, Crooked Eye Tommy, Jim Gustin & Truth Jones plus a number of special guests (I hear Teresa James is just one of them). This one runs noon to 6 pm with the music starting at 1 pm; tickets are $25 and Bike Ventura will be on hand providing a free bike corral for those riding to the event.

Namba on Oak in downtown Ventura will have a special all-ages “Families Rock!” show on Saturday, October 12, where each band is comprised of moms, dads, and the kids! Don’t miss performances by The Cheesebergens, Sepiatone, and The Rockin’ Henrys. Namba will also host a fundraiser for the Ventura County Rescue Mission featuring Charlie Baker, Mark & Michael Lennon on Friday, October 18. For ticket information, go to NambaArts.com.

The Seaside Highland Games return to the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of October 12 and 13 with such fabulous bands as Cockswain, Nerea, Seven Nations and Sligo Rags playing both days.

The Ventura Marathon falls over the weekend of October 19 and 20 with the staging area moving from the pier to Mission Park downtown, and because so many runners (and those supporting them) love the suds, there will be a Ventura Brew Fest on Saturday. Music over the weekend will include Kistmit, Acoustic Generation, Lightnin’ Willie, Deadrock and Power Syndicate.

Quick Notes: I’m sorry to report that Andy is cutting back on live music at Copa Cobana (and the Blue Room) for now with the Jerry McWorter Trio on Tuesday and live bands on Sunday afternoon only; the Sushi House on Seaward has Gary Ballen playing acoustic favorites every Saturday afternoon 1 – 3:30 pm; though the Angry Brians won’t be at Seaside Highland Games, they will be performing at Grapes and Hops on Friday, October 11; before the DJs, there will be live music at 6 pm at Bombay’s on Saturday, October 12, with The Mighty Cash Cats and Silver Threads, then Saturday, October 19, with Solidmente and Kris Simeon; Alan Thornhill, Martin Young and Jim Monahan play Topa Mountain Winery on Sunday afternoon, October 13; there will be a punk show at Golden China on Tuesday, October 15, with D.R.I., Intent, Cholos on Acid and No Divide; Buck-O-Nine plays The Garage along with The Upbeat and The Robot Uprising on Friday, October 18; and finally, the Ventura Beach Club hosts The Apartment 805 with a tech night featuring Allan Guerrero, CMVib3 and more on Friday, October 18.

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. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Music Photos – August 2019

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Namba – August 31, 2019
Nothing Add All (Flagstaff, AZ)

Bombay Bar and Grill – August 31, 2019
Dudeo Perez

Namba – August 18, 2019
Hans Ottsen, Tyler Hammond and Sean Riddle (photo credit: Henning Ottsen)

Discovery – August 15, 2019
Shred is Dead

Grapes and Hops – August 15, 2019
Toni Dodd

Ventura County Fair – August 9, 2019
Collective Soul

Ventura County Fair – August 8, 2019
George Thorogood and the Destoyers

Ventura County Fair – August 5, 2019
X-Ambassadors

Dargan’s – August 4, 2019
The Sunday Drivers

Ventura County Fair – August 2, 2019
Melissa Etheridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 4/24 – 5/7

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Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

It’s always a treat when Noel Paul Stookey from the iconic folk trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, performs at the Rubicon Theatre.  Stookey brings his dry wit and love of humankind in a show called “In These Times” on Sunday, April 28. His appearances always sell out, and this one did as well, so I’m happy to report there will be a second concert on Monday, April 29. I wonder what he’ll talk about.  Hmmm.

The local crew from Army of Freshmen have new music available this month, it’s an EP called “At the End of the Day” featuring acoustic tunes. That one drops April 26; the next day, they’ll perform “unplugged” up in Goleta at The Imperial sharing the stage with Nerf Herder.

Eco Fest not only provides over 80 exhibitors, green education ideas with helpful tips, and children’s activities, but they also offer great music throughout the day. This year they’ll have two stages of music with D.on Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers, Ventucky String Band, Anchor & Bear, Shay Moulder, the Midtones and more.  The annual event will be held at Plaza Park (Santa Clara and Chestnut) on April 27 from 10 am to 4 pm.  Eco Fest is free to the pubic with a bike valet available for those doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint.

Gigi’s will be hosting a couple of shows featuring bands from out of the area.  First on Monday, April 29, it’s Radio Active (Tokyo, Japan), The Wankys (Leicester, UK), Eel (Pittsburgh, PA) and No Divide (Santa Barbara); and then on Friday, May 3, they’ll have MOB 47 (Sweden), along with Phobia, Wichaven and Zoloa. I’m glad to see promoters taking advantage of this space again for live music.

Quick Notes: Amber Olive of Amber & Smoke has a new side gig with the band Mini Driver; Margarita Villa has live music every weekend now, Friday through Sunday; Ray Jaurique and friends play The Blue Room on Wednesdays in the Harbor; Show Me the Body from New York play with Enemy on Thursday, April 25, at the Tavern; Norman Baker out of Seattle plays Namba on Friday, April 26; playing the Sewer for the first time, it’s The Guitar & Whiskey Club on Saturday, April 27; The Popravinas perform Saturday, May 4, at Dargans; Club 805 hosts The Darkside (Cosplay) on May 4; and Robin Trower plays the Ventura Theater on Sunday, May 5.

Congratulations to Adam and Josh for getting the Planning Commissions unanimous approval during their public hearing April 10.  It was a standing room only crowd with so many people speaking in support of opening The Grape Jazz Club.  Now, a little construction upgrades and hopefully the next time I write about the Grape will be to give their opening date.  Well done boys!

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.  For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 4/25 – 5/8

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Ventura MusVentura Breeze logoic Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com

It’s out with the old and in with the new, but not just quite yet. Before their final week of jazz music in their current location, Squashed Grapes played host to none other than Michael McDonald, yes that Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers and a brilliant solo career which has spanned more than 45 years. The intimate, by-invite-only setting was held Sunday, April 22. What can I say? I love this town.

And speaking of their final week, Adam and Josh of Squashed Grapes have a stellar lineup of jazz before closing their doors while they work on the new location on Main street next to Yolanda’s. Wednesday, June 25 it’s Hans Ottsen Quartet with special guest Jacob Scesney; on Thursday it’s The Ray Mehlbaum Quartet; on then finally on Friday, Doug Webb returns with drummer Danny Carey (TOOL) for a huge sendoff party.

The Ventura County Blues Festival will be held this year at the Studio Channel Islands on Saturday, April 28 with Earl Thomas, John Nemeth, Deb Ryder, Alan Wright Band, and Sandy Scott & Blues to the Bone. There will be an after party with Crooked Eye Tommy at El Rey Cantina in Camarillo.

Jeffrey Willerth, is the new director of Namba and he plans to utilize the facility at 47 South Oak Street for what is called the “Music Speaks” series. The first installment will be held on May 5 with Conjunto Tenocelomeh, a band rooted in the Son Jarocho Mexican folk music of Veracruz. Also this month, they’ll have CG Ryche, an amazing percussionist, brilliant showman and filmmaker who will perform and share his inspiring story focused on the importance of ‘perseverance’ as it relates to musicians; Duane Tudahl, author of “Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983-1984” who will explain how he got his hands on the daily recording reports from the Studios Prince visited; and Tim Wickham, a Ventura local with boundless appreciation for Hammond Organs will bring a few of his prized Hammonds and play in a trio in a historical salute to this renown musical instrument. For tickets and information go to NambaArts.com

And finally, if you haven’t already done so, don’t make any out-of-town vacation plans over the weekend of July 14th and 15th; in fact, plan for a “Staycation” for this year’s Surf Rodeo. JD Drury has started to announce the music lineup and I’m super jazzed to learn that not only will Shwayze and The Untouchables be on the bill, but the Long Beach Dub Allstars will be headlining (group features former members of Sublime). I understand a lot more bands will be added over the next month or so but we know that Highway Starr, Kyle Smith, Rising Son, Yachtley Crew, Zepp Heads and of course Raging Arb and the Redheads will be on the bill.

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.