Ojai Fall Fest | Ventura Rocks

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

The 16th Aloha Beach Festival falls over the weekend of September 5 – 6 at Promenade Park in Ventura (along the coastline by the fairgrounds). This free event offers live music from Kainoa Tiger Aloha 805, Rising Son, Ska Daddyz, Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Jacob & the Good Vibes and more. Expect lots of hula dancers, pro Frisbee dog demonstrations, and an amazing sense of our beach community where the spirit of the festival is to help support local non-profits. This year proceeds support Flow Surf Academy.The Oxnard Jazz Festival returns this year after a late-breaking cancellation last year. And while “jazz” may be in the title of the event, other genres of music (blues, soul, R&B, Latin) will be offered over the weekend of September 10 – 13 at College Park in Oxnard. For full line-up, special events and ticket information, go to OxnardJazzFestival.com. Some of the highlights include ConFunkShun, Loose Ends, Louie Cruz Beltran, Andrea Lisa, Sister Nancy and more.

The three-day Ojai Fall Fest will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where the parking and admission are free! Of course, ride tickets are available for purchase. There will be plenty of live music with a mix of genres from 90s Babiez, False Puppet, Jayden Secor, Strange Hotels and more. This one runs September 11-13.

Experience the California Car Culture at the Ventura Nationals which returns to the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 5. Along with all the hot rods on display, live music will be hopping with Deke Dickerson, Blue Ribbon Boys Voodoo Five, Big Sandy & his Fly Rite boys, and more which are included in the price of admission. See more at VenturaNationals.com.

Looking ahead, don’t forget Boots & Brews is September 20. For details go to BootsAndBrews.com. Covering more in the next issue of the Breeze.

Quick Notes: The Ventura Harbor Village will host Yacht Rock bands on Thursday evenings through September; Steve and Sally Williams will play Muni Wine on Friday, September 4; Art City Gallery’s monthly art event features Michelle Rosenblum, Henry Steward, Nick Bridgman and Eaton Young on Friday, September 4; Café Fiore wraps up their reggae summer Sunday evening concerts with Keith G & the Drift Rites on September 6; Zepliv and Mojo Rising play a free show at the Crowne Plaza on Sunday, September 6; the final Rock the Collection concert is Wednesday September 9 with That’s What I like, a Bruno Mars tribute band;
Another Brick in the Staircase returns to KJ’s on Friday, September 11; Tony’s Pizzeria end of summer blowout is Saturday, September 12 with Arena (Duran Duran tribute band), Superfreak and the M80s; and an Amy Winehouse tribute band, Valerie, plays the Ventura Music Hall on Saturday, September 12.

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

With Labor Day behind us, the summer music season officially ends. Though fall doesn’t officially start until September 22, it’s still weird to see Halloween items popping up in stores already.

I don’t often look back on my column, but I would like to thank the Rubicon for including in their Ventura Live ’25 Festival a night for punk rockers. The emcee said the venue was trying to expand on its genres, and he wasn’t kidding. Along with the folk, Americana, Broadway and tributes to Van Morrison and Nat King Cole shows, was a night where they screened the documentary, Desolation Center, which in itself was pretty cool, but opening the evening were Mike Watt from Minutemen and Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros. Drummer and bassist rocked the venue with high intensity and precision that left goosebumps on this fan’s arms. Wow!

The 2025 Ojai Fall Fest at St. Thomas Aquinas falls over the first weekend in September with live music all three days. On Friday the 5th, it’s 90s Babiez, The Breakfast Club, Maclovia and more. On Saturday the 6th, the bands include The Chillz, Old Man Group, King Bee, Moondawgs and Jacob & the Good Vibes. Then on Sunday, Brittney & the Bsides, The Renegades, Equipo Elite and Mariachi Los Arrieros. For all three days, admission is free!

Tickets just went on sale, and I’ve already secured mine for Glenn Tilbrook for his November 2 show at the Ventura Music Hall. Not only is this the amazing voice behind the band Squeeze, but it’s a fully seated show. Two wins! Though Tilbrook is touring with the band this year, he will be doing several solo, more intimate performances, such as the one coming to town. If you were a fan of ‘80s new wave music, then the tunes to jar your memory would be “Tempted,” “Pulling Muscles (From a Shell),” “Cool for Cats,” and my favorite, “Hot Coffee in Bed.”

Lost in Sound, showcasing local bands on Thursdays at Gibson’s Neighbor Bar, continues with Pondt, In Ivy, Kyler Joseph & Co. on September 4, and Varazuni, Darjeeling Photo Club, DreamHeroZero and Kilbron on September 11. Encourage local new music and get out there and support. There is a $10 cover for these shows.

Quick Notes: The final sold out Music Under the Stars with Classic Journey is Saturday, September 6; Tuxedo Junction Jazz Band and Phoenyx Big Band play a free show at the Libbey Bowl on Sunday, September 7; Bon Jovi tribute band, Wanted, plays the Rock the Collection series on Wednesday, September 10; Albert Lee plays the Grape on Friday, September 12; and Country is Dead, Country inspired Grateful Dead Favorites plays the Rubicon on Friday, September 12.

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Tag Archives: Ojai Fall Fest

Ventura Music Scene 9/2/26 – 9/15/26

Ventura Music Scene 9/3/25 – 9/16/25