Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
There are quite a few live outdoor music series over the summer with so much of it free to the community! Let’s start with the Downtown Ventura Summer Concert Series at Main and California launching Thursday, June 12 with The Gamble. The following week it’s The Ooo Wee Ooo’s, then Looking West on the 26th and Dyland Cunningham on July 3. You’re invited to bring a chair, picnic basket or better yet, stop in one of the many fine restaurants downtown and take your meal to go.
The 2025 Heritage Square Summer Concert Season kicks off Friday, June 13 with the Brandon Ragan Project followed by Los Amigos 805 on the 20th, and Heart and Soul on the 27th. Chairs and picnic baskets are also allowed though you can purchase individual seats up front on a first come first served basis; concert tables available though an online process at heritagesquareoxnard.com.
The Channel Island Harbor free concerts start in July as do the Constitution Park series in Camarillo and The Collection at Riverpark won’t occur in August. And though not a “concert series” I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a couple of ongoing free reggae shows at Tony’s Pizzeria on Thursdays, and Café Fiore on Sundays.
The inaugural Palomazo Music Fest to celebrate sound, culture and community is coming up on Saturday, June 14, at Heritage Square in Oxnard with an eclectic mix of live music from Los Xiquenos, Giselle Woo and the Night Owls, Maria Sanchez & the Midnight Groove and more. For tickets and more information go to Pipiripau.com.
And a big congratulations to Topa Topa Brewing Co. on their 10th anniversary. Celebrations are being held on Saturday, June 14, at their headquarters on Colt Street with a carnival-themed party with lots of activities to keep the kids busy and plenty of music from Denim Emperor, Soft Drugs and Some of These are Planets (yes, those are bands), then there will be an after party at the downtown taproom on Thompson Blvd. This ticketed event ($20 at the door) benefits Tierra Sol with performances by Vetiver, Sam Blasucci of Mapache, Farmer Dave & the Wizards of the West.
The Ventura County Fair Grandstand entertainment is being rolled out via social media here and there and they have yet to post the lineup on their website at the time of my deadline. I trust all will be revealed by our next issue.
Quick Notes: The Boatyard is super close to reopening with live music after undergoing renovations; Winchesters Grill & Saloon has reduced their live music to two days on Saturdays and Sundays; Tommy Castro and the Painkillers play the Ventura Music Hall on Friday, June 13; and Rhiannon Giddens plays the Ventura Theater Monday, June 16 (she next plays the Hollywood Bowl on June 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, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.