Ventura Music Scene 10/14/26 – 10/27/26

Posted on October 12, 2026 by venturarocks

Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
The Ventura County Fairgrounds will host a special concert on Wednesday, October 14, with Turnstile, Pennywise and Die Spitz. Turnstile received five Grammy nominations on their most recent release, Never Enough, making them the first band to be nominated in the rock, alternative and metal categories in the same year. They won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance for “Birds” and Best Rock Album for Never Enough. Tickets are being sold via Ticketmaster.

Congratulations to Ventura Coast Brewing Company as they celebrate “10 years of Beers” on Saturday, October 17, with throwback beer prices and live music from Casual Business.

And while I typically only report on live music, I must make space for this special event with guest DJ Pee.Wee, aka Anderson.Paak! Unfortunately, his annual charity festival was cancelled this year, but he will host Roll Call Ventura Nights at Skating Plus on November 22. Ventura/Oxnard will always hold a place in Brandon Anderson’s heart as he was born in Oxnard and attend Foothill Tech High in Ventura. Tickets are available at BrandonAndersonFoundation.org.

The Ventura Music Festival fall concerts are being held at different venues around the county this month with Birth of Impressionism; A Classical Edge Concert on October 15 at the Museum of Ventura County, Take3 on October 16 at the Ventura Music Hall, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter on October 17 at Mission Park and Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center, and Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s tribute to Quincy Jones on October 18 at the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living. For all performances from bluegrass to classical go to VenturaMusicFestival.org.

ShakyFest II will be held at Tony’s Pizzeria, from 1 pm to closing on Saturday, October 17. Along with Shakey Feelin’, there will be performances by The Great Divide, Groove Session, The Allman-Jerry Band, Shambala duo and the Bellotti Brothers. The all-day festival is free and bringing chairs is encouraged as the seating will extend into the parking area. Jax Plays Dead plays on Friday the night before.

Ojai Pub announced on Monday, September 28, that Monday, September 28, would be their final day of business due to an apparent rent dispute. The place was packed to the gills.

Quick Notes: The Aquabats play the Ventura Theater on Saturday, October 17; The Popravinas play the Garage on Friday, October 16; Ska Daddyz along with Straight Forward, and others perform during Revolution Surf Company’s 30th anniversary on Sunday, October 18; Black Flag takes over the Ventura Music Hall for a show on Thursday, October 22; Coso is back in town playing a birthday gig with friends at the Grape on Friday, October 23; Uncle Floyd’s Dead have a free show at the Crowne Plaza on Friday, October 23; and Todd Rungren plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 25.

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 Rocks in the Ventura Breeze 7/28/21 – 8/10/21

Posted on July 27, 2021 by venturarocks

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

You know the music scene is alive when large venue events sell out; such was the case for the Tequila and Tacos Music Festival over the weekend of July 24 & 25 with Vanilla Ice, Tag Team and Ozomatli performing. I will concede, the beverage of choice may have been the driving force behind the ticket sales, but the stage was rockin’ and that’s always a cool thing. Next up for Surfer’s Point Live (Fairgrounds’ parking lot), Scotty McCreery & Rodney Atkins on Friday, July 30, and then the Spencer Makenzie’s Throw Down Cornhole & Music Festival over the weekend of August 27-29 with Mandex, Dave Rea & the Acoustic DNA and three tribute bands covering the music of AC/DC, Journey & Guns & Roses. For more details and ticket information, go to SurfersPointLive.com.

I’m also happy to see the Ventura Theater lining up shows and the first one is one you should seriously think about seeing. Not only is Lukas Nelson son to Willie, but he collaborated with Bradley Cooper on A Star is Born, and his band IS the band in the movie. The band’s brand of Country Rock is a fun vibe and the talent is stellar, so you won’t want to miss Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real on Thursday, September 9.
More show at Ventura Theater:

The End of Summer Lockdown Tour – Friday, September 10
Mon Laferte – Wednesday September 22
Drakeo the Ruler – Friday October 1
Black Label Society: Doom Trooping over North America tour – Saturday, October 2
Yung Bleu – Tuesday, October 5
Pennywise w/ Dead Kennedys – Thursday, October 7
Pennywise w/ Strung Out – Friday, October 8 (sold out)
Elefante, Inspector – Friday, October 15
The Struts – Tuesday, November 2
GWAR – Tuesday, November 23
The Dead South – Tuesday, December 7
The Slackers – Friday, December 10

The Hueneme Beach Festival falls over the weekend of August 28 and 29, and I was looking over their impressive line-up of artists performing both days and was delighted to find out this one is also free to the public. Saturday features LAW, Fausto Cuevas y La Moderna, and Ozomatli, then on Sunday it’s Diggin Dirt, Arise Roots and Think:EXP. I love that the organizers put so much thought into their lineup, and so, just in case you didn’t know, a little bit about a few of the acts performing:

Fausto Cuevas is that caliber of musician that tours with Stevie Wonder’s band, most recently the 2014-2016 during the Key of Life world tour, though he’s performed previously with Stevie Wonder at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden in 2009. The man is that good, and the grooves he lays down are immediately infectious so prepare to dance.

Ozomatli performed a few years ago during the Ventura Music Festival and more recently in July at the Tequila and Tacos Music Festival at Surfer’s Point Live. The six-piece band plays primarily Latin, hip hop and rock music and has quite the following, and again, prepare to dance.

Think:EXP is a supergroup with members Scott Page who has worked with Pink Floyd, Supertramp and Toto, Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction & Porno for Pyros, Kenny Olson of Kidd Rock and Norwood Fisher of Fishbone. The website, www.thinkesp.co describes the group, “Think:EXP strives to revolutionize the entertainment industry by bridging the gap between the human spirit and technological innovation with one-of-a-kind live, immersive concert experiences.” That certainly piques my interest!

Quick Notes: Tickets are now on sale for the Ojai Music Festival; The Garage on the east end of town took advantage of the pandemic downtime and now has a new look; Spencer the Gardener will return to Winchesters on Sunday, August 8 with their brand of fiesta party music; and Nardcore Tuesday nights continue at Rock & Roll Pizza in Camarillo with Bootleg Brigade and Last Point on August 3, and Sick Boy on August 10.

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.