Tag Archives: Rock the Collection

Ventura Music Scene 7/22/26 – 8/4/26

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Music scene artworkThe Ventura County Fair opens July 29 with national touring acts playing the Grandstand Stage. All concerts are included in the price of admission to the fair, but if you want to get closer to the action, you now need to purchase VIP tickets which will run you between an additional $43 to $63 depending on the artist. It’s not clear whether you can buy VIP at the fair, so your best bet is to secure them ahead of time online at VenturaCountyFair.org. This year’s lineup includes Bush on July 29, Marshmello (EDM) on July 30, Iration on July 31, Jake Owen On August 1, Herencia de Patrones on Sunday afternoon, August 2, Ashanti featuring Bow on August 3, Switchfoot with Hoobastank on August 4 and Nate Smith wraps before clearing the arena for the rodeo on August 5. Speaking of rodeos, Surf Rodeo’s Golden Pony Speakeasy returns with local bands such as Guy Martin and Bloody Mary Morning. You can follow the different smaller stage schedules on VenturaRocks.com.

Fair Schedule 2026The Ventura Music Festival Summer Series runs July 20-26 with all shows at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center (Angel Blue’s venue was moved from Camarillo) except for Justo Almario & Jeremy Bosch who will perform at the Ventura Theatre. An opening night gala will be held at Palomino (33 S. Palm) with San Lyon  The Fall Series kicks off in October. 
Ventura Music Festival logoRock the Collection artworkRock the Collection finally kicks off their Summer Concert Series which fall on every other Wednesday beginning with the July 29 show featuring the K-Tell All-Stars. The family-friendly concerts really pack them in, so I suggest you get there well before the 6:30 pm start time to secure a place to sit. Still to come, DSB tribute to Journey on August 12, Twisted Gypsy’s tribute to Fleetwood Mac on August 26 and then they wrap it up with That’s What I like, a tribute to Bruno Mars on September 9.

“The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society will meet Wednesday, July 29th, at the Studio Channel Islands Art Center – 2222 Ventura Blvd, Old Town Camarillo. Doors open at 6 pm with student performers at 7 followed by their feature guest artist at 8. The public is welcome, and admission is always free; however, any donations collected go to guest performers.

Quick Notes: Oxnard Levity Live and Copper Blues final days are counting down as they’ll be closing permanently in August; tickets on sale now for the Aquabats! along with Manic Hispanic and Sullvn at the Ventura Theatre for October 17; tickets also on sale for Stanley Simmons (yes sons of Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons of Kiss) at the Ventura Music Hall for Saturday, August 15; El Rayo-X, David Lindley’s world-music band plays the Ojai Underground on Saturday, July 25; and Saturday evening Music Under the Stars series has Fortunate Son on July 25 and Smooth Sounds of Santana on August 1.

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 8/6/25 – 8/19/25

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
music scene artworkThe highly popular Rock the Collection summer concert series kicks off August 13 with The Yellow Brick Band (formerly known as Rocket Men, a tribute to Elton John). The family-friendly free concerts run on alternate Wednesdays. You’re encouraged to arrive early (after 11 am, day of the show), and you’re welcome to bring picnic low-backed chairs and blankets. Upcoming shows: The Long Run, tribute to the Eagles on August 27; Wanted, tribute to Bon Jovi on September 10; and Kings of Queen, tribute to Queen on September 24.

Ventura Music Festival logoCongratulations to the Ventura Music Festival’s successful 30th summer season which wrapped up last week. You might want to secure tickets now for one of their October series concerts which feature the likes of The Moanin’ Frogs, an Evening with Branford Marsalis, Twanguero, and more. Go to VenturaMusicFesival.org for information on dates and tickets.

There are more congratulations to be had, this time for Poseidon Brewing who is celebrating their 11th anniversary with live music over the weekend of August 8-10 featuring the CocoKnots on Friday, Morrison Drive and Vanise Terry Band on Saturday, and Looking West Sunday afternoon.

photo of Canned Heat 2025The Grape logoThe Grape has an excellent reputation for providing top-notch entertainment and if jazz is not your cup of tea, no worries, you can find blues, Americana and rock artists as well. Case in point, blues rock legend (performed at both Monterey and Woodstock in the ‘60s), Canned Heat will be there on Friday, August 15. While the band has endured several losses over the years, drummer, Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, is the “historian” and original member, along with New Orlean’s legend on harp, guitar and lead vocals, Dale Spalding, Rick Reed on bass (Paul Butterfield, John Mayall and Chicago Blues Reunion), and Jimmy Vivino best known as guitarist and arranger for Late Night with Conan O’Brien for over 28 years.

photo of The BBB Featuring Bernie DreselBut if you do love jazz, and more specifically, a 16-member energetic jazz orchestra, then you won’t want to miss The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel on Saturday, August 9. Dresel, drummer/percussionist, is one of the busiest studio and live musicians having supported Maynard Ferguson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in the past. He also has many movie and television credits including Incredibles 2, The Simpsons and Family Guy.

Quick Notes: Winchester’s Bar and Grill opened escrow to sell to Ventiki Operations, Inc, word is they plan to continue the venue’s 28-year legacy with live music and more; tickets for the Aquabats! At the Majestic Ventura Theater went on sale via Ticketweb for Saturday, November 15; Órale 805 performs at First Thursdays Food Trucks at Plaza Park in Oxnard on August 7; and Shawn Jones, Shane Alexander and Paulo Coelho perform at Namba on Saturday, August 16.

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 6/15/22 – 6/28/22

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

Summer officially arrives with the summer solstice on June 21 and with it a whole lot of special events involving music. From Surf Rodeo to Tequila & Taco Festival, from Conejo Valley Days to the Ventura County Fair, this summer promises to make up for lost time when we missed out on special events during the pandemic and then last year’s slow and cautious return to just getting out and about.

Conejo Valley Days will run from June 16 – June 18 with Mike Scully and the Weary Travelers, Psychedelic Summer, Fat Daddy Special and other bands performing throughout the weekend; this one ends with a John Denver sing along with Rick Shuler on Sunday. For all the band schedules, and ticket and parking information, go to ConejoValleyDays.us.

Surf Rodeo runs July 15 – July 17 with over 40 bands including Ozomatli, the Aggrolites, the Green, Rey Fresco, Aquadolls, Yachtley Crew and of course Raging Arb and the Redheads. For the complete lineup and the lowdown on tickets, go to SurfRodeo.org.

The Tequila & Taco Festival will be held on July 9 – July 10 and will have Sugar Ray, Bone Thugs n Harmony, Adelaide, and more on the big stage. This event will be held at Surfers Point Live in the parking lot at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. For ticket information, go to TequilaAndTacoMusicFestival.com.

The Ventura County Fair runs August 3 – August 14 and I have to say that this has got to be the latest the fair has ever released their Grandstand concert schedule, I’m told artists’ management won’t authorize the publicizing of their bands until later this month…so standby. VenturaRocks.com will post as soon as the lineup is announced otherwise, I will report it in the next issue of the Breeze.

The 2022 Rock the Collection concert series features four dates with family friendly tribute bands: July 27 it’s Twisted Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac), August 10 they have DSB (Journey), September 28 it’s the Long Run (Eagles) and October 19 they wrap it up with Bruno and the Hooligans (Bruno Mars Tribute). The free Wednesday night concerts run 6:30 – 8:30 pm; be sure to bring beach chairs and blankets to sit on.

I just saw that tickets have gone on sale for a two-day benefit for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy at Libbey Bowl featuring full days of music both capped off with a full three hour set by Grateful Shred on July 30 and 31. You can find out more at OVLC.org.

If reggae is your thing, then you’ll want to be downtown Ventura for Reggae Sundays at Café Fiore 5 pm – 9 pm. The series is now running through September 4 and will feature such bands as Urban Dread, Babylon Rockers, JanGala Roots and Free Love Project.

Speaking of which, tickets are on sale for the September 10th Roots 805 Jam in Port Hueneme at the Oceanview Pavilion. Bands on the bill include Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Kyle Smith, Jacob Marquez and the Good Vibes, Synrgy and more. Tickets available on EventBrite starting at $30 for general admission.

Lonesome Traveler: Generations is currently running at The Rubicon Theatre through June 26. This musical event features multiple generations of artists who come together to celebrate the unifying power of song. The concerts feature the dynamic vocals and awe-inspiring instrumental talents of Lifetime Grammy Award-winners George Grove (formerly with The Kingston Trio for more than 40 years), Rick Dougherty (formerly with both The Kingston Trio and The Limeliters), and Jerry Siggins (best known as the lead singer of The Diamonds). These legendary performers are joined onstage by favorite folk and gospel singer/musicians from Lonesome Traveler and I Dig Rock ‘n Roll Music, along with fresh young artists new to Rubicon audiences. Lonesome Traveler: Generations tickets are available at RubiconTheatre.org.

The Billy Howerdel of a Perfect Circle date got postponed to Sunday, July 24 at the Ventura Music Hall due to immigration issues; tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. I thought I’d highlight just a few of the venue’s upcoming shows which include Jerry’s Middle Finger on July 29, Aaron Lewis and the Statelines on August 25, Switchfoot on August 28, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds on September 7. I’ve seen Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds play several times here in Ventura at different Hi Hat Entertainment blues shows, so it will be great to see him belt out such tunes as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap it Up” when they play. Wilson was nominated for Best Traditional Blues album for his solo album, Take Me Back this year. Be sure to bookmark VenturaMusicHall.com to keep in the loop on all their shows.

Quick Notes: the Legendary Wailers play Ojai Libbey Bowl on Thursday, June 16 and Gov’t Mule on Sunday, June 19; Dan Grimm plays the Vine on Friday, June 17; Area 51 will have folks dancing at the 34th Ojai Wine Festival on Saturday, June 18; Shay Moulder plays Anna’s Cider in Santa Paula on Saturday, June 25; Punk show at Gigi’s on Saturday, June 25 with iDecline, SRA, Romper and more; and tickets are on sale for Black Flag at the Ventura Theater for Saturday, October 29.

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.