Tag Archives: Strawberry Festival

Ventura Music Scene 5/15/24 – 5/28/24

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

The Strawberry Festival returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds for the second year in a row and let’s hope lessons were learned on traffic control because last year was a hot mess. Go to their website which provides information on free shuttle services which not only saves you $20 in parking fees, but you also won’t have to deal with stop and go traffic. There will also be a free bike valet (first come, first served) for those of us close enough to ride our bikes to the fairgrounds. Enjoy live music which is included in the price of admission from Drew Dolan, Smooth Sound of Santana, Surf City All-Stars, Petty or Not, Conner Cherland, Will Breman, Rey Fresco and more. Tickets for Saturday, May 18 and Sunday May 19 can be found at CaStrawberryFestival.org.

The Rubicon concert series, Ventura Live, continues with a special event coming up on May 26 called The Palomino Nights Country and Rhythm Revue benefit concert. There will be performances by Mark Masson & Jam Grass, Beau Ted & Tailor Maide, the Van Allen Twins, Buck Moon, Josephoenix and Jay Ponti. The evening is sure to get your toes tapping and your heart racing to the sounds of bluegrass and true-blue country standards. Proceeds support Rubicon’s leadership and acting programs to empower economically challenged young people. Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.

I kept waiting to find out what the music would be for X Games hailed as sports & music festival last summer to no avail, but I’m pumped to announce there will be live music included in the price of admission for X Games Ventura 2024. As a press time, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated rap artist Wiz Khalifa will perform on Friday, June 28 and eight-time Grammy nominated Kaskade will offer up electronic dance music on Saturday, June 29. More to come as they roll the artists out.

Shout Outs: Firstly, congratulations to local musician Jayden Secor for graduating Magna Cum Laude with both a music production degree and a business administration degree from Cal Lutheran; and secondly, I couldn’t be more proud of Gaby Montiel for being selected by Successfully, a global outlet, which highlights a handful of people for 2024 from around the world from all different walks of life who inspire. I hope you take a moment to click here and read Gaby’s story on Successfully.World.

Quick Notes: Angry Ferret in Moorpark is celebrating their 3rd anniversary with DVR on Saturday, May 18; Gigi’s has a free show with Popperz and Dogsled out of Houston, TX, on Thursday, May 16; locals Romper open for Stiff Little Fingers and Ricky Warwick at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Thursday, May 23; and reggae legends, Burning Spear play the Ventura Music Hall on Tuesday, May 28.

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 1/25/23 – 2/7/23

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

As of press time, tickets were still available for the Perla Batalla’s second concert at the Beatice Wood Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 11 (Friday’s show sold out). You can expect selections from Perla’s original Mestiza song cycle, her one-woman Frida Kahlo show, the Great American Songbook Spanish language classics, new original work and several selections of Perla’s arrangements of Leonard Cohen songs. Ticket information can be found on the venue website at BeaticeWood.com.

Traveling through town on what they’re calling “Kick Up Your Boots” tour will be three solo female singer/songwriters, Thea, the Band (San Diego), Micah Justice (Inland Empire), and Katie Leigh (Ventura). They’ll make two stops locally, one at the Ojai Valley Brewing on Friday, January 27 and then again at Topa Topa Brewing on Colt Street here in Ventura on Saturday, January 28.

The Ojai Underground hosts the Refugees on Saturday, January 28 featuring a trio of artists including, Cindy Bullens who toured with Elton John and was nominated for two Grammy awards, Deborah Holland from Animal Logic (Stanley Clarke, Stewart Copeland), and Wendy Waldman co-writer of Vanessa Williams’ No. 1 hit, “Save the Best for Last.” You can get ticket information at OjaiUndergroundExchange.com.

Skull & Roses returns to Ventura in spring over the week of April 19 through 23 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds with Phil Lesh & Friends playing the two final days. Other performers include Melvin Seals & JGB, Dark Star Orchestra, Oteil & Friends, Jerry’s Middle Finger, local favorites, Shaky Feelin’ and so much more! You can find everything you need from passes to lodging and camping information at the official website SkullAndRoses.com.

And in case you hadn’t heard, the Strawberry Festival returns this spring, May 20 – 21, in a new location at the Ventura Fairgrounds. Live music is a big part of this event and this year they will have three stages going all day both days including a battle of the bands contest. The official website hasn’t listed any bands yet, but I noticed that Stage #3 is presented by Rock City Studios out of Camarillo with this stage featuring students of all ages and skill levels. I love that!! You can keep in the know at CaStrawberryFestival.org.

Quick Notes: Lucas MacFadden, better known as Cut Chemist (former member of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli) plays the Ventura Music Hall on Thursday, January 26; catch Dreamland, a celebration of Joni Mitchell featuring Kimberly Ford on Saturday, January 28 at the Grape; Raging Arb and Friends play the Garage on Saturday, January 28; Guy Martin plays The Twist on Saturday, January 28; The Refugees play the Ojai Underground on Saturday, January 28;
Cadillac Zack presents Chris Cain at Cantara Winery on Friday, February 3; French Blues singer/guitarist plays Namba on Saturday, February 4; Katie Skene Band plays the Deer Lodge, on Saturday, February 4; and tickets for Ugly Kid Joe on May 5 at the Ventura Theater have gone on sale.

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 5/9 – 5/22

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

I’m loving the effort to liven up downtown with businesses staying open later during May and holding special events like a Mom’s night out or a pub crawl. Kudos to the merchants! But of course, you know nothing livens up a place like live music, and you know who has been doing right? Just take a look at the venues in the Ventura Harbor! The Boatyard Pub is officially providing live music seven days a week so between the Boatyard, 805 Wine Bar, the Copa Cubana, Margarita Villa (also seven days a week), and even the Ventura Comedy Club where Tom Scott and LA Express plays time to time, the place is about as lively as you can get!

Nothing goes with warmer weather like a cold brewski, so you won’t want to miss Surf n’ Suds, the beer festival with a surf twist, on Saturday, May 19, at San Buenaventura State Beach. The daylong event not only has over 50 craft breweries, ciders and wine, but they’ll have entertainment from Crosscut 805, DJ Hecktik and After the Smoke.

It’s always a treat when Hi Hat Entertainment brings Billy Vera and the Beaters to town so you’ll want to get your tickets in advance at HiHatEntertainment.com for Friday, May 11, at the Hong Kong Inn. They’ll perform their #1 hit tune, “At this Moment” along with “Millie make some Chili” and other favorites.

It’s awesome that the Museum of Ventura County is offering more live music. On Friday, May 11, it’s “Out of the Ashes: Healing in Story and Song”; the chamber music ensemble, Camerata Pacifica, performs on Sunday, May 13; the weekly Munch series continues Thursdays afternoons where local artists perform at lunch time; and two-time Grammy winner Laurence Juber (lead guitarist for Paul McCartney’s Wings) headlines a fundraiser for the Ventura County Library Foundation on May 19. For more information and tickets, visit VenturaMuseum.org.

Quick Notes: cool shows at The Garage include the New Candys from Venice, Italy, on Thursday, May 10, and Jason Steady and the Soft Ponies from Omaha, NE, on Friday, May 11; Topa Mountain Winery in Ojai is hosting a Rose Soiree Event with music from The Salty Suites and The Dales on Saturday, May 12; Grapes and Hops hosts an earlier show on Mother’s day, Sunday, May 13 at 11 am with Stephen Inglis who will perform, “Cut the Dead some Slack” then it’s Dive Bar Steve and Friends at 3 pm; Caught Red Handed plays Plan B Wine Cellars on Sunday, May 13; Oxnard’s Strawberry Festival is over the weekend of May 19-20, and on the Main stage will be Hollywood U2, Highway Starr, Professional Americans, 40oz to Freedom and more; and finally, the Outlaws will be at Discovery on Sunday, May 20 with Crooked Eye Tommy opening.

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.