Tag Archives: The Vandals

Ventura Music Scene 12/10/25 – 12/23/25

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Music scene artworkThe Rubicon logoHappy holidays one and all! There are several live music events to celebrate this special time of year with family and friends starting with The Rubicon Christmas Memories concert on Friday, December 12, featuring Rubicon students and alumni as well as Broadway celebrity guests David Burnham and Jennifer Leigh Warren. The following afternoon, on Saturday, December 13, it’s the Tiny Tots Concert where the kids can meet Santa, Rudolph and Frosty afterwards downstairs in the Rose Room (RubiconTheatre.org).

High Streets Art Center logoOver in Moorpark, the High Street Arts Center hosts Christmas Magic over the weekend of Friday December 12 through Sunday December 13 featuring teen and adult cast members from seasons past singing favorite holiday songs and telling the stories behind them. (HighStreetArtsCenter.com)

Vandals artworkIf you lean towards the punk end of the musical spectrum and embrace a wicked sense of humor, then you won’t want to miss The Vandal’s 30th Annual Christmas Formal at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Friday, October 19, where I’m hoping to hear such underrated hits such as “Oi to the World, “ “My First Xmas (As a Woman),” and “Grandpa’s Last Christmas.”

Hot Roux’s Rock’n Holiday Show will be held at the Grape on Saturday afternoon (2 pm), December 20, featuring special guests, Katie Skene and Grammy-award winning guitarist, Albert Lee.

Ashford Gordon’s Christmas Show will be held on Sunday (4:30 -7:30), December 21, at Bombay Bar and Grill.

And the Spirit of Christmas Concert featuring the Simi Valley Symphony Orchestra will be held on Sunday, December 21 at the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center. This one will include music from Frozen, Home Alone, The Polar Express and more (SimiValleyOrchestras.com).

Quick Notes:

Burch Studios is a Rock and Roll High Collective where budding musicians come together to form bands and write original songs as they develop their craft. Burch will then produce concerts where the artists have the chance to perform in front of an audience. The next one will be held at the Majestic Ventura Theatre on Friday, December 12. This is a great way to support and ensure our music scene never dies!

And finally, The Beat Farmers and their brand of “wreckless western” land at the Deer Lodge on Sunday, December 14 with John Surge and the Haymakers opening. If the Farmer’s ring a bell, then you’re most likely old enough to remember they were a big part of the 80’s roots/rock/Americana movement which included Los Lobos, The Blasters and Lone Justice back in the day.

The music scene column in the next issue of the Ventura Breeze will cover New Year’s Eve Parties, but if you want to plan ahead, then go to VenturaRocks.com/Weekly-Gigs.htm and search “NYE.”

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 10/1/25 – 10/14/25

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Music scene artworkThere are dozens of wineries and breweries around our county with tasting rooms where live music is an integral part of their business plan. My music scene article and music listings focus on the west side of our county, covering such places as Cantara Cellars in Camarillo, Leashless Brewing in Ventura, Strey Cellars in Oxnard, Wagon Wheel Brewing Co. in Oxnard, Four Brix in Ventura, Topa Topa Brewing (locations: Camarillo, Ventura and Ojai), and Feros Ferio Winery in Ojai. There’s also Onyx in Camarillo, Seaward Brewing and Rincon Brewing in Ventura, Ventura Coast Brewing Company in Ventura and Ojai Valley Brewing. Each place is unique, but what I notice that keeps me coming back is the staff and their sincere appreciation of your patronage. If you’ve never been to one before, I highly recommend you “spread the love” and visit several of these establishments over the next few months.
Screenshot of Seaside Highland Games websiteThe Seaside Highland Games return to the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend of October 11-12. They don’t check your ancestry at the gate, so non-Scottish folks are also welcome, though I understand that siding with a “clan” could be tricky. Participants in the Seaside Games travel from all the western states to take part, including the honored Clans Munro, Gunn and Innis Societies of North America. Competitions include bagpiping and drumming, drum majoring, heavy athletics (sanctioned by the Scottish American Athletic Association), and Highland dance. This year’s live music will be provided by The Dropkick Mickeys, Brick Top Blaggers, Tempest, and The Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh. The weekend is packed full of activities, fun for the whole family. For more information, go to SeasideHighlandGames.com.

artwork for The Vandals lpPlanning ahead for the holidays, tickets just went on sale for The Vandals Christmas show at the Majestic for Friday, December 19. This quirky punk band out of Orange County has a wicked sense of humor and couldn’t be comprised of nicer guys, including the main songwriter, Warren Fitzgerald. I was lucky enough to meet them backstage at the Santa Barbara Bowl when they opened for No Doubt many years ago. If you love corrupting the spirit of the season, then you’ll love such songs as “Oi to the World,” “I Don’t Believe in Santa Claus,” and “Grandpa’s Last Xmas.” Also on the bill for this show will be Good Riddance and 84 Days.

Quick Notes: Ocie Elliott play the Libbey Bowl on Thursday, October 2; Simon Phillips (Judas Priest, Michael Scheniker Group, The Who) returns to The Grape on Saturday, October 4; Robin Trower plays a fully seated show at the Ventura Music Hall on Monday, October 6 and Purity Ring just released their fourth, self-titled album and will be touring in support of it, making a stop at the Majestic Ventura Theater on Monday, October 13.

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 12/13/23 – 12/26/23

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Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.comartwork
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season, there are a few more opportunities to catch live music if you need a boost. On one end of the spectrum, the Rubicon Theater will host a Saturday afternoon Tiny Tots Christmas Concert on December 23 (2-4 pm) featuring enchanting songs of the season that will tug at your holiday heartstrings.

And then on the other end of the spectrum, if you appreciate a wicked sense of humor that is, then you won’t want to miss loveable punk rockers, The Vandals, when they play the Majestic Ventura Theater on Friday, December 22. This is the band’s 28th Annual Christmas Formal where they’re sure to play such punk holiday favorites as “My First Christmas as a Women,” “Oi to the World,” “Grandpa’s Last X-mas” and “I Don’t Believe in Santa Claus.”

Non-holiday events include a fundraiser to help get Red Headed Stephchild to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis next month. The event will be held at Bombay’s on Saturday December 16 from 2-6 pm with performances from Ray Jaurique Trio, Hot Roux, American Standard and Red Headed StephChild.

Singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom plays Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai on Sunday December 17. So many of her songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists such as Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, Kurt Cobain and of course Bette Midler who hit a number one hit with her tune, “The Rose”.

Albert Lee will be celebrating his 80th birthday at the Twist on Main with Hot Roux supporting the phenomenal Grammy award winning guitarist. Lee has worked with the likes of the Everly Brothers, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and more. This ticketed event falls on Friday, December 22 with tickets available on the HiHatEntertainment.com website.

Keep in mind, you should firm up your New Year’s Eve party plans sooner than later. My next column will highlight some of the bigger parties, but meanwhile, go to VenturaRocks.com and on the calendar, just search “NYE” for parties throughout Ventura County.

Quick Notes: Rey Fresco opens for Ozomatli at the Ventura Music Hall on Thursday, December 14; Simon Phillips returns to the Grape for another sure-to-sell-out performance on Friday, December 15; Red Hot Cholo Peppers play Copper Blues on Friday December 15; Brendan Willing James plays the Farmer and the Cook in Ojai on Sunday December 17; and Tribal Me has reformed and renamed the group, The Jelly Jam Band.

Though I’ve placed the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on hiatus after 200 shows, I’d like to invite you to start your very own radio show on CAPS Media’s KPPQ local non-profit radio station. You can do a talk/podcast type show, or play music of any genre. Reach out to the program director at radio@capsmedia.org.

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.