Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
Get your costume together and map out your evening because Halloween is finally here! When it comes to parties, costumes, spooking lighting and of course a whole lot of live music, then downtown Ventura is the perfect place to hang because you can travel from venue to venue including Tony’s Pizzeria, Leashless, Winchesters, Café Fiore and the Crowne Plaza where they have two different events (one with Rey Fresco and the other with Shaky Feelin’). There’s also a Halloween pub crawl with venues offering DJs and other specials (Eventbrite).
If you’re into punk, then Gigi’s with Preachers & Pornstars, All-a-Blur and Neurotics might be your jam. Or there’s Tony Ybarra’s Nylon Roses (GenX experience of classic hard rock) at the Grape, or Sick Boy (Social D covers) at Poseidon Brewing. There’s a whole lot going on. Keep in mind, some venues may have a cover charge, so be prepared and do your research before heading out.
The next day downtown Ventura will host a special celebration of Dia De Los Muertos with two stages of performances and live mariachi bands. There will be street vendors, a lowrider car show, arts and crafts, community alters, face painting and more. This all-ages free event will run from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday, November 1. By the by, there is a free bar/business crawl, find out more at DiaDeLosMuertosVentura.com.
The Rubicon Theatre’s 2025/2026 season has opened with their first production, Million Dollar Quartet running now through November 9. I caught the show this past weekend and I can’t recommend it enough. The play is based on a true story that brought the names we all know and love together for one special jam at Sun Studios in Memphis. The top-notch performances cover tunes ingrained in our rock and roll psyche from legendary icons Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. If you’re a lover of 50’s rock and roll and enjoy straight up fun storytelling, then get your tickets now at RubiconTheatre.org.
Quick Notes: The Glenn Tilbrook show at the Ventura Music Hall for Sunday, November 2, has been cancelled; Mims will be at Gibson’s on Thursday, November 6 ($50 cover); Parrotheads unite for Jammy Buffet (picking up where Jimmy left off) at the Ventura Music Hall on Sunday, November 9; A fundraiser for Dalton Cruz will be held at Mrs. Olson’s on Sunday, November 9, featuring Bloody Mary Morning, Looking West, Eric Lemaire and more; The Aquabats land at the Majestic Saturday, November 15; tickets are on sale for local legends, Mandex and Blackstar at the Ventura Theater for Friday, November 28; and tickets on sale for the social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk which falls on Saturday, December 6.
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.