Ventura Mus
ic Scene
“Ventura Kids Rock”
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Pam@VenturaRocks.com
I originally moved to Ventura for a radio job at 96-ZTR where I used the air name of Stephanie Rose for several years. Do you remember that classic rock station at 95.9 on the FM dial? Well it’s changed formats a few times over the last few decades and currently they’re known as Old School 959 and they’ll be introducing their new morning show host Jimmy Reyes at Amigo’s Surf Cantina on Friday, May 6. Swing by and enjoy “Old School” tunes with JScratch and DJ Wicked in the mix and Miss Alynette who will be hosting the evening.
You might want to go ahead and secure tickets before it sells out for the Frost & Fire II concert as the show features the return of Cirith Ungol. Last year dozens of folks showed up from around the globe just to get an autograph from a couple of the band members, but this year drummer Robert Garvan (and Ventura resident) is reuniting the band for their first live performance in over 25 years. A European tour can’t be far behind.
The 11th Annual Ventura county Blues Festival with the Delgado Brothers is Saturday, April 30th in Camarillo. This year the festival is dedicated to Alan (BB Chung King) Mirikitani.
Now Ventura has been offing up a DJ on Friday and Saturdays but they’re stepping it up with a “Return to Jazz” evening headed up by Davey Miller on Fridays and then a weekly jazz jam on Wednesday which will be hosted by the likes of monster players like bassist, Bruce Lett and Ric Fierabracci. Other names expected to participate will be Andy Langhamm, Mitch Forman, Nick Mancini and Dennis Hamm.
Copa Cubana in the Ventura Harbor Village has opened its doors with the Estrada Band every Monday night; more music and a fuller menu to come soon. And with the weather warming up, Margarita Villa also in the Ventura Harbor Village is once again providing music out on their patio area and Saloon BBQ downtown is once again consistently providing bands over the weekend.
Bombay’s is hosting a fundraising event supporting the Gull Wings Children’s Museum running all day starting at 11 am until closing with music from Sin Nombre, The Right Amount of Wrong, Phantom Train, Galactic Polecats Hard Six and more. There will also be a car show and a Little Miss Gull Wings pageant hosted by Ms. Cash Bash 2016 and Roadshow Revival contestant, Christini Martini, so mark it on your calendar for Saturday, May 14.
And staying with our kids, the Ventura Music Festival presents its most diverse Rising Stars concert on Friday May 6 at the First United Methodist Church (1338 E. Santa Clara). The 75-minute program begins at 8 pm and includes a 30-member high school choir, seven classical musicians from middle school to college and a jazz quartet. Admission is free.
Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to Pam@VenturaRocks.com, and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.