by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Finally!! The Ventura County Fair runs Wednesday, August 3, through Sunday, August 13, featuring tons of music in and around the fairgrounds (Seabreeze and Station stages) as well as the featured national acts on the Grandstand stage most evenings. The concerts are always included in the price of admission. Here’s the schedule: Thursday, August 3, a double bill with Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray; Friday, August 4, it’s the return of Huey Lewis and the News; Saturday, August 5, dust off your dancing shoes for KC and the Sunshine Band; Sunday is the traditionally Dia de la Familia and this year it features Chiquis Rivera, Noel Torres and Banda Carnaval; Monday, August 7, it’s country star Billy Currington; Tuesday at 1 it’s the Spinners, then 7:30 it’s Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds; Wednesday, August 9, it’s rock with Shinedown; and to wrap up the concert series it’s Wynonna and the Big Noise on Friday, August 11. All concerts (except the Spinners) start at 7:30 pm. All music and events can be found online at www.VenturaCountyFair.org.
Oh! Speaking of the fair, the Ventura County Fair Parade rolls down Main Street downtown Ventura Saturday, August 5 at 10 am. There’s always plenty of music; I’ll be hanging out on the Squashed Grapes float along with the Barrelhouse Wailers.
And speaking of Squashed Grapes, they have quite the week lined up with Lett, Mancini & Dutt on Wednesday, August 2, followed by Nees Bees featuring Nee Sackey and friends on Thursday, then it’s “Organtua” on Friday with Karl Hunter, and Jimmy and Mario Calire followed up on Saturday, August 5, with Tia Brazda (from Vancouver) who has been touring all over the United States and Canada this Summer.
Music Under the Stars is in full swing and it’s as popular as ever. Coming up Saturday, August 5, it’s Orquestra Charangoa and then Saturday, August 12, it’s a celebration of the music of Joni Mitchell. It’s better to get your tickets in advance, but if you can’t, be sure to check before heading out to ensure tickets are still available on the City’s website (www.CityofVentura.ca.gov).
Quick Notes: The Golden China is hosting a Roots 805 Jam on Saturday, August 5th with Jah Mon Soul, Ras Rebel and Rising Son; The Queers along with The Ataris and Bad Samaritans play a pop punk show at Discovery on Sunday, August 6; Toad the Wet Sprocket is at the Libbey Bowl August 6; and The Museum of Ventura County’s “Speaking Of” lecture series will be featuring Fito de la Parra (Canned Heat Drummer) on Thursday, August 10.
And finally, congratulations to Night Demon who landed themselves on the same bill as Ozzy Osborne, the Deftones and Prophets of Rage when they play Ozzfest this year, November 4 at Glen Helen Amphitheater. Now that freakin’ rocks!!
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.
