by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
There’s no denying it’s Summer what with the Fourth of July at hand and Surf Rodeo just around the corner, and what better to celebrate than with live music? The City’s 4th of July Downtown Street Fair, which runs 10 am – 5 pm, will not only have tons of vendors, and food, but there will be plenty of live music from The Mighty Cash Cats, Raised on Vinyl and 805 Rhythm. To avoid looking for parking, why not ride your bike? The City is providing a free bike valet on California near Main Street.
Along with their Saturday and Sunday afternoon music lineup, Topa Mountain Winery will host a fundraiser for Safety Harbor Kids on Friday, July 6 featuring Paul Barrere, Fred Tackette and friends of Little Feat; Shaky Feelin’ will open.
The Ventura Music Festival runs July 12th through the 22 at a handful of venues throughout the City. Just a couple highlights include the John Jorgenson Quintet at Olivas Adobe on Thursday, July 12; double Latin Grammy winner, Diego Garcia at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on Friday, July 13; there will be a free concert with Jarabe Mexicano on Wednesday, July 18 at Mission Park. For the complete line up and ticket information, go to www.VenturaMusicFestival.org.
Dust off the cowboy hat and get your sunscreen ready for this year’s Surf Rodeo over the weekend of July 14th and 15th at Pierpont Beach at Seaward. There’s plenty to do between the vendors along Seaward, the surf competition, bikini cowgirl contest and the Cornhole tournament, but of course my favorite reason for going would be all the great music. Along with a bunch of amazing local bands, JD Drury is bringing Fishbone, the Long Beach Dub Allstars, Shwayze, and the Untouchables to town. Confidence is high this one will be for the books!
Quick notes: The Garage is kicking it up a notch with Hard Six and Stock Shot on Friday, July 6, it’s a full line up starting at 5 pm on Saturday, July 7 with Char-Man, Slow Season, Sweet Reaper, Glam Skanks, The Pullmen and The Birth Defects, and then the following week on Friday the 13th it’s Negative Approach, Stalag 13, Take Offense and Skullcrack; Shawn Jones returns from his most recent European tour with a show at Grapes and Hops on Saturday, July 7, and again on Saturday, July 14, at The Star Lounge; on Saturday, July 7, Art City Gallery and Studios is hosting a Summer Jam with Herbal Rootz, Bomba Fiya, Crying 4 Kafka and more, they’re asking for a $10 donation at the door; the Second Sunday Supper at Plan B Winery will feature reggae with Soltree on Sunday, July 8; and finally, it’s “Latin meets Jazz” with Justo Almario, internationally renowned jazz saxman at the Hong Kong Inn on Tuesday, July 10.
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.
