by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
The Ventura County Fair is finally here!! And unlike so many other fairs around the country, the grandstand stage concerts are included in the price of admission, which you have to admit is very cool. While opening day is Wednesday, August 1, the grandstand stage concerts don’t start until Thursday, August 2 with UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey; then it’s Plain White T’s on Friday, August 3; LeAnn Rimes on Saturday, August 4; the first Sunday is Dia de la Familia starting at 3 pm with Alfredo Olivas, Ulices Chaidez and Lorenzo de Monteclaro; Sublime with Rome play Monday, August 6; two shows on Tuesday, August 7, first it’s The 5th Dimension at 1 pm, then Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons at 7:30; Boyz II Men play Wednesday, August 8; it’s Hunter Hayes on Thursday, August 9; and wrapping up the concerts on Friday, August 10, it’s Creedence Clearwater Revisited. The final two days of the fair will be a professional cowboy rodeo in the arena.
Don’t forget along with the Grandstand stage touring artists, rock out to local bands playing the Sea Breeze stage including Aaron Pax Taylor, The Rockin’ Henrys, Hard Six, Doc Rodgers Band and more. There are specials prices on several days so be sure to check out the fair’s official website (www.VenturaCountyFair.org) to map out which days you want to attend and whether you need to arrive before a certain time or not.
Meanwhile, the 38th annual Wings Over Camarillo Air and Car Festival not only features hot rides (ground and airborne), but this year will include a performance by the ultimate 80’s cover band, The Spazmatics on Saturday, August 18th. This family friendly event runs over the course of the weekend with the airshow noon to 7, the concert is scheduled 5-7 pm, and the gates open at 9 am. Find ticket information at www.WingsOverCamarillo.com.
Quick notes: Beach House Fish and Beach House Tacos are back to offering live music on most Fridays and Saturdays; enjoy an evening of Beatles covers with Doc Ventura and Earth Immigrant on Thursday, August 2 at Vintura at the Wine Rack; The Vonettes and The Right Amount of Wrong play an early show at Bombay’s on Saturday, August 4; a couple worthy tribute bands play Discovery, Blink 180True on Saturday, August 4 and Erotic City (Prince) on Saturday August 11; Kelly’s Lot returns to Four Brix on Friday, August 3; Grant Langston & the Supermodels are rescheduled at the Hong Kong Inn on Friday, August 10; Rainbow Kitten Surprise rock the Ventura Theater on Friday, August 10; Crooked Eye Tommy joins forces with Charles Law for an afternoon gig at Winchester’s on Sunday, August 12; and finally, congratulations to Charleen Morla of Dirty Rice for tying the knot last month!
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.