by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
Congratulations to the Ventura Music Festival as they celebrate their Silver Anniversary this year. They announced their 25th year line up earlier this week, so be sure to go to www.VenturaMusicFestival.org to see all the performances scheduled and to pick out which ones you plan on catching this summer. Meanwhile, you can get tickets for their Anderson & Roe Piano Duo at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 9.
The Los Angeles version of ARK Kizomba Festival is being held February 8-11 in Ventura this year and while their claim that our City “stays up late” might be stretching it, this is the perfect destination with our ocean breeze at the fairgrounds to help cool off dancers in between sets. As best as I can figure out, it’s three days of dancing, DJs, classes and demonstrations with an all-nighter Friday night kicking off at midnight going until 6 in the morning. For ticket information, DJs, and more understanding, go to www.AmericanRiveraKizombaFestival.com.
Squashed Grapes continues to book jazz shows at the Hong Kong with M’Phaka on Wednesday, January 30 featuring Karl Hunter (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), Hans Ottsen, Danny Connel & Tyler Hammond; then it’s Tony Ybarra & Friends on Thursday January 31; Jen Staves & the Bluzfish Trio on Friday, February 1; and the return of The Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carey of TOOL on Saturday, February 2.
The Ventura College Performing Arts Department will be presenting Dido and Aeneas Thursday, January 31, through Sunday, February 3. The opera which was composed over 350 years will be sung in English and has been updated with a modern interpretation covering such themes as cyber bullying, depression, peer pressure and how social medias has changed how we communicate with one another.
Quick Notes: Know, Brosky’s Revolt and Shattered Badget play Concrete Jungle Brewing on Friday, February 1; Salzer’s Records hosts a Meet and Greet with Las Cafeteras at noon on Friday February 1; Four Brix Winery continues their Friday happy hour shows 5:30 – 7:30 with Fido on February 1, and Inna Rude Mood on February 8; Anchor & Bear play Topa Topa Brewing on Friday, February 1; Ventura Bike Hub will offer music for First Fridays on February 1 with Las Criaturas, QVO, Sarah Tonein and Moon Pillow; Last in Line with Fallen Saints plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Saturday, February 2; Rubicon Theater concert “Side by Side” fall on Saturday and Sunday February 2 and 3; Lee Scratch Perry performs at Discovery Friday, February 8; Medicine Hat and Brother Earl and the Cousins play Sans Souci Saturday, February 8; music returns to Oak and Main on Saturday, February 9 with Mandex; and Camerata Pacifica presents an afternoon of Beethoven & Reich at the Museum of Ventura County Sunday afternoon, February 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.
