by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
With Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, I’m finding many venues are having their costume parties the weekend before with a few on Halloween; but there are several celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following, so almost two weeks of spooky fun at hand. Let’s start with HallowQueens, this one features bands with female lead singers on Saturday, October 26, at The Garage with The Guitar and Whiskey Club, Fallen Saints, Soup Hat and Sik Sik Sicks. Nasty Nights, the Halloween Edition, lands at the Hong Kong Inn with Idecline, Civil Conflict, Psychotic Barnyard, Bootleg Brigade, Guttural Riot (LA) and Plot (SB); and then the Alpine Camp Band hosts a Halloween Ball at Leashless on that Saturday as well. On Halloween, Copa Cubana has Sound Effect, there’s Discovery’s Emo Night performed by Class of 05, and there will be DJ’s hosting costume parties at Star Lounge, The Tavern, and Bombay’s.
Something new for downtown, many venues will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos the days following Halloween. On Saturday afternoon, November 2 from noon to 6 pm, Chestnut will be shut down with lots of festivities for the entire family including strolling entertainment with Mariachi, Hermanos Hererra and Folkloricos. That evening, the Ventura Theater has Columbian group, La Sonora Dinamita (Cumbia music), and 50 Sticks of Dynamite will host Dia de los Muertos party at Grapes and Hops. Everyone is invited to dress to impress, I trust there will be loads of painted faces that day and night.
Quick Notes: Namba’s Spooktaculara Halloween Variety Show is Friday, October 25; Oak and Main has Trapt on Saturday, October 26 and Tantric on Sunday October 27, advance tickets available on their website and Facebook pages; there will be a special event at Topa Mountain Winery as they host Taste of Ojai on Sunday, October 27, featuring music from the Danny McGaw Band; you can enjoy live Reggae at Bombay’s 6-9 pm with Bomba Fiya and Lay Low on Saturday, October 26; Jonathan McEuen is the featured artist for a Music and Art for Youth fundraiser at Namba on Saturday, October 26; a second open mic dubbed “Acoustic Gathering” has landed at Golden China 6-9 pm on Thursdays; Danny D. continues to croon the room with Sinatra tunes Tuesdays at Prime and Casa Bella on Thursdays; Tammy offers Tango Tuesdays with dance lessons at Grapes and Hops; No Motiv celebrates the 25th anniversary of And the Sadness Prevails at Discovery on Friday, November 1 performing along with Out of Trust, Slowtrip and Omega Point; and finally, you’ll want to set aside Friday, November 8, for the Local Love project holiday CD release party at the Channel Islands Masonic Lodge (482 E Santa Clara in Ventura), I’ll have more on this special event next issue!
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