by Pam Baumgardner of VenturaRocks.com
The 2024 Ventura Music Festival season officially kicks off on Thursday, July 25, with a special performance at Olivas Adobe Historical Park featuring Grammy Award-Winner and 12-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Fiddle Player of the year, Michael Cleveland. So, if bluegrass is your jam, you won’t want to miss this one for sure! The remaining concerts will be held at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center over two weekends. For ticket information go to VenturaMusicFestival.org
If you have the grooves that move…those hips (and even if you don’t), then the Oxnard Salsa Festival is for you! This year it falls over the weekend of July 27-28 in Downtown Oxnard. Along with salsa bands, salsa dancing, spicy foods and ice-cold drinks, there will be a vendor marketplace and a Kids Zone including rides, games and crafts. See listings for bands for each day and to secure your tickets go to OxnardSalsaFestival.com.
The Ventura Townehouse at 4900 W. Telegraph Road is offering a free concert to the community on Saturday, July 27, on the grass area featuring Catch a Wave, a Beach Boys tribute band. You’re invited to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets, though seating will be available for seniors. Food and drinks will also be available as the event aims to raise funds for the Ventura County Fire Department Widows, Orphans and Assistance Fund (WOAF).
The Ventura County Fair runs July 31 – August 11 with a new layout for the Grandstand Stage concerts, and a new you-have-to-pay-to-be-up-close-to-the band policy. For everyone else, shows are included in the price of admission to the fair (see listings). As always, it is highly recommended to take shuttles which are free, except the one at the State Beach where you have to pay to park. Check out the fair’s website for shuttle, parking, ticket and event information at VenturaCountyFair.org.
Quick Notes: Tickets are on sale now for Poncho Sanchez with Ozomatli at the Libbey Bowl for Saturday, October 5 and for 98 Degrees at the Oxnard Performing Arts center for Friday, October 25; Margarita Villa offers live music on Tuesdays now with Bobby Campbell on July 30, and Two Tossers on August 6; Swiss rockabilly band, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion, plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Thursday, July 25; Music Under the Stars (ticketed shows) continues on Saturday nights throughout the summer with Pretzel Logic on July 27 and Start me Up on August 3; Danny Carey of Tool returns to the Grape with the Doug Webb Group on Saturday, July 27 and Don Randi (an original members of the Wrecking Crew) returns as well on Saturday, August 3; and finally, the current owners of the Garage will celebrate their 3rd anniversary with Buena Onda on Saturday, July 27.
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.
