by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
We’re right smack dab in the middle of summer and though most of the big events are behind us, there is, and always will be, plenty of live music to take in throughout the county. Let’s start with Moorpark’s historic High Street Arts Center where they have a live music series kicking off Friday, August 9 and running through September 1. They’ll host a number of tribute bands featuring the music of the Rolling Stones to Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet to Elvis Presley, and Santana to the Surf City Allstars. Over the next two weekends there’s Stevie Nicks Illusion on August 9, Mark Wood and the Parrot Head Band on August 10, Smooth Sounds of Santa on August 16 and Raymond Michael, Elvis impersonator, on August 17. For ticket prices and availability, go to highstreetartscenter.com.
For a special evening out, I recommend one of the Candlelight Concerts which return to the Majestic Ventura Theater on Friday, August 16, for two different one-hour shows featuring the Listeso String Quartet. At 6:30 it’s the music of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, then at 9 pm a tribute to Taylor Swift. Tickets available through FeverUp.com.
It always comes as a surprise to me that there is a number of locals who have never taken in a live concert at Ojai’s Libbey Bowl; it truly is a majestic setting on a warm summer evening. There are still a number of amazing shows on the docket for the season including Los Lonely Boys, Don McLean (yes, Mr. American Pie himself), Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Pablo Cruise, Thievery Corporation, Chris Isaak and the Temptations, not to mention a number of stellar tribute bands including Queen Nation. Tickets available through axs.com.
And while the Ventura County Fair runs through Sunday, August 11, the final grandstand concert will be Wednesday, August 7 featuring country singer, Gary Allen. Of course, all the smaller stages around the fairgrounds will continue to offer mostly local bands throughout each day.
Quick Notes: tickets on sale now for Big Head Todd and the Monsters’ 40th Anniversary tour for November 23 at the Ventura Music Hall; Numbskull Productions, Los Fest, a punk rock music event on Saturday, August 24, has been postponed; an all-girl tribute band to the Rolling Stones called Some Girls, plays Copper Blues on Friday, August 9; Poseidon Brewing’s 10th anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, August 10 featuring Steve and Sally Williams; the highly popular Rock the Collection series kicks off on Thursday, August 15 with Bruno and the Holligans; Tommy Quayle returns to Namba Arts on Friday, August 16 for another rendition of “Petty Round the Campfire” featuring all your favorite Tom Petty tunes; Invincible Benatar with Blackstar play Bombay’s on Saturday, August 17; and Psychedelic Summer returns to the Aqua Bar (poolside) on Sunday, August 18;
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.
