by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
You won’t want to miss the return of the Preachers Blues Band when they reunite for Thomas Fire relief show at the Hong Kong Inn on Saturday, March 17. It’s been almost five years and it may not happen again for who knows how long! I’m hearing many musicians who have sat in with the band in the past are on board to perform too including Rick Reeves, Guy Martin, Ashford Gordon, Ray Jaurique, Preston Smith, Kelly Zirbes, Perry Robertson, Glade Rassmussen, John Fincham, Jerry Briener, Ian McFadyan, Jodi Farrell and more!
A popular event every year as a precursor to the Ventura Music Festival is the Student Jazz competition. Judges will award cash prizes to three of Southern California’s best high school jazz musicians and they’ll be invited to perform during the Festival’s run. The competition this year will be held at Squashed Grapes on Sunday, March 18, at 2 pm. While this one is free, donations for the Young Artists Fund will be gratefully appreciated.
Beware the bagpipers throughout the day at different venues on Saturday, March 17, but as St. Patrick’s Day actually falls on a Saturday, there will also be plenty of music during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Main Street downtown Ventura. Get the entire family there early so you can get a good seat to cheer on the participating entrees. It’s always a hoot!
Quick notes: Opera Santa Barbara is offering a free performance on Friday, March 16 during the lunch hour at EP Foster Library; Donavon Frankenreiter plays Discovery on Friday, March 16; The Galactic Polecats play Sans Souci on Saturday, March 17; Cranberry Sauce debuts at Grapes and Hops on Sunday, March 18, offering music by The Beatles; The Majestic Ventura Theater has Flogging Molly on Monday, March 19, and Ministry on Friday, March 23; The Phantom Pomps CD release party at the Hong Kong Inn is on Saturday, March 24; Tickets for Frost and Fire IV have gone on sale for three nights at the Ventura Theater October 4, 5 and 6th with Cirith Ungol, Gygax, Night Demon, Screamer and more on the bill; the Ventura County Concert band holds one of their annual free shows at the Ventura High School Auditorium on Sunday afternoon, March 18, at 3 pm, this one is called “Simply…the Masters”; and ARC of Ventura is holding their annual “Let’s Go Out” event at Bombay’s on Sunday, March 24, with Fish Fry, the Vonettes and Seth Pettersen and Friends.
And finally, VenturaRocks.com is celebrating their 9th anniversary serving the community. There are a number of changes coming soon including the listing of only live music along with the inclusion of venues from neighboring cities.
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.
