It’s the last month of the year, a year that will go down in history where music scenes everywhere took a major hit including our quant little Ventura. But now with a vaccine or two on the horizon, let’s hope 2021 shows a slow yet steady recovery. All those venues that provided live music pre-pandemic will need your help getting back up to speed. Meanwhile, please continue to be diligent when venturing out as the pandemic numbers have risen yet again. Do your part and social distance and wear your mask to help reduce the spread of the virus.

The Canyon Club at Oxnard Performing Art Center continues to add more concerts (see listings on this page), and if you’re a fan of The Beatles, then you won’t want to miss The Fab Four who have been a professional tribute band for the past 23 years. The band has a couple of CDs to their credit, including their popular HARK! Christmas CD, which features traditional Christmas songs done in that unmistakable Beatles style. They’ve also released a live concert CD and a CD of their Emmy-winning 2012 PBS special, “The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute.” The Fab Four plays Friday, December 4.

Here in Ventura, Concerts in Your Car has a handful of shows before a short break at the beginning of the year. Still to come this year, Iration on Friday, December 4, and then a couple of stage productions including a live drive-in opera of Carmen on Sunday, December 6, the Nutcracker from Ventura County Ballet on Saturday, December 12 (two shows 5 and 8 pm) and Santa Saves Christmas on Saturday December 19. The same venue has been offering actual drive-in movies in between concerts, and leading up to Christmas, they’ve lined up a number of holidays classics including Elf, the Polar Express, The Santa Clause, Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Jim Carrey version) and of course, A Christmas Story. For more information on any of these shows, or ticket prices, just go to www.ConcertsInYourCar.com.

The 3^rd annual Doc the Halls, Holiday Blues show with Doc Ventura will be held virtually this year out of NAMBA Performing Arts space on Sunday, December 6 from Noon until 6 pm. For the cost of admission (a mere $10), you can catch performances online live from Delta by the Beach, Mark McKinney, Tom Buenger, Robert Kyle & Alyse Korn, Lucious Spiller, the Ventura County Ballet Company, Freda Ramey and Frank Barajas.

We’ve continued to produce monthly episodes of the VenturaRockSpot which features local bands and artists. You’ll want to check out our current interview with the talented Jodi Farrell. You can either go to VenturaRocks.com (listed on homepage), or go directly to www.VenturaRockSpot.com which includes past episodes featuring such bands as Kelly’s Lot, How to Live with Robots, Mark Masson of Shaky Feelin’, Kyle Smith, Crooked Eye Tommy and more. We currently have 22 episodes posted for your listening pleasure.

Quick Notes: The Forty Nineteens just released their latest single, “Go Little GTO” which takes the 1966 GTO out of the garage for a ride on Sunset Strip where the bandmates learned their chops; and the Mighty Cash (Michael J and Leticia) will be performing at a social distanced, free concert at Chuy’s in Simi Valley on Saturday, December 12.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

Camarillo Barrelworks
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 12/5- Christmas with Katie Shorey
Sat 12/12: Will Breman
Sun 12/13: Brandon Ragan

The Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Parking Lot Drive in style concerts
Fri 12/4: The Fab Four; Cougarachis
Sat 12/5: Fan Halen; Blacklist9
Fri 12/11: The Ultimate Stones
Sat 12/12: Erotic City

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Chuy’s
1397 E. Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley
Music 7 pm
Sat 12/12: Mighty Cash Cats Acoustic

Concerts in Your Car
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Fri 12/4: Iration
Sun 12/6: Carmen (Opera SB production)
Sat 12/12: The Nutcracker live stage show

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music Noon – 6 pm
Sat & Sun: Ken Devoe

Pacific Opera Project
Dive-in Style Performance
United Methodist Church Parking Lot
291 Anacapa Dr, Camarillo
Performances at 5:30 pm
Fri 12/11: La Boheme: aka “The Hipsters”
Sat 12/12: La Boheme: aka “The Hipsters”
Sun 12/13: La Boheme: aka “The Hipsters”

Prime Steakhouse
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Music 6-9 pm
Tues & Thurs: Danny D – “Dinner with Frank”

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
Thursday 6 pm: Open Mic

Surfside Seafood
550 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Music 5 – 8 pm
Wednesdays: Teresa Russell

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Music 5-9 pm
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Winchesters
632 E. Main Street
Music Sundays 3-6 pm; Friday 6 pm
Fri 12/4: Teresa Russell
Sun 12/6: National Cat
Fri 12/11: Doc & Mac
Sun 12/13: Sean Wiggins

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

Camarillo Barrelworks
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 11/21: Katie Shorey
Fri 11/27: Erinn Alissa
Sat 11/28: Slogan

The Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Parking Lot Drive in style concerts
Fri 11/20: Scot Bruce as Elvis
Sat 11/21: Santeria
Sun 11/22: Mirage, One Hundred Paces
Fri 11/27: Kenny Metcalf (Elton John early years)
Sat 11/28: Bonfire, Guilty Pleasures

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Concerts in Your Car
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Fri 11/20: Kaskade (sold out)
Sat 11/21: Bush
Fri 11/27: Yachtley Crew
Fri 12/4: Iration
Sun 12/6: Carmen (Opera SB production)

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music Noon – 6 pm
Sat & Sun: Ken Devoe

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Avenue #109
Music 1:30 – 4 pm
Sun 11/22: Brittney Burchett & Ben Buttner

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Music 6 – 8:30 pm
Thurs 11/19: Blue Motel Room
Wed 11/25: The Swillys

Pacific Opera Project
Dive-in Style Performance
United Methodist Church Parking Lot
291 Anacapa Dr, Camarillo
Fri 11/20: Gluck Double Bill; La Corona & Il Parnaso Confuso (7 pm)
Sat 11/21: Gluck Double Bill: La Corona & Ill Parnaso Confuso (5:30 pm)

Prime Steakhouse
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Music 6-9 pm
Tues & Thurs: Danny D – “Dinner with Frank”

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
Thursday 6 pm: Open Mic

Surfside Seafood
550 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Music 5 – 8 pm
Wednesdays: Teresa Russell

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Music 5-9 pm
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Winchesters
632 E. Main Street
Music Sundays 3-6 pm; Thursday 6 pm
Thurs 11/19: Saint Pierre
Sun 11/22: Sean Wiggins
Sun 11/29: Déjà vu Too

There’s no doubt about it, the drive-in theater live concert events are about the only way you can take in a full band performing live music, and of course it’s the safest way if the folks in your car are quarantine buddies, so I’m happy to see more of these events popping up such as the one in Camarillo, and before you judge, keep an open mind because this one is serving up opera! The Ventura Music Festival has partnered with POP (Pacific Opera Project) and they boldly state, “If you think you hate opera, you haven’t seen a POP performance!” It all takes place for a limited time in the United Methodist Church parking lot at 291 Anacapa Drive. Coming up over the weekend of the 20 and 21 is a double bill featuring the US premiere of two rare, comic one-act Gluck operas, La Corona and Il Parnaso Confuso. Take a chance, take the family and enjoy some opera! Get more information at VenturaMusicFestival.org.

The Canyon Club at Oxnard Performing Art Center continues to add more concerts (see listings on this page) and they are typically of the tribute band variety with upcoming shows highlighting bands such as Van Halen, The Beatles, Elton John (the early years) and more.

Here in Ventura, Concerts in Your Car has Kaskade on November 20 (sold out), Bush the following night on November 21, Yachtley Crew on November 27, and Iration on December 4. They’re also offering up some opera on December 6 with a live performance of Carmen presented by Opera SB; then on Saturday, December 12, the Ventura County Ballet will provide entertainment to get you into the holiday mood with two performances of The Nutcracker (5 and 8 pm). For more information on any of these shows, go to www.ConcertsInYourCar.com.

NAMBA Arts continues to host live-streaming events every other weekend out of their studios. The next one will be held on Sunday, November 22 with Delta by the Beach, Solstice, FILI, Freda Ramey, String Planet, and the Rayjay & Flattop Tom Blues Duo. These events help keep Namba alive with a cover of $10 per performance which are hosted by Doc Ventura. You can look them up on Facebook or go to www.NambaAarts.com for details.

Quick Notes: Camarillo Barrelworks is offering live music solo/duo again (see listings); have dinner with “Frank” at Prime Tuesdays and Thursdays with Danny D; the Swillys play Grapes and Hops the night before Thanksgiving; Teresa Russell plays Wednesdays at Surfside Seafood in Port Hueneme, and Brittney Burchett with Ben Buttner plays Four Brix Winery on Sunday November 22.

Watching the fluctuation of the number of COVID-19 cases, it’s more important than ever to be diligent when venturing out, please do your part and social distance and wear your mask to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.

I guess it was bound to happen, and it finally did on Halloween when the first Concerts in Your Car was cancelled with a notice going out. “Aaron and Sully have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of their American Drive-in Tour. We know you are disappointed, and understand the challenges in touring nationally during a pandemic. We hope to have all of this behind us soon.” Of course, all tickets holders should receive full refunds within 5-7 business days. I have to admit my heart skipped a beat and a cold sweat hit me when I drove by that evening on my way home from a friend’s house in Ojai. The parking lot was empty and dark, and I thought to myself, “Did I get it wrong?” Did I list the wrong day on VenturaRocks.com??? It’s hard enough running a venue and booking artists let alone trying to do that during a pandemic. So, hats off to the crew behind the scenes. By the way, there are still a number of concerts and movies up until they’ll be offering “Holidays in Your Car” through the end of the year with just a handful of dates dark. No live music as far as I can tell, but it should be quite the visual sight with over a million animated lights for the whole family to enjoy. Meanwhile, they still 311 with two shows on Saturday, November 14, the sold out Kaskade show on Friday, November 20, and Bush on Saturday, November 21.

The next New West Symphony online concert, A Tour of India, takes place on Sunday, November 15, which will include a live Q&A with Maestro Michael Christie. The musical program will explore the influences that Indian and western classical musical traditions have upon each other. More information and tickets can be found at www.NewWestSymphony.org.

The Ventura Music Festival is celebrating Beethoven’s Birthday with two admission-free online shows, Sundays, November 15 and 22 at 4 pm with pre-recorded live performances by pianist Adam Golka. Remarks by Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta accompany each program and an interview with Golka is planned. To reserve your spot, go to www.VenturaMusicFestival.org.

Namba Arts will be hosting another live-streaming event out of their studios on Sunday, November 8. This one features Kris Simeon, Delta by the Beach, Richard Aufrichtig, Power2thePeople, Aaron Burch Band and Fred Kaplan & Rob Kyle. These events help keep Namba alive with a cover of $10 per performance which are hosted by Doc Ventura. You can look them up on Facebook or go to www.NambaAarts.com for details.

Quick Notes: Caffrodite Community Collective is now offering live acoustic music with limited seating; Ken Devoe plays Copa Cubana Saturday and Sunday afternoons; and Winchester’s is expanding their music to include both Thursdays and Sundays. Artists who have released new music include Colette Lovejoy’s self-titled debut and Alastair Greene’s “The New World Blues” produced by Tab Benoit.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

Caffrodite Community Collective
1987 E. Main Street
Sat 11/7: Déjà vu Too

The Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Parking Lot Drive in style concerts
Fri 11/6: Mirage, One Hundred Paces
Sat 11/7: 4NR
Fri 11/13: Wanted
Sat 11/14: Bruno & the Holligans
Fri 11/20: Scot Bruce as Elvis
Fri 11/27: Kenny Metcalf (Elton John early years)

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Concerts in Your Car
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Sat 11/14: 311 (two shows)
Fri 11/20: Kaskade (sold out)
Sat 11/21: Bush
Fri 11/27: Yachtley Crew

Downtown Ventura
Main Street – Pop-Up Art show
Fri 11/6: John Bardi and Band

Prime Steakhouse
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Music 6-9 pm
Tues & Thurs: Danny D – “Dinner with Frank”

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
Thursday 6 pm: Open Mic

Winchesters
632 E. Main Street
Music 3-6 pm
Thur 11/5: Frank Barajas
Sun 11/8: Medicine Hat Duo
Sun 11/15: Big Adventure Duo

We’re wrapping up October and music is finally resuming, albeit on a slow and cautious path. Heeding warnings and following the new guidelines is not available for all restaurants and venues as they don’t have the space to give up, specifically 20 feet to keep artist apart from patrons. Be patient, it’s happening.

When I first reported that the Beach Boys were playing Concerts in Your Car on Friday, October 23, I mentioned that John Stamos had played drums with the band in the past, so he just might show up. Well while checking for the latest Concerts in Your Car updates, the listing now has the Beach Boys with special guests John Stamos, and wait for it…Mark McGrath lead singer of Sugar Ray who has also co-hosted Extra (formerly on NBC). Other shows to look forward to include the former members of Oingo Boingo on Saturday, October 24; the voices of Godsmack & Staind, Aaron Lewis & Sully Erna together for the American Drive-in tour on Saturday, October 31; two shows on Saturday, November 14, with 311; and already sold out, Kaskade on Friday, November 20.

The New West Symphony is presenting a reimagined 2020/2021 season; and since you can’t be with them in the concert hall, they’re taking New West Symphony to you with eight virtual mini-festivals this season. “Tour of Japan” took place from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 18. The next couple of performances are “A Tour of India” on November 15, and “Violins of Hope” on January 24. Details and ticket information will be listed four weeks in advance of each show at www.NewWestSymphony.org.

The newest episode of the VenturaRockSpot has been posted and the video can be found on the homepage of VenturaRocks.com. This time around I interview Hunter Ackerman of Hunter and the Dirty Jacks who have played Grapes and Hops here in Ventura and a number of venues in Ojai including the Deer Lodge and Topa Mountain Winery. Again, many thanks to Michelle Hoover and GWC Productions for producing the show.

The mission statement for VenturaRocks.com, and the reason I write this music scene column has changed very little over the past 11 years, the mission is to stimulate the economy by promoting venues who offer music thus supporting local musicians and those who come here to play. It becomes very tricky to maintain this objective during a pandemic. Please do your part and support the venues who are offering live music and please for the love of all that is good in the world, practice safe distancing and wear your mask when not eating or drinking. We can get Ventura back to rockin’ again, but you have to do your part.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

The Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Parking Lot Drive in style concerts
Fri 10/23: 24 Karat Gold (Stevie Nicks film)
Sat 10/24: We Belong
Sat 10/31: Monster Groove Band
Fri 11/6: Mirage
Fri 11/13: Wanted
Sat 11/14: Bruno & the Holligans

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Concerts in Your Car
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Fri 10/23: The Beach Boys
Sat 10/24: Oingo Boingo (former members)
Sat 10/31: Aaron Lewis & Sully Erna
Sat 11/14: 311 (two shows)
Fri 11/20: Kaskade (sold out)

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Music Fridays 6 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Fri 10/23: Kyle Smith
Sun 10/25: Dylan Garcia
Fri 10/30: Keyth Garcia

Prime Steakhouse
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Music 6-9 pm
Tues & Thurs: Danny D – “Dinner with Frank”

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
Thursday 6 pm: Open Mic

Winchesters
632 E. Main Street
Music 3-6 pm
Sun 10/25: Two’s Company

Ventura’s music scene is far from rockin’ but at least the process of healing has begun and the County/City is allowing music once again as long as venues follow their strict rules to keep everyone concerned safe. Though I shared it in my last column, it bears repeating what is allowed, “Live solo or duet (from same household) singers/musicians can perform outdoors at restaurants, bars, or wineries. The soloist/duet must stay at least 20 feet away from patrons and not amplify the music to the point where people have to lean in to be heard. The live music cannot cause people to gather. It should be for the benefit of the business patrons who are already seated and not to attract people to gather around the performers and/or stage. All other local and state guidance must be followed.”

Stepping up to the plate to date here in town are Leashless Brewing, Winchesters, Bombay Bar and Grill, the Winery and Copa Cubana. I’m as diligent, if not more than most, when it comes to taking the virus seriously. I hope all venues will heed the rules and ensure there is space between the musician (s) and the patrons. Not all venues have the luxury of the extra space needed, which is sad, but at least we’re on the road now to heading back to more live music.

Just added to Concerts in Your Car (CIYC) at the fairgrounds here in Ventura is the band 311 which pretty much defies being pigeon-holed into one genre. Hip hop, rock, reggae, funk, in a nutshell? Flat out danceable fun. The band is playing two shows on Saturday, November 14. The other two venues for CIYC have ramped up and I’m happy to report that all bands playing in Arizona or San Diego have or will be playing here locally.

New music on the scene includes Star Goes Nova, a project by my good friend Christine Law who is known as a bassist supporting such acts as hard rockers, Tantrum back in the day, and her husband’s band, Charles Law & Jagged and Suzanne Paris. She calls it melodic bass and dubstep cinemata EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and she sent me the single, “The Apprentice.” Another good friend has been hard at work producing music on her own for the first time, Sally Williams of the Swilly’s and she worked with Doug Pettibone and Taras Prodaniuk; she sent me her single called “Suffering.” And finally, Bill Rotella is about to release a new album next month called Smoke and the Earthtones, he sent me a single off of it called, “The Other Side.” I’m super excited to share all three songs on the Pam Baumgardner Music hour (episode 119) which airs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 and Sundays at noon, and will run 10/6 – 10/18 at 104.1 FM, KPPQ-LP out of Caps Media.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.

Ventura’s music scene is far from rockin’ but at least the process of healing has begun and the County/City is allowing music once again as long as venues follow their strict rules to keep everyone concerned safe. Though I shared it in my last column, it bears repeating what is allowed, “Live solo or duet (from same household) singers/musicians can perform outdoors at restaurants, bars, or wineries. The soloist/duet must stay at least 20 feet away from patrons and not amplify the music to the point where people have to lean in to be heard. The live music cannot cause people to gather. It should be for the benefit of the business patrons who are already seated and not to attract people to gather around the performers and/or stage. All other local and state guidance must be followed.”

Stepping up to the plate to date here in town are Leashless Brewing, Winchesters, Bombay Bar and Grill, the Winery and Copa Cubana. I’m as diligent, if not more than most, when it comes to taking the virus seriously. I hope all venues will heed the rules and ensure there is space between the musician (s) and the patrons. Not all venues have the luxury of the extra space needed, which is sad, but at least we’re on the road now to heading back to more live music.

Just added to Concerts in Your Car (CIYC) at the fairgrounds here in Ventura is the band 311 which pretty much defies being pigeon-holed into one genre. Hip hop, rock, reggae, funk, in a nutshell? Flat out danceable fun. The band is playing two shows on Saturday, November 14. The other two venues for CIYC have ramped up and I’m happy to report that all bands playing in Arizona or San Diego have or will be playing here locally.

New music on the scene includes Star Goes Nova, a project by my good friend Christine Law who is known as a bassist supporting such acts as hard rockers, Tantrum back in the day, and her husband’s band, Charles Law & Jagged and Suzanne Paris. She calls it melodic bass and dubstep cinemata EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and she sent me the single, “The Apprentice.” Another good friend has been hard at work producing music on her own for the first time, Sally Williams of the Swilly’s and she worked with Doug Pettibone and Taras Prodaniuk; she sent me her single called “Suffering.” And finally, Bill Rotella is about to release a new album next month called Smoke and the Earthtones, he sent me a single off of it called, “The Other Side.” I’m super excited to share all three songs on the Pam Baumgardner Music hour (episode 119) which airs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 and Sundays at noon, and will run 10/6 – 10/18 at 104.1 FM, KPPQ-LP out of Caps Media.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) 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.