Local music and more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

This year’s California Jazz & Wine Fest was another sold-out success; it was held Sunday, April 9, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village. The event helped to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Conejo Valley. The music was exceptional, headlining was The Danny Janklow Quintet; other bands of note included the Lao Tizer Quartet, Bruce Forman’s Cow Bop, and Ventura’s own, The Barrelhouse Wailers.

Keeping with jazz, don’t miss Mike Garson (Bowie, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins) when he returns to Squashed Grapes bringing with him this time, Emmy and Grammy nominated Gaby Moreno on Thursday, April 13; Paul McCallum and Friends return on Saturday, April 15; and Gary Herbig (Harry James, Elvis, Tower of Power) and Bill Spoke Quintet be in the house on April 19.

Our local artists have been busy producing new music.  Hot off the presses is the latest CD from Hot Roux called Hometown Blues.  You can pick up a copy when Hi Hat Entertainment hosts their CD release party on Friday, April 21, at the Hong Kong Inn. You won’t want to miss this one as the band will feature not only lead man Jerry McWorter, but Ed Berghoff, Brent Harding, Jimmy Calire and Bill Flores.

Congratulations to local musician Travis Greer for landing a gig on the highly popular Criminal Minds television show on CBS.  He’s well-known for his improv work here in town as well as playing with the Los Dudes.

Eric Burdon joined Robby Krieger of the Doors for “Roadhouse Blues,” Saturday, April 8, at Libby Bowl. They then played “House of the Rising Sun” from The Animals. Tommy Marsh’s Crooked Eye Tommy warmed up the crowd.

The next One’s to Watch Productions will be held Wednesday, April 19, at the Plaza Playhouse in Carpinteria with Matt Duke, Jay Nash, Tony Lucca and Tim Curran. You can get tickets at OnesToWatchProductions.com.

I caught up with Ross Emery of Roadshow Revival as he ramps up for this year’s show.  It’s going to look a lot different this time around with the whole event being held on one day and at Discovery Ventura, but he told me who the headliner is, and I promised not to tell until May 1^st, but between you and me, I’m pretty jazzed about it.  Watch for social media news, and get your tickets now!

Here’s a couple of one-liner notes of interest:  Jade Hendrix will be opening for Berlin when they play the Libbey Bowl April 22; Face to Face will be at Discovery on May 7 with Bad Cop/Bad Cop opening; Paddy’s is celebrating their 23rd anniversary on April 21st with DJ Pat Harper who will be playing classic house music; the Ventura County Spring Fair will be held at the Fairgrounds April 14 – 16 with carnival rides, petting zoo and music from The Velveteen Band; and finally, I’m looking forward to hearing new music from 8Stops7, they just signed with Wendigo Records and will be back in the studio in July.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Sundays: 9 pm Karaoke
Mondays: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Musician’s Night Out
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Sat 4/15: Dive Bar Messiahs

Boatyard Café
Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesdays 6-9 pm: Catfish Fry

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Wednesdays: Jam Night
Fridays: DJs
Saturdays DJs
Sat 4/15: Yachtley Crew

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 4/12: Big Adventure
Thurs 4/13: Otis Hayes
Fri 4/14: Soul Infusion
Sat 4/15: Pure Joy
Tues 4/18: Bernie Meisinger
Wed 4/19: Donna Butler
Thurs 4/20: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 4/21: Instone
Sat 4/22: Young Dempsey
Tues 4/25: Bryan McCann

Cask Alehouse
5952 Telegraph Road
Music at 8 pm Sundays at 4 pm
Thurs 4/13: Julian & Miranda
Thurs 4/20: Adam Tunney
Sun 4/23: James Broz Band

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Mondays: Ruben Estrada Band
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Wed 4/12: Kenny Devoe
Thurs 4/13: The Jazz Express
Fri 4/14: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 4/15: The Copa Kings
Sun 4/16: The Copa Kings
Wed 4/19: Toni Jannotta
Thurs 4/20: The Jazz Express
Fri 4/21: Laura Cozzi & Soul Machine
Sat 4/22: Hot Roux
Sun 4/23: Karen Eden

Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Sun 4/16: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Late Fridays 10 pm: Flashback Fridays
Late Saturdays 10 pm: Disco Bowl
Thurs 4/13: Katchafire
Fri 4/14: Rebel Soulijahz
Sat 4/15: The Holdup
Thurs 4/20: Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Tunnel Vision, Brewfish
Fri 4/21: Alastair Greene
Sat 4/22: Madchild

Earthday Ecofest 2017
Plaza Park Dowtown Ventura
10:30 am – 7 pm
Sat 4/22: Anne Hall, Afishnseathe Moon, Honey Owl, Brothers Fortune, Jade Hendrix< Spencer the Gardener, Bad Leaf, Charles “Wsir” Johnson, Marshweed

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends
Saturdays: 9:30 DJ Erock

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave
Wed 4/12: Boy Romeo, Deepakalypse, Chill Child
Thurs 4/13: Tropidelic, Despicable Good Guys, Stebz Juarez

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed 4/12: Phil Salazar
Fri 4/14: Paul Mars Black
Sat 4/15: Barrelhouse Wailers
Wed 4/19: The Swillys
Fri 4/21: Jade Hendrix
Sat 4/22: Jazz Junkies
Sun 4/23: Jerry Breiner

The Greek Mediterranean
Ventura Harbor
Fri & Sats 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band
Fri 4/14: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Deanna Bogart
Sat 4/15: The Bomb
Sun 4/16: Hot Roux
Fri 4/7 Hi Hat Entertainment presents Hot Roux CD Release Party
Sat 4/22: Big Adventure

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 4/14: CRV
Sat 4/15: Heathers on Fire
Fri 4/21: Sean Wiggins
Sat 4/22: Crosscut

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 4/13: 6:30 pm Erisy Watt
Sat 4/15: 4 pm Hubcap Stealers
Sun 4/16: 2 pm Fox Trax
Thurs 4/20: 6:30 pm Dan Grimm
Sat 4/22: 4 pm The Riverside
Sun 4/23: 3 pm The Inside Break

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Thurs 4/20: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Fri 4/21: King Lil G
Sat 4/22: Tribal Seeds
Sun 4/23: Tiger Army, Tijuana Panthers

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri & Sat Music 7 pm
Fri 4/14: Los Dudes
Sat 4/15: Carlos Morales
Sun 4/16: 5 pm Tommy Quale
Sat 4/22: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 4/23: 4 pm The Swillys

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri 4/21: 6:30 Karen Eden
Sat 4/22: Pull the Trigger

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Music 7:30 pm
Mon 4/17: Wyatt Haupt Band
Mon 4/24: Dick Parent Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night

Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesdays w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 4/14: DJ Pistolero
Sat 4/15: Manorlady, Wet Robot
Fri 4/21: Big Rig Dollhouse
Sat 4/22: Beach Buzz

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 4/12: Hans Ottsen & Friends
Thurs 4/13: Mark Garson & Gaby Moreno
Fri 4/14: D.on Darox & the Melody Joy Bakers
Sat 4/15: Paul McCallum & Friends
Tues 4/18: Jazz Jam
Wed 4/19: Gary Herbig & Bill Spoke Quintet
Thurs 4/20: Skip Spiro’s Little Big Band
Fri 4/21: Retrofunk
Sat 4/22: Bobby West Trio

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Tues & Thurs: Karaoke
Thurs 4/13: Iriefuse
Fri 4/14: Whiskey Stone
Sat 4/15: CRV
Fri 4/21: Shawn Jones
Sun 4/23: 3 pm Charles Law Band

Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Music 6-8 pm
Sat 4/15: Braids & Dreads (Dan Grimm)
Sat 4/22: Cooper & Queen Band

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Fri 4/14: Sin Chonies
Sat 4/15: Fandangos
Fri 4/21: Blues Bullet
Sat 4/22: The Black Hips

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
(805) 628-9255
Music 6 pm
Tuesdays: Jeff Uzzel
Wednesdays: Open mic

Ventura Fairgrounds
Ventura Country Spring Fair
Sat 4/15: The Velveteen Band, Rhythm 805
Sun 4/16: Ezequiel Pena y Ramon Ayala

The Wine Rack (Vintura)
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Thursday: Keith Cain
Fri 4/14: The Swillys

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Sat 4/22: 8 pm Jason Ho

Local music and more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

There’s something to be said for when you open for Bon Jovi, and that something is “Holy Moly!!” Natalie Gelman and Nathan McEuen opened for Bon Jovi who is out promoting their latest album, “This House is Not for Sale.” Nathan also had the opportunity play one of his own songs, “Lately” to the sold-out crowd.

The Tossers, Britrock extravaganza, will be playing three nights in a row with two nights at the Vine in Ojai (March 31 and April 1) playing more of the soft underbelly side of the British music scene especially since they’ll have a piano available; then the following day they return for the first Sunday residency at Amigo’s in Ventura. Nigel Chisholm of the Vine and John Fincham bass player come from the same music scene in Birmingham, England.

A number of local bands have been invited to perform during the Skull & Roses Festival at the Ventura Fairgrounds including Shaky Feelin’, The Deal, Unkle Monkey, Rachel Sedacca’s Scarlet-Fire and 9 Mile Skid. Tickets and full music listings can be found at SkullAndRosesFestival.com. The three-day event runs April 7 through April 9.

LA based jazz singer/songwriter, Saundra Booker & Friends will be performing on Thursday, March 30 at Squashed Grapes. After battling kidney cancer, Booker founded the Jazz Musicians Against Cancer Fund and Foundation; all money raised this evening will go the JMAC fund.  Also, coming up at the Grape: The Jay Smith Group on March 31; Brad Rabuchin (five years with Ray Charles) & Friends will be there on the 6th; and the Jimmy Calire Trio (Raven, America) on the 7th.

Quick notes: Brian Nicolet returned to Ventura after living abroad and performing with the Phly Boyz based out of Nice, France for the past three years; both Kings Revenge and Honey Owl are about to go back in the studio, Honey Owl’s next gig in Ventura will be at Bombay’s on April 1^st; Four Brix has Fido playing 5:30 – 7:30 on Friday, March 31 for Teacher’s Appreciation Night; and Champagne on Main returns to Ventura with DJs and local artists like Joe Hamilton at the Visitor’s Center playing on Saturday, April 8.

And finally, on my radio show, “The Pam Baumgardner Mostly Local Music Hour” on KPPQ-LP 104.1 FM, be sure to tune in April 3rd when I play a cut from the Gentlemen’s Blues Club.  Mick Tover of Dive Bar Messiahs was producer and founding member of GBC and he sent me a cover of “Whipping Post” featuring Alan “BB” Chung King Mirikitani on guitar. He told me that Dickie Betts was so impressed by the GBC’s version that he had his road manager contact them trying to recruit members to play with the Dickie Betts Band.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Musician’s Night Out
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Mark Masson and Phriends
Sat 4/1: The Barrelhouse Wailers
Sun 4/2: 5 pm The Tossers; 9 pm Karaoke

Boatyard Café
Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesdays 6-9 pm: Catfish Fry

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Wednesdays: Jam Night
Fridays: DJs
Saturdays DJs
Sat 4/1: Boyfriend Material, Honey Owl, John Jaun, DJs

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 3/29: Rick Jarrett
Thurs 3/30: Rick Whitfield
Fri 3/31: Young Dempsey

Cask Alehouse
5952 Telegraph Road
Music at 8 pm
Thurs 3/30: Lee Koch
Thurs 4/6: Brittney Burchett
Sun 4/9: 4 pm Ventucky String Band

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Champagne on Main
& Street Fair Special Event
Downtown Ventura
Sat 4/8: DJ Cue & DJ Carla Bea; Joe Hamilton

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Mondays: Ruben Estrada Band
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Fri 3/31: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 4/1: Rivera & Sunnarborg
Sun 4/2: 3 pm Karen Eden
Wed 4/5: Toni Jannotta
Thurs 4/6: The Jazz Express
Fri 4/7: Ian Peters
Sat 4/8: Estrada Brothers
Sun 4/9 3 pm Estrada Brothers

Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Sun 4/2: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Late Fridays 10 pm: Flashback Fridays
Late Saturdays 10 pm: Disco Bowl
Thurs 3/30: the Question
Fri 3/31: Live at the Fillmore
Sat 4/1: Lose Your Illusion
Sat 4/8: One More From the Road

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends
Saturdays: 9:30 DJ Erock

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Fri 3/31: 5:30 pm Fido

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave
Thurs 3/30: Dead Meadow, Matt Hollywood, The Bad Feelings

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wednesdays: The Swillys
Sat 4/1: TD Lind
Fri 4/7: Ashun
Sat 4/8: Mr. O
Sun 4/9: Jodi Farrell

The Greek Mediterranean
Fri & Sats 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band
Fri 3/31: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Flattop Tom & His Jump Cats
Sat 4/1: The Brian Faith Band
Fri 4/7 Hi Hat Entertainment presents Mike Eldred Trio

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 3/31: Sean Wiggins
Sat 4/1: Action Down
Fri 4/7: Tex Pistols
Sat 4/8: Wired

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Wed 3/29: Zeke, Nashville Pussy, Jackass
Fri 3/31: Sean Kingston, Space Cadet
Fri 4/7: Joyce Manor
Sat 4/8: Little Joe y La Familia

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Wine Cellars
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 4/2: 2:30 pm Frank Barajas
Sun 4/9: 4:30 pm U.K. Beat

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Sun 4/2: 2 pm Old Grass Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night

Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs

Saloon BBQ Co.
456 E. Main Street
Fri 3/31: Skin & Bones
Sat 4/1: Bad Leaf
Fri 4/7: Sea at Last
Sat 4/8: Rsyboa

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesdays w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Sat 4/1: DJ Pistolero
Sat 4/8: Stevie Char

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 3/29: Emilo & Friends
Thurs 3/30: Saundra Booker & Friends
Fri 3/31: Jay Smith Sextet
Sat 4/1: Tom Etchart & Friends
Thurs 4/6: Brad Rabuchin & Friends
Fri 4/7: Jimmy Calire Trio
Sat 4/8: Adam Clark Quartet

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Tues & Thurs: Karaoke
Fri 3/31: Mini Driver Band
Sat 4/1: Dive Bar Messiahs
Fri 4/7: Crosscut
Sat 4/8: The Automatics w/ RJ Mischo

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Sat 4/1: Maclovia, Strange Weather

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
(805) 628-9255
Music 6 pm
Tuesdays: Jeff Uzzel
Wednesdays: Open mic

Ventura Fairgrounds
Skull & Roses Festival: www.skullandrosesfestival.com
Fri 4/7: Grateful Bluegrass boys, Sheldon & Cunnane, No Simple Highway….
Sat 4/8: Cubensis, Scott Guberman, Shaky Feelin’, Wake of the Dead…
Sun 4/9: Live Dead ’69, Melvin Seals & JGB, 9 Mile Skid, The Deal…

The Wine Rack (Vintura)
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Thursday: Keith Cain
Fri 3/31: B&V Acoustics

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Sat 4/1: 8 pm Jason Ho
Sat 4/8: Teresa Russell

Local music and more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

The Wine Rack on California Street has been sold. Darcy is moving on creating a family and taking over is Kristen Shubert who will be rebranding the venue soon as Vintura. She’s cutting back the music to weekends but I don’t think it will be for long as she gets grooved in on Ventura’s music scene.

The Sandbox Coffeehouse is celebrating their five-year anniversary with live music every weekend, which come to think of it, they already do. Congratulations to Todd and the crew and thanks for giving a platform to artists to share their craft.

ARC of Ventura County is working on raising awareness about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  They’ve put together a great event for Saturday, March 18^th at Bombay’s which will run 5-8 pm called, “Let’s Go Out!” It coincides with March being the National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.  Come out and enjoy the music from Fishfry, Seth Pettersen, The Vonettes and Deejay Steph. There is no cover, so bring the entire family!

Grapes and Hops is hosting a special event on Sunday, March 19 to help raise funds for FOOD Share featuring music from Crooked Eye Tommy, Jade Hendrix and Mr. O. Tickets are $25; the affair runs 5-9 pm.

To what was once home to the legendary Beatles that influenced the world with their music, comes a new wave of musicians from the city of Liverpool​. The Falling Doves, Barry Sutton, Cal Ruddy and Sam Rabette (all Liverpool natives) will perform music that inspired American rock n roll. There’ll be music from The Beatles, The La’s,  as well as their own compositions. ​Catch them on their Liverpool Legends Tour at Oxnard’s Copper Blues​​ March 24^th.

The Cask Alehouse is offering up music for the East Enders here in Ventura.  They’re located at 5952 Telegraph Road.  You’ll find live music on Thursday nights at 8 pm.  They’ll have Soul 4 II on March 16th, Frank Barajas on the 23rd and Lee Koch on the 30th.

There will be a Nat King Cole birthday celebration at Squashed Grapes on Friday, March 17 with Tilford Jackson and Friends; the Doug Webb group featuring Danny Carey of TOOL returns Saturday March 18; and the Denny Seiwell Trio featuring founding member of Paul McCartney and Wings will be there on Saturday, March 25.

And finally, my radio show, “The Pam Baumgardner Mostly Local Music Hour” on KPPQ-LP 104.1 FM is starting to generate interest.  I’m spinning tunes Tuesdays 5-6 pm with songs from Lee Koch and the Grinders, Bruce Forman, Joaquin Peck, Shelby Figueroa, Jade Hendrix, New Liberty, the Galactic Polecats, Brent Franklin, Dona Oxford and more. The station has been rebroadcasting the show during the week, so be sure to check in often for our local talent.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Musician’s Night Out
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Thursdays: Mark Masson and Phriends
Sundays: 9 pm Karaoke

Boatyard Café
Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesdays 6-9 pm: Catfish Fry

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Wednesdays: Jam Night
Fridays: DJs
Saturdays DJs
Sat 3/18: 5-8 pm Let’s go Out with Fishfry, Seth Pettersen, The Vonettes
Tues 3/21: 7 pm Wish Radio, Sheer, Lumb, Age

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 3/15: Donna Butler
Thurs 3/16: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 3/17: Alex Nestor
Sat 3/18: Instone
Tues 3/21: Fabulous Hangovers
Wed 3/22: Big Adventure
Thurs 3/23: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 3/24: Red Muffs
Sat 3/25: Otis Hayes
Tues 3/28: Donna Butler

Cask Alehouse
5952 Telegraph Road
Music at 8 pm
Thurs 3/16: Soul 4 II
Thurs 3/23: Frank Barajas

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Fri 3/17: Toni Jannotta, Tom Collins, Danny Young
Sat 3/18: Hot Roux
Sun 3/19 3 pm Hot Roux
Fri 3/24: Ian Peters
Sat 3/25: Estrada Brothers
Sun 3/26: 3 pm Karen Eden

Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Sun 3/19: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Late Fridays 10 pm: Flashback Fridays
Late Saturdays 10 pm: Disco Bowl
Wed 3/15: Sammy J featuring Jordan T Analea
Thurs 3/16: Fortunate Youth
Fri 3/17: 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Galactic Polecats, Cooper & Queen
Sat 3/18: The Molly Ringwald Project
Thurs 3/23: Hirie
Fri 3/24: Crooked Eye Tommy
Sat 3/25: Herbal Rootz, Danielle Stacy Trio

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Saturdays: 9:30 DJ Erock
Fri 3/17: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends; 9:30 Sin Chonies
Fri 3/24: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends; 9:30 DJ/Karaoke by DJ Gold Dust

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave
Wed 3/15: Final Blood Spit, Sin-Kontrol, The Rays, Species Unknown
Fri 3/17: Back to the 80’s dance party w/ Imaginary Boys

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke
Sundays: 7 pm Open mic / blues jam

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wednesdays: The Swillys
Thurs 3/16: Tim Arlon & Danny McGaw
Fri 3/17: The Salty Suites
Sat 3/18: Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 3/19: Fundraiser with Crooked Eye Tommy, Jade Hendrix, Mr. O.
Fri 3/24: Tex Pistols
Sat 3/25: Shawn Jones
The Greek Mediterranean
Fri & Sats 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band
Fri 3/17: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Karen Lovely with Teresa James
Fri 3/24: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Morganfield Burnett

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 3/17: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 3/18: Black Canyon Band
Fri 3/24: Crosscut
Sat 3/25: CRV

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Fri 3/24: Leftover Crack, Starving Wolves, Bad Cop/Bad Cop

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri 3/17: Cross Cut 805

Now Ventura
185 E. Santa Clara Avenue
Sat 3/18: Leigh Vance and Friends

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Fri 3/24: Ventura Jazz Orchestra Spring Swing Dance

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night
Sat 3/18: The Big Problem, Killroy, Death on the Radio, THB, Bootleg Brigade

Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 3/18: Jacob Barba
Sun 3/19: Ptrick Gillham
Sat 3/25: Steve Bedau
Sun 3/26: Tisa Adamson

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesdays w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Sat 3/25: Raised on Vinyl

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 3/15: Hans Ottsen and Friends
Thurs 3/16: David Gorospe
Fri 3/17: Tilford Jackson & Friends
Sat 3/18: Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carey of TOOL
Tues 3/21: Jazz Jam
Wed 3/22: Morales Piano Trio
Thurs 3/23: Lett, Mancini and Dutz
Fri 3/24: Ventura Jazz Collective
Sat 3/25: Denny Seiwell Trio

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Tues & Thurs: Karaoke
Fri 3/17: Jan Michael & the Vincents
Sat 3/18: Action Down
Fri 3/24: Big Adventure
Sat 3/25: Los Dudes

Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Music 6-8 pm
Sat 3/18: Catterwailers
Sat 3/25: Mitchell Blake

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Fri 3/17: DJ
Sat 3/18: Dojo Loach
Fri 3/24: The Caverns
Sat 3/25: The Black Hips

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
(805) 628-9255
Music 6 pm
Tuesdays: Jeff Uzzel
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thurs 3/16: Strangely & Shay

Traveler’s Café
1070 E Front Street
Music 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Sat 3/18: The Swillys
Sat 3/25: The Swillys

The Wine Rack (Vintura)
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Fri 3/17: B&V Acoustics
Sat 3/18: Jodi Farrell
Fri 3/24: Keith Cain
Sat 3/25: Tom and Milo

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Sat 3/18: 8 pm Teresa Russell
Sat 3/25: 8 pm Jason Ho

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Musician’s Night Out
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Sun 3/5: 5 pm The Tossers; 9 pm Karaoke

Boatyard Café
Ventura Harbor Village
Wednesdays 6-9 pm: Catfish Fry

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Wednesdays: Jam Night
Fridays: DJs
Saturdays DJs
Sat 3/4: Yachtley Crew

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 3/1: Bryan McCann
Thurs 3/2: Rick Whitfield
Fri 3/3: Soul Infusion
Sat 3/4: Drunken Monkeys
Tues 3/7: Jazz Express
Wed 3/8: Big Adventure
Thurs 3/9: Coso Live
Fri 3/10: Pure Joy
Sat 3/11: Action Down
Tues 3/14: Blue Vice

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 7 pm; Sundays 3 pm
Mondays: (6-9) The Estrada Band
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Wed 3/1: Toni Jannotta
Fri 3/3: Ian Peters
Sat 3/4: Rivera & Sunnaborg Duo
Sun 3/5: 3 pm Jazz Express
Fri 3/10: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 3/11: Ian Peters

Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Sun 3/5: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Late Fridays 10 pm: Flashback Fridays
Late Saturdays 10 pm: Disco Bowl
Thurs 3/2: Synrgy, Prime Livity
Fri 3/3: Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers
Sat 3/4: Mandex
Thurs 3/9: Johnny Love
Fri 3/10: Downtown All Starz
Sat 3/11: DJ Kuya Ray

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends; 9:30 DJ/Karaoke by DJ Gold Dust
Sat 1/21: DJ Aycer
Sat 1/28: DJ Erock

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Avenue
Fri 3/3: 5:30 pm JJ Frank

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave
Thurs 3/2: Total Chaos, Infirmities, Rats in the Wall, 40 Ounces, The Afraid
Fri 3/3: Chill Child
Sat 3/4: Disateroid, Wooden Nomad
Wed 3/8: Munjitas del Fuzz
Thurs 3/9: Pueblo Escobar

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wednesdays: The Swillys
Fri 3/3: The Right Amount of Wrong
Sat 3/4: TD Lind
Fri 3/10: Jade Hendrix
Sat 3/11: Shawn Jones

The Greek Mediterranean
Fri & Sats 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band
Fri 3/3: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Laurie Morvan Blues Band
Fri 3/10: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Kelly’s Lot

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 3/3: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 3/4: Action Down
Fri 3/10: Vital Itch
Sat 3/11: Rick Miller Band

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Tues 3/7: Social Distortion
Fri 3/10: The White Buffalo
Sat 3/11: Best Shot, Noticeable Ones

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Wine Cellars
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 3/12: 4:30 pm Ray Jaurique & The Uptown Brothers

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Sun 3/5: 2 pm Old Grass Band
Mon 3/6: Dick Parent
Mon 3/13: Dick Parent

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night

Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs

Saloon BBQ Co
456 E. Main Street
Weekend music at 10 pm
Thurs 3/2: 7 pm Ventucky String Band

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 3/4: Bruce Mancuso
Sat 3/11: Saratone
Sun 3/12: Dennis Russell

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Transform Tuesdays w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 3/3: Big Rig Dollhouse

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 3/1: Dogfish
Thurs 3/2: Oui’3
Fri 3/3: Jazz Express
Sat 3/4: Barrelhouse Wailers
Tues 3/7: Jazz Jam
Wed 3/8: Comfort Zone
Fri 3/10: Big Foot Invasion
Sat 3/11: St Patrick’s Day Parade Band

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Tues & Thurs: Karaoke
Fri 3/3: CRV
Sat 3/4: Dive Bar Messiahs
Fri 3/10: Alastair Greene
Sat 3/11: Inna Rude Mood

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Fri 3/3: Soluzion
Sat 3/4: Whesli
Fri 3/10: Rich Sheldon
Sat 3/11: I Want my 80’s

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
(805) 628-9255
Tuesdays: 6 pm Jeff Uzzel
Wednesdays: 6 pm Open mic
Fri 3/3: 7 pm Sea at Last
Sat 3/4: 3 pm The Swilly’s

Ventura Beach Club
281 W. Main Street
Fri 3/10: Rockabilly & Blues fundraiser

The Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Tuesdays: Keith Cain
Thurs 3/2: Jon Gindick
Fri 3/3: Poison and Wine
Sat 3/4: Paul Mars Black
Fri 3/10: Paddy and Milo
Sat 3/11: Danielle Stacey

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Fridays: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe
Sat 3/4: 8 pm Frank Barajas
Sat 3/11: 8 pm Jason Ho

Local music and more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

I’m extremely impressed with this year’s lineup for the Ventura Music Festival which includes headliner Michael Feinstein, but I’m really looking forward to catching Perla Batalla’s tribute to Leonard Cohen on Friday, July 21.  Yes, this is advance notice, but hopefully ticket sales will be brisk and I wouldn’t want you to miss out.  Full listings for all events can be found at VenturaMusicFestival.org (and article in this ussue).

Medicine Hat is off to Austin this month to play at SxSW (3/10 – 3/19).  They’ll be there five days, they’re currently scheduled to play four shows and working on more. In addition to acoustic shows, Medicine Hat will play a couple gigs with a full band, consisting of some of Austin’s finest.

Here’s a couple of one-liner notes of interest: Karen Eden continues her Margarita Mondays at 6 at Amigos; Chris Austin is heading up an open Jam/Mic night at Bombay’s on Wednesdays starting March 1, PA and backline will be provided and I’m told that the jams will be filmed; Yachtley Crew returns to Bombay’s on Saturday March 4; Four Brix Winery will offer live music on the first Friday of the month starting with JJ Frank on March 3; The Ventucky String Band plays every first Thursday of the month at Saloon BBQ including this month on the 2^nd; Big Rig Dollhouse returns to Sans Souci on Friday, March 3; you can catch the Dive Bar Messiahs in a new venue for them at the Star Lounge, on Saturday March 4; the Social Distortion show at the Ventura Theater March 7 is sold out, but tickets are still available for the White Buffalo on Friday, March 10; there’s a Rockabilly and Blues fundraiser for El Camino High at the Ventura Beach Club on Friday, March 10; and finally, Plan B’s Second Sunday Supper is back on with Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers on the 12^th.

One of Ventura’s most popular bands, Rey Fresco, has new music, three songs produced by Mario C who also worked with The Beastie Boys and Jack Johnson (he’s also won three Latin Grammy awards to date).  I’m loving their new tune “You Were Wrong” which I haven’t gotten out of my head since first playing it, but you know, in Rey Fresco’s case, that’s a good thing.

And speaking of Rey Fresco and bands who record original music, don’t miss my program “The Pam Baumgardner Mostly Local Music Hour” on KPPQ-LP 104.1 FM.  I’m spinning tunes from not only Rey Fresco, but Shawn Jones, Kelly’s Lot, Steve Williams, Bryan Titus, Hot Roux, The Barrelhouse Wailers, The NaVaNaX, Medicine Hat, Charles Law, 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Jerry Breiner, Shaky Feelin’ and more. The station is rebroadcasting the show during the week, but I’m live on Tuesdays 5-6 pm with internet access coming soon. You can also give a listen to the current week’s broadcast on VenturaRocks.com.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

One Degree of Separation
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

If you follow Ventura’s music scene, then you most likely know Brent Harding who can be heard playing bass in bands like the Whiskey Chimps, the Gypsy Blues Band, Hot Roux and others, but did you know he’s been Mike Ness’s bass man for Social Distortion since 2004?  Brent will be back on the road with Social D the next few months and you can see him when they play at the Ventura Theater on March 7.  That’s all awesome, but I just found out that during one of the many private parties during this year’s NAMM (National Association Music Merchants) event, Brent got a call to play at a Gretsch Guitars event with Jeff Beck.  Yeah, THE Jeff Beck.  I had to talk to Brent about it, because you know, that’s HUGE! Plus, that’s only one degree of separation for me!  Anyways, Brent was so funny when he told me there were moments where he couldn’t look at him because he’d freak out and he had to concentrate; but he said Jeff Beck was a wonderful guy, really sweet and kind.  Now that’s what you want to hear about guitar gods, no?

Grapes and Hops will once again host a special evening with Shawn Jones, Jeff Silbar and Suzie Candell. Of course, we all know and love Shawn who recently competed and made it to the semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this month, but Suzie is returning to Ventura from Switzerland; Shawn produced her first CD the last time she was out here called, California Streets. The two will reunite with the one and only Jeff Silbar (Grammy award winning songwriter, “Wind Beneath My Wings”) for an evening of swapping stories and tunes on Thursday, February 16.

Here’s a couple of one-liner notes of interest:  Ruben Estrada returns to the Copa Cubana Monday evenings 6-9 pm through April 10; The Ventura Breeze is sponsoring the Equinox jazz band at Squashed Grapes February 24; The Johnny Cash, Cash Bash will be held on Sunday, February 19, 4-7:30 pm at Bombay’s featuring the Mighty Cash Cats and Jade Hendrix; another Cash Bash will be held on Sunday February 26 at Discovery with Hard Six, Jackass and Inazuma; Rey Fresco will be at Now Ventura on Saturday, February 25; and along with their normal Friday concerts, Hi Hat Entertainment has a special show on Sunday, February 26 at the Hong Kong Inn featuring the 2016 Muddy Award Winners, “Performance of the Year,” Karen Lovely with Lisa Mann and Ben Rice (downbeat at 7).

And finally, the all new CAPS Media radio station, KPPQ-LP has officially launched and is live on air 24 hours a day at 104.1 FM. It’s a low-powered signal so it only reaches most of Ventura, but they’ll soon be available on the internet as well; the staff is working out the programing as you read this.  Keep in mind, this is local area access and along with covering our City Council meetings and other events (parades and such), the programming is open up to CAPS members like myself.  I hope you’ll tune in when I’ll be hosting a one-hour mostly local music show, tentatively on Tuesdays 5-6 pm.

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.