Halloween and much more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

With Halloween falling on a Monday night this year, most venues are offering up parties the weekend before:

On Friday night (the 28^th), Bombay’s will host Hotel Clownafornia; The Garage has a Halloween Monster Bash with Radio Threat, Cursed Bastards and Inazuma; and there’s a Halloween party with American Hoss at the Golden China.

On Saturday night (the 29^th) look for A Nightmare on Main Street at Amigos with DJ JScratch; there’s the 2^nd annual Halloween Hoedown at Gigi’s with Jackass, Norco-Cryptkicker and The Kreeps; Discovery has Dawn of the Dreads with Arise Roots, Iya Terra and Ital Vibes; there’s a Zombie party at Saloon BBQ with Skin n Bones; the SPRP Halloween costume party will be at the Red Cove with Seven 40 Seven, The Kane Gang, The Airmen, The Rouse, The Lower Echelon; Café Fiore has Soul Infusion; the Sewer has DJs Darko, Pistolero and Spinobi; the Keynote has UnUsual Suspects; and it’s the Tony Ybarra Trio at Squashed Grapes.

There’s a couple of worthy Blues shows coming up at the Hong Kong Inn that you won’t want to miss including Hi Hat Entertainment presenting the Shari Puorto Band on Friday, October 28, then that Sunday, October 30, Crooked Eye Enterprises presents The Forty Fours with a special show at 4 pm.

The Majestic Ventura Theater continues to bring great shows to town with Aaron Lewis (Staind) on Wednesday October 26; The Pixies on Friday, October 28; Dwight Yoakam on Thursday, November 3; and Nahko and Medicine for the People on Saturday November 5.

It’s been awhile since the Pretty Uglys have played in town so I’m looking forward to catching their punk rock/glam band show when they kick off their U.S. tour by playing at Sans Souci on Friday, November 4^th.  If you miss that show they’ll be the following night on the back stage at Bombay’s.

Bad Sam Presents D.R.I. and The Dwarves at the Garage on Thursday, October 27.

Bobby West returns to Squashed Grapes on Friday, November 4 and the following day Kevin Winard will hold a drum clinic hosted by Pulse Drumming to be followed by a performance that evening with none other than saxophonist, Tom Scott.

If you’re in the Camarillo area, you won’t want to miss The Swing Shift, a big band featuring vocalist Jan Nelsen.  Their next gig at the Sportsman in Camarillo will be held on November 27 from 5-8 pm.  They typically play the fourth Sunday of the month (except for December).

And then the Starlight Supper Club will hold a fundraising event for Project Understanding on Saturday, November 5 at the Serra Event Center also in Camarillo featuring the Ventura Jazz Orchestra sextet featuring vocalist Donna Greene.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? 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: Open mic
Tuesdays: Musicians Night Out
Wed 10/12: Coso Live
Fri 10/14 – The Right Amount of Wrong
Sat 10/15 – Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 10/16 – 5 pm Corscian Brothers; 9 pm Karaoke
Wed 10/19 – Live Band Karoke
Thurs 10/20: Dylan Schmidt & the Rhythm Souls
Fri 10/21: 5 pm Karen Eden Trio
Sat 10/22 – The Barrelhouse Wailers
Sun 10/23 – 5 pm MI6; 9 pm Karoake

Bank of Books
748 E. Main Street
Sat 10/15 – 5:30 pm Bob Walker

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 10/12: Big Adventure
Thurs 10/13: Whesli
Fri 10/14: Soul Infusion
Sat 10/15: Rick Whitfield
Tues 10/18: Bill Owen Jazz Express
Wed 10/19: Donna Butler
Thurs 10/20: Brandon Ragan
Fri 10/21: Instone
Sat 10/22: Red Muffs
Tues 10/25: Donna Butler

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
Tuesdays: the Down Home Super Trio
Thurs 10/13: Shoemaker Brothers
Fri 10/14: Avery Dalton
Sat 10/15: 3 pm Eddie Caliente; 4 pm Lorenzo Martinez
Sun 10/16: 4 pm Lorenzo Martinez
Thurs 10/20: Roger Bridges
Fri 10/21: Ian Peters
Sat 10/22: Live Band Karaoke
Sun 10/23: 4 pm Hot Roux

Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
(805) 648-3001
Sun 10/16: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Wed 10/12: Starlight Swing Night with Rob Rio
Thurs 10/13: Tunnel Vision, Cydeways
Fri 10/14: Wishbone
Sat 10/15: New Kingston ft Sensamotion, After the Smoke
Wed 10/19: Starlight Swing Night with The Right Amount of Wrong
Thurs 10/20: Mele’uhane
Fri 10/21: No Duh
Sat 10/22: Bar-B and the Ranch Hands

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

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 10/15: The Barrelhouse Wailers
Fri 10/21: Shelby Figueroa, Seamus Turner
Sat 10/22: Tex Pistols Trio

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band swing night
Sat 10/15: 7 pm Dee Dee’s Aloha Island Dolls
Sun 10/16: 3 pm Hot Roux
Fri 10/21: Hi Hat Entertainment – Michael John & the Bottom Line
Sun 10/23: Sing line dance with Tom

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 10/14: Black Canyon Band
Sat 10/15: Action Down
Fri 10/21: Vital Itch
Sat 10/22: Celebrity Trash

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs music at 6:30
Thurs 10/20: The Riverside
Sat 10/22: Timmy Curran

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Wed 10/12: Steve Vai
Fri 10/14: Strangelove
Wed 10/19: Yellowcard
Thurs 10/20: Garbage
Fri 10/21: Ben Folds
Sat 10/22: Common Kings, Ballyhoo!, Dirty Rice
Sun 10/23: Good Charlotte

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Sundays at 3 pm: Shoemaker Brothers

Namba
47 South Oak Street
Music Speaks Series 4 pm Sundays
Sun 10/16: Jim Kanter
Sun 10/23: Tom Peters

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri 10/14: Live Band Karaoke
Sat 10/15: Rising Son

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

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 10/9: 4:30 pm – 4th anniversary party with The Vonettes

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Mon 10/17: Monday Night Dance Club with Wyatt Haupt Band
Mon 10/24: Monday Night Dance Club with Dick Parent Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Encore
Saturdays: Beach City Sound Club

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 9/30: Dante Elephante
Sat 10/1: Deep Blue Sea

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 10/15: Patrick Gillham
Sun 10/16: Folk Duo
Sat 10/22: Salvador Magellon Calderon
Sun 10/23: Dennis Russell

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Twisted Tuesday w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 10/14: Alligator Dave
Sat 10/15: Hard Six
Fri 10/21: Watchermoon
Sat 10/22: Big Rig, Dollhouse

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 10/12:
Thurs 10/13:
Fri 10/14
Wed 10/19:
Thurs 10/20
Fri 10/21:
Sat 10/22:

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 10/14: The Bomb
Sat 10/15: Drunken Monkeys
Fri 10/21: CRV
Sat 10/22: Los Locos

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Sunday Steezy Steve
Karaoke Tuesdays
Metal Music Wednesdays
DJs every Thursday college night
Sat 10/15: Mark Masson & Phriends

Traveler Café
1070 E Front Street
Fridays 5-7 pm: Bernie Larsen
Sundays 11-1 pm: Bernie Larsen

VFW Hall
3801 Market Street
Saturdays: 4-8 pm Captain Ron

The Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
Music runs 7-11 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Sundays: B&V Acoustics
Mondays: Open Mic
Tuesdays: Keith Cain
Wed 10/12: Blue Grass jam
Thurs 10/13: Jon Gindick
Fri 10/14: Ricardo Ash
Sat 10/15: Paul Mars Black
Wed 10/19: Danielle Stacy
Thurs 10/20: Jon Gindick
Fri 10/21: Emily Reeves
Sat 10/22: Danielle Stacy

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Fri 10/14: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe
Sat 10/15: noon Kenny DeVoe
Fri 10/21: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe; 8 pm Frank Barajas
Sat 10/22: noon Kenny Devoe; 8 pm Teresa Russell
Sun 10/23: noon Kenny Devoe

Ebbs and flows of our music scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Nobody likes change, especially when it involves the closing of another venue which offered live music.  I’ll admit to my disappointment; especially when walking by Saturday night and not hearing upbeat live music from W20 at the Watermark.  I wanted to berate Hartley for letting us down, but you know, he and Kathy sort of deserve less stress in their lives.  It would have made the blow easier knowing the new tenants would carry on with live music, but alas, it doesn’t appear they will. I’m trusting the other venues in town to pick up the slack and help out the bands scrambling to find places to play. I always say there are ebbs and flows with Ventura’s music scene. Guess which one we’re in.

Doing his best to pick up the slack of course is Mike Toler just around the corner from W20 at Amigos. He’s got a nice line up of music scheduled including Mi6 on Sunday October 23d. He told me that he’s looking forward to the return of his friend Wes Nile and Mi6. He said, “The last time we had them at Amigos they really brought it with something I had not seen before. Imagine listening to a DJ but the DJ was being replaced by a band, and unless you were in front of the band, you wouldn’t know the difference!”

I’m glad I was able to witness the return of Cirith Ungol at the Ventura Theater during the Frost and Fire II fest. The City of Ventura was scheduled to recognize their reuniting after 25 years at the City Council meeting on Monday the 10^th.  I’ve heard European dates will be coming up for them in 2017.

SteampunkFest will be held at the Heritage Square in Oxnard on October 15^th and 16^th. The event is being touted as kid friendly with wacky events all day. Some of the bands scheduled include 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Abby and the Myth, Cirque Des Betes, and of course the Velveteen Band. For more information and ticket prices, check out www.OxnardSteamPunkFest.com.

I’m hearing good things about the band, Big Jesus, an alt-rock band out of Atlanta, GA, who will be coming to town this month. They’ve been getting a lot of good coverage for their latest release; Rolling Stone Magazine praised them for “reviving 90’s alternative” which happens to my favorite era of music.  Actually the entire week at the Ventura Theater will be rockin’ with Yellowcard on the 19^th, Garbage on the 20^th, Ben Folds on the 21^st, Common Kings on the 22^nd and wrapping up the week will be Big Jesus opening for Good Charlotte on Sunday the 23^rd.

And finally, happy anniversary (number 9)to Sheldon and the staff of the Ventura Breeze.  I would like to personally thank Sheldon for supporting Ventura’s music scene by devoting a full page to its coverage.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? 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: Open mic
Wed 9/28: Musicians Brew
Fri 9/30: Pull the Trigger
Sat 10/1: Wax off
Sun 10/2: 5 pm The Tossers; 9 pm Karaoke
Tues 10/4: Blues Bullet
Sun 10/9: Corsican Brothers
Bombay Bar and Grill
143 S. California St.
(805) 643-4404
Fri 10/7: Fire and Frost II Day 1: Slough Feg, Blade Killer, Omen, Thrrust, Midnight Chaser….
Sun 10/9: Fire and Frost II Day 3: Ashbury, Black Death Resurrected, Grim Reaper

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 9/28: Big Adventure
Thurs 9/29: Jade Hendrix
Fri 9/30: Soul Infusion
Tues 10/4: Bernie Meisinger
Wed 10/5: Bryan McCann
Thurs 10/6: Rick Whitfield
Fri 10/7: Johnny Hawthorne Band
Sat 10/8: Instone
Tues 10/11: Donna Greene

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
Tuesdays: the Down Home Super Trio
Thurs 9/29: Toni Jannotta, Tom Collins, Tom Etchart
Fri 9/30: Jazz Crafters w/ Artis Ford
Sat 10/1: Ian Peters
Sun 10/2: 4 pm Karen Eden
Thurs 10/6: Al Macias
Fri 10/7: Rivera-Sunnarborg Duo
Sat 10/8: Jazz Crafters w/ Artis Ford
Sun 10/9: Jazz Crafters w/ Artis Ford

Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
(805) 648-3001
Sun 10/2: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Wednesdays: Starlight Swing Night
Wed 9/28: Starlight Swing Night with The Starlighters
Thurs 9/29: Legalizers
Fri 9/30: Sgt. Pepper
Wed 10/5: Starlight Wing Night with DJ Lance
Thurs 10/6: Doin’ Time – Tribute to Sublime
Fri 10/7: Mark Farina featuring Chauncey Pearls, Christian LaTour & J.Kush
Sat 10/8: Hollywood U2

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

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

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band swing night
Fri 9/30: Hi Hat Entertainment – Rae Gordon w/ Crooked Eye Tommy Band
Sun 10/2: John & Tom
Fri 10/7: Hi Hat Entertainment – Kid Andersen
Sat 10/9: John & Tom

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 9/30: Sean Wiggins
Sat 10/1: Reign
Fri 10/7: Custom Made
Sat 10/8: Tex Pistols

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs music at 6:30
Thurs 10/6: Erisy Watt

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Wed 9/28: Allen Stone, Jessica Childress
Thurs 9/29: Jim James, Twin Limb
Tues 10/4: Jackson Browne
Fri 10/7: Hippie Sabotage
Sat 10/8: Frost and Fire II; Cirith Ungol, Midnight, Mindless Sinner, Night Demon…
Sun 10/9: Echo & the Bunnymen

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri & Sat at 6; Sundays at 3
Fri 9/30: JD Broz
Sat 10/1: Crosscut
Sun 10/2: 3 pm Mike Martinez
Sun 10/9: Shoemaker Brothers

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri 9/30: 6:30 pm Karen Eden
Sat 10/8: 80’s throwback party

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

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 10/9: 4:30 pm – 4th anniversary party with The Vonettes

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Mon 10/3: Monday Night Dance Club with Wyatt Haupt Band
Mon 10/10: Monday Night Dance Club with Dick Parent Band

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Encore
Saturdays: Beach City Sound Club

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 9/30: Dante Elephante
Sat 10/1: Deep Blue Sea

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 10/1: Marshall Riddell
Sun 10/2: Licity Collins
Sat 10/8: Dennis Russell
Sun 10/9: Bruce Mancuso

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Twisted Tuesday w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 9/30: Hard Six, Three on a Match, Sick Boy
Sat 10/8: Alchemy, Hessian

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 9/28: Sean Riddle Quartet
Thurs 9/29: D.on Darox & the Melody Joy Bakers
Fri 9/30: Jay Smith Group
Sat 10/1: Donna Deussen & Paul Weitz Trio
Tues 10/4: Jazz jam
Wed 10/5: Adam Clark Trio
Thurs 10/6: Pentasonic
Fri 10/7: Geezerfunk
Sat 10/8: Ronnie Hudson

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 9/30: Big Adventure

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Sunday Steezy Steve
Karaoke Tuesdays
Metal Music Wednesdays
DJs every Thursday college night
Fri 9/30: I Want my 80’s
Sat 10/1: DJs
Fri 10/7: Whesli
Sat 10/8: The Caverns

Traveler Café
1070 E Front Street
Fridays 5-7 pm: Bernie Larsen
Sundays 11-1 pm: Bernie Larsen

VFW Hall
3801 Market Street
Saturdays: 4-8 pm Captain Ron

W20 at the Watermark
598 E. Main Street
Fri & Sat 9 pm, Sun 3 pm
Fri 9/30: CRV
Sat 10/1: The Bomb

The Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
Music runs 7-11 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Sundays: B&V Acoustics
Mondays: Open Mic
Tuesdays: Keith Cain
Wednesdays: Danielle Stacy
Fri 9/30: B&V Acoustic
Sat 10/1: Mark Heyes & Phil Salazar
Thurs 10/6: Jon Gindick
Fri 10/7: Jae Hatt
Sat 10/8: Coda

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Fri 9/30: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe; 8 pm Carlo Fontaine
Sat 10/1: 8 pm Frank Barajas
Fri 10/7: Kenny Devoe
Sat 10/8: Live Band Karaoke

Folk fest to metal fest
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

High at the top of my list of things to do over the next few weeks is the Topa Topa Folk Fest being held at the beautiful Libbey Bowl in Ojai on Saturday, October 1. Ticket sales have been brisk, which is great because I’d love to see this one sell out as it also helps to benefit the Turning Point Foundation.  Headlining the folk fest will be Jake Smith better known as The White Buffalo whose music has been featured on such TV shows as “Sons of Anarchy” and “Californication.” I’m also excited to see Grizfolk after watching local talent Brendon Willing share his adventures via social media after joining the band over a year ago. Actually, the whole lineup is pretty cool with Jaime Wyatt, Todd Hannigan, Shane Alexander, Lee Koch, Bryan Titus and so many more talented folks. Find out more at www.OnesToWatchProductions.com. You can help make a difference while enjoying a great day of music, hope to see you there!

Another Turning Point Foundation fundraising was held at the Traveler’s Café on Thursday, September 22 when Shawn Jones entertained the room.  It was the perfect opportunity for people to check out one of Ventura’s newest restaurants offering up live acoustic music on select days. Shawn by the way heads back to Europe the first week in October for about a month with shows in Italy and Ireland.

The highly anticipated return of Cirth Ungol (their first show in 25 years) is finally upon us as they headline Frost and Fire II at the Ventura Theater on October 8, and to sweeten the deal even further, Metal Blade Records released the band’s classic “Paradise Lost” on CD and vinyl. Frost and Fire II actually spans three days (October 7-9) and three venues (Bombay’s, Sans Souci and the Ventura Theater).  This heavy metal festival isn’t for the light of heart and will most likely sell out (Day one already sold out at press time).  To get the full line up of bands and schedules go to www.FrostAndFireFest.com.

Plan B will be celebrating their 4^th anniversary with their popular Second Sunday Supper for October (on the 9^th), featuring The Vonettes. The venue is also working on Friday nights for live music on a regular basis.

Squashed Grapes is excited to welcome Ronnie Hudson on Saturday, October 8.  Hudson is most notable for his hit song “West Coast Poplock” which would later appear on Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur’s song, “California Love” and Snoop Dogg’s “Poplock 2”. Hudson also played bass on the legendary Grammy-winning soundtrack “Shaft” by Isaac Hayes, and his work is featured in other films including “The Social Network”, “Iron Man II” and “South Central.”

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Suds and Tunes
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

California Beer Festival returns to Ventura with several events all week long at different venues in the area, but on Friday, there’s a Food and Beer Pairing Competition up at City Hall with music from Ross Harper and The Bomb; on Saturday, it’s their Craft Beer Heaven at Plaza Park featuring music from The Purple Ones, Dr. M and The Caverns; and then the grand finale, Boots and Brews featuring music from Caught Red Handed, Tyler Rich, Highway Starr and a performance from Country music star Joe Nichols.  For information on all events and how to get tickets, go to CaliforniaBeerFestival.com/Ventura. On Sunday, be sure to stop by the VenturaRocks.com booth and sit a spell and share your music related tidbits with me!

Fresh off the Dave Mason tour, drummer Alvino Bennett held a drum clinic for Pulse Drumming at Squashed Grapes on September 10 and then immediately following that Saturday afternoon, he held a short jam with a handful of fellow musicians including Jonathan McEuen deeming them “Alvino Bennett and his Stellar Acquaintances.” Oh, by the way, both Jonathan and his brother Nathen will be joined by their father John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) at the Topa Topa Winery in Ojai Sunday, September 18, 3-5 pm.

And speaking of Ojai, and more Topa Topaness, One’s to Watch Productions will be holding Topa Topa Folk Fest on October 1 with headliner, The White Buffalo. Other folk acts include Grizfolk, Jaime Wyatt, Todd Hannigan, Shane Alexander, The Brambles, Dear Lemon Trees and the Bryan Titus Trio. The day-long concert benefits in part the Turning Point Foundation. You can find ticket information at OnesToWatchProductions.com.

Ventura’s Elks Lodge is holding a lodge membership drive and BBQ on Saturday, September 17^th with proceeds benefiting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Ventura; both Big Adventure and The Swillys will be performing.  The Ventura Elks Lodge is located at 2126 Knoll Drive; the event starts at 4 pm.

Discovery’s Backyard Bash was a big success! Now I’m looking forward to seeing the return of Alastair Greene on Friday September 16, the Fooz Fighters, a tribute to the Foo Fighters on Saturday September 17, and Diego’s Umbrella, San Francisco’s ambassadors of gypsy rock, on Saturday, September 24.

Rock the Dock continues on Saturday afternoons 3-6 pm during September in the Ventura Harbor.  You can catch The Phantom Riders on the 17^th and Super Stoked on the 24^th.

Birdbrain hosts their CD release party Friday, September 17 at Sans Souci; Youth Brigade will play with The Grim and Mothers of Dissension at The Garage on Friday, September 23; and Pat Kelly along with Carey Frank and Steve Hass will play Squashed Grapes on Saturday September 24^th.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Music Calendar
For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: Open mic
Sat 9/17: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 9/18: 5 pm Corsican Brothers; 9 pm Karaoke
Wed 9/21: Live Band Karaoke
Sun 9/25: 5 pm Karen Eden Trio; 9 pm Karaoke

Bombay Bar and Grill
143 S. California St.
(805) 643-4404
Sun 9/18: 2 pm Brothers Fortune, Goodnight Kiss

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 9/14: Big Adventure
Thurs 9/15: Brandon Ragan
Fri 9/16: Soul Infusion
Sat 9/17: Johnny Hawthorne Band
Tues 9/20: Bernie Meisninger
Wed 9/21: Donna Butler
Thurs 9/22: Coso Live
Fri 9/23: Instone
Tues 9/27: Donna Butler

California Beer Festival
Plaza Park
Sat 9/17: The Caverns
Sun 9/18: Joe Nichols, Highway Starr, Tyler Rich

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
Tuesdays: RJ Mischo & the Down Home Trio
Thurs 9/15: Shoemaker Brothers
Sat 9/17: Lorenzo Martinez
Sun 9/18: Hot Roux
Thurs 9/22: Jason & Friends
Fri 9/23: The Swillys
Sat 9/24: Al Macias
Sun 9/25 Lorenza Martinez

Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
(805) 648-3001
Sun 9/18: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Wednesdays: Starlight Swing Night
Thurs 9/15: Layovr
Fri 9/16: Alastair Greene
Sat 9/17: Fooz Fighters
Thurs 9/22: Kimi Miner
Fri 9/23: Evolution Beat
Sat 9/24: Diego’s Umbrella

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

Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Thurs 9/15: Something on the Wing
Fri 9/16: Anygadala, Pale Hands, Oni
Sat 9/17: Haley and the Crushers, Dancing Tongues, Downers
Wed 9/21: Avi Buffalo
Fri 9/23: Youth Brigade, The Grim, Mothers of Dissension

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
Sat 9/17: COA, Bad Acid Trip, Hiding Inside Victims, Six Pack of Doom

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wednesdays: The Swillys
Fri 9/16: TD Lind
Sat 9/17: Shawn Jones
Sun 9/18: James Broz Duo
Fri 9/23: Brandon Ragan
Sat 9/24: Ricky Z
Sun 9/25: Shelby Figueroa

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band swing night
Fri 9/16: Hi Hat Entertainment – Rob Rio
Sun 9/18: John & Tom
Fri 9/23: Hi Hat Entertainment – Nick Moss Band
Sat 9/24: Rick Ash
Sun 9/25: John & Tom

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 9/16: Action Down
Sat 9/17: Black Canyon Band
Fri 9/23: Vital Itch
Sat 9/24: Step Away

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs music at 6:30; Sun at 2:30
Thurs 9/15: Jeff Uzzel

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Fri 9/23: Andre Nickatina, Smoov E, Hussalah
Sun 9/25: Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, King Harris

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri & Sat at 6; Sundays at 3
Fri 9/16: Chuck D showcase
Sat 9/17: Herbal Rootz
Sun 9/18: Greasy Kids Stuff
Fri 9/23: Tommy Quayle
Sat 9/24: Crosscut
Sun 9/25: Jon Francis

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Sat 9/17: Shenanigans
Fri 9/23: Live Band Karaoke

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

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 9/11: The Mighty Cash Cats

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Mon 9/19: Monday Night Dance Club with Dick Parent Band
Mon 9/26: Monday Night Dance Club with Wyatt Haupt

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Encore
Saturdays: Beach City Sound Club

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night
Sat 9/24: The DTease, The Hymen Blasters, The NaVaNaX

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

Saloon BBQ Co.
456 E. Main Street
Fri 9/16: Rich Sheldon
Sat 9/17: Jeff Uzzel Band
Sun 9/18: Jeff Uzzel
Fri 9/23: The Battlefield
Sun 9/24: RSYBOA

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 9/17: Kyra Nicole
Sun 9/18: Bruce Mancuso
Sat 9/24: Jesse Spino
Sun 9/25: Walt Dunlap

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Twisted Tuesday w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 9/16: Alligator Dave
Sat 9/17: Birdbrain CD release party
Fri 9/23: Aunt Janes Pancakes
Sat 9/24: Stevie Char

Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 9/14: Daniel Ross Trio
Thurs 9/15: Lett, Mancini & Dutz
Fri 9/16: Equinox Ensemble
Sat 9/17: Rosa Lee Brooks tribute to Hendrix
Wed 9/21: The Jazz Express
Thurs 9/22: T04
Fri 9/23: H03
Sat 9/24: Pat Kelly Trio

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 9/16: CRV
Sat 9/17: The Flailingtons
Fri 9/23: Whiskey Stone
Sat 9/24: Inna Rude Mood

Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Sat 9/24: Catterwailers

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Sunday open mics
Karaoke Tuesdays
Metal Music Wednesdays
DJs every Thursday college night
Sat 9/17: The Black Hips
Fri 9/23: Rubberneck Lions
Sat 9/24: Dojo Loach

Traveler Café
1070 E Front Street
Fridays 5-7 pm: Bernie Larsen
Sundays 11-1 pm: Bernie Larsen

Ventura Beach Club
281 W Main Street
Sun 9/25: The Percy Project Fundraiser with Fish Fry, 9 Mile Skid, Shaky Feelin’…

Ventura Harbor
Rock on the Dock
3-6 pm
Sat 9/17: The Phantom Riders
Sat 9/24: Super Stoked

VFW Hall
3801 Market Street
Saturdays: 4-8 pm Captain Ron

W20 at the Watermark
598 E. Main Street
Thurs 6 pm, Fri & Sat 9 pm, Sun 3 pm
Thurs 9/15: Karen Eden
Fri 9/16: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sat 9/17: The Bomb
Sun 9/18: Tommy Alexander

The Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
Music runs 7-11 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Sundays: B&V Acoustics
Mondays: Open Mic
Tuesdays: Keith Cain
Wed 9/14: Alex Nishi
Thurs 9/15: Jon Gindick
Fri 9/16: Tom and Milo
Sat 9/17: Eric Tyler
Wed 9/21: Danielle Stacy
Thurs 9/22: Jon Gindick
Sat 9/24: Frank G & Benny B

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Fri 9/16: Kenny Devoe
Sat 9/17: Frank Barajas
Fri 9/23: Avery Dalton
Sat 9/24: Live Band Karaoke

Help for budding artists
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Big help from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy for our local schools! That’s $42,500 in funding to Ventura Unified School District earmarked to enhance existing visual and performing arts programs. The funds were made possible through the BBVD concert last April celebrating the City of Ventura’s 150^th anniversary.  I’m looking forward to seeing new upcoming artist having the chance to flourish as a result of the band’s generosity.

Local singer, Eric Harrington, recently played at Squashed Grapes to a packed house. Few knew there was a chance that drummer Vinnie Colaiuta might show up, and show up he did for the final songs of the night. Harrington told me, “What an amazing night it was, and to end it with Vinnie sitting in was just incredible, he’s just a delightful man!”  Trey O’Toole from Pulse Drumming told me that Colaiuta had been working in a session all day and was afraid he might not make it, but luckily for the house, he did.

Speaking of Pulse Drumming and Squashed Grapes, watch for the Alvino Bennett (currently working with Dave Mason) drum clinic on September 10; he’ll be joined afterwards at the Grape for an awesome jam including musicians George Hawkins, Jr. on bass and vocals (Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina), Jonathan McEuen on guitar and vocals (Dwight Yoakum, NGDB, Dave Mason), Geo Evans on guitar (Cheryl Lynn, Euge Groove) and TJ, Teddy Jack Russell on guitar and vocals (Leon Russell).

Bombay’s 32^nd End of Summer Party hits Ventura over the first weekend of September with three stages (including one outdoors with sand and a mechanical bull).  Look for musical acts all weekend long including performances from Mandex, Highway Starr, Dirty Rice, Uproots, Shakey Feelin’ and A.D.D to name but a few.

The first ever Oxnard Jazz Festival lands at Oxnard Beach on Saturday, September 10, offering a diverse mix of Jazz, Latin, Soul, Blues and R&B with Tom Brown, Nick Colionne, Howard Hewett, O’Bryan, Quatrosound and Poncho Sanchez. You can get ticket information and more on this special event at OxnardJazzFestival.com.

Alternative/Country rockers, Porter & the Bluebonnet will be swinging through town from Austin, TX, with a showcase at Sans Souci on Friday, September 9. They’ll be on the same bill as The Jelly.

The Ventura Theater has been packing in the shows for the rest of the year. You’ll want to review their line up so you don’t miss any acts such as Jackson Browne, Pennywise, Echo & the Bunnymen, Steve Vai, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard, Ben Folds, Garbage, The Common Kings, Dwight Yoakum and more! Plus, you have the Nardcore show on September 10, and Frost and Fire with the return of Cirith Ungol on October 8.  Details at VenturaTheater.net.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.