Ventura County’s songs scene practically felt like it was finding back again into the swing of points in 2022, with pandemic upheaval tentatively and ideally in the rear-check out mirror. (Even though we are continue to hearing about occasional gigs postponed thanks to COVID.)
The Ventura County Reporter shared stories of bands, venues and activities emerging from the pandemic much better than ever, with new visions, expanded offerings or refreshed looks as evidenced by the gorgeous renovations of the Majestic Ventura Theater.
New and thrilling venues keep on to open up up. Ventura Songs Hall, for case in point, released in March in a soaring lattice-ceilinged space originally occupied by bowling alley/live performance venue Discovery. A single of Ventura Tunes Hall’s initial demonstrates was Thievery Company, whose ensemble of performers introduced their soulful, global, digital vibes to an enthusiastic viewers.
Revered venues, festivals and events that faced challenging yrs in the course of the pandemic hit their stride yet again in 2022. The year acquired off with an auspicious get started with finger-selecting guitar greats Mike Dawes and Tommy Emmanuel at the Oxnard Accomplishing Arts Centre in a January live performance presented by the Ventura Audio Festival. February introduced a cappella legends Rockapella to the Bank of America Accomplishing Arts Heart in Thousand Oaks.
In March the Oxnard Undertaking Arts Heart held the initial at any time Los Fest audio festival with regional bands, artists, distributors and workshops in an event for all ages. Hip-hop and the visual arts came together in Camarillo in April with the Spherical4 hip-hop celebration at Studio Channel Islands, organized by Dexter Nunnery.
In the course of Might the Ventura County Reporter shared the sad news of the passing of Hans Ottsen, who led the Gratitude Jazz Jam at The Grape in Ventura for extra than a ten years, and assisted set up the Midtown Ventura location as just one of the county’s premier spots to hear jazz. Ottsen, 45, motivated plenty of musicians to take the phase for the initially or 100th time in a welcoming nevertheless creatively billed environment.
The broad range of festivals that have turn into mainstays of Ventura County’s summertime months basked in the sunshine as soon as once more throughout 2022, which include the Ojai Blues Fest. The venerable Ojai Songs Competition went AMOC this year with the American Contemporary Opera Corporation, a New York-centered collective of 17 performers who danced and sang amongst the viewers for the duration of the ultimate performance in a joyful celebration of togetherness.
The Ventura Tunes Festival was held in July with Adaawe carrying out a totally free, significant-electrical power out of doors concert at Mission Park, where viewers associates shimmied on the grass to the inviting beat. July also brought the Tequila and Tacos Audio Festival to the Ventura County Fairgrounds with bands which includes Sugar Ray and Afro-Brazilian-affected dance band SambaDá, whose associates talked with the Ventura County Reporter about their appreciate of participating in near the ocean in Ventura.
Ventura’s NAMBA Undertaking Arts Area scheduled Iona Fyfe, a single of Scotland’s greatest singers, and Scottish Celtic guitarist Tony McManus for demonstrates in September. Unfortunately, we also acquired later in December about the passing of the venue’s co-founder Julia Frances Campbell Namba at age 86. She was recognized for her generosity and perception in the electrical power of artwork to rework life.
In 2022, the Halloween bash time roared back again to existence – which has turn out to be as considerably a tradition for grown ups wanting to minimize free in costumes as little ones on a quest for sweet. Las Cafeteras celebrated the spooky time with their mix of Afro-Mexican rhythms, soul, rock and hip-hop at the Bank of The united states Executing Arts Center on Oct. 30, also in honor of Dia De Los Muertos.
Great holiday new music wrapped up the yr including the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra’s Winter season Gala Concert at the Financial institution of America Doing Arts Center and the 9th Yearly Vacation Sing Alongside and Toy Push at the Majestic Ventura Theater.
The year also finished with a loving tribute surrounding the closing days of troubadour “Hippie Mark” Searcy, who played guitar and harmonica in numerous local bands given that the 1960s. Searcy was a mainstay at Ventura’s Westside music and art group gathering location Green Artwork Persons. The Ventura indigenous experienced been in declining health and handed absent Dec. 2 at age 68 at his house in the vicinity of Ventura Avenue, surrounded by close good friends singing the Grateful Useless music “Brokedown Palace.”
A wake will be held for Hippie Mark at Camp Convenience in Ojai on Saturday Jan. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The celebration of existence will undoubtedly function lots of fantastic new music from an “all-star” band. His memory will also reside on in 2023 with a series of regular Eco-friendly Artwork Individuals reunion demonstrates at Ventura’s Vaquero Y Mar each 3rd Wednesday of the month . . . so remain posted for additional news on that in the Audio area of the Ventura County Reporter in the coming 12 months!
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