Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS
NMA started by brother Luther and Cody Dickinson in 1996 as a loose collective of musicians from their North Mississippi home inspired by their father Jim Dickinson as well as neighbors and musical elders of their community; RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Otha Turner and Fred McDowell.
Luther’s first national tour was the RL Burnside Ass Pocket of Whiskey tour in 1997, selling out shows in the US and Canada. “Kenny Brown hired me to tour with RL and Cedric and showed me the ropes. That experience blew my mind. Cody and I have been on the road ever since.”
NMA began touring in 1998 and over the years the touring lineup has included, Cedric, Duwayne and Garry Burnside, Chris Chew, Berry Oakley Jr, Oteil Burbruidgem and currently Joey Williams of the Blind Boys of Alabama and Ray Ray Hollowman, guitar player for Eminem and Nee-O.
Since their debut album in 2000 and hitting the never ending road, they have shared the stage with countless legends; Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, John Hiatt, the Allman Brothers, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Snoop Dogg, and Jon Spencer to name a few, while earning multiple grammy nominations for their experimental albums of they like to call Modern Mississippi Music.
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
DEMOLA LIVE!
Demola (also known as “Demola the violinist”) is a musician, singer-songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist, record producer and an award winning SELF TAUGHT–
MULTI-GENRE VIOLINIST. He is viral and social media sensation with over 3.5million followers across his social media platforms, seen performing music from all genres and different countries and cultures across the world.
Demola was born in Lagos, Nigeria, he moved to the USA to pursue his solo music career. His love for music started at a very tender age, stemming from listening to different genres of popular and contemporary music by music loving parents.
He has performed for THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE WORLD, including guest appearances in his home town of Houston, TX. Performing the National Anthem for the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Stadium packed with over 35,000 people, a packed house of about 15,000 people at the Houston Rockets Toyota Center, as well as sold out his own self produced concerts “FAC-TOUR” (‘Feel1ings’ & ‘Classics’ Original violin Album Classics Tour) at Houston’s prestigious Hobby Center for The performing Arts & One In A Million Tour at the House Of Blues in collaboration with Live Nation.
Demola is a fan favorite, representing the city of Houston touring with the City of Houston Mayor as well as performed the national anthem for both the World Series Champions Houston Astros, The Texans, Houston Dynamo as well as the Houston Rockets. With multiple appearances on local, national and international TV including GMA online, KPRC-2 local houston, FOX-26 Houston, CultureMap Houston, 97.9 KBXX Houston, FOX-31 Denver, WGN-9 Chicago, Black News Channel, and many more!
The native Lagosian turned Houston resident is a multi-hyphenate in his own right.
Adored by millions across the world, internationally recognized multi-genre violinist & award-winning artist, “Demola the Violinist” brings his electric personality and musical talent to any stage. Fusing the various timbres of Afrobeats, the colorful sounds of Reggae, the animated bounce of Hip-Hop, Dance Hall, Reggaeton, Jazz, Classical, Rap, Country, Rock & Roll … and his own ORIGINAL SONGS, Demola has made a name for himself and his artistry bridging the gap between traditional classical music and contemporary sounds. Demola is the official violinist for many award winning, legendary R&B groups including Tonytonitoné and Dwayne Wiggins. Based in Houston, Texas. He recently had a collaborative performance at the 2024 Houston rodeo with country music award winning sensation with Jelly Roll.
Demola travels the world sharing his musical talent and has acquired a significant following of over 2M followers across social media who turn to his music for inspiration and entertainment.
Aside from being a seasoned violinist and musician, Demola is a singer, songwriter, and producer. He is one of the first artists of his kind fusing the various timbres of AFRO-BEAT, the colorful sounds of Reggae, R&B, Reggaeton, Jazz, a bevy of buoyant Pop tones and the animated bounce of Hip-Hop while coherently blending it all together with the EUPHONIOUS MELODIES OF HIS VIOLIN.
Winning multiple awards in 2023 for his music and philanthropy, Demola was honored with a proclamation by the Mayor of Houston in Tx.
Demola is set to release his vocal + violin album in 2024.
He released his lead single off the album “One In A Million” on Feb 14, 2023 and this song has received positive and great reviews by fans and people worldwide. He followed with the successful release of his second single ”Mbappe” which also has millions of streams.
His 24 city world tour in 2023 : “One In A Million” tour was wildly successful with sold out shows in every city. He is set to release his vocal + violin album in 2024 and follow up with the One In A Million Tour 2.0 to support the album.
In 2022 Demola released Feel1ngs, Original Violin album which has garnered millions of streams across platforms alongside his cover albums Classics with Demola volume 1 & 2.
To learn more, visit www.demolatheviolinist.com
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GARY NUMAN
with TREMOURS
May, 1979. It’s an ordinary Thursday evening, which means it’s time for Top of the Pops. Amidst a zeitgeist of punk and disco, the show suddenly appears to be interrupted by a transmission from the future. A luminous synth riff echoes out, a beat drives on and up steps an otherworldly figure - part robot, part alien - to deliver an enigmatic lyric depicting some kind of android existence in a dystopian future. It’s Gary Numan fronting Tubeway Army for their breakthrough hit ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’.
Of the millions that are watching, few would’ve recognised that this moment foreshadows the shape of music to come, from synth-pop to industrial and alt-pop. That, however, can’t stop it igniting the imagination of an audience that would swell into a devoted following.
Fast-forward to January, 2021. Numan’s first single ‘Intruder’ (from the Intruder album) pulsates ominously as if it’s soundtracking an imminent threat. As austere synths loom like shadows and industrial beats are detonated, the beguiling hook towers like a beacon in the darkness. It’s visionary and venomous, with a narrative that imagines the Earth growing angry at mankind's actions, and more than willing to fight back. In the accompanying video, Numan looks even more out of time than he did back in 1979, like an intergalactic refugee fighting for his own existence.
Those two songs show how Numan has consistently fought against the grain to stick resolutely to his creative vision. In a career that spans over forty years, the music evolves and the themes change. But fans remain fascinated by Numan for the very fact that he’s so uncompromising.
Any story charting four decades will be a mixed blessing of momentous highs and meagre lows. The achievements are remarkable for someone who never made any concessions to mainstream success. Seven Top 10 singles, including ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ and the debut solo hit ‘Cars’; eight Top 10 albums, three of which topped the charts; and huge critical acclaim, most notably with the Inspiration Award at the prestigious Ivor Novellos.
Naturally, there were times when Numan was very much not in vogue. Sure, there would be ripples of rediscovery but there were years when his increasingly conceptual albums were primarily embraced by hardcore fans. He wasn’t troubling the charts, but audiences were still flocking to see him perform - almost every UK tour would include a sold-out show at the 5000 capacity Hammersmith Apollo.
Gradually, though, praise from Nine Inch Nails, Prince and David Bowie led to a reappraisal of his work. And that has been magnified in recent years with Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Dave Grohl citing him as an influence.
And so, a new narrative emerged. An unlikely icon returned to the top while making music that was darker, fiercer and more inventive than ever.
‘Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)’ set the ball rolling by peaking at #20 in 2013, its precise, post-industrial sound delving into Numan’s experiences with depression. He started a new deal with BMG in 2017 and released ‘Savage (Songs From A Broken World)’, an album which depicted earth as a barren wasteland in which humanity and culture had been largely crushed by the effects of global warming. ‘Savage’ hit #2 in the UK charts.
His next album, ‘Intruder’, presented a fresh but complementary narrative. It’s a philosophical examination of a potential future apocalypse: the planet can only survive by purging its inhabitants. ‘Intruder’ also hit #2 in the UK charts.
Numan explained: “‘Intruder’ looks at climate change from the planet’s point of view. If the Earth could speak, and feel things the way we do, what would it say? How would it feel? The songs, for the most part, attempt to be that voice, or at least try to express what I believe the earth must feel at the moment”.
The planet sees us as its children now grown into callous selfishness, with a total disregard for its well being. It feels betrayed, hurt and ravaged. Disillusioned and heartbroken it is now fighting back. Essentially, it considers human kind to be a mistake, a virus attacking the planet. Climate change is the undeniable sign of the Earth saying enough is enough, and finally doing what it needs to do to get rid of us, and explaining why it feels it has to do it.”
Partially written and recorded during lockdown, it’s no surprise that current circumstances have been assimilated into its themes. It’s especially evident in ‘The Gift’, which evolves from a sparse introduction into a resonant Middle-Eastern sonic motif. It imagines Covid-19 as the first weapon that the planet deploys in order to eradicate mankind and once again flourish.
While anger and vengeance rage in its opening chapters, ‘Intruder’ charts a wider spectrum of emotions. ‘Is This World Not Enough’ and ‘A Black Sun’ exude regret and then despair that this fate could’ve been avoided. The finale presents a black-hearted double-bill to bring the curtain down on the tale. First ‘Now And Forever’ offers a hope of eternity in the end days during its theatrical intensity, before the sparse, sorrowful ‘The End Of Dragons’ ends on the chilling reminder that what’s broken can’t always be fixed.
Collectively the album proves that Numan’s creative spark shows no sign of being extinguished.
Numan toured the Intruder album at over 130 shows around the world, finally ending in mid 2024 when he toured the US with Ministry. Since then he’s been back in the studio writing and recording his next (and 23rd) album, due out in early 2026. This one looks at a near future world where humanity lives or dies based on the whims of an AI controlled system. He did take a few weeks out of the studio to play a major UK tour in the Fall to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of his ‘Replicas’ and ‘The Pleasure Principle’ albums, both UK Number 1’s when first released.
That’s just a snapshot of the tale behind one of music’s most singular talents. The full story can be found in Numan’s critically acclaimed autobiography ‘(R)evolution’, which The Observer described as an, “exhaustive, entertaining and often poignant life story.” What comes next will surely be just as intriguing.
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MICAEL RICHARDS
Michael Richards is a three-time Emmy Award winning actor beloved for starring as Cosmo Kramer on the groundbreaking classic television series Seinfeld. Considered one of the great physical comedians of our time, Richards has worked extensively on TV, in film, and on stage in a career spanning five decades.
His recently released memoir, Entrances and Exits, a candid, insightful, humorous, and complex memoir about his life and storied career with Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and other iconic figures in show business, added “New York Times bestselling author” to his already illustrious credits.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, grew up playing on nearby studio backlots nourished by silent era comedies, television sitcoms and movies while finding comfort in nature and the Los Angeles landscape. He discovered a love of acting in school and was an award-winning standout in National Forensic League competitions. Throughout high school and college, he acted in theater productions and stand-up comedy clubs before joining the army during the Vietnam War era.
As a student at CalArts, Richards became a student of the avant-garde and was influenced by Allen Kaprow, Grotowksy, Ionesco, Pinter and Becket. Later he began performing in L.A.’s legendary Comedy Store and Improv, coming up in a red-hot comedy scene alongside Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, and Jay Leno.
Starting in 1980, he spent three seasons starring on the sketch comedy show Fridays where he first worked with Larry David and famously collaborated with Andy Kaufman. Following that series, which remains revered for its edgy work and deep roster of talent, he spent the decade guest-starring on Night Court, St. Elsewhere, Miami Vice, Cheers and other top shows of the day. He also had memorable roles in cult comedy films Transylvania 6-5000, UHF, Airheads, and Problem Child. He also starred in the Diane Keaton-directed drama Unstrung Heroes.
Richards has also won two Screen Actors Guild awards and been nominated for various honors more than 20 times.
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
DABOII
with BIGSAD1900, and YOUNGINSOSLEAZE
Sounds By Tsunami.Wav
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GET THE LED OUT: A CELEBRATION OF "THE MIGHTY ZEP"
From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-create the songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album...GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants...a high energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart thumping intensity.
Dubbed by the media as "The American Led Zeppelin," Get The Led Out offers a strong focus on the early years. They also touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert. GTLO also include a special “acoustic set” with Zep favorites such as “Tangerine” and "Hey Hey What Can I Do."
GTLO has amassed a strong national touring history, having performed at major club and PAC venues across the country. GTLO’s approach to their performance of this hallowed catalog is not unlike a classical performance. "Led Zeppelin are sort of the classical composers of the rock era," says lead vocalist Paul Sinclair. "I believe 100 years from now they will be looked at as the Bach or Beethoven of our time. As cliché as it sounds, their music is timeless."
A GTLO concert mimics the “light and shade” that are the embodiment of "The Mighty Zep." Whether it's the passion and fury with which they deliver the blues-soaked, groove driven rock anthems, it's their attention to detail and nuance that makes a Get The Led Out performance a truly awe-inspiring event!
Paul Sinclair – Lead Vocals, Harmonica
Paul Hammond – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Theremin Tommy Zamp – Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Eddie Kurek – Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
Derek Smith – Drums, Percussion
Seth Chrisman – Bass, Vocals
https://www.gtlorocks.com/bios
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
ROBIN TROWER
Few would dispute that the title of Robin Trower’s latest album – ‘No More Worlds To Conquer’ – is a fair summary of the thumbprint he has left on the musical universe. But as he reminds us, it should not be misinterpreted as his mission being accomplished. “I definitely feel like I’m still reaching,” he considers, “with the guitar, and the songs, and everything else.”
For more than six decades, Robin Trower’s career has known no bounds. At the age of 76, the British guitarist can reflect on a journey in which he has planted flags across the musical sphere and played every role imaginable. He’s been the driving force behind Sixties icons Procol Harum. The transatlantic solo star who filled US stadiums with 1974’s Bridge Of Sighs. The collaborator and occasional supergroup member. The elder-statesman songwriter whose late period still crackles with invention.
Featuring vocals and bass from the late Jim Dewar – along with jaw-dropping guitar work from Trower that has influenced everyone from Steve Lukather to Opeth – the US-gold-selling ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ is perhaps his flagship album.
“With every album, it’s the best I can do at that particular time. I think that’s what it’s about. I set myself goals and each song has to live up to them,” he reflects.
“What usually happens is that I’m playing the guitar for fun and an idea will suddenly appear,” he continues. “Then you’re looking for a lyric that grows out of the music and enhances the mood. it’s lovely when you’ve gone right the way through from the beginning of the first little guitar idea that grows into a song and eventually you get a track down and finished – and it’s something like how you heard it in your head.”
Turning once again to his trusty toolkit of Fender Stratocaster and Marshall amp, Trower’s guitar work is ageless, whether that’s the tough chop of “Ball Of Fire,” “Losing You and Cloud Across The Sun,” or the slower-burn wah squalls of the title track and “Deadly Kiss.” “Each track has to work as a sound,” he says, “as well as music and everything else. I’m very particular over guitar tones. I drive people mad, but in the end, it’s worth all the aggravation.”
On “Waiting For The Rain To Fall,” Trower’s playing is crystalline as a dew drop, while the aching finale, “I Will Always Be Your Shelter,” offers a solo whose masterful touch is compelling as anything in his catalogue. “That’s a real high point for the playing,” he nods. “And ‘Waiting For The Rain To Fall,’ I think is influenced by Tamla Motown. It’s a bit left-of-centre for me to do a song like that. But I think it’s potent stuff. I’m hoping this album will surprise people.”
Once again, Trower also handles bass duties, but as a lifelong servant of the song over his own ego, he didn’t hesitate to enlist other musicians. “Livingstone Brown played bass on three tracks, and Chris Taggart is on drums,” he explains. “He’s a wonderful drummer, and he’s done the last three or four albums. And I started to realize, after I’d tried to sing these songs myself, that I wasn’t vocally up to it. Richard Watts has done a great job on vocals. He’s got a fantastic instrument – such a soulful singer – and he’s willing to get it exactly how I’m hearing it in my head. The other great thing about having Richard is that there’s quite a few songs on this album that I wouldn’t be able to play and sing live at the same time.”
“It was difficult, but I’m glad I did it,” he considers. “This album is an evolution. I’m hoping that’s what is always happening with my music. There’s a huge step between Bridge Of Sighs and now. It’s like anything. The more you work on it, in theory, the better you should be at it. And I definitely feel like this album is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Show 7pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
CG5
CG5 (born Charlie Green) is a name you may recognize from the iconic “Probably because I am CG5” TikTok sound, seen and liked by millions. The 25-year-old singer/songwriter and music producer is from Arizona and has an impressive viral following, well known for his popular YouTube channel which touts over 8.6 million subscribers. His channel has obtained over 3.2 billion views making CG5 one of the platform's leading music creators. To date, CG5 has amassed over 1.2 billion worldwide streams on Spotify alone accompanied by 2.5+ million monthly listeners, and has over 500+ million streams from his singles; “THX,” “Lonely King,” “4GET,” “Dancin’,” “Vibrant Eyes,” “Good To Be Alive,” “I See a Dreamer,” “Sleep Well,” “Listen To The Music,” “OCD,” “Let Me In,” and “Break Out The Box”. In addition, you can find over 7.6 Million video creations on TikTok based on his songs, with 4 million followers on the platform. Charlie captivates fans with his original compositions, remixes, and covers inspired by viral memes, TV shows, original concepts, and video games such as, Dream SMP, Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF), Cuphead, Among Us, etc. His YouTube channel found its stride in 2017, driven by the success of his FNaF tracks like “I Got No Time (Remix),” “Labyrinth,” and the Bendy and the Ink Machine-inspired track “Amen,” establishing him as a FNaF community pioneer. Simultaneously, his single “Absolutely Anything,” boasting over 7.2 Million video creations, was hand-picked by Warner Music Group’s imprint label Spinnin’ Records for redistribution—in turn, marking the artist’s first commercial success. Today, Charlie is preparing for his upcoming international tour, and is working on new music & exciting projects that he will be ready to share with his audience soon.
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GRATEFUL SHRED
After a meteoric rise from obscurity to a national touring band, Los Angeles-based Grateful Shred has made the most of its time in the spotlight. The lineup, featuring Dan Horne and Austin McCutchen alongside keyboardist Adam MacDougall woke the Grateful Dead cosmos with a unique laid-back harmony driven sound. The band literally went from playing the Shakedown Street vendor area prior to Dead and Company shows to touring the United States.
The moment that sent the band’s popularity soaring is the “Busted at the Bowl” video, a YouTube video that features Shred members starting an impromptu set in the parking lot of the Hollywood Bowl before a Dead and Company show in 2017. They don’t get too far before drawing so much attention that the police shut them down. Instantly creating Shred-cred, this was a bit of good fortune that doesn’t get past McCutchen. “We’ve been dealt some pretty good cards,” he states. “It’s been cool to roll with it and push forward and continually make stuff happen. Things have gone our way. Even that video happened magically. It was put together at the last minute, and boom!”
The thing is, Grateful Shred manage to channel that elusive Dead vibe: wide-open guitar tones, effortless three-part vocal harmonies, choogling beats, and yes, plenty of tripped out, Shredded solos. The look, the sound, the atmosphere. It’s uncanny. Far from being a historical re-enactment, Grateful Shred’s laissez faire vibe infuses the band with a gentle spirit, warmth, and (dare we say it) authenticity. From their killer merch game to their eminently watchable YouTube channel, they’re clearly having a rad time and spreading the love. Strangely enough, in a world overflowing with wax museum nostalgia and Deadly sentimentalism, we need the Shred, now more than ever.
Grateful Shred is: Austine Beede, Dan Horne, Alex Koford, Mikaela Davis, Adam MacDougall, Austin McCutchen, John Lee Shannon
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
DIGGIN DIRT
with SPACEHALL SOUND MACHINE
From behind the redwood curtain of Humboldt County, California, the seven piece funk-soul band Diggin Dirt has carved out a niche as a live party not to be missed. Shoveling their own path, Diggin Dirt has seen sustained growth over the past few years, with multiple national tours and festival stops at Jam Cruise, High Sierra, Hulaween, Same Same but Different, Live Oak, Cascade Equinox, Joshua Tree Music Festival and many more.
Per a 2024 Jam Cruise writer, “This was the soul music I grew up with in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but I confess I wasn’t expecting [Diggin Dirt] to be throwing it down this hard. This group is impossibly tight, and Zach Alder might be the best soul shouter I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a few.”
Their infectious sound is fueled by blazing horns, searing guitars and a relentlessly driving rhythm section, and tying it all together is the band’s frontman who launches the ensemble into rarefied air with his pipes, charisma and natural-born soul. With flashes of James Brown or Sly and the Family Stone, Otis Redding or Tower of Power, the band’s sound is both familiar and yet refreshingly original, layering psychedelic rock, Motown soul, afrobeat and even reggae atop a thick foundation of late-60s inspired funk.
Show 7pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Festival Presents:
THE MOANIN' FROGS
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GBH
GBH are:
Colin Abrahall – vocals
Jock Blyth – guitars
Ross Lomas – bass
Scott Preece – drums
Formed in Birmingham, England.
Years active, 1979-present.
All members original except for Scott Preece, who joined in 1993.
One of GBH’s earliest songs was called “No Survivors”. As the band returns to the United States celebrating their 45th Anniversary, they find themselves in rare rock and roll territory; a multi-generational act in an industry where most artists don’t last five years. The secret, according to vocalist Colin Abrahall, was set long ago: "This isn't a phase or fashion. It’s more than a lifestyle. It’s our life.”
The live show has always been the beating heart of GBH. They tour relentlessly, routinely playing over 100 shows a year, from squats to stadiums, constantly attracting new fans with their legendary blistering performance. “Some people have been coming to our shows since our first US tour in 1983, Abrahall explains. "Other people find us because of our records or reputation. Some kids just because they've seen some celebrity wearing our shirt. I suppose it's like being part of a global family where you keep meeting relatives you didn't know you had.”
“I love the small clubs", says bassist Ross Lomas, “proper punk rock.” Abrahall relates how the band got their first gig, "the owner of The Crown pub told us we could play if we rebuilt his stage. So we like people doing their own scene, like Crash Fest in San Francisco." With a laugh he quickly adds "don't get me wrong; we like the bigger venues too." Lomas stresses the importance of the bands who tour with GBH "We're out with Slaughterhouse this time. We've had The Bronx, The Casualties, Piñata Protest. Last US tour Nis opened. Great bands. So it's not just about us. It's about friends. It's about good music."
Family. Friends. Odd words for the originators of hardcore punk; pioneers who made a fast and furious sound cited as an influence by artists across the musical spectrum, especially punk and metal. But they’ve always been central concepts to GBH. "Maybe we've been together so long because we were friends before we were in a band together" said Abrahall.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
STEELY DEAD - A Sonic Fusion of The Grateful Dead and Steely Dan
Hailing from the vibrant music scene of Denver, Colorado, Steely Dead is a national touring band that has satisfied the curiosity of music lovers with their unique blend of Grateful Dead and Steely Dan. Comprised of four exceptionally talented musicians – Dave Abear on guitar, Matt Abear on bass, Chris Sheldon on drums, and Dylan Teifer on keys – Steely Dead has gained a dedicated following with their electrifying performances and soulful interpretations of classic tunes.
Steely Dead’s repertoire is a carefully crafted fusion of Grateful Dead and Steely Dan songs, between the arrangement and precision studio recordings of rock legends Steely Dan, cross-pollinated with the Grateful Dead’s free-flowing, melodic improvisation and masterful song segues. Steely Dead merges these major concepts together infusing the influence into each band, all the while creating an original jam element with the song segues. Steely Dead’s performances are a musical journey that takes audiences on a nostalgic trip through the golden era of rock and roll.
As a national touring band, Steely Dead has built a loyal fan base that eagerly anticipates their shows and follows them from city to city. Their performances are not just concerts, but communal gatherings where fans come together to celebrate the music they love, dance, and create lasting memories.
Steely Dead’s performances are a testament to the power of live music, bringing people together and creating an unforgettable experience that resonates long after the last note fades. Steely Dead is not just a band; it’s a musical experience that captures the hearts and souls of music lovers everywhere.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE HIP ABDUCTION
Evoking the ocean and guided by the spirit of travel, The Hip Abduction pilot a sonic expedition past genre barriers. The band is the moniker for singer/songwriter David New who writes and produces music in between travel excursions and touring. Live shows morph into a versatile musical ensemble consisting of Matt Poynter (drums), Chris Powers (bass), Justino Walker (guitar, vocals, ngoni), and Cody Moore (keys, sax); each of whom have a mutual appreciation for African (Afrobeat/Soukous/Malian Blues), Reggae, and American (jam/electronic/indie) music. Since 2012, the band has played almost every noteworthy music festival in the country, has landed major TV/Movie syncs and Sirius Xm radio spins, have 1 million+ mo listeners on Spotify, have provided direct cross country tour support for artists like Dirty Heads, Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, The Revivalists, and who’s highly energized live show have landed the 5-piece a sizable fanbase across the US and Canada.
Show 7pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
STRUNG OUT & AGNOSTIC FRONT
with MURPHY'S LAW and LA ARMADA
Strung Out -
If you listened to Songs Of Armor And Devotion with no prior knowledge of Strung Out, you probably wouldn’t guess that the California band has been together for almost 30 years – such is the intensity and fresh energy of these 13 songs. Produced by Cameron Webb, who was behind the helm of 2009’s Agents Of The Underground, it’s a record that brims with the same ferocious fire the band had at the very start of its career when front man Jason Cruz was still a teenager, but which also demonstrates how far the California five-piece have evolved as songwriters, musicians and people.
“I don’t want to be 19 years old again,” says Cruz, “but the fact that we still have that energy, but we’re not 19 years old is a real feather in our cap. We’re older, but I’m so grateful that I still have a lot to do. I hope people hear this record, and they know that we’re not tired, that I still have ideas.”
Those ideas flow throughout this record both musically and thematically, the vulnerability and uncertainty of Cruz’s lyrics lying in stark contrast to the fierce and ferocious pummeling nature of its songs. That juxtaposition has always been present in Strung Out’s songs, but for this record, that push and pull has become the central basis and focus of this record, as his heart and thoughts struggle to make sense of the chaos of the world at large. That’s not to say this album has the answers, but in analyzing everything, it offers the listener – and Cruz himself – the various contradictory paths of life that, hopefully, can lead to some kind of truth or understanding.
“Some songs can be armor: they can repel and they can guard you,” explains Cruz. “And they can also bring you comfort and speak of love and belonging to something. To be a good and gentle person, you have to put up a little bit of armor, but that armor never works, because you’re so caring and sensitive and vulnerable, that your heart is going to be displayed on that armor anyway. There are so many thoughts and feelings in my head I think that with this album I just opened up the pen and let it go to explore the duality of having to defend and protect what’s inside, and at the same time make it available for the world.”
Much of Cruz’s vulnerability stems from the death of someone he was incredibly close to. That’s something which has exaggerated and exacerbated Cruz’s emotional fragility and continues the spiritual and philosophical journey he says he’s found himself on in recent years. At the same time, though, these songs are also infused with a spirit of hope and defiance.
“I lost my best friend six or seven months ago,” explains Cruz. “It was right before we started writing this record, and that really put a shadow on things. Some of these songs – especially “Monuments” and “Bloody Knuckles” – reflect that loss. But that’s what’s always made our band work. The music is this metal machine and then you get these vocals that express this vulnerability in a melodic way – and there’s love and there’s searching in all that machine. This record starts out hopeful and then it kind of degrades. It sobers and ends with loss. But there are so many things on this record that I’m still figuring it out.”
All those thoughts and feelings swirl together on this record as Cruz – who refers to himself and his vulnerability as the “flesh in the machine” – tries to find some sort of resolution. The moody “Daggers” tells a story of personal turmoil within the backdrop of an increasingly dystopian America, while the grief and sadness contained with “Monuments” is offset by the pulsating, defiant frenzy of the song’s tune. “Disappearing City” blends a raucous energy with a sense of resignation but – importantly – not defeat, “Under The Western Sky” brims with Strung Out’s trademark sense of melody and coruscating aggression, and the insistent ebb and flow of album closer “Bloody Knuckles” is ravaged with both a despair and a kind of beauty at the same time.
Yet while these songs are fuelled by a power and aggression, the band – completed by guitarists Jake Kiley and Rob Ramos, bassist Chris Aiken and new drummer (since 2018) RJ Shankle – infused them with plenty of nuance, too. Some of that is thanks to the lessons learned from last year’s acoustic yet expansive acoustic EP Black Out The Sky, something Cruz says was a necessary step the band had to take in order to then make this record. Underneath it all, however, is the same desperate need to write these songs and get them out of his system.
“This opportunity I’ve been given, and everything I’ve been doing, I don’t have any say in it,” Cruz says. “I don’t have a choice. I have to fucking do this. I have things inside of me that swell up when I go through this, but it’s what people put into what they hear and what they then take out of it that’s the magic. I need to do this, but if it’s not making a connection, I have no right to be here. My favorite part about America is the pain of the poor people and what they create out of it – the culture that the poorest people of this country have created. From that came blues, jazz, rock n roll, and, to me, coming from nothing and creating something is everything to me.”
You can hear how that is – how true that still is – from the beginning to the end of Songs Of Armor And Devotion. It’s a punk record, but it’s also much more than that. It’s a political record that addresses the state we’re in, but at its core is a heart and humanity –and a belief in that humanity – that overrides everything else. It’s pain and sadness and hope and rebellion all wrapped into one powerful statement that also serves as a culmination of the band’s three decades together. And while the record sees Strung Out still writing at the height of their abilities, at the same time, when Cruz reflects back on these songs, he thinks they represent something monumental for the band, even if he’s not entirely sure what that actually is.
“I find that it’s time for a new adventure,” he says. “I feel like I’ve given what I needed to give to Strung Out. I feel like we did what we needed to do and it’s time to move on. I’ve grown. I’m not angry like I used to be – I feel like this was the end of something, and now it’s time for a new life. I look back on the record and I think ‘Done.’ For me personally, it’s a new beginning. We still have a lot left and as long as we listen to each other and we care about what each other has to say, I don’t see an end for Strung Out. I just don’t want to repeat things that I’ve done. I can’t write like that anymore.”
Agnostic Front-
A Godfather figure is understood to be a purveyor of genre; a pioneer in a particular realm of creation. Perhaps more importantly, and after over 3 decades molding the Hardcore realm, AGNOSTIC FRONT have protected and nurtured Hardcore music in such a way that it still exists healthily & in its proper form, today. As a band that has cultivated their reputation with honesty, and that prioritizes affirming their social messages to the world, GET LOUD! is well suited as the title for their 12th, full length studio album. Although the sociopolitical climate has transformed considerably since the release of the United Blood EP in 1983, the basic concepts of political corruption and social unrest have only been enhanced, and with them the fuel on AGNOSTIC FRONT’s fire. “We’ve always had a voice; had a lot to say. We’re always screaming for a change” says frontman Roger Miret. “Speak up, get loud, say what you have to say. Be the change you want to see in the world. You can’t change the whole thing, but you can make little differences that will matter, eventually.”
For such a memorable album, the reappearance of Cause For Alarm artist Sean Taggart was vital in order to deliver a piece of art that perfectly combined the old school with the current state of the world. Bringing the CFA characters back to life in a new age, the artwork will be familiar to AGNOSTIC FRONT fans the world over, but still maintains a modern freshness. When CFA was initially released in 1986 it was a distinguished and prosperous time for the world of Hardcore, and it is that time, and that vibe, that this album aspires to reassert.
GET LOUD! is compiled of 14 tracks that are nothing short of classic, home grown, NewYork Hardcore, but still includes some thrashy and punky variety. The title track carries a common message for the entire album. It’s a moody and riveting version of “speak up, aren’t you sick of the same day to day routine? It’s time to make that change and stop climbing up that same exact wall. That’s what GET LOUD! is all about.” says Miret. Songs like “ I Remember ” are important glimpses into the lives of the men of AGNOSTIC FRONT and thus tie in strongly with their recent release of Ian McFarland’s Documentary: THE GODFATHERS OF HARDCORE (2017). Although it was written after the release of the film, the track serves almost as a theme song for the documentary in which Miret and founding guitarist Vinnie Stigma recall their pasts and their most groundbreaking records; even first meeting one another. Songs like “Conquer And Divide” speak to the current state of where we as humans are today. “It’s like all the government has ever wanted is to divide the people, and then come in and conquer. I see it happening today; social media is a huge let down in that way. Now everyone has a voice, and I get it, but I can’t believe how quickly some people are willing to jump headfirst into something that doesn’t care about them” Miret explains. “Power of expression, power of the mind, freedom of speech, live free or die, stand up and resist, gotta fight to exist, break down the walls that divide.”
The raw and emotional journey of “THE GODFATHERS OF HARDCORE” can be
credited as having some affect on the course of this record cycle. “It was nothing like I expected, it was mind blowing because it was SO US” Miret reflects. “It was pretty incredible to have that, for my family, the future of my family. Put something out there digitally, and it’s out there forever. I’m really happy we never did anything like this, that this is it. It will hold through the tests of time. It’s not just a movie about punk, or hardcore, or metal, it’s about humanity and it’s awesome.”
An old school band in a new era can be an adjustment, but there’s something to be said for the technological advances that have enabled AGNOSTIC FRONT to write this new album, even with distances between the core members of the band. Ideas, lyrics, and riffs were tossed around amongst the guys in a digital universe, and once solid skeletons were formed, the final portion of the writing, the finessing, and the recording began in person. Produced by Miret himself, longtime friend Paul Miner of Buzz Bomb Studios then tracked, recorded, mixed, and mastered the album. GET LOUD! is now arranged, groomed, and ready to make its debut to fans the world over.
“Something real. I think that’s the secret to our longevity. People see us, and they see something that’s real and genuine, and they want to be a part of that. Who wants to be a part of something that’s fake? If you feel a connection to something and it feels real, you wanna know about it and be a part of it.”
Show 6:30pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MICRO MANIA WRESTLING
MicroMania Tour is a high powered, explosive, athletic Pro Wrestling show with just the right touch of comedy thrown in to make for a unforgettable BIG event not necessarily BIG people!!
These micro athletes may be short in stature but are giants in the world of entertainment where they will keep you on your feet screaming from the opening bell through the Main Event!
Show 10pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MICRO MANIA WRESTLING
MicroMania Tour is a high powered, explosive, athletic Pro Wrestling show with just the right touch of comedy thrown in to make for a unforgettable BIG event not necessarily BIG people!!
These micro athletes may be short in stature but are giants in the world of entertainment where they will keep you on your feet screaming from the opening bell through the Main Event!
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE BONES OF J.R. JONES
Growing up, Jonathon Linaberry was obsessed with the radio.
“I remember sitting there at night, glued to the boombox, cassette player ready to record
whenever my favorite songs came on,” he recalls. “There was something so thrilling about it,
something romantic that I think we’ve lost now that everything’s available at our fingertips. I
wanted to find a way to get back to that place, to recapture those feelings of excitement and
anticipation and possibility.”
Linaberry does precisely that on Radio Waves, his sixth studio album as The Bones Of J.R. Jones.
Recorded in Toronto with producer Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Bahamas), the collection is moody
and hypnotic, steeped in the sonic landscape of the ’80s and ’90s as it excavates the past with
equal parts nostalgia and curiosity. The arrangements are utterly entrancing here, built on the
tension between acoustic instruments and retro synthesizers, and Linaberry’s performances are
raw and visceral, at times aching in their vulnerability. Put it all together and you’ve got a
poignant exploration of memory and longing delivered by a relentless searcher, a revelatory
work of personal reflection steeped in the endless beauty, pain, and chaos of youth.
“I’ve never really resonated with the idea of ‘the good old days,’” Linaberry reflects. “Your
understanding of the past and your relationship with it change as you get older, and I’ve always
been more interested in the evolution of those feelings than in wearing any kind of rose-
colored glasses.”
Born and raised in central New York, Linaberry got his start playing in hardcore and punk bands
before becoming enamored with the field recordings of Alan Lomax, who documented rural
American blues, folk, and gospel musicians throughout the 1930s and ’40s. Inspired by the
unvarnished honesty of those vintage performances, Linaberry launched The Bones of J.R.
Jones in 2012 and, operating as a fully independent artist, began releasing a series of critically
acclaimed albums and EPs that would land his songs in a slew of films and television shows
(including True Detective, Suits, Daredevil, Longmire, and Graceland) and lead to countless tours
across the US and Europe (including stops everywhere from Telluride Blues to Hardly Strictly
Bluegrass). Along the way, Linaberry also shared bills with the likes of The Wallflowers, G. Love,
and The Devil Makes Three, soundtracked an Amazon commercial helmed by Oscar-winning
director Taika Waititi, and earned praise from Billboard, American Songwriter, Under the Radar,
and more.
“After a dozen years of touring and recording, I found myself getting burnt out by the constant
barrage of new music that’s out there,” Linaberry reflects. “In some ways, it’s great to have that
kind of access, but it can also be numbing, and I found myself missing what it felt like to have an
album change your life, to listen to your cassette of Born In The USA so many times you have to
wind the tape back up with a pencil.”
Linaberry set out to tap back into that magic on Radio Waves, writing songs steeped in the
sounds and stories of his own coming of age. He tuned out the modern world in favor of stark,
lo-fi demos built around fingerpicked guitars and old school electronics, and when it came time
to record the album, he leaned into working with an outside producer for the first time,
traveling to Canada for two ten-day sessions at Lackritz’s studio.
“A lot of these songs started on a drum machine, which was very intentional,” Linaberry
explains. “I wanted to focus on simplicity, on stripping tracks back to their most essential
elements so that the melody and the vocals could shine.”
The result is an almost primal sound, familiar yet uneasy, like a memory hanging perpetually
just out of reach.
“These songs live in the night—the endless kind, where you get in your car just to drive and
listen to music, to feel like you’re going somewhere even if you’re not,” Linaberry says. “It’s the
sound of a kitchen heavy with the leftover heat of an August day and a table crowded with
drinks, of arguments and first loves and first heartbreaks, of not living up to your potential, of
breaking promises, of being human.”
Take a listen to album opener “Car Crash” and you’ll understand exactly what he means. Tender
and hazy, the track offers up a bittersweet embrace of life’s imperfections, finding meaning and
connection in our shared flaws and shortcomings. “I want your whole heart,” Linaberry
professes, “even the broken parts.” Like much of the record, it’s insistent yet understated, as
much a celebration as it is a confession. The sensuous “Savages” revels in the reckless abandon
of young adulthood, while the spare “Heart Attack” stares disappointment directly in the face,
and the piercing “Shameless” works its way through a lifetime of what ifs.
“Our lives are an endless series of revolving doors,” Linaberry reflects. “Even the smallest
decisions can change our entire trajectory. What kind of arrogant fool doesn’t look back and
wonder?”
That sense of lostness, of uncertainty as to who we are and where we belong turns up
throughout the record. The blistering “Drive” devours itself from the inside out in the tedious
solitude of the road; “The Devil” grapples with identity, intimacy, and dependence; and the
breezy “Catching You” wonders what we were ever trying to prove with all the debaucherous
nights and bad decisions of youth.
“I think so many of us live in the past because it’s easier to face than the future,” Linaberry
explains. “But I’m not interested in going back. I’m interested in understanding the feelings and
experiences that made us who we are: the passion and the hunger, the faults and the failures,
the hopes and the fears.
Truth be told, those feelings never really go away. They’re all still out there, floating in the
ether, drifting through eternity on an endless sea of radio waves. All you have to do is tune in.
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GLENN TILBROOK (of Squeeze)
Glenn Tilbrook has more than earned his place at pop’s top table as one of our most cherished singers, guitarists, and songwriters, and he is an in-demand and endlessly endearing live performer. But it’s been 50 years since he first answered an ad placed by Chris Difford looking for like-minded sorts to form the band that became the much-loved evergreen Squeeze, an ending is nowhere in sight.
Such is the continuing work ethic of a fellow who’s never been far from the action since Squeeze made their recording bow with the Packet of Three EP in 1977. Those humble three tracks led to such enduring pop classics as Take Me I’m Yours, Cool for Cats, Up The Junction, Another Nail In My Heart, Tempted, Labeled With Love, Black Coffee In Bed, Hourglass, not to mention landmark albums like Argybargy, East Side Story and Some Fantastic Place.
Squeeze’s demise in 1998 (though not permanent), saw Glenn embark on a solo career that spawned the albums The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook (2001) and Transatlantic Ping-Pong (2004), showcasing an ever-maturing songwriting talent. In 2009 came the fantastic energy of Pandemonium Ensues, an album made with his solo touring band The Fluffers. Arguably, though, Happy Ending is Glenn’s most personal work to date, a series of evocative portraits of time, people, and places that included writing and vocal contributions by his children Leon and Wesley, in addition to old friends Simon Hanson (Fluffers/reunited Squeeze drummer) and Dennis Greaves (Nine Below Zero, also Glenn’s compatriot in the side project band The Cooperative).
Anyone who has witnessed Glenn on the live stage can relate to his ready wit, raucous vibes, and a shed load of grin-inducing great songs. Few musicians can connect with their audience on such an immediate and warm level. The ever-burgeoning festival circuit is frequently enriched by Tilbrook the troubadour, whether he be leafing through the plentiful back catalog of Squeeze or dashing off impromptu audience requests ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Tony Orlando & Dawn and all points in between.
Glenn is taking a short break from his studio, where he is currently working on two new Squeeze albums due in 2026 and doing a handful of solo shows, the first since 2022.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
ELECTRIC GUEST
Contemporary artist Paul Rousso is credited with the 20th century expression, “Anything is possible with a dollar and a dream.”
Embodying this truism, Asa Taccone chased his dream to Los Angeles in 2007 when an established mentor provided a check for $10,000 so the promising ingénue producer could quit his job and pursue music full-time. Rather than blow it on one of L.A.’s many inherent vices (or a weekend trip to Las Vegas), he incubated this miraculous nest egg until he could subsist and survive off his own songwriting, production, and artistry as one-half of the duo Electric Guest with drummer Matthew “Cornbread” Compton.
Electric Guest embrace the same energy, hunger, and mindset that first brought Asa to this point on their aptly titled fourth full-length album, 10K.
“So, 10K is back to the basics,” he affirms. “Nobody was in the room or on the record but friends. In a way, it feels like this is actually my first album. For me, there was a slow arc of returning to a different place where you’re making art for the sake of art. This is a full circle moment.”
Behind-the-scenes, Asa relentlessly pushed himself as a songwriter and producer, building up a robust catalog in the process. He co-wrote and co-produced Portugal. The Man’s 7x-Platinum “Feel It Still,” earning the band a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a GRAMMY ® Award for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” His repertoire also expanded with Lily-Rose Depp’s “World Class Sinner / I’m A Freak” for The Weeknd’s The Idol, Aminé’s “Campfire” [feat. Injury Reserve], Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Feels Right,” and more. He's the rare creative chameleon who can cook up “Cheat Code” for H.E.R. or hilarious viral tentpole tracks for The Lonely Island a la “Natalie’s Rap” with Academy® Award winner Natalie Portman, “Motherlover” with Justin Timberlake, “Here I Go” with Charli XCX, and “3-Way (The Golden Rule)” with Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga, among others. Simultaneously, Electric Guest racked up over half-a-billion streams across Mondo [2013], Plural [2017], and KIN [2019]. Of the latter, UPROXX applauded how “Electric Guest bring back golden-era pop and R&B.” It received further praise from Billboard, EUPHORIA., and more.
Throughout 2025, he hunkered down and poured his focus into Electric Guest. For as much as he concurrently collaborated with top-tier talent, he actually found the most inspiration much closer to home.
“I’d jump from a session with The Lonely Island to some ultra-pop shit with The Weeknd or working with Portugal. The Man, but I really spent a lot of time with my parents too,” he reveals. “Overall, they influenced 10K more than anybody else did. They’re big hippies and were activists. They’d school me about all of their musical experiences like going to Woodstock. They said, ‘When we were coming up, it was all about, ‘What are you saying?’.’ I’m in pop songwriting rooms and nobody asks, ‘What are you trying to say?’ My mom and dad influenced the bigger picture and made me think about what I was saying and how I feel about where I’m at.”
Various friends trickled in and out of the Electric Guest sessions, and the music organically took shape primarily recorded at Asa’s home studio. Now, the single “Stand Back For You” projects cavernous guitar transmissions spun from “a janky guitar pedal” above a rock-solid head-nodding beat. Asa’s breathy high register practically hovers across the dreamy soundscape until he flexes his falsetto on the refrain, “I can stand back for you.”
“It’s the moment in a relationship when you realize that you sometimes have to take the second stage in order for the other person to have the spotlight,” he notes. “Even if you have the agency to do so, there are growing pains. It’s not the first phase in love; it’s the deeper phase when you’re with somebody.”
Elsewhere, “1 Player Game” chops up a sample of the doo wop staple “Bad Boy” by The Jive Bombers. The vocals shiver and swoon as if thumping out of a fifties Jukebox. Meanwhile, he harmonizes with a choir, “Heart of an angel, smile of an angel, I carved our names in the trunk and sealed our fate with our blood.”
“I essentially filtered down the sample and played on top of it,” he recalls. “I had found myself in a triangular love situation. I knew it would come to an end, but there was a lot of love. Maybe I should’ve called it ‘3 Player Game?’,” he jests.
“The Love On High” [feat. Kacy Hill] opens on a relatable note as he states, “One day you’re winning. Then, it feels different.” Lightly plucked acoustic guitar tightens around a wave of synth feedback, and he urges, “Please show me the path. Is there another way back? I’m hoping.”
“This moment in America has eroded a sense of purpose for most people,” he observes. “We thought material gain and status would fill us up. I’m not sure it has. The song is trying to look for something deeper.”
Then, there’s the divinely catchy “Creator.” Sunny electric guitar glows, and glitchy filters add glitter to the handclap-driven chant, “You’re my creator.” Enhancing the tune with another dimension, Asa personally played trumpet on the bridge.
“I’m not particularly religious, but I have my own version of faith and spirituality,” he goes on. “Once again, you’re looking for something outside to depend on. My friends got a divorce after seven years. They were cleaning their shit, and they found my trumpet I thought had I lost, so that’s the trumpet you’re hearing. It was cool to channel my jazz band roots.”
Ultimately, Electric Guest have certainly made the most of 10K.
“I’ve come back to the potency of the arts,” he leaves off. “It means so much to me to be able to put out my vibe and whatever insights I have about life and being a human on earth in 2025. Ultimately, it’s an act of hope even if some of the themes are difficult or dark. This is truly a reflection of my energy, personage, and being.”
-Rick Florino
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
LOTUS JUICE
with Special Guest RAJ RAMAYYA
Lotus Juice-
One of the pioneers in rap for official Japanese anime and game music, Lotus Juice's ingredients are from 90's Hip Hop, J-Pop, Dub, Rock, Comedy, Love and many more. He is well known for his works with Shoji Meguro from ATLUS Japan, ripping the mic on the track "Mass Destruction" on the game Persona 3. He has been traveling around the world from Argentina, Mexico, to USA performing at anime and game conventions in front of his international fans. His unique flow has caught attention from Taque Iwasaki, and their collaboration has gained substantial recognition.
Beyond Persona, Lotus Juice has contributed his signature rap vocals to a wide range of anime series, including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Soul Eater, Bungo Stray Dogs, Black Butler, Noragami, and The Irregular at Magic High School. His work in gaming spans titles like Persona Q, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, and Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
Raj Ramayya -
Raj Ramayya is an award-winning singer, songwriter, andproducer who is most renowned for his musical contributions to iconic anime such as Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, Wolf’s Rain, Made in Abyss, and Tower of God. His work is also beloved for its inclusion in video games like Resident Evil: Dead Aim, Shenmue 2, and Muse Dash.
Ramayya has collaborated with a plethora of esteemed artists, including Yoko Kanno, Kevin Penkin, Tastuya Oe, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. His music has also achieved critical acclaim, winning Best Soundtrack in the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards and being nominated for a Canadian Screen Award in 2024.
Raj Ramayya’s additional discography includes over 26 albums, many of which have placed in the Billboard top 20 and charted at #1 on the iTunes charts. These songs have made appearances in NHK, MTV, CBS, NBC, History Channel, and Discovery Channel series and films. His singing can be heard in projects from a diverse variety of companies, ranging from Sega to Disney to Sony. He is known as the voice behind memorable commercials for Windows, Toyota, Coca-Cola, and many more products. He frequently performs concerts at anime and game conventions worldwide.
Learn more about Raj Ramayya at https://www.rajramayya.com.
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MAC AYRES
Mac Ayres is a self-taught and independent singer-songwriter, producer and mul9- instrumentalist from Long Island, NY.
He draws inspiration from some of the great artists of our men including D’Angelo, Stevie Wonder and J Dilla and more. His breakout single “Easy” released off of his debut project, Drive Slow, has been certified gold.
His previous albums, Comfortable Enough (2023), Magic 8Ball (2021), Juicebox (2019), Something to Feel (2018) and Drive Slow (2017) have received a mention from Vogue, Billboard, Complex, Highsnobiety, the BBC and more.
Mac has headlined and sold out various venues across the globe and is one of this generation's most exciting voices in r&b.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
Y&T
Before Mötley Crüe, before RATT, even before there was a Metallica, Y&T was slogging away in sweaty rock clubs around America. When the band formed in the early 1970s, little did they know they would set the standard for hard rock bands that trailed. Many of the biggest acts of the ’80s became popular opening for headliners Y&T—and cut their teeth on the band, as evidenced by the Y&T mentions in tell-all books by acts such as Metallica and Mötley Crüe.
Born in Oakland, California, Y&T is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s own innovators of the hard rock sound. Whether performing to a festival crowd of fifty-thousand or in an intimate nightclub, Y&T’s high-energy set and passionate performances still captivate legions of fans around the globe, proving Y&T’s music timeless.
Originally formed as Yesterday and Today, the initial powerhouse quartet—featuring Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals), Phil Kennemore (bass), Leonard Haze (drums), and Joey Alves (rhythm guitar)—tore through the ’70s and ’80s with their own brand of hard rock. After two ’70s albums on London Records, they shortened their name to Y&T and released eight albums on A&M in the ’80s. Two more albums with Geffen Records marked an era of change with Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper, Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth) on drums and Stef Burns (Alice Cooper, Berlin, Huey Lewis) on guitar.
With a discography of 18 albums, three greatest hits collections, plus a boxed set, Y&T has sold over four million albums since their 1974 inception. The band’s most recent single I’m Coming Home has climbed to roughly 1.5 million views on YouTube. Y&T received extensive airplay with hits such as Forever, Rescue Me, Mean Streak, Don’t Stop Runnin’, and Summertime Girls—which played in heavy rotation on MTV. Y&T songs have been featured in a multitude of movies and television shows, including Real Genius, Out of Bounds, Baywatch, and Hunter. After five top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s, two Bammie Awards, and many international television appearances, Y&T’s hits are still played on VH1 Classic and classic rock radio stations worldwide.
With the passing of Kennemore, Haze, and Alves, it’s Meniketti who carries on the legacy that is Y&T. Y&T continues to tour the world, featuring the dynamic original frontman Dave Meniketti (lead guitar/lead vocals), John Nymann (guitar/vocals), Aaron Leigh (bass/vocals), and Mike Vanderhule (drums/vocals), playing songs that span the band’s five-decade career and including all the hits and fan favorites. Prepare to have your face melted.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
EMO KIDS LIVE!
Emo Nights are BETTER LIVE!
EMO KIDS are the best emo cover band in the country, and what separates them is their dedication to not only playing as close to album-perfect as possible, but also being able to play for hours non-stop, while bringing the intense energy with which this music was created.
From poppier classics like Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy, heavier bangers like A Day To Remember and Pierce The Veil, and even some emo-adjacent surprises, Emo Kids take the audience on an emo-tional rollercoaster ride they haven’t been on since The Warped Tour. Join the EMO KIDS for hours of your favorite emo hits at one of their next shows.
Show 7:30pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE EXPENDABLES
with CHAD TEPPER and VENI SUN
The Expendables have proven anything but in their nearly 25-year career since starting out as a spirited party band in high school performing surf-rock covers for birthdays and family gatherings. A quarter-century later, elementary school buddies Raul Bianchi, Adam Peterson and Geoff Weers, along with bassist Ryan DeMars, who joined in 2000, have forged a unique sound born in the laid-back beach life in their hometown of Santa Cruz, CA. The Expendables’ infectious hybrid of ska, surf-rock, punk, reggae and metal can be heard in their latest streaming track, “Surfman Cometh,” a spaghetti-western meets “Pipeline” twang that could easily form the soundtrack to the latest Quentin Tarantino film. The song is the first release from the group’s new and improved Band Room, their longtime rehearsal space in a 1,100 square foot warehouse and former wine cellar on Coral Street, where Adam Patterson took charge of the final mix to great effect. The band’s previous studio album of original material, 2015’s Sand in the Sky, was followed by The Expendables’ second release featuring acoustic reworkings of past material, Gone Raw, 2019’s follow-up to 2012’s Gone Soft. The Expendables continue woodshedding until they can get back out on the road. Their 2017 Moment EP, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart, showed the band starting to move into different musical directions, a set featuring collaborations with reggae crooner HIRIE, rapper Tech N9ne, Eric Rachmany, and Micah Peuschel
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS
“The California Honeydrops...evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone.” -Rolling Stone
Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They’ve become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Bluesfest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B.B. King, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. Led by the enigmatic and energetic frontman, Lech Wierzynski, and percussionist Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own rite — Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums, Miles Blackwell on bass, and regularly accompanied by Oliver Tuttle on trombone, Leon Cotter on saxophone/clarinet, and Miles Lyons on trombone/sousaphone — navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night. But what truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation - a skill so finely honed that they have completely abandoned the use of set lists and no two shows are ever the same. Off stage, their music has been streamed more than 200 million times, and placed in a variety of TV and films, including “Dead To Me,” “Alaska Daily,” “Black-ish” and more. They are currently touring North America in support of their new album, ‘Keep On Diggin’.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
JOKOBS CASTLE & STRAWBERRY FUZZ
with STRANGE CASE
Jakobs Castle-
The new project of Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell’s only son Jakob Nowell, Jakobs Castle is the sound of two worlds colliding in perfect union – the insouciant sounds of California’s past with the fresh mystery of internet underground culture.
Recording under Epitaph Records, Jakobs Castle is old meets new. Beach meets the internet. 90’s Underground does Hyperpop. Imagine laying face up on the beach as waves of retro synth melodies wash over you like static, your body slowly dried by the heat of the emerging sun and skank guitars. It’s both pretty and gritty.
Active since 2022, Jakobs Castle has toured the country with emerging young artists like Sitting on Stacy, legacy musicians Jason Devore and Slightly Stoopid, as well as G. Love & Special Sauce, Common Kings and Long Beach Allstars. Standout tracks from ENTER: THE CASTLE include “Time Traveler” and “Catch Me”.
With the burden of purpose and expectation held proudly, Jakobs Castle and its enigmatic frontman seek to break all convention and usher in a new era of California music.
Strawberry Fuzz-
Carrying on a lineage that stretches from The Doors to FIDLAR, indie punk band Strawberry Fuzz document the wildlife in and around their Venice Beach turf. Channeling stories of parties, junkies, sex, violence and camaraderie through a keenly observant lens, they meticulously capture the smell, sound, taste and feel of life on the streets, in the bars, bedrooms and basements of the bleary side of Los Angeles.
Inspired by artists like The Cramps, Black Flag and The Germs as well as Elvis, RL Burnside and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Strawberry Fuzz’s manic live show was perfectly captured on their debut collection of demos Fuzztapes Vol. 1. Now back with a full-length record releasing this winter, they continue to rip up stages and whip up pits all along the West Coast. See them at bit.ly/fuzzshows
Strange Case-
Based in Los Angeles, Strange Case has garnered a solid following in SoCal. From raging backyard shows, to clubs all over the West Coast, the group has played hundreds of gigs in the last 8 years. The groups top track “27 Club” has spun on KROQ’S Locals Only show multiple times and has now amassed over 1.5 million streams on Spotify. Strange Case played a Jam in the Van set in 2020 and had their debut festival appearance at Shabang SLO in May 2022, alongside TV Girl, STRFKR, Post Animal, and Neil Frances. The group had their Netflix Debut in July of 2023, when The Lincoln Lawyer featured the track “SUPERFLY”. Strange Case puts their own spin on the California Beach-Pop sound and has no intentions of slowing down.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MATTE BLVCK
Matte Blvck, a trio formed by Alex Gonzales, Daniel Corrales, and Bidi Cobra, is known for their unique blend of Darkwave and Industrial music. They recently released their highly anticipated second album, "Vows." The album's standout single, "BTTR," is a collaboration with the legendary Clan of Xymox, one of the pioneering bands in the Darkwave and Post Punk genre. This remarkable partnership brings together elements of dark euphoria, evocative nostalgia, and immersive soundscapes, creating an intense and mesmerizing auditory experience.
The hauntingly beautiful duet between Ronny Moorings and Alex Gonzales introduces a dreamlike, serene quality that contrasts with the driving force of the EBM bass lines, pulsating mechanical drumbeats, and intricate cinematic arrangements. "BTTR" not only pays homage to the classic Darkwave sound but also infuses it with a modern twist, perfectly capturing the essence of the genre's evolution over the past thirty years.
The infectious chorus hook “Make Me Better” draws its inspiration and is rooted in Dependent Personality Disorder. The lyrics delve into the experience of individuals who possess an overwhelming need to be taken care of and depend on others for their fulfillment and happiness. The line "Talk to me, as all I want is to feel" poignantly reflects the struggle of those who may inadvertently drain the vitality of others in their pursuit of contentment, leading to a cycle of perpetual yearning for the happiness that eludes them.
Ronny Moorings, the lead vocalist, songwriter, and the longest-standing member of Clan of Xymox, has been an integral part of the band's journey. Initially releasing their albums through 4AD and later with Polygram, the band has now found a home with Metropolis Records. Over the years, Clan of Xymox has experienced periods of both mainstream success and obscurity, and now, the resurgence of darkwave music has taken the world by storm. Although Ronny has never officially embraced the darkwave label, there are rumors that the renowned John Peel, of Radio 1 fame, coined the term during their "Peel Sessions" in the early 1980s.
Clan of Xymox made an early impact in the post-punk scene with tracks like "A Day" and later with "Medusa." After adopting the name "Xymox," they achieved commercial success with songs such as "Imagination" and "Obsession" in the United States, in addition to other tracks with a more new wave sound. Xymox began to earn recognition on various musical fronts.
The genesis of the song "BTTR" can be traced back to 2019 when it was initially considered for inclusion in Matte Blvck's album "I'm Waving, Not Drowning." However, it underwent extensive reworking and was deemed not yet ready for release. The initial production of the song took place at Matte Blvck's studio in San Diego. Later, it underwent re-recording with live instruments at Secret Hand Studios in Los Angeles, which is owned by Jeff Friedl, a renowned drummer associated with Devo, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer. The song was engineered by Matt McJunkins, known for his work with A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Poppy. The mixing process was handled by Aaron Short, a Grammy-nominated mixing engineer with credits including Broods, Benee, So Below, Madison Beer, and Israel Medina, a long-term collaborator of Matte Blvck.
Matte Blvck expressed, "We believed that this song needed to encapsulate the essence of our live performances. 'BTTR' has been our closing piece at concerts since our inception, always eliciting an enthusiastic response from the audience. We entrusted the production to Matt McJunkins, someone who truly understands live performance, and Aaron Short, who has the expertise to further develop our sound.”
Matte Blvck's second album, "Vows," showcases the band's evolving musical direction and sets the stage for their future endeavors. The album boasts intricate production and a wealth of melodic content, resulting in a captivating blend of complexity and danceability. It is evident that the band is driven to expand their sonic boundaries while remaining true to their original sound. With nine tracks, "Vows" delves into a diverse array of dark electronic music genres, including breakbeats, industrial, darkwave, cinematic dark pop, alternative, electro, synth wave, and techno. This multifaceted album is now accessible across all digital and physical platforms, offering listeners a rich and immersive musical experience.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE FRIGHTS
with LIILY and BUDDHA TRIXIE
The Frights - A couple of months after graduating from high school, Mikey Carnevale (vocals/guitar) and Richard Dotson (bass) got together as The Frights to play a one off 30 minute set as sort of a joke. The feeling they got from the crowd in their hometown of San Diego inspired them to become a "real" band almost in spite of themselves. Along the way, they recruited Marc Finn (drums) and released You Are Going To Hate This (produced by Zac Carper of FIDLAR) in February 2016. Jordan Clark (guitar) added to the band's musical prowess in the ensuing year of touring around North America. The Frights signed to Epitaph in early 2018 and got to work on Hypochondriac. Like You Are Going To Hate This, the band’s third full-length was produced by Zac Carper of FIDLAR (who’s also produced albums for SWMRS and Dune Rats). But for Hypochondriac, Carnevale took a more deliberate and exacting approach to his songwriting, resulting in The Frights’ most nuanced work to date. After a sold out show at The Observatory North Park in their hometown of San Diego the same date as the release of the album, the band embarked on the Hypochondriac headline tour that is documented on their upcoming live album.
Liily - Liily has spent the past few years garnering a dedicated cult following due to some of the most manic and exciting shows on the west coast. The band, consisting of Dylan Nash (vocals), Charlie Anastasis (Bass), Sam De La Torre (Guitar), and Maxx Morando (Drums), are responsible for some of the most rousing music coming from LA right now. The band hailing from the city’s vast DIY music scene is looking to sustain that sense of agency over all of which they create, their community and sound is grounded in the punk of the San Fernando valley as well as the post punk/alternative scene happening from LA to New York. This was the catalyst to record the entire new Self Titled EP in Maxx’s airstream trailer in the valley, alongside producers and friends Austin Corona, Wyatt Brenard, and Carlos De La Garza. Since the bands inception they have put out an EP I Can Fool Anybody In This Town and their full length LP Tv or Not Tv both under indie label Flush Records. These releases, though vastly different in sound, have helped shaped the path for their Self Titled EP to exist. It’s by far the most well rounded project they’ve ever made and want it to speak for itself.
Buddha Trixie - (San Diego, CA) Products of Park Village Elementary School, guitarist Andrew Harris, singer/drummer Daniel Cole, and bassist Dennis Moon grew up side by side, witnessing all of each other's awkward years. They harnessed that unbreakable bond into a sick cover of "Gravity" by John Mayer that every parent at their middle school graduation fucked with hard. A bunch of years later, and Kenzo Mann joins the fold, bringing hot synths and hot guitar. They stop playing "Gravity" and write their own songs. Their old fanbase of parents say they've changed. It's okay. The kids love the new songs about whatever Daniel's deal is. Every song they record soon becomes a #1 single. They exclusively tour the planet Earth, citing the crowds on Mars being "wack". Although now drowned in money and fame, the four haven't forgotten their roots -- they humbly sleep in the same bed like the grandparents from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
STRANGELOVE - THE DEPECHE MODE EXPERIENCE
with ELECTRIC DUKE: TRIBUTE TO BOWIE
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
ZOSO - THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE
Zoso – The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience formed in 1995 to perform the most accurate and captivating
Led Zeppelin live show since the real thing. For Zoso, it’s much more than just being a tribute. It’s about
touching a golden era in music. Zoso embodies Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones in their spirit, tightly-
wound talent and authenticity.
Each band member has been carefully selected to portray both the appearance and playing styles of their
Led Zeppelin counterparts. In eighteen successful years of touring, they have perfected their art. As one of
the longest tenured Zeppelin tributes, Zoso’s 2400 live shows around the world, including a slot at
Bonnaroo in 2003, have established them as the most traveled and successful band in the market.
Zoso’s live shows are not about simply playing the right notes, they are about aura and feeling, harkening
back to the unique atmosphere Led Zeppelin created. It’s in the way they play: Each band member’s
mastery of authentic vintage instruments coupled with spoton vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards,
their compelling stage persona and distinct Led Zeppelin sound, with astounding visual imagery recreates
the music, magic, and mystery of a Zeppelin concert. The impact is so powerful that band members
constantly hear from young rockers that they were the catalyst behind turning them into new, diehard
Zeppelin fans.
Their passion, musical ability, showmanship and precise attention to detail earned them critical acclaim,
name recognition and a loyal national following. The Los Angeles Times hailed the group as being "head
and shoulders above all other Zeppelin tributes," and the Chicago SunTimes declared Zoso is "the
closest to the original of any tribute."
If you missed Led Zeppelin live in the 70's or are looking to relive the "Hammer of the Gods" phenomenon,
you must experience what the St. Petersburg Times calls "the most exacting of the Zeppelin tribute bands
in existence."
Links:
www.zosoontour.net
www.facebook.com/zosoontour
www.youtube.com/zosoontour