Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Numbskull Presants:
SHREK RAVE
It's Dumb. Just Come Have Fun. Who Cares. Cool is Dead.
Show 7:30pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE JULIANA THEORY
with ROSECOLOREDWORLD and LIZARDSMOUTH
You can retrace your steps, but you can’t go back in time. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to be learned from your journey.
The Juliana Theory returned triumphantly last year with “Can’t Go Home,” a bombastic synthpop anthem marking their first new music in over a decade and a half. It was a bold new direction for the Pittsburgh-bred band, which had spent most of its first decade of existence running circles around its less ambitious post-hardcore peers. A Dream Away, out March 26, 2021 on Equal Vision Records, marks the next step in their reinvention. On the Juliana Theory’s first LP since reuniting, members Brett Detar and Joshua Fiedler chose to reimagine their most enduring songs -- assuring classics like “Into the Dark” and “Were At the Top Of the World” could continue to evolve.
“Twenty years later, how can you be true to a song but still approach it with a different lens?” Detar asks. For inspiration, the Juliana Theory frontman thought back to the band’s most recent live shows -- a 30-date string of well-received acoustic gigs in 2019. “Every single night, Josh and I started the show the same way. I walked to the microphone and said, ‘I want you to close your eyes. Imagine you’re in a comfortable space: maybe you’re sitting in your living room in front of your fireplace, you’ve got your scotch in your hand, and your dog sitting next to you or your significant other. And we just showed up in the room and we’re going to sing some songs to you.’” That intimate approach deeply inspired A Dream Away, though its reimagined songs are anything but minimal. While the Juliana Theory was dormant, Detar worked extensively in film scoring, composing for horror flicks like 2012’s box office chart-topper The Devil Inside. This flair for the dramatic -- coupled with Detar and Fiedler’s love of MTV’s seminal Unplugged series -- sparked the duo to trade its rock guitars and percussion for immersive, symphonic suites.
On A Dream Away, “Into the Dark,” long the band’s signature ballad, sounds perhaps even more affecting, draped in cozy strings and woodwinds. “We’re At the Top of the World” simply shifts from perfect power pop to elegant, perfect chamber pop. Other essentials from the band’s 2000 masterpiece Emotion Is Dead -- the wide-eyed “Is Patience Still Waiting?” and the once-venomous “‘If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop?” -- swell to twinkling grandeur that sounds totally different, yet fully in line with the project’s large-scale ambitions. Other songs called for sweeping change. “‘Duane Joseph’ was the song I got most liberal with reimagining,” Detar says. It first appeared on the band’s 1999 debut, Understand This Is a Dream; an ode to a lost childhood best friend, “Duane Joseph” rocked as if letting up for one second would mean letting go forever. But on A Dream Away, it’s pensive and serene, the soundtrack to some hazy afternoon reverie. The Juliana Theory added a new bridge, a different lyrical section, and sampled the sound of rain falling in the distance. “It doesn’t even sound that recognizable,” admits Detar. “But I’m okay with that.”
While all of A Dream Away sounds new, one song is entirely new. The dramatic opening track “Better Now” was borne from some of Detar’s personal lows during the seclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I'd been struggling with a decent amount of depression and some of my closest friends were going through heavy addiction issues or depression of their own,” he says. “A friend came over to my house one night. He didn't say very much but the way he looked at me let me know he was really struggling." The next morning, Detar sat at his piano and the lyrics of “Better Now” poured out: “Every time I look into your eyes I see there’s something changing in you, something changing in me. It is getting better now.” Co-produced by Detar and rock maestro Courtney Ballard, “Better Now” sounds as panoramic as the reimagined classics, yet grippingly unique to the present moment.
New and old, the songs are all living and breathing, evolving with the present moment. As 2021 continues, expect the Juliana Theory to do the same.
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
GIMME GIMME DISCO
If you can’t get enough of ABBA, boy do we have THE dance party for you! We are a DJ based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA tracks, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80's like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Cher, & so much more. So honey honey, take-a-chance and you’ll be dancing all night long. Grab tickets, put on your best disco attire, bring your friends, and have the best night of your life! 🪩🎤✨🕺💃❤️🫶
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE BUTTERTONES - SELF TITLED 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
with SWMRS and LADY DENIM
The Buttertones - The Buttertones are a Los Angeles-based cult rock band. The Group has built a loyal fan base via their atmospheric live shows and cinematic catalog. From 2017's Gravedigging, 2018's Midnight In A Moonless Dream, and 2020's Jazzhound, the band has left lasting impressions at Coachella, Tropicalia, When We Were Young, and beyond.
Lady Denim - Lady Denim officially surfaced in January of 2019 while attending Colorado State University. Just a few weeks into that same year, they released "Pipe Dream" which would be the first track off of their debut EP, “For Edgy Girls, Like Ramona”.
Early on, they performed their limited discography at dive bars and crammed college basements, garnering a cult-like fanbase along the way. They quickly transitioned to headlining prominent venues around Colorado and supporting national acts, such as Saint Motel, Sports, The Unlikely Candidates, Generationals, Spin Doctors & more!
The 4-piece is currently based out of Fort Collins, CO consisting of members Nick Lundeen (Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), Miles Jenkins (Drums), and brothers, Nic Lubin (Lead Guitar) & Chris Lubin (Bass). The band pulls elements of 80's pop and Indie Rock together to create an upbeat unison. Their fanbase continues to remain dedicated to the energy and positivity that the band provides.
Their sophomore EP, "loosely held hands” is out on 9/10 :)
"Lady Denim is the Colorado band you probably don’t know yet – but should." - 303Magazine
“Bright, energetic, and bursting with youthful pop polish. That’s been the name of the game for Fort Collins indie rockers and it’s paying off” - Bandwagon Magazine
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
ZAP MAMA
with SHYLAH RAY
For over 25 years Miss M. Daulne a.k.a ‘Zap Mama’, has made her mark in the music and entertainment industry thanks to her vocal creativity and appearances on the most prestigious stages. Her continuous involvement with music brought her to many places: she has toured the world, been nominated for Grammy’s, licensed by and composed for major motion pictures, appeared on television, in commercials, video games, and featured in numerous publications including, the NY Times, Rolling Stone Magazine, Huffington Post, World, Elle, Le Monde, and Times.
Zap Mama sings polyphonic and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused African vocal techniques, urban, hip hop with emphasis on voice. The worldwide success of Zap Mama, and an ensemble of female polyphonic singers, inspired influences in American hip hop, nu-soul, jazz and elements of pop. The evolving musical compositions created a diverse band of singers and musicians for Zap Mama.
Marie Daulne, the daughter of a Belgian father and a Congolese mother, and was born in the East Zaire City of Isiro. Marie had only been born a few days when her father was killed by the Simba Rebels, during the Congo crisis. The Crisis resulted in the deaths of some 100,000 people. It led to the assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, as well as a traumatic setback to the United Nations, following the death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld in a plane crash as he sought to mediate. Marie's mother, with brother and sisters had to survive hiding in the forest. Several months later, they were airlifted out to Isiro in an emergency evacuation by Belgian paratroopers. Marie and her family were flown to Belgium, because her father was a Belgian citizen.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Numbskull Presants:
PINK PONY CLUB - CHAPPELL ROAN NIGHT
Introducing ·ﾟ: *✧ Pink Pony Club ✧*:·ﾟa night of Chappell Roan mixed with your favourite gay n girly pop bops ♡
Our DJs will spin Chappell & friends, and there'll be performances from our favorite local drag queens along with themed cocktails.
Go get your pink cowboy hats. We’ll see you on the dance floor! 🔮💖🦋
Note: This event series is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chappell Roan or her management. Chappell Roan will not be appearing at the event.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE GREEN
with NATURAL VIBRATIONS
With almost a decade and a half in the music industry, The Green is one of the most successful and adored bands to come out of Hawaii. In fact, they are among the very first reggae bands from the Hawaiian islands to extensively tour the US mainland, supporting American reggae bands including Rebelution, Iration, SOJA, and even Jamaica’s Damian Marley. Grammy winning pop superstar Bruno Mars even selected The Green to open his three sold out shows at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena in 2014 and his two sold out dates at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium, Hawaii’s largest outdoor venue, in 2018.
The Green have also appeared on several of America’s biggest music festivals, including the Vans Warped Tour, Wakarusa, Life Is Beautiful, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, One Love Cali Reggae Festival, California Roots Festival, Holo Holo Music Festival, Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival and Rebelution’s Bright Side Festival in Jamaica.
From their first album release to their latest EP, Summertime, The Green’s musicality has always transcended fans to a place of sincerity, culture, and growth. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, The Green released Brand New Eyes, by performing two consecutive shows on May 20-21, 2021, at an event called Brand New Eyes: The Experience. It was held on the rooftop of Waikiki’s International Market Place and is Hawaii’s first rooftop concert; the concert footage can be seen on The Green’s YouTube channel. Speaking to the importance of family, strengthening relationships, and overcoming adversities, The Green’s writing has consistently drawn in fans all over the world.
The Green will be hitting their Step Out Winter Tour, with Mike Love on select shows, early 2024. The tour will be a West Coast to East Coast run, touching on markets the band hasn’t visited in years, with a renewed energy and even a few brand new tunes!
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES
Show 9pm // 18+
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
EMO NIGHT BROOKLYN
Welcome to Emo Night Brooklyn, a late night DJ based dance party blasting the best emo and pop punk jams. We may even invite some of your favorite artists and bands to surprise you and join the party. Get ready to scream your lungs out, mosh, and dance to all your favorite songs with all of your favorite people and experience the awesomeness that is Emo Night Brooklyn.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
An Evening of Music and Comedy with CREED BRATTON & LIVE BAND
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
ARMY OF FRESHMEN - 25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
with Special Guest NERF HERDER
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
NIKKA COSTA
Born into the lineage of renowned producer and arranger Don Costa, Nikka Costa embodies the essence of music in her very being. From the tender age of 7, she embarked on a journey marked by 2 full length albums, world travel and performances to crowds of unprecedented size, laying the foundation for an extraordinary upbringing as both a woman and a musician.
In her formative years, Nikka's influences spanned from the soulful melodies of Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to the infectious rhythms of Motown and Stax. Her dedication to mastering every harmony and intricacy of sound became a testament to her unwavering passion and commitment to her craft.
With a string of critically acclaimed albums, beginning with her 2001 Virgin debut "Everybody Got Their Something," Nikka emerged as a luminary in the "nu-soul" landscape, renowned for her signature blend of American soul, funk, and rock— a captivating fusion uniquely her own.
Under the guidance of icons like Prince, Nikka flourished, touring alongside luminaries such as Lenny Kravitz, Coldplay, and Beck, and collaborating with esteemed artists like Mark Ronson, D'Angelo, and Femi Kuti. Her accolades include MTV Music Award nominations, chart-topping singles across Europe, and a stirring performance at the Chris Cornell tribute concert at The Forum in Los Angeles in 2019.
Beyond her prowess as a performer, Nikka's songwriting skills have left an indelible mark, crafting compositions for film, television, and fellow legends like Prince and Eric Clapton.
Known for the raw magnetism of her live performances, Nikka commands the stage with a presence likened to the greats — from Janis Joplin's fervor to Chaka Khan's soulful swagger to Sly Stone's electrifying energy.
After a hiatus of six years, Nikka is poised to make her triumphant return with "Dirty Disco," an electrifying fusion of funk and disco produced by her longtime collaborator Justin Stanley (Eric Clapton, Prince, Jamie Lidell). With a global tour on the horizon and the album slated for release on June 7th, Nikka Costa is primed to ignite stages and hearts alike with her infectious rhythm and soulful spirit.
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
JULIAN LAGE - SPEAK TO ME TOUR
Hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation and “highest category of improvising musicians" (New Yorker), Julian Lage has spent more than a decade searching through the myriad strains of American musical history via impeccable technique, free association and a spirit of infinite possibility. The California-born New York-based musician boasts a prolific resume on his own accord in addition to collaborating with Gary Burton and John Zorn, as well as duo projects with Nels Cline, Chris Eldridge and Fred Hersch, among others.
Show 4pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Nastyboy Records Presants:
MC MAGIC, BABY BASH, LIL ROB, JAY ROXXX, ANTONIO CARDENAS
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
LEE ASHER
Lee Asher, founder of The Asher House, delivers a powerful and inspiring talk about his journey to saving animals, INSPIRING PEOPLE, and finding his true purpose in life.
A prominent figure in the animal rescue community -- with a massive social media following of more than 12 million people across platforms -- he has used his influence to raise awareness about animal welfare and inspire countless individuals to make a difference in the lives of animals in need. His tireless dedication to rescuing dogs, cats, horses, and other animals has earned him a reputation as a true champion for the voiceless.
With his infectious energy, humor, and powerful storytelling, Asher continues to touch hearts and change lives, both human and animal alike. During his live show, he takes his audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions as he recounts his struggles, failures, and ultimate triumphs in building one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the United States.
Asher's talk is a testament to the transformative power of pain and the importance of turning resentment into gratitude. He encourages the audience to embrace their own struggles and use them as a catalyst for positive change, reminding them that they have the power to be the savior they seek in their own lives, and never give up on their dreams, no matter how challenging the journey may be.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
CÉU
with PAUL BEAUBRUN
In 2007, Céu debuted her self-titled album, becoming one of the select Brazilian artists nominated for an American Grammy in the World Music category. This groundbreaking album soared to the top of Billboard’s “Heatseeker” and “World Music” charts, also reaching an impressive number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, it marked the highest chart position achieved by a Brazilian artist in the U.S. since Astrud Gilberto's "Girl From Ipanema" in 1963.
With six albums to her credit, Céu has repeatedly claimed the number one spot on both the US and Canadian iTunes’ world music charts. Her remarkable achievements include eight Latin Grammy nominations and three wins, notably for her albums Tropix (2017) and Apka! (2020). In 2020, her last two albums dominated airwaves, becoming the most played records on over 200 college and community radio stations across the United States and Canada, within the Latin Music and World Music categories, according to the NACC charts.
Céu's music has transcended borders, captivating audiences on five continents at prestigious festivals such as the Montreal Jazz Festival (CA), North Sea Jazz (NL), Coachella (USA), Roskilde (DK), Rock in Rio (BRA), and Lollapalooza (BRA). Notable performances include memorable appearances in Havana (Cuba) and Beirut (Lebanon). Renowned for her collaborations with both Brazilian and international artists like Duran Duran, Herbie Hancock, Jorge Ben Jor, Gilberto Gil, and Emicida, Céu stands among the few Brazilian artists to grace the stage of BBC’s Later…with Jools Holland. Her albums and live performances regularly earn accolades, garnering placements on esteemed publications' Best World Music lists worldwide, including The New York Times, Billboard, The Guardian, Mojo Magazine, Wired, Sunday Times, Les Inrockuptibles, Telerama, O Globo, and Folha de S. Paulo.
Continuing to enchant audiences in her native Brazil and touring worldwide, Céu is widely regarded as one of the most influential Brazilian artists of her generation.
Paul Beaubrun -
A scion of Haitian musical royalty, Paul has spent his life living to the beat. Son of the Grammy nominated band Boukman Eksperyans, his earliest memories are of rhythm and sound. Moving to New York as a youth he was inspired by his heritage to begin crafting a sound all his own. Constantly aware of his roots, the struggle of an immigrant and the drive of New York life, Paul began to create a path where music, activism and history meet.
A unique and transfixing sound he calls 'Roots/Blues,' Paul weaves his impeccable guitar skills, rich, vocals, musical ingenuity and cultural history together; all while performing a smooth melange of both English, French and Creole (the native tongue of his Haitian roots).
Paul has played alongside some of the world's best artists including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, Arcade Fire, Jackson Browne and Bob Weir. Worldwide performances include venues such as The Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall in NYC, Massey Hall in Toronto, The Ryman Theatre in Nashville, The House of Blues in Chicago, The Montreal Jazz Festival, Festival Internationale Nuits d'Afrique in Montreal, Le Trianon in Paris, The Paleo Festival in Switzerland, No Siesta Fiesta in Norway. These continued accomplishments make him one of the few artists coming out of Haiti to garner worldwide success.
Paul has joined forces with Artists for Peace and Justice, and become an integral part of their organization. He also continues to be an active member and perform at their many events in the USA and Canada. This allows Paul to do what he loves; play music while also furthering awareness of Haitian art, culture and promoting the incredible talent of Haiti's youth.
Paul's album titled 'Vilnerab,' released in 2015, soared directly to #1 on itunes in the World Music category, receiving rave reviews. In 2016, he was nominated for a Dora Award by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts for 'Outstanding Sound Design/Composition' in the production of Espwa/Espoir. Paul released "Ayibobo" in May of 2018 on Ropeadope Records, this albums sees Paul's evolution of sound into Rock/Roots/Blues music. In 2020 he released "Rasanbleman" on Ropeadope records, a live album and documentary including many different featuring artists from Haiti.
He is also part of "Let The Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit Vol. 1," a collaborative album project including other songwriters Jackson Browne, Habib Koité, Jenny Lewis, Raúl Rodríguez, Jonathan Russell, and Jonathan Wilson, with members of the Haitian roots band Lakou Mizik released in 2020.
Paul is currently on a world tour with Arcade Fire as a member of the band and has appeared recently with the band on SNL, The Tonight Show and at festivals globally.
Show 7pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
CITIZEN SOLDIER
with Special Guests ICON FOR HIRE and HALOCENE
Citizen Soldier was born in 2016 when frontman Jake Segura penned the lyrics to “Let It Burn” from a psychiatric hospital. Now practicing as a clinical therapist, he implements intensely emotional lyrical themes on mental health into their music. The band presents an accessible message that combats stigmatization and provides a group therapy dynamic.
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Segura is joined by guitarists Matt Duffney and Kooper Hanosky, bassist/keys Wonitta, and drummer Kyle Persell.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE MOTHER HIPS
Founded nearly 30 years ago, The Mother Hips caught their first big break before they’d even finished college, when legendary producer Rick Rubin signed the band to his American Recordings label. In the decades to come, the group would go on to release ten critically acclaimed studio albums and cement themselves as architects of a new breed of California rock and soul, one equally informed by the breezy harmonies of the Beach Boys, the funky roots of The Band, and the psychedelic Americana of Buffalo Springfield. Praised by Rolling Stone as “divinely inspired” and hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “one of the Bay Area’s most beloved live outfits,” the group’s headline and festival performances have become the stuff of legend, earning them slots everywhere from High Sierra to Outside Lands alongside dates with the likes of Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, and The Black Crowes.
Written and recorded through the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band’s new album, Glowing Lantern, is a work of great comfort and companionship, even as it grapples with the deep anxiety of these profoundly uncertain times. The songs are weighty, abstract ruminations wrapped in unflagging optimism, bittersweet streams of consciousness delivered with a palpable sense of camaraderie and brotherhood. Glowing Lantern is as collaborative a record as the band has ever made, and it’s impossible not to feel the joy and gratitude radiating out of it like a beacon in the night.
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
LA LOM
The Los Angeles League of Musicians, LA LOM, are an instrumental trio formed in Los Angeles in 2021. They blend the sounds of Cumbia Sonidera, 60’s soul ballads and classic romantic boleros that emanate from radios, backyard parties and dance clubs of Los Angeles with the twang of Peruvian Chicha and Bakersfield Country.
Show 9pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
LUPE FIASCO
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Chicago-born, Grammy award-winning American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and community advocate. The independent rapper who parted ways with his former label, Atlantic Records, following the release of 2015’s Tetsuo & Youth, is pegged as one of the most gifted lyricists and visionaries to grace the mic. Rising to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, Food & Liquor, Lupe has released six acclaimed studio albums; Drogas Light, released in 2017 on his own label, 1st & 15th. These albums have netted 3 platinum singles, 3 RIAA Gold Certifications, 12 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award in 2008 for his infectious single, “Daydreamin,” feat Jill Scott. With a trilogy of albums set for 2018 and beyond, Lupe is at his creative peak as an artist. Most recently, Drogas Wave released on September 21st, 2018 via 1st & 15th. His efforts to propagate conscious material helped solidify him as GQ’s Man of the Year in 2006, and garnered recognition as a Henry Crown Fellow.
While musical genius and ingenuity are at the forefront of Lupe’s achievements, the artist extends his innovation to projects that aim to foster creative discourse and opportunities in underprivileged and impoverished communities. As the co-founder and co-owner of community initiatives such as, We Are M.U.R.A.L, The Neighborhood Start-Up Fund, Society of Spoken Art, and Studio SV, Lupe Fiasco proves that he is more than just a mouthpiece for change, but a committed facilitator of intellectual community discourse and outreach.
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
Y LA BAMBA & KILTRO
Y La Bamba -
To declare one thematic narrative from Lucha, Y La Bamba’s seventh album, would be to chisel away a story within a story within a story into the illusion of something singular.
“Lucha is a symbol of how hard it is for me to tackle healing, live life, and be present,” Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos, lead vocalist and producer of Y La Bamba, says of the title behind the album which translates from Spanish to English as ‘fight’ and is also a nickname for Luz, which means light. The album explores multiplicity—love, queerness, Mexican American and Chicanx identity, family, intimacy, yearning, loneliness—and chronicles a period of struggle and growth for Mendoza Ramos as a person and artist.
Lucha was born out of isolation at the advent of COVID-19 lockdowns, beginning with a cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” and following Mendoza Ramos as she moved from Portland, Oregon to Mexico City, returning to her parents’ home country while revisiting a lineage marred by violence and silence, and simultaneously reaching towards deeper relationships with loved ones and herself. The album reflects “another tier of facing vulnerability,” as Mendoza Ramos explains, and is a battle cry to fight in order to be seen and to be accepted, if not celebrated, in every form—anger and compassion, externally and internally, individually and societally. As much as la lucha is about inner work, fighting is borne from survival stemming from social structures designed to uplift dominant groups at the hands of suffering amongst the marginalized.
While peeling back layers of the past to better understand the present has been integral to this period of growth for Mendoza Ramos, time, trauma, and history can feel like interconnected, abysmal loops and music has remained a trusted space for Mendoza Ramos to process, experiment, and channel her learnings into a creative practice. In this way, Lucha has become cyclical, documenting the parallel trust Mendoza Ramos has built with herself to allow the songs to guide how they should be sung, or even sound.
“I’ve been wanting to let whatever feels natural—with rhythm and musical instruments like congas and singing—to just let it be, in the way that I’m trying to invoke in myself.” Lucha reflects on, “the continuing process of learning how to exercise my producing skills,” explains Mendoza Ramos. “I have so many words, ideas to work with all the time, and the hardest part for me has been learning to trust my gut. And figuring out how I work best, and with who.”
The result is a collection as sonically sprawling and bold as its subject matter. On “La Lluvia de Guadalajara,” Y La Bamba leans into a minimal, avant-garde soundscape as Mendoza Ramos recites a spoken word poem. Later, rhythms veer into bossa nova territory on “Hues ft. Devendra Banhart,” a full-circle collaboration for Mendoza Ramos as she reminisces on the significance of finding Banhart’s work nearly two decades earlier: “He was the first young Spanish-speaking musician that wasn’t playing traditional Mexican music I heard when I was 21. There was nothing like it around that time.”
“Nunca” is a warm, wind-rich track dedicated to her mother, Maria Elena Ramos whose poetry is published alongside the Lucha lyrics booklet. “I decided to put my mom’s poem, which is a poem that she wrote to me, letting me know how she felt, exploring her heart in new ways she’s never imagined. Sharing it on the record is me paying attention that she’s expressing herself.
While each song holds personal significance to Mendoza Ramos, part of growing into her identity as an artist has been allowing space for protection and boundaries, and choosing to withhold some of that meaning from the public. Lucha is her own story of the complexity of trauma and nonlinear healing and growth processes, but she imagines it is also the continuation of her ancestors’ stories and might also be a mirror to the story of others. “Even though I’m trying to fight, I never want to demonize suffering, because that’s part of growing. And it’s hard, because we’re living in times where that [stigma] is what’s happening. So if this—me talking about my mental health and finding healing in my queerness—is a risk, I hope that I find a community that protects it and protects me, because they know I have their back. I am also trying to be my mom’s community.”
Kiltro -
Years ago, Chilean-American singer/songwriter Chris Bowers Castillo moved to the port city of Valparaíso and became a walking tour guide.
“I would dress up as Wally and give tours to families and kids,” he remembers with a laugh. “It was great, because I got to know the city incredibly well. I’d walk for hours, then spend the rest of the day partying and drinking, probably way too much. But I also wrote lots of new songs.”
Back in Denver, Chris looked for a moniker that reflected the evocative and subtly rebellious musical concepts percolating in his head, and settled on kiltro – a word used in Chile for stray dogs or mutts. He then teamed up with bassist Will Parkhill and drummer Michael Devincenzi, later inviting Fez García to join the band as an additional percussionist on Kiltro’s live gigs.
“I wanted to do a project mixing different styles and aesthetics,” he says. “Valparaíso is my favorite city in the world and will always influence my music. There were street dogs everywhere, and I’m a mutt myself.”
Titled Underbelly, Kiltro’s sophomore album crystallizes those dreams and experiences into a post-rock manifesto of dazzling beauty. Its songs combine touches of shoegaze, ambient and neo-psychedelia with the soulful transcendence of South American folk – the purity of stringed instruments, supple syncopated percussion and elusive melodies that define the works of Latin American legends such as Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara and Atahualpa Yupanqui.
From the propulsive, chant-like groove of “Guanaco” to the art-pop panache of “All the Time in the World,” Underbelly is the kind of record that invites you to quiet down and listen, savoring every single detail. The album reaches an emotional pinnacle during its second half, when the majestic lament of “Softy” – seeped in exquisite cushions of reverb – segues into the hypnotic reverie of “Kerosene.”
It also signals a new chapter in the fusion of Latin roots with mainstream rock, anchoring its sonic quest on a rare commodity: inspired songwriting.
“So much of this album is defined by the conditions that made it,” says Chris. “Our debut – 2019’s Creatures of Habit – has a social, almost communal feel to it, because we played it live time after time before recording. In a way, the songs were troubleshooted in the presence of an audience, then honed in the studio. Underbelly, on the other hand, was made in quarantine. It was just us obsessing in the studio, and we ended up following whatever thread seemed most interesting at the time, which made for an album that is more experimental and creative.”
“We’re trying to make sense of the process as we experience it,” adds Will, who returned to Denver and became part of Kiltro after a few years living abroad. “The way we make music, we’re definitely not interested in dropping singles. Something that Chris and I have in common is our interest in capturing ambient textures that evoke a sense of place. When we first played music together – years before Kiltro – we got microphones and tried to record the sound of water running down a bathtub. It didn’t work out then, but we revisited the same concept on this album.”
Quarantine isolation allowed Kiltro to obsess over every single loop and melodic turn. Now that the band is ready to tour again, presenting the songs in a live setting poses a beautiful challenge.
“We were mixing the album when the question came up: how the hell are we going to do this live?,” says Chris. “Live shows are a real important component of what we do – in a way, it’s the very reason of why we make music. There will be four of us onstage, and I do a lot of live looping. We have two drummers, which helps a lot when you consider the percussive element of this album. I’ve learned that we don’t have to favor a maximalist approach. People connect with melody and the concept. As long as the harmonic elements carry the emotional message across, you can take the songs into many possible directions.”
For now, the release of Underbelly marks a bold step forward in Kiltro’s extraordinary musical journey.
“When we first started the band, I was playing folk songs – focusing on my interior spaces and finding catharsis through melody,” says Chris. “I’ve always been attracted to music that is melancholy and personal. Then we added the rhythmic component, and I realized that having a bit of noise and chaos can add emotional depth. Underbelly reflects everything that happens inside your soul when the world stops on its tracks.”
“We tried a lot of new things on this record,” agrees Will. “We were living through unprecedented times and coming to terms with all of it. The album is a reflection of that. At the end of the day, we wanted to create the kind of music that we didn’t hear anywhere else.”
Show 8pm
FULLY SEATED
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
MAX FOSH - LOOPHOLE
Max Fosh is a YouTuber and comedian with over 4 million followers across social media. His videos are all about finding life’s loopholes and exploiting them. I mean, how else did he become:
His videos have generated over 1 billion views across YouTube alone, and he has also completed a national stand-up tour with a show that culminated at a sold-out London Palladium. Join Max for 80 minutes of loophole hunting and exploiting in this brand-new show that his Mum is calling “the greatest piece of art since his Macaroni paintings".
Show 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
WILD CHILD & SUSTO
Wild Child -
End of the World, the new album from acclaimed Austin songwriting duo Wild Child (Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins) wasn’t supposed to happen. In 2018, Wilson joined the singer-songwriter super group Glorietta, and debuted her critically acclaimed genre-bending, Motown-influenced solo project Sir Woman. Meanwhile, Beggins unveiled his musical alter-ego, CoCo Zandi, with the release of his first solo album, As Simple as a Dream. Then in 2019, after more than a decade of non-stop touring, the indie band, which was unexpectedly conceived in the back seat of someone else's tour van, stopped booking or playing shows altogether.
Exploring different sonic directions, Wilson and Beggins didn't know if they would ever make another Wild Child record, until, well, what felt like the "end of the world" hit Austin, and brought them back together. Pandemic lockdowns closed stages and drained bank accounts. In Austin, the ‘Live Music Capital of the World,’ local bands took their shows online. Wild Child was no different. With an unexpected abundance of free time on their hands, Wilson and Beggins got together to practice for a series of online performances for devout fans. Within 30 minutes of rejoining forces, they’d written the first single for what would accidentally become Wild Child's fifth album.
"Photographs" is a soulful, brass-filled outing that “offers something familiar for Wild Child fans who have stuck with them over the years," Wilson says. “‘Photographs’ was inspired by a picture of my dad, Buddy Wilson, who passed away in February. And in a way, it's a tribute to old Wild Child songs. A bittersweet story, a ukulele and both of us singing. It's a special gift to Wild Child fans." Beggins adds, "It felt like our very first record, when the two of us wrote a bunch of songs while on tour for someone else. There wasn't any aim to do anything with those songs at the beginning. For the first time since then, that's how we started writing these songs. We didn't know if we would make another record. It just came together.”
And it couldn't have happened at a more difficult time. Take Day 3 of the 2021 Texas Big Freeze for instance, when 13 displaced Austin pals had taken refuge at Wilson's house. There was no electricity, no indoor plumbing, and no end in sight. When Wilson couldn't possibly take it anymore, one of the fateful 13, singer-songwriter John Calvin Abney, ripped a 90s-alternative riff on an acoustic guitar that would eventually turn into the album's title track. "I just started singing about things that were freaking me out. Wearing a mask for a year. Global warming. There's no heat, no water,” explains Wilson. “It was like a dirge to begin with. But by the end we were all screaming and laughing that, yes, this might be the end of the world, but we're all together right now, making music in my living room by candlelight. It's all okay."
The next morning during a lull in the storm, the Wild Child caravan — complete with drummer and guitarist Tom Meyers, guitarist Cody Ackors, and bassist and piano player Taylor Craft (Sir Woman) — braved icy roads to recording engineer Matt Pence's The Echo Lab studios outside Denton, Texas. They didn't even stop to shower before recording an unwashed rendition of "End of the World," flush with in-the-moment angst. "There's no ukulele. I'm singing differently than I ever have before. You can hear my voice crack, and all the energy behind everyone playing," Wilson said. "That set the tone. There were no boundaries. We're back to how it was on Day One. We were making this music because we really needed to make it for ourselves."
Abney tagged along, and in the process became the first songwriter to collaborate with Beggins and Wilson on a Wild Child album. His contributions to Beggins and Wilson's songwriting process came as an unexpected blessing amid so much impending doom. "John was dating one of Kelsey's roommates when we met. The first time we played together, we just fell in love with each other," Beggins says. "When you have a musical partnership, like Kelsey and I have had for a decade, it's strange to change the formula of writing. But we found someone we both trust and like working with."
"Wearing Blue" started with a guitar riff Abney played before an early recording session. "While everyone was setting up their instruments, John Calvin started playing and singing. In 30 minutes, a song was written. That was a holy-shit moment. And it set the tone of the record," Wilson shares.
The Wild Child family is also excited to announce the birth of Reba’s Ranch Records, a long-time vision of creating their own record label imprint to highlight some of the amazing music coming out of Austin, TX. The label was born after years of conversations within the band about the importance of controlling one’s own destiny and art. The imprint will be home to the Wild Child catalog, as well as Kelsey’s Sir Woman and Alexander's CoCo Zandi recordings, and is a partnership with Secretly Distribution.
‘End of the World’ was mixed by Matt Pence (Jason Isbell, Elle King) and includes guitarist Charlie Wiles (Paul Cauthen, John Moreland, Orville Peck).
Susto -
A season of drastic change is what brought SUSTO frontman Justin Osborne to the band’s fifth full-length LP, My Entire Life [New West Records]. There was a divorce, difficulties re-building his band after the pandemic, and the pain and helplessness of witnessing family members struggle with addiction and mental illness. Despite these challenges, Justin ultimately found himself in a new landscape, with new love and a deeper perspective, all of which is masterfully projected into My Entire Life.
While navigating some major life changes, Justin understandably experienced a surge of creative energy. He channeled this into writing and recording with the people closest to him, even as the tides of his personal life continued to shift. Primary collaborators included longtime producer Wolfgang “Wolfy” Zimmerman, SUSTO Co-founders, Johnny Delaware and Marshall Hudson, and his fiancé/co-writer Caroline Foyle.
Much of the album was recorded at The Space, in Charleston, SC, but major sessions also took place at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC, and Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA.
Johnny had moved to Mexico shortly after work on the album began, so some tracking was done at his home studio in Mexico City.
The band also took a “recording pilgrimage” to the Mexican town of Tepotzlán (mythical birthplace of mesoamerican deity Quetzalcoatl), where they turned an airbnb into a remote recording studio, with help from members of Mexican Institute of Sound.
The combined result of these efforts is a compelling blend of rock, folk and psychedelia, with vivid country-esque storytelling. It’s as raw and real as anything the band has done so far and everything you’d hope for from a modern rock ‘n’ roll record.
The album’s namesake and lead single, “My Entire Life” is melodically tearful, with an urgency “to keep living.”
As a whole, the album documents Justin’s personal journey through highs and lows in his life, with many of the details on full display. He narrates the demise and aftermath of an almost decade long relationship, while celebrating the joy of falling in love and the hopefulness of starting over. There is a playfulness at times, but always a clear desire to distill wisdom from experience.
“SUSTO’s narrative has always been confessional, and songwriting is my way of trying to make sense of the chaos—good and bad—around me,” observes Justin. “These songs cover the spectrum of everything that’s happened in my life the last few years. There’s been a lot of change, which can be painful, but there’s also been a lot of joy and hope, along with everything in between. I figure that’s what life is.” He continues “…it’s a mosaic of all the good, bad, and mundane things we face as we make our way from birth to death. Along the way we ride the waves, but if you stay true to yourself and push through, I believe you can get to where you really want to be, and you can shape that mosaic into something that fulfills you. There is a lot of hope in that for me. This record is my story of navigating a bunch of chaos, but finding ways to carry on and manifest my own happiness…the last few years were a challenge, but I look back and see that I made it through, a better, truer, and more realized version of myself.”
It's been quite the ride for SUSTO. In addition to achieving widespread critical acclaim in recent years, the group has built a diehard fan base through captivating live performances and compelling songs.
For as much as My Entire Life is the ultimate vision of what the band can be, it’s also a classic story of one person rising from the ashes, wiser and fiery than ever…
“Writing and performing has long been central in my life, and this season of change has only heightened my desire to connect with other people through songs. I’ve crossed a mountain, so I’m ready to charge forward, and share that story. Everybody goes through difficulty one way or another, we all get worn down, we all chase dreams; songs are there to remind us we aren’t alone in that. In my case. I’m thankful for lessons learned, and excited for the future. The privilege of sharing these songs with our audience is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Show 7:30pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE RECORD COMPANY
When The Record Company pick up their instruments, the members—Chris Vos [guitar, lead vocals, harmonica], Alex Stiff [bass, backing vocals], and Marc Cazorla [drums, backing vocals]—participate in a musical back-and-forth akin to a formative and supportive conversation among siblings. The nuances of their personalities seep through loose, bluesy guitar leads, airtight drum grooves, thick bass, and vividly evocative lyrics. With such fluidity, the musicians respond to one another so instinctually you’d swear they were telepathically linked. However, there’s no such superpower necessary when you’ve got the closest thing to a brotherhood that three musicians unrelated by blood can share…
The GRAMMY® Award-nominated trio only amplify the power of this bond on their fourth full-length offering and 2023 debut for Round Hill Records.
“We know each other’s personalities on the instruments, so we reconnected with one another and really found that brotherhood again,” explains Chris. “It's always been there, but we got back into a room where it was like a circle of stone. We’re creating something that will go out into the world. We all stand behind it equally, and we’re willing to put our lives and love into it. When you put your career, your future, and your art into another person’s hands and you know they’re doing the same for you, there’s a different level of trust. That’s been our secret since day one. When it’s challenging, we’re all trying to figure out the challenge. When it’s good, we’re all experiencing it together.”
They’ve experienced everything as a family since forming back in 2011. Along the way, they served up a tested-and-proven epic in the form of their 2016 debut, Give It Back To You. The release earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and spawned “Off The Ground,” which reached #1 at AAA Radio and tallied nearly 40 million total streams and counting. Beyond a string of stunning late-night television appearances, they performed on CBS This Morning, at Bonnaroo, and on an extensive tour with John Mayer in addition to headlining coast-to-coast. They maintained this momentum with All Of This Life [2018] and Play Loud [2021]. On top of praise from American Songwriter, Classic Rock, and more, NPR hailed the latter as “the band’s biggest and most dynamic record to date.”
In 2021, the guys hunkered down and commenced creating what would become their fourth LP. Working out of an intimate home studio in Beachwood Canyon, they wrote, recorded, and self-produced the music. Outside of cutting drums at the legendary Sunset Sound, it proved to be a homegrown affair through and through.
“We got back to our old perspective, which is to trust the idea, get out of the way, make something, listen, and respond to it,” affirms Chris.
Alex elaborates, “We decided to record the organic thing that got us really excited to play music as a band in the first place. That was the general theme of this record. Keep it as close to a three-piece sound as possible. Keep the music raw. It’s a return to form in a way, but we’re still growing.”
“We’ve been doing this for a while,” adds Marc. “As long as we sound like us, we can be proud of it. It’s not going to be for everybody, but we’ve never been prouder of what we’re doing.”
The Record Company kicks off their next era with the single “Dance On Mondays.” Guitar cries through a hypnotically hummable bassline and head-nodding beat. Meanwhile, a chantable hook instantly takes hold with grit and gusto as Chris affirms, “I don’t dance on Mondays.”
“Somebody asked me to go see a band on a Monday night, and I just said, ‘I don’t dance on Mondays’,” Alex recalls. “I wrote it down in my phone. The phrase signifies, ‘I’m taking my life back, and I’m not going to dance for anybody’. It goes back to where we are as a band and us being The Record Company.”
Then, there’s “Talk To Me.” Bass practically dances atop a simmering groove punctuated by tambourine before guitar kicks back in as Chris urges, “So, why don’t you talk to me?” Marc goes on, “It reminds me of one of those rare Blue Note groove records with a chill vibe.”
Launching into toe-tapping bounce, harmonica wails on “Darkest Days” as the stomp and 12-string guitar underline a soulful vocal. “Highway Lady” shines with a Laurel Canyon meditation in the glow of swooning slide guitar.
“We wanted to make music you could listen to “Highway Lady” on a road trip in the car with the city’s lights behind you,” Alex says. “This song had this big vibe of feeling good both musically and spiritually.”
“Lyrically, it’s my favorite,” adds Marc. “It could be about so many different things. I moved into this house with a little pool, which I’d always wanted in Southern California. When it’s hot as shit out, you naturally develop all of these new friends during the summer. You make a pool playlist, and I wanted one of our tunes to be a contender. To me, this is one.”
In the end, The Record Company are stronger than ever as a band and, more importantly, as brothers.
“I’d love for people to hear this record and feel like they’re in the house with us making it,” Alex leaves off. “I want them to feel like they’re part of this unpolished and homemade thing, because that’s what we were trying to get back to.”
“We’re a trio, and that’s the completion of this circle,” Marc concludes. “The fourth member of this group is the space between us. We embrace that space as part of the raw element. That’s what we explored on this album, and it’s beautiful. We can’t wait to bring it on the road.”
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 SITTING ON STACY
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 8pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
LIVINGSTON
Music means many things to Livingston. It’s an escape from the trials and tribulations of daily life. It’s a blank canvas for dreams to manifest upon. Most of all, it’s proof that anything is possible. Akin to building a rocket ship in a suburban backyard, the 21-year-old Denton, TX singer, songwriter, and producer creates handcrafted outlier pop teeming with big screen-worthy orchestration, arena-size ambition, open-hearted lyricism, and sky-high hooks. His words strike a deep chord, whether booming through your speakers or sung from the stage to a sold out crowd. An uncanny ability to empower listeners to realize their potential has accelerated Livingston’s ascent as a world-building alt-pop music maverick in 2024. As a kid, he felt a lot of love from his parents and two siblings, but he went through hell at school for “being different.” Despite ceaseless bullying and teachers who just didn’t understand, he found solace in music. He endured his first heartbreak, weathered teenage loneliness, and poured his pain into a MacBook Pro, writing, producing, and performing music out of his childhood bedroom. At barely 17-years-old, he introduced himself to the masses with a pair of debut EPs Lighthouse [2020] and An Unlikely Origin Story [2021]. Among various highlights, “Fairytale” resonated with 50 million-plus streams, and he collaborated with everyone from Macklemore to Louis The Child. He independently released his debut album A Hometown Odyssey in 2024, generating tens of millions of streams on the likes of “Last Man Standing,” “Shadow,” and “Half-Life.” However, his vision expands in widescreen on the deluxe edition of A Hometown Odyssey, coming soon [Republic Records].
Show 7pm
GA tickets are standing room only, with very limited seating available first come, first served.
Ventura Music Hall Presents:
THE SLACKERS
with THE BANDULUS + SPECIAL GUEST TBA
For 33 years, the NYC-based and critically acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.
Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music.
The Slackers have been called ‘the Sound of New York’ by the New York Times. They were described by Brooklyn Vegan as a “clean mix of Ska, Reggae, and Soul that gets dirtied up by Vic Ruggiero’s tough New York accent.’
In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, “Dont Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” (Pirates Press) which quickly shot to the top of the US Billboard charts. The first time that a Slackers’ album has charted! Ironically after 30 years as a band, they qualified as a Billboard ‘new artist!’ The Washington Post noted that the Slackers “remain at the top of their game.”
The chart topping sales of “Dont Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were broadcast internationally to an audience of thousands. After the streams, they stayed in the studio and recorded the tunes that became ‘Dont Let the Sunlight Fool Ya.’
The Slackers capped this comeback with a series of frenetic tours in 2022 and 2023. They played everything from clubs to festivals in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Brazil.
In 2024, they are currently booking 90 shows. They are also currently working on a 20th anniversary reissue of their classic album, ‘Close My Eyes’ for September and on a new single of original music for October.
Official Website: www.theslackers.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theslackers
Instagram: @theslackersband
Listen to the Slackers on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/02YdqekgXBbl7t1N59tVh3