Going South 

Continue motoring down the 101 this weekend for more musical adventures, including the first installment of the 2024 Ventura Music Festival, the seaside city’s long-running boundary-busting fest that extends to various venues and genres. Grammy winner and 12-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland brings boffo bluegrass to Olivas Adobe Historical Park with his seven-time Instrumental Group of the Year, Flamekeeper, on July 25. Friday’s left turn features the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, one of the country’s finest (and including members of our own Santa Barbara Symphony), performing Bach’s wondrous “Brandenburg Concertos No. 2-5,” led by Margaret Batjer, at Ventura College Performing Arts Center. “Counterpoint II,” the latest collaboration between pianist Conrad Tao and choreographer-dancer Caleb Teicher, explores the intersections between their artistic worlds at VCPAC on July 27, with the venue also hosting Bach, Baroque, and Brunch. A Classical Edge Concert with VMF Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta and renowned pianist and composer Greg Anderson, on July 28. Visit www.venturamusicfestival.org/events.

In the nearby city that is the focus of my all-time favorite bumper sticker (“Oxnard – More Than Just a Pretty Name!), The Oxnard Salsa Festival returns for its first post-pandemic gathering on July 27-28 at Plaza Park in the Oxnard Historic District. The fest pairs spicy food and savory street tacos, burritos and other classic Mexican fare, including a salsa tasting lounge, with salsa dancing to half a dozen live salsa and Latin jazz bands from Southern California all weekend. To cool things off there’s the nearby ocean breezes as well as multiple bars with margaritas, craft beers and plenty of non-alcoholic choices, plus a plethora of kid-friendly activities. Visit https://oxnardsalsafestival.com