Everyone knows Nashville as Music City USA, but there’s another town that offers West Coast music lovers an equally exciting experience. Just north of Los Angeles, visitors will find Oxnard, California, a coastal city with a vibrant music scene.
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Residents and visitors alike will have no shortage of options for a music-filled getaway when it comes to Oxnard. For starters, there’s DW Drums, which is known for crafting instruments for musicians including Josh Freese (Foo Fighters), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper/The Hollywood Vampires), and Sheila E. (Prince).
DW Drums also offers tours of their factory on Thursdays, which guests are asked to book via phone at least two days in advance. While there, visitors can view marvels such as Neil Peart’s 24K gold hardware drum kit and one of Terry Bozzio’s epic tour kits.
Larrivée Guitars and Cordoba Guitars also call Oxnard home. The former manufacturer, which aims to put high-end guitars in the hands of everyday musicians, has previously been tapped by NASA to arm astronauts with guitars amid their journey to space. Meanwhile, the latter outfit makes instruments that are a direct descendant of the Spanish tradition.
Additionally, Fidelity Record Pressing, a family-owned institution that happens to be the first new vinyl record pressing plant in California in four decades, plans to offer tours in the future.
For visitors looking for instrument repair, there’s also Henson’s Music Center, a family-owned music store that has been an Oxnard staple for more than 60 years.
Music history fans will be enraptured by Teatro, a one-time music studio that hosted stars such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Willie Nelson.
Oxnard, California’s Deep Musical History
Oxnard’s long-established history dates back decades. Huge names in 20th-century entertainment, such as Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, and John Wayne, once took up residence in Oxnard, which was once known as Hollywood by the Sea and now referred to as Hollywood Beach. In later years, musicians like Sonny and Cher and Dave Grohl became property owners in Oxnard’s Mandalay Beach neighborhood.
Oxnard isn’t just for one genre of music fans, either. The city is home to the hardcore punk rock subgenre of Nardcore, which came to life in the late 1970s within Oxnard’s Port Hueneme and Silver Strand Beach suburbs. A few notable bands include False Confession, Agression, Dr. Know, and Scared Straight. Today, Nardcore bands still play in town at venues including Mrs. Olson’s, The Mystery Shop, and Casa Agria Specialty Ales.
Oxnard has since given rise to hip-hop stars including Anderson .Paak, hosted pop stars including Brooke Candy, and allowed indie musicians such as Sea Lions to find their footing. Mariachi and Música Norteña also have a place in Oxnard. In fact, visitors are likely to spot such artists and bands at restaurants and special events all over town.
Music isn’t just part of Oxnard’s history; it’s still the foundation of the Californian city today. Oxnard, which is home to its own Performing Arts Center, offers visitors plenty of chances to catch live music.
The Collection at RiverPark offers plenty of entertainment opportunities for families with its Rock The Collection summer concert series. Likewise, the Heritage Square Summer Concert Series features performances from a wealth of different classic rock, funk, Motown, funk, and R&B bands. The “Concerts by the Sea” Summer Concert Series, meanwhile, has free concerts from musicians in the funk, contemporary, and rock genres. You might even be able to catch a tribute band or two!
The City also plays host to several festivals, including the Oxnard Salsa Festival and the Oxnard Jazz Festival. The former gives attendees the opportunity to sample spicy salsas while enjoying a battle of the bands, while the latter is all about fusion: Jazz, Latin, Soul, Blues, and R&B. Visitors can also take in live an eclectic mix of live music at Palomazo Music Fest in July, and celebrate Día De Los Muertos and Mexican culture at Panteón Fest this fall. For more information on upcoming festivals in Oxnard, visit the Oxnard events page.
Whether you’re soaking up the sun at one of Oxnard’s pristine beaches, kayaking through Channel Islands Harbor, or indulging on the Oxnard Taco Trail, Oxnard promises a memorable experience. Start planning your visit today with Visit Oxnard.
Photo by Sam and Ryan Looney
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