By Rebecca Wicks
Oct. 6, 2010
Ventura Breeze
I have to admit, my husband and I became members of the Ventura Hillsides
Conservancy in 2007 for the not-so-noble cause of purchasing tickets to see Jack Johnson at their annual concert. We are big Jack Johnson fans (no joke: my two-year old can sing the chorus from the song “Breakdown”) and, apparently we are not alone, the concert sold out that year. While we had not been back to another concert, we have remained members.
While the group organizes a multitude of activities and events throughout the year it has a singular cause – to acquire land in order to preserve the hillsides, canyons and open space that contribute to the character and natural environment of Ventura.
With this mission at their forefront, the group also coordinates regular beach and river basin clean ups as well as a number of educational outreach events.
While the group has been in existence since April 2003 they acquired their first parcel of land in December 2007. The group stewards a total of three parcels of land today.
Despite all this, the group is probably best known for one of the largest events in the area – the annual Ventura Hillsides Music Festival. Thanks to this group and its efforts, Ventura has played host to a number of well-known music names the from the likes of Jack Johnson and Los Lobos to Jackson Browne and The Neville Brothers. This year was no different with headliner and 12-time Grammy winner Emmy Lou Harris the famed American singer-songwriter followed by Colbie Caillat, the Gin Blossoms and WPA.
If you haven’t been to a Hillsides event, let me tell you, it’s not your average concert. Two parts music, one part festival and one part education, the event is beyond mellow and mostly family-appropriate. So, armed with sippy cups and kettle corn from the farmer’s market, the family and I headed to Ventura College to catch the shuttle to the eighth annual concert.
We arrived in time to see the last half of WPA’s set. An amalgamation of bands including members of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Nickel Creek and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to name a few, the band sounded a little more blue grass than the early 90s rock and roll roots many in the group came from. Upbeat and fun, I always love the sound of Glen Phillips voice and the addition of the fiddles made their sound unique.
We spent the better part of the Gin Blossoms set in the kids area located in a shielded area almost behind the stage meaning we mostly listened to without seeing the band. Going into the concert my husband didn’t think he knew any Gin Blossoms songs beyond the well known hit “Jealousy.” At least four times – while helping my daughter color – he proclaimed, “Hey I know this song,” which tells you how big some of their hits were seeing he was a hip-hop listener back in his high school and college days. Jesse Valenzuela’s voice sounded strong and the band crisp reminding me that they were one of the better live performing bands amongst their peer set in the 90s.
Next up was Colbie Caillat, a local Newbury Park girl who has found recent fame with songs like “Bubbly” and “Realize.” Younger girls streamed down to the dance area to get a glimpse of the fresh-faced girl with a guitar singing mostly about love. She talked about the origins of some of her songs and seemed genuinely happy to be performing that day.
Last up was Emmylou Harris who I have to admit I knew little about prior to the announcement of her headlining the concert. She more than pleased the crowd with her melodic voice which has been sought after by greats such as Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Costello and Dolly Parton to name a few.
In the end more than 2,500 attended the event according to Stephen Svete a trustee for the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.
“It went fantastic,” said Svete. “We were competing with a lot of events that weekend and we were still able to fill the hall.”
Svete gave much of the credit to the event’s success to the many volunteers who dedicate countless hours to the organization and the annual concert. He pointed out the event is headed up by volunteer Lynn Bartosh whom he called “phenomenal.”
Bartosh, who has no background in planning events, has learned as the event has grown how to put on one of the biggest events in Ventura.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lynn,” said Svete. “In the end our organization doesn’t work without volunteers – and we have great ones.”
I have to admit, my husband and I became members of the Ventura Hillsides
Conservancy in 2007 for the not-so-noble cause of purchasing tickets to see Jack Johnson at their annual concert. We are big Jack Johnson fans (no joke: my two-year old can sing the chorus from the song “Breakdown”) and, apparently we are not alone, the concert sold out that year. While we had not been back to another concert, we have remained members.While the group organizes a multitude of activities and events throughout the year it has a singular cause – to acquire land in order to preserve the hillsides, canyons and open space that contribute to the character and natural environment of Ventura.
With this mission at their forefront, the group also coordinates regular beach and river basin clean ups as well as a number of educational outreach events.
While the group has been in existence since April 2003 they acquired their first parcel of land in December 2007. The group stewards a total of three parcels of land today.
Despite all this, the group is probably best known for one of the largest events in the area – the annual Ventura Hillsides Music Festival. Thanks to this group and its efforts, Ventura has played host to a number of well-known music names the from the likes of Jack Johnson and Los Lobos to Jackson Browne and The Neville Brothers. This year was no different with headliner and 12-time Grammy winner Emmy Lou Harris the famed American singer-songwriter followed by Colbie Caillat, the Gin Blossoms and WPA.
If you haven’t been to a Hillsides event, let me tell you, it’s not your average concert. Two parts music, one part festival and one part education, the event is beyond mellow and mostly family-appropriate. So, armed with sippy cups and kettle corn from the farmer’s market, the family and I headed to Ventura College to catch the shuttle to the eighth annual concert.
We arrived in time to see the last half of WPA’s set. An amalgamation of bands including members of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Nickel Creek and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to name a few, the band sounded a little more blue grass than the early 90s rock and roll roots many in the group came from. Upbeat and fun, I always love the sound of Glen Phillips voice and the addition of the fiddles made their sound unique.
We spent the better part of the Gin Blossoms set in the kids area located in a shielded area almost behind the stage meaning we mostly listened to without seeing the band. Going into the concert my husband didn’t think he knew any Gin Blossoms songs beyond the well known hit “Jealousy.” At least four times – while helping my daughter color – he proclaimed, “Hey I know this song,” which tells you how big some of their hits were seeing he was a hip-hop listener back in his high school and college days. Jesse Valenzuela’s voice sounded strong and the band crisp reminding me that they were one of the better live performing bands amongst their peer set in the 90s.
Next up was Colbie Caillat, a local Newbury Park girl who has found recent fame with songs like “Bubbly” and “Realize.” Younger girls streamed down to the dance area to get a glimpse of the fresh-faced girl with a guitar singing mostly about love. She talked about the origins of some of her songs and seemed genuinely happy to be performing that day.
Last up was Emmylou Harris who I have to admit I knew little about prior to the announcement of her headlining the concert. She more than pleased the crowd with her melodic voice which has been sought after by greats such as Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Costello and Dolly Parton to name a few.
In the end more than 2,500 attended the event according to Stephen Svete a trustee for the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy.
“It went fantastic,” said Svete. “We were competing with a lot of events that weekend and we were still able to fill the hall.”
Svete gave much of the credit to the event’s success to the many volunteers who dedicate countless hours to the organization and the annual concert. He pointed out the event is headed up by volunteer Lynn Bartosh whom he called “phenomenal.”
Bartosh, who has no background in planning events, has learned as the event has grown how to put on one of the biggest events in Ventura.
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lynn,” said Svete. “In the end our organization doesn’t work without volunteers – and we have great ones.”
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