A Rockin’ Good Time

Some go for the wild rides, or the tasty but wicked junk food; while for others, it’s all those cute bunny rabbits. For a few, there is even the music. If you’re in the last group, here’s an opinionated guide in chronological orderto this year’s Ventura County Fair music lineup.

All the music is free once you’re inside. If you’re wearing pointy shoes and a 10-gallon hat on your 6-gallon head, look elsewhere for the country listings.

Solimar Cafe: This is acoustic music smartly done by a bunch of locals. (Wed., 11 a.m. and Aug. 21 at 2 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Rock Stew: Original rock by locals. (Wed., 2:30 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Yahman: Or “Yeah, man” to others, it’s rootsy reggae by a local band with a new CD. (Wed., 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura County Star Stage).

Righteous Brothers: Their first hit was “Little Latin Lupe Lu,” a raucous R&B; melter from 1962 in which Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley gave birth to the term “blue-eyed soul.” They had a bunch of other hits including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” until they broke up in 1968 but reunited in 1982. This one’s for your parents. (Wed., 7:30 p.m., Grandstand Arena).

“Weird Al” Yankovic: More than living up to his name, “Weird Al” plays the accordion, dresses funny and plays parodies of other people’s songs. It works for him--he’s won two Grammies. “My Sharona” becomes “My Bologna,” while “Like a Virgin” becomes “Like a Surgeon” and “Beat It” becomes “Eat It.” Someone’s gotta do it, I guess. (Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m., Grandstand Arena).

Cheryl Roth Band: “Soft rock,” says the fair schedule. (Aug. 15, 12:30 p.m., Ventura County Star Stage).

The Tubes: This band sprang upon the scene with an inspired mixture of satire, solid rock hooks and an outrageous theatrical sideshow. “White Punks on Dope” starred singer Fee Waybill as the whacked-out rock star Quay Lewd, and the song “What Do You Want From Life?” offered such answers as the “foolproof plan and an airtight alibi.” They later scored with hits such as “She’s a Beauty” and “Talk to You Later.” Most of that was 20 years ago, but now Waybill, who left a decade ago, is back with the band and there’s a new Tubes’ album, “Genius of America.” (Aug. 15, 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura Station Stage).

Tom Kwake: He’s an acoustic guitar kind of guy, working on that tan. (Aug. 16, 11 a.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Little Charlie & the Nightcats: Charlie Baty and his pals have for more than 20 years been on that endless blues tour--over 250 gigs a year with no end in sight. Led by Charlie himself on guitar and Rick Estrin on harmonica, this band has the jump-blues swing thing figured out. (Aug. 17, 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura Station Stage).

Crosscut: These locals play Top 40 and classic rock. (Aug. 17, 8:30 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Raging Arb & the Redheads, Rubberband: With 31 different Raging Arb T-shirts, a Redhead sticker on my front door and another on my Chrysler, I’m probably not the most objective person to discuss Ventura’s greatest band. (Aug. 18, 9 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Connie Francis: Francis will be doing the Senior Citizen’s Day gig--last year it was Pat Boone. A long time ago, she had AM radio hits with “Stupid Cupid,” “Where the Boys Are” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” and plenty more. Francis is one of the top-selling female singers of all time. (Aug. 19, 1 p.m., Grandstand Arena)

Dishwalla: A dishwalla is a cable TV pirate from India, or in this case, a Santa Barbara band. Originally known as Life Talking, then dish, then dish walla, and now Dishwalla--this version started about five years ago. Their debut album, “Pet Your Friends,” had a big hit on it, “Counting Blue Cars.” If you’re into that introspective S.B. pop rock thing, then here they are. (Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m., Grandstand Arena).

P.Y.N.: Poor Young & Nasty is what it stands for, and R&B-flavored; dance music is what they do. Their usual locale is the Bombay in Ventura. (Aug. 20, 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura County Star Stage).

Amber’s Will: These locals play alternative rock, whatever that is these days. (Aug. 20, 8 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Vivian Mason: She’s a folk singer. (Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. and Fri. at 11 a.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Neville Brothers: Aaron, Art, Cyril and Charles bring a taste of New Orleans to the fair with their up-tempo mixture of jazz, R&B;, reggae and zydeco. They have the Grammies to prove it. (Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m., Grandstand Arena).

Conscious Souls: This is a popular local reggae band. Imagine Black Uhuru from the 805 area code. (Aug. 23, 1 p.m. and Aug. 24 at 8 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Survivor: Truth in advertising, Survivor has done just that since the band started in Chicago 20 years ago. “Eye of the Tiger,” from the movie “Rocky 3,” went to the top of the charts in 1982. Other successful Survivor songs include “Can’t Hold Back” and another Rocky song, “Burning Heart.” It’s all the original guys, and they have a new self-titled album. Then again, it’s wimpy ‘70s rock in the Toto and Journey style. (Aug. 23, 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura Station Stage).

Java Heads: This acoustic music usually is found at Java Joe’s in Ventura. (Aug. 24, 5 p.m., Pepsi Community Stage).

Surfaris: In late 1962, four Glendora teens recorded “Wipe Out” as an afterthought because they needed a flip side for “Surfer Joe.” The three guitar players were 15 years old and the geezer of the band was the 17-year-old drummer. The busted surfboard and the maniacal laugh at the beginning catapulted “Wipe Out” to No. 2 nationally. In the summer of ‘63, when deejays started playing “‘Surfer Joe,” the single remained on the charts all season, then was a hit again when re-released in 1966. The Surfaris still have two original members and they’re sure to sing the two choruses of “Surfer Joe” that aren’t on the single. (Aug. 24, 7 and 9 p.m., Ventura Station Stage).