Blues Festival Moves to Moorpark

Two-time Grammy Award-winning Johnny Rivers will headline the Ventura County Blues Festival when it debuts in Moorpark this month.

The event—formally called the Simi Valley Blues Festival—is now in its eighth year and is ready for a bigger venue than in the past, so this is year, it's moved to Moorpark College.

In addition to blues music, Rivers is especially known for his mid to late 60s rock and roll and folk songs, with hits like Poor Side of Town, Summer Rain and Secret Agent Man.

Joining Rivers on the lineup are Savoy Brown, Kenny Neal, Doña Oxford, Preston Smith and the Crocodiles and Michael John and the Bottom Line. Local celebrity actor Mickey Jones will emcee the event.

The festival is set to run, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 27.

Tickets to the festival, which benefits the American Diabetes Association, are $25 in advance (with a $1 online service charge) and are available on the festival website. Tickets are $30 at the door. Children 12 and younger will be admitted for free.