Concerts in Your Car events rev-up ticket sales at Ventura County Fairgrounds
VENTURA, Calif. - What began as an original idea with high hopes of giving bands a safe way to perform during the COVID-19 pandemic is exceeding expectations.
Sublime with Rome fans like Jennifer Welch danced in the flatbed of trucks to remain socially distance at the Ventura County Fairgrounds parking lot on Friday night.
"I am so stoked Ventura is doing this, Oh my God, just to come out and be this free, this is awesome."
Sublime with Rome is known for helping the Ventura County Fair break single-day attendance records.
Concerts in Your Car needed back-to-back shows to satisfy fans.
Vincenzo Giammanco is a promoter for Concerts in Your Car.
"We are here with Sublime, having great day right now--early and another show tonight, it is great to keep live music alive, and people enjoying it, man, this is awesome," Giammanco said,
People up close pay a bit more for spaced out parking spots, but it sounds like the front row when fans listen to 89.7 on their car stereos.
Musicians have been missing live shows and even practicing together since the pandemic led to concert cancellations all over the world.
"The bands are really happy and the COVID thing shut down the whole music industry and the touring. To give them a chance to come out and share their music with their fans is a unique experience. It is really making history," Concerts in Your Car operations manager Chris Carpenter said.
Crews take the temperatures of concert-goers at the gate and they remind everyone leaving their car to wear masks.
"The phrase we keep saying is together-apart, so a social distance concert where you get people out of the house safely and have them enjoy some live music. We are really excited about it," said Carpenter.
Alternative rock band Switchfoot from San Diego performs on Saturday.
Switchfoot has played the Ventura Theatre in the past.
The gates at the Ventura County Fairgrounds open at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets for each car start at $109.
One of their music videos entitled Swim Good already includes skateboarders wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
The upcoming lineup also includes country, comedians, theatre, and movies.
Visit concertsinyourcar.com for updates and more information.
