Jason Redmond / Star staff Camarillo Community Band trumpet players Doug Hardie, left, and Ray Linaweaver practice at Valle Lindo Elementary in Camarillo for the band's Fourth of July performance at Camarillo High School. The band performs each Thursday throughout this month.

Strains of music fill the warm evening air in Ventura County, where musicians come to play at the many outdoor summer concert series taking place from Agoura Hills to Ojai.

All over the county, most nights of the week through the summer, varied concert series draw residents from their homes for a soothing blend of good weather, beautiful music and the company of friends, families and neighbors relaxing on a big lawn somewhere.

It's fun for the musicians, too.

"We've played in L.A. at least 60 times; in Ventura, people talk and they're real and they remember you," said Ryan Galvan, keyboard player for the pop band Afterward, which is scheduled to play Saturday afternoon at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.

Having played extensively in Los Angeles, Galvan said, the quintet is pretty sold on Ventura County; hence, its current county-specific concert series, known as the Camino Real Tour '07. (Check it out on the band's Web site, at http://www.afterwardmusic.com.)

For further proof that the best sound bites of summer are casual evening concerts in a park, plaza or other alfresco venue, accompanied by a picnic dinner, here's a guide to local outdoor summer concert options:

n Agoura Hills: The city's Concerts in the Park series includes performances by Dean Torrance of Jan & Dean (July 22) and Eagles tribute band Desperado (Aug. 5). 6 p.m. at Chumash Park, 5550 Medea Valley Drive. Free. 818-597-7361.

n Camarillo: Local folks make up the Camarillo Community Band, which performs with a different guest conductor each week Thursdays through July. 7 p.m. at Constitution Park, Carmen Drive and Paseo Camarillo. Free. http://www.camarilloband.com.

The Camarillo Arts Council's Concerts in the Parks series features the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra (July 21), Steve Tyrell (Aug. 4), Gin Blossoms (Aug. 18) and Elvis Presley impersonator Raymond Michael (Sept. 8). 7:30 p.m. at Constitution Park, Carmen Drive and Paseo Camarillo. Free. 987-7847 or http://www.camarilloartscouncil.org.

n Ojai: The Wednesday evening Ojai Band Concerts, presented by the Rotary Club of Ojai-West, feature an all-volunteer ensemble. Kids get to march around with balloons halfway through the show. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 22 at Libbey Park, downtown Ojai. 646-8430.

n Oxnard: The Concerts by the Sea series at Channel Islands Harbor features Afterward (Saturday), Ashford Gordon (July 21), Cadillac Angels (July 28), Teresa Russell & Cocobilli (Aug. 4), Unkle Monkey (Aug. 11), Blue Cat Express (Aug. 18) and Acadiana (Aug. 25). 4 to 6 p.m. at the harbor's Peninsula Park. Free. 985-4852 or http://www.channelislandsharbor.org.

The Heritage Square Summer Concert Series presents The Wonderelles (Friday), Soul City Survivors (July 20), The Chico Band (July 27), Irie Smile (Aug. 3), Sapadilla (Aug. 10) and Spice (Aug. 17). 6 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Square, A Street between Seventh and Eighth streets. $5 for plaza seating, free for lawn seating, $30-$50 for tables. 483-7960 or http://www.visitoxnard.com.

n Thousand Oaks: The Summer Concerts in the Park series features Tin Drum (Sunday), Surf City All Stars (Aug. 12) and Maxine Nightingale (Sept. 3). 5 to 7 p.m. at Conejo Community Park, 1175 Hendrix Ave. Free. 495-2163 or http://www.hillcrestarts.com.

The Gardens of the World Summer Jazz Concert Series features The Randy Alcroft Little Big Band (July 22), Texacali Horns (July 29), Jim Morris Brass Plus Montage (Aug. 5), Jennifer Hall (Aug. 12) and Incendio (Aug. 19). 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Free. 557-1135 or http://www.gardensoftheworld.info.

n Ventura: The Music Under the Stars series features Swing Syndicate (Saturday), Incendio (July 21), Acadiana (July 28), Rob Rio & The Revolvers (Aug. 4), Coldwater Canyon (Aug. 11), L.A. Jones (Aug. 18), Pete Jacobs Quintet (Aug. 25) and Louie Cruz Beltran (Sept. 1). 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive. $18. Reservations recommended; call 658-4726.