*Fairfield Theatre Company will present “A Concert for Haiti” this weekend, with 100 percent of the $20 ticket proceeds promised to the American Red Cross International Response Fund – Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Showtime is 7:30 and artists who have been confirmed include blues master DEBBIE DAVIES, Rick Reyes (of COSMIC JIBAROS), Scott White (of DARIK AND THE FUNBAGS0, and Jay Stollman, among others.

The theater is at 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield; call 203-259-1036 or visit FairfieldTheatre.org for details and last minute reservations.

There is no FTC member discount for this event but hey, it’s a fundraiser.

*This season marks the sixth for Lyrics Coffehouse, a series usually presented on the first Friday of each month at Redding Community Center (having said that, I see that December’s event was on the first Saturday due to a library art gala, and this month’s was on the second Friday due to New Year’s Day… but the effort is there).

The February performance is coming up next weekend — on the first Friday, yes — and will feature Bob Franke (rhymes with Yankee), who counts among his fans no less than Tom Paxton and Christine Lavin.

Musicians perform their original music in an environment suitable for all ages. Admission is $12 at the door or $10 in advance; call 203-938-2551 or visit TownOfReddingCT.org. Also note that admission is half price for seniors and those ages 18 and under, and coffee is included in everyone’s entry fee, and each attendees receives a coupon good for a complimentary soft drink or dessert item. Additional snacks are available for purchase, and the location has WiFi available.

Redding’s Community Center is at 37 Lonetown Road. Again, visit the website if you need directions.

*Also in the local music vein, OFF THE HOOK has a pair of shows in upcoming weeks. The acoustic trio will be at Lumberyard Pub in Georgetown on Saturday, February 6, for a 9 pm show, and then at Redding Roadhouse on Saturday, February 19.

Joe Proc’s other musical venture, the recently launched WIPED OUT, also has another show coming up. Joe and his young adult musical prodigies return to Proud Mary’s, at 19 Main Street in Newtown, on Saturday, February 13. Wiped Out will be playing in the lounge from 8 to 10 pm, and then Joe will continue performing solo until 1.

*DAVE MATTHEWS BAND will launch an extensive North American 2010 summer tour with a two-night stand at The Comcast Theatre in Hartford on May 28 and 29. An online ticket request period begins Thursday, January 28, and continues through Monday, February 8, at warehouse.DaveMatthewsBand.com.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 26. The tour will continue until late September with a number of opening acts slated. When DMB begins its tour in Connecticut, it’ll be Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings who handle the opening honors.

*Country duo MONTGOMERY GENTRY are hitting the road this spring, and will be stopping at Mohegan Sun Arena for a performance with special guest Darryl Worley on Friday, April 23, at 8 pm. Tickets are $35 and go on sale Friday, January 29, at 10 through TicketMaster. If they don’t sell out on Friday, tickets can also be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, January 30, at 10 am.

*Tickets for Grammy Award-nominated DAUGHTRY went on sale last week for a March 27 show at The MGM Grand Theater. Sorry for the late notice – the announcement from the theater arrived on Thursday, the day before tickets went on sale and 24 hours after last week’s deadline to let you folks know about this.

Remaining tickets are $60 and are in the upper level seats. Visit MGMatFoxwoods.com, any TicketMaster vendor, or the casino’s box office for details and purchases.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you… on the road, where I will continue to wonder why the federal government decided this week to implement a No Texting law, effective immediately, on commercial bus and big rig drivers. Does someone in Washington think it’s safe for anyone else to be driving and texting at the same time??!

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING SHOWS

JANUARY 29 — Old School at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; Phil Bowles at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Blues Patrol at The Georgetown Saloon, Redding; JD Souther at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk; Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues, Hartford; Chuck Wicks at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville;

January 30 — Patrick & Rich at Mocha Coffee House; Smokehouse at The Georgetown Saloon; Marshall Crenshaw at Infinity Music Hall.

FEBRUARY 4 — Marc Cohn at Quick Center/Fairfield University; David Sanborn at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield;

February 5 — Aaron Lewis at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Bob Franke at Redding Community Center (Lyrics Coffeehouse series), Redding; Max Creek at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk;

February 6 — Christopher Robin & The Rockgrass Band at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; Off The Hook at Lumberyard Pub, Georgetown;

February 9 — POSTPONED: Slayer and Megadeth at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Testament opening;

February 11 — Buckwheat Zydeco at Infinity Music Hall; Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville;

February 12 — Phil Vassar at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Greg Brown at Infinity Music Hall; Steve Winwood at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket;

February 13 — Wiped Out at Proud Mary’s, Newtown (8-10 pm, followed by Bongo Joe until closing); Kid Rock at Mohegan Sun Arena; River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs at Infinity Music Hall; Dave Davies at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Trey Anastasio at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford;

February 14 — The Neville Brothers at The Ridgefield Playhouse with Dr John and Lower 911; B.B. King & Buddy Guy at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods; John Mayall at Infinity Music Hall.