*TOBY KEITH will bring his Big Throwdown Tour II to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4. Both shows will begin at 8 pm and will include performances by Joe Nichols and Scotty Emerick.

Tickets range from $95 to $140 and will be going on sale Saturday, February 4, at 10 am, through TicketMaster vendors. In-person purchases at the arena’s box office will begin on Sunday if tickets are still available.

*After battling laryngitis earlier this week, Bee Associate Editor John Voket has not one, not two but three live gigs this weekend.

JV starts the weekend at CJ Sparrow Pub & Eatery, 908 South Main Street in Cheshire (telephone 203-272-8204), with a show that will run from 6 to 8 pm.

Saturday night he will return to Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook (364-9200). Showtime is 8 pm, and John will be joined once again by musical pal Brendan Walsh.

Then on Sunday it’s game time: John will be doing the big pre-Super Bowl Bash at JP’s Pine Time Café, located within Thomaston Lanes (180 Watertown Road/Route 6 in Thomaston; telephone 860-283-4730). John will be the center of musical attention from 3 to 6 pm, along with prizes and specials leading in to the big game.

*Hot off her winning performance for the 2006 Open Mic Show at The Towne Crier Café in Pawling, Christina Abbott will return to The Acoustic Café next weekend for a show with her original band.

The original line-up of THE CHRISTINA ABBOTT AND will be playing at the café in Bridgeport on Saturday, February 11. Showtime is 9 pm and tickets are $10. Don’t plan on catching the group the next time around if you skip out on the Feb 11 show; Abbott’s website says this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

Until next week I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

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 club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

FEBRUARY 3 — Valencia at The Webster Underground, Hartford; Smooth Hands and Welcome at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; John Voket at CJ Sparrow Pub & Eatery, Cheshire;

February 4 — Lez Zeppelin at Premier Music Hall, Danbury; John Voket at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; The Darian Cunning Band at The Acoustic Café;

February 5 — High On Fire at Toad’s Place, New Haven, The Bronx, Big Business and Buried Inside opening (all ages); John Voket at JP’s Pine Time Café, Thomaston;

February 7 — Wu-Tang Clan at Toad’s Place;

February 8 — Todd Martin, Todd Carey and Bushwalla at The Acoustic Café;

February 9 — Mike Falzone at The Acoustic Cafe;

February 10 — Eric Benet at Premier Music Hall, with special guest Amanda Dumas; Brad Paisley at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Sara Evans and Billy Currington opening; The Fiery Furnaces at Toad’s Place (all ages); Mest, Allister and Scary Kids Scaring Kids at The Webster Theater;

February 11 — Big Shot at Premier Music Hall; Senses Fail and Base 2 at The Webster Theater (all ages).