*Hartford Civic Center will play host to a stop on the Verizon Presents… Ladies First Tour 2004 featuring BEYONCÉ, ALICIA KEYS and MISSY ELLIOTT. The Connecticut date for this tour will be Friday, April 9, and tickets are available for $67.50 or $77.50 apiece. Contact any TicketMaster outlet or visit the civic center’s box office for tickets. Special guest TAMIA will be opening the show.

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND will be returning to Redding Roadhouse this weekend. The guys are scheduled to be onstage around 9:30 for Saturday, February 21.

Upcoming shows also include a return to Bohemian Pizza & Ditto Bar in Litchfield on March 13, Mario’s in Danbury on April 10, The Georgetown Saloon on April 30, and Black-Eyed Sally’s in Hartford on May 13.

*I had someone ask me about the upcoming DICKEY BETTS show at The Ridgefield Playhouse over the weekend. Just in case I don’t get back to you in person (and for anyone else wondering about that show), the concert by a founding member of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and his current band, THE GREAT SOUTHERN, will be on Saturday, March 6. Showtime is 8 pm, tickets are $60 and $70 apiece, and the playhouse (at 80 East Ridge in Ridgefield) can be reached at 203-438-5795.

*A brand-new two-day blues festival will be introduced next month in Bridgeport. The festival will offer three shows at two locations.

Living blues legend JAMES COTTONS will open The First Annual Black Rock Blues Festival with a show at Black Rock Arts Center on Friday, March 5. The arts center is at 2840 Fairfield Avenue, at the corner of Brewster Street and in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport (telephone 203-576-7427).

Showtime is 8 pm and tickets are $20 if purchased or reserved in advance, $25 at the door.

The following night W.C. Handy Award winners THE PAUL RISHELL-ANNIE RAINES DUO and slide guitarist DAN STEVENS will get things going at 8 pm, also at the arts center. Tickets for that performance are $12 for adults, $6 for seniors and students.

Saturday’s schedule poses a challenge for blues lovers, because a show by THE DEBBIE DAVIES BLUES BAND is also being considered part of the festival. The problem is, that show starts at 9 and is down the street at The Acoustic Café (2926 Fairfield Avenue; telephone 203-335-3655). Tickets for that show are $12.

*THE CHIEFTAINS return to Hartford next month for their annual St Patrick’s Day show. This year’s concert is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, at The Bushnell theatre. Showtime is 8 pm, and tickets range from $25 to $45. With a career spanning 41 albums in as many years, the current outing continues to support the band’s September release, Further Down The Old Plank Road.

*BRET MICHAELS is the latest back-to-the-Eighties addition on The Webster Theatre’s calendar. The former lead singer of POISON will be in Hartford for an all ages show on April 18. Tickets are $18.50 and are already on sale.

Until next week, when I will watch a screening of much-hyped The Passion of The Christ and decide for myself whether or not it’s a good film (and can stop trying to avoid all these commentaries by people who haven’t seen the film for themselves but who are so willing to not only talk about it but also to condemn it and Mel Gibson), 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 CONCERTS

FEBRUARY 20 — Barenaked Ladies at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; NRBQ at Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, Uncasville; Roomful of Blues at Foxwoods Casino’s BB King Nite Club, Ledyard; SideShow at Stash’s, New London; Silverstein at The Empress Ballroom, Danbury (all ages); Raisin Hill at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; Max Creek at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

February 20-21 — Roomful of Blues at B.B. King Nite Club at Foxwoods, Ledyard;

February 21 — Hat City Blues Band at The Redding Roadhouse, Redding; Toby Keith at Mohegan Sun Arena; Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction;

February 26 — Living Colour at Toad’s Place (all ages show; rescheduled date, tickets from original show date will be honored); The Leon Russel Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s; The Slip featuring Nathan Moore at The Webster Theatre, Leslie Helpert, Mos Opus and DOT opening (all ages);

February 27 — Styx at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Big Shot at Toad’s Place; America at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Evolution (Journey tribute band) and Unchained (Van Halen tribute) at Tuxedo Junction; Off The Hook at 707 On Main, Monroe; Psychedelic Breakfast at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

February 27-28 — Roomful of Blues at B.B. King Nite Club at Foxwoods;

February 28 — SideShow at Sports Rock USA, Bristol; Cyndi Lauper at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre; tHrOnE at The Webster Theatre, Look West, Base 2, Downward Limit and Monty’s Fan Club opening (all ages); 3rd Sister at Acoustic Café; Dr Mudd & Phillip the Beatbox at Tuxedo Junction; Off The Hook at 59 Bank Street, New Milford.