*John Voket, who commandeers this column when I’m out of the office, must be pretty excited about some of this week’s music news.

It seems JACKSON BROWNE will not only be bringing his Time The Conqueror World Tour to North America for a two-month summer 2009 leg, but the first show on the summer tour will be right in Danbury at Ives Concert Park.

A July 13 date has been announced for that show. More details as I receive them. John is a huge fan of Browne. He’ll no doubt be up at the Park when this show rolls into town.

*KIM WILSON’S BLUES REVUE will be at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro in Norfolk on March 27. Tickets are $20 to $35, and the venue’s phone number is 860-675-3212. This show features the frontman and founder of The Fabulous Thunderbirds performing traditional blues on vocals and harmonica along with guitarist Junior Watson, bassist Larry Taylor and drummer Richard Innes.

*Last week it was BRYAN ADAMS, this week it’s BEN FOLDS who has tickets going on sale for a show at The Shubert. Folds will be at the New Haven theater for a performance on Sunday, March 28; tickets (all $37.50, it seems) are available through Shubert.com, by calling 800-228-6622 or in person from the box office, 247 College Street.

*Tickets for K.D. LANG, who will be at the beautiful New Haven theater on April 28, are already on sale. Sorry, I think I missed this announcement. Same options for purchasing as outlined above, and tickets are $58 for that show.

*The Warner Theater will welcome a stop by WILLIE NELSON, who will be in Torrington on Wednesday, April 15, as part of his tour to support Gravedigger. Tickets are $58 to $100 and will be available this weekend through WarnerTheater.org or 860-489-7180.

*JP SHANNON, a completely self taught musician whose “freestyle form of ragtime, folk and blues … whose warm acoustic solo” sounds are perfect for a coffee house setting (so says this week’s note from a certain coffee house), will be at Mocha from 8 to 10 pm tonight (Friday, March 6).

RYAN WEBER, a young singer-songwriter whose lyrics “get to the heart and ask important life questions,” also says Mocha’s email, will be the featured performer on Saturday night, also 8 to 10 pm.

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND will be at the One-Eyed Pig, 71 South Main Street right here in Newtown, on Saturday, March 14. Showtime is 9:30 pm.

The band will then be returning to Redding Roadhouse, in West Redding, on Saturday, May 9. I’m sure there will be more local opportunities to see these guys between March and May but that’s all I’ve got for now.

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 clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING SHOWS

MARCH 6 — Billy Michaels at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; JP Shannon at Mocha Coffeehouse, Sandy Hook; The Robert Cray Band at Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield; Trippy Phonics at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; TaleSpin at City Ale House, Danbury;

March 7 — Smith Bros at Proud Mary’s; Ryan Weber at Mocha Coffeehouse; Bob’s Your Uncle at Georgetown Saloon;

March 8 — Nickelback at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Seether and Saving Abel opening; The James Cotton Band at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, Norfolk;

March 9 — Dropkick Murphys at The Webster Theater, Hartford;

March 10 — OK Go at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Longwave and Oppenheimer opening;

March 11 — Tirebiter at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

March 13 — Lucinda & Michael Connolly at Proud Mary’s; Black 47 at Toad’s Place (all ages); The Nields at Infinity Music Hall, with Chris O’Brien; George Thorogood at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Mötley Crüe at Mohegan Sun Arena, with Hinder, Theory of a Deadman and The Last Vegas; Los Lobos at Ridgefield Playhouse; Marshall Tucker Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also March 14); Johnny Feds & Da Bluez Boyz at Georgetown Saloon;

March 14 — 150 RPM at Proud Mary’s; Fleetwood Mac at Mohegan Sun Arena; Busta Rhymes at Toad’s Place (all ages); Marshall Tucker Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Hat City Blues Band at One-Eyed Pig, Newtown; Roxy Perry’s invitational jam at Georgetown Saloon.