*Now that THE TIPPERARY KNIGHTS have made their annual trek through the streets of New Haven and onto the stage at Toad’s Place, what’s next? Another big St Patrick’s Day show, of course. BLACK 47 will be back in New Haven tonight, playing an all ages show with The Sean O’Reilly Band opening. Tickets are $15.

it’s time for two more big shows at the Toad.

STEPHEN MARLEY will celebrate a CD release party for Mind Control, open to all ages, on March 21. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the show.

The following night American Idol contestant BRENNA GETHERS will join fan favorites BOMB SQUAD for its next New Haven show. Tickets for that event, also open to all ages and featuring opening sets by King For A Day and The Casual Fiasco, are $10 whether purchased in advance or on Thursday.

*Speaking of St Patrick’s Day, if anyone is in the neighborhood on Saturday and looking to wind down from St Patty’s Day merriment (or kick-start it), Mocha will have live music by JOHN VOKET this weekend. John will be performing his third of six “Shining On For A CURE” fundraising concerts for Newtown’s Relay For Life, which returns June 8-9.

John’s mission is to help sell luminaria, which will be positioned around the track during the evening memorial service in tribute for those fighting, or those who have been lost to, cancer. While the show is a fundraiser, John is always happy to have an audience too, so stop in for just a few minutes if you’re on or near the Sandy Hook Center end of Glen Road on Saturday.

John’s show will run from 7 until about 10 pm. Call Mocha at 364-9200 for details.

*On sale Friday at 4 pm will be tickets for a May 9 show by R&B singer and producer BRIAN McKNIGHT at The Chevrolet Theatre in Wallingford. These tickets have been set at $35, $45 and $55 each, and will be available through LiveNation.com, TicketMaster vendors and the Chevy’s box office.

*TOBY KEITH’s concert at The Dodge Music Center this summer has been confirmed. The country superstar will be in Hartford, with special guests Miranda Lambert and Flynnville Train, on Sunday, September 23.

 This note follows info offered in this column last week about a Napa Country Megaticket that was recently put on sale. Three earlier shows (Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn, June 8; Rascal Flatts, August 24; and Kenny Chesney, September 1) had been confirmed by promoters, but the Toby Keith one had not been as of last week’s writing.

The Megatickets are still available through megaticket.com, or you can hang in there until tickets for the single shows go on sale if you aren’t interested in all four. Single tickets for all of these shows have yet to be put on sale.

*REBA McENTIRE, the leading lady of country music (who can return to music full-time for the time being now that her long-running Reba has finished its run on The WB), will bring her hits to the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, June 22.

Tickets are $35, $50 and $65, and will go on sale Saturday, March 17, at 10 am, through TicketMaster vendors and outlets. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office beginning Sunday, March 18, subject to availability.

*RICKY MARTIN, now a firmly established music star and someone who has become an inspirational force to many Latin performers, will bring his Black & White Tour to Mohegan Sun on Saturday, April 28. The tour, already setting records in Latin America, will visit arenas in the US and Canada next month and in May and encompasses many of Martin’s greatest hits as well as music from his recent album, Ricky Martin: MTV Unplugged.

Ticket for the Uncasville show were put on sale last weekend, and can still be purchased through TicketMaster vendors and Mohegan Sun’s box office. Seats for this show have been set at $37.50 and $55.

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

MARCH 16 — Black 47 at Toad’s Place, New Haven, The Sean O’Reilly Band opening (all ages); Scarecrow Collection at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, with special guests Clarias and Daniel Newman; Hat City Blues Band at 59 Bank, New Milford;

March 17 — John Voket at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook, ; Hall & Oates at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; The Cosmic Jibaros at The Acoustic Café;

March 18 — Steve Clarke open jazz jam at The Acoustic Café;

March 21 — Elton John at Hartford Civic Center; Jen Durkin’s Equinox at The Acoustic Café; Georgetown Underground (local bands showcase) at Georgetown Saloon;

March 22 — Bomb Squad at Toad’s Place, with special guest Brenna Gethers (American Idol; all ages show); Manchado at The Acoustic Café;

March 23 — Donna Jean Godcheaux and The Zen Tricksters at The Acoustic Café, with Wendy Waldman and Mookie Siegel as Kettle Joe’s Psychedelic Swamp Revue; The Nerds at Toad’s Place; Hat City Blues Band at Greenwoods, Bethel; Penfield Reefers at Georgetown Saloon;

March 24 — John Voket at Proud Mary’s, Newtown, with guitarist Brendan Walsh; Simple Jim at The Acoustic Café; Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon;

March 25 — Willie Nininger at Georgetown Saloon;

March 27 — The Haunted and Dark Tranquility at Toad’s Place, Into Eternity and Scar Symmetry opening (all ages);

March 28 — Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra at Toad’s Place (all ages); Georgetown Underground (local bands showcase) at Georgetown Saloon;

March 30 — Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place, Explicit, The Radio Cats and Wired opening; Manchado at The Acoustic Café; Shoo Fly Blues at Georgetown Saloon;

March 31 — Evanescence at Dodge Music Center, Chevelle and Finger Eleven opening; Rolla at The Acoustic Café; The SugarBees at Georgetown Saloon.