*The first announcement for a summer show at The Meadows, errr, I mean the blandly renamed Dodge Music Center in Hartford has been made and its for OzzFest 2006.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Mar 17, 2006 12:00 am

The festival will return to Hartford on Sunday, July 30, and tickets will be going on sale this morning (Friday, March 17) at 10 am. Seats are priced at $65.50 and $85.50 for the reserved pavilion area, while lawn seating is $35.50. Tickets will be sold thorugh TicketMaster outlets and the box office at The Chevrolet Theater (formerly the Oakdale) in Wallingford. The Dodge Centerâs box office hasnât yet opened for the season.

Mainstage acts already announced include SYSTEM OF A DOWN, DISTURBED, HATEBREED and LACUNA COIL. Second Stage performers will include ZAKK WYLDEâS BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, ATREYU, UNEARTH, and at least nine others.

A major Mainstage performer will be announced on May 23.

*Going on sale at 4 pm today will be tickets for THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, with special guests THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND and DICKEY BETTS & GREAT SOUTHERN, who will be at The Chevrolet Theatre on Sunday, May 21.

Tickets for that show are all $38.50, and will be sold through TicketMaster and the theaterâs box office.

*Also going on sale are tickets for THE NEW CARS and BLONDIE. This show will be going on sale Saturday, March 18, at Mohegan Sun Arena. The double bill will be in the Uncasville arena on Sunday, June 25. Start time is 7 pm.

Tickets will be going on sale at 10 am Saturday through TicketMaster vendors â in person, online and over the phone. No ticket sales will be taking place Saturday morning at the casino.

Remaining tickets will be available at Mohegan Sun beginning Monday morning at 10.

A programming note: The New Cars â with original Cars members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes, joined by new members Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince and rock legend Todd Rundgren â will release their first single in March, and a live album in June. The concert tour will offer updates of old songs and some of the new material.

*Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook will host BRIAN DOLZANI tonight, performing from 7:30 until 10 pm.

Upcoming shows at the Glen Road locale include DAN SAWYER on March 24, and then FAIRFIELD CROSSING on March 31.

*JOHN VOKET, Newtownâs musical pied piper when it comes to Relay For Life 2006, will be in Monroe this weekend. He returns to Last Drop Coffee Shop on Saturday. Start time is 8 pm and donât let the storefront of the coffee house fool you â inside is a comfortable seating arrangement of sofas, wicker chairs and stools, with soft lighting, plenty of delicious refreshments hot and cold, and of course plenty of good tunes.

*BILL SIMS JR, accompanied by ANDY HESS (of GOVâT MULE) will headline and kick off the 3rd Annual Black Rock Blues Festival next weekend.

The weekend-long festival will be at The Black Rock Art Center, Black Rock Castle, Taco Loco, Ray Kellyâs Tavern, The Green Room and The Blue, and will include concerts, workshops, a blues brunch, and a multi-location presentation of Martin Scorseseâs The Blues â A Musical Journey. The festival will run from Friday, March 24, until Sunday, March 26, with free and ticketed events.

For the full schedule and information visit BlackRockArtCenter.com or call 203-367-7917.

Tickets for the Sims-Hess show are $15 if reserved in advance, or $20 at the door (remaining performances over the weekend will cost no more than $5). The Sims-Hess show will be at the art center, 2838 Fairfield Avenue, and showtime is 7:30 pm.

*Finally this week, a benefit concert for The Kim & Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship at Fairfield University will take place at The Acoustic CafÃ© in Bridgeport on Saturday, April 8. Performances will be offered at 7 and 9 pm, featuring PROPHETS OF FUNK, ERIC DONNELLY TRIO and BRIAN TORFFâS BRASS ROOTS QUARTET.

Tickets are $15 general admission, or $10 for students, and 70 percent of the eveningâs proceeds will go into the music scholarshipâs fund.

For reservations or additional information contact the cafÃ© at 203-335-3655 or visit AcousticCafe.com.

Until next week Iâll 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 17 â Brian Dolzani at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Jonathan Edwards at University of Hartfordâs Wilde Auditorium, West Hartford;

March 18 â John Voket at Last Drop Coffee Shop, Monroe; Hat City Blues Band at 59 Bank Street, New Milford; Children of Bodem at Toadâs Place (all ages); Lys Guillorn at CafÃ© Nine (CD release party), with Tyler Trudeau Attempt;

March 21 â Robert Cray Band at The Ridgefield Playhouse;

March 22 â Alexa Ray Joel at Toadâs Place, Donât Tell Muddy opening (all ages); Sean Paul at The Webster Theater (all ages, dress code will be enforced);

March 23 â Billy Joel at Hartford Civic Center (sold out, but check with venue for last-minute released seats);

March 24 â Dan Sawyer at Mocha Coffee House; KC 101âs Matt Hoopes Birthday Tour featuring Reliant K, The Rocket Summer and Maxeen at The Webster Theater; Bill Sims, featuring Andy Hess, at Black Rock Art Center, Bridgeport (kick-off event for 3rd Annual Black Rock Blues Fest);

March 25 â Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at The Acoustic CafÃ©, Brookfield;

March 28 â Billy Joel at Hartford Civic Center (sold out, but check with venue for last-minute released seats);

March 29 â Nickelback at Mohegan Sun Arena, Chevelle and Trant opening; Dream Theater at Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; Apathy at Toadâs Place (CD) release party; Sevendust at The Webster Theater;

March 31 â Fairfield Crossing at Mocha Coffee House; Sublime at Toadâs Place.

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es, Councilman Pisani used strong words—but let’s not pretend there isn’t real frustration behind them. When a serious and measured question about protecting public safety, reducing taxpayer costs, and improving traffic control is met with performative outrage and political theater, frustration is more than justified. It’s earned. I too will continue to vote for those who will fight for everyone's rights. Newtown deserves leadership that's not afraid to speak the truth and to suggest positive change.

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Speaking of SMH, Ackert’s comment is the perfect example of why Newtown’s public discourse has become so toxic. He accuses Councilman Pisani of ignoring the will of “26 out of 30” people—as if 30 people in a room define the will of an entire town. That’s not how representative government works, and it's certainly not how thoughtful policymaking should be conducted. Ackert runs a Facebook group that has made a habit of weaponizing process. At nearly every turn, he threatens lawsuits over minor procedural points, creating unnecessary hurdles and sowing fear. This isn't civic engagement—it's obstruction, dressed up as activism. And it comes at a cost to taxpayers, town staff, and the very businesses that help keep Newtown vibrant. Councilman Pisani raised a valid question about whether it’s worth exploring an ordinance that could both protect protestors and save the town $225,000 in police overtime. He didn’t propose banning protests. He didn’t even draft an ordinance. He asked whether we should consider one. For that, he’s met with mockery and personal attacks. It’s telling that his critics can’t engage with the substance—they just yell “stupid” louder and hope no one notices. If Mr. Ackert is so sure of his position, perhaps he should stop threatening lawsuits and start presenting ideas that balance safety, fiscal responsibility, and smart development. Until then, spare us the righteous indignation.

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I’ll gladly stop referring to the group as a “mob” when they stop behaving like one at public hearings. Expressing a different point of view is one thing—drowning out speakers, jeering at volunteers, and weaponizing misinformation is another. That kind of conduct deserves to be called out plainly. As for the projects you referenced, I agree—repurposing existing structures such as the Taunton Press and redeveloping long-blighted properties are welcome improvements. But those projects weren't met with the same level of opposition because they built on what already existed. When development touches vacant land—even when owned privately—this same group regularly mounts loud, emotional campaigns that ignore property rights and long-term planning needs. Newtown is a wonderful place to live, largely due to thoughtful planning and strong leadership. That includes the courage to say yes when it's easier to say no. I appreciate respectful disagreement. What I don’t accept is a pattern of obstruction disguised as community concern. Let’s all raise the level of discourse—but that also means calling out tactics that are meant to intimidate or mislead.

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Sorry Lynn, not letting you get away with this. Yes, we all have the constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully but NO, no one ever said anything about taking that right away. You just made it up.

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A small Newtown business lost important revenue because of the protest. Traffic was disrupted causing a safety concern. Newtown taxpayers paid for police OT because the PD had to react to the protest rather than be prepared in advance. God forbid, if there was loss of life or property, Newtown could be liable legally for negligence. Your comment sounds like Liberal Woke thinking and apparently you are more sympathetic to protestors than to Newtown. Non-issue? In Kerrville TX the legislative body had the chance to vote for a flash flood siren warning system. They thought it was a non-issue. Now, over 200 people are dead and families are destroyed. No way does the town not get expensively buried in court should it be foolish enough to NOT go down this path.

Assembly Ordinance?

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*The first announcement for a summer show at The Meadows, errr, I mean the blandly renamed Dodge Music Center in Hartford has been made and its for OzzFest 2006.

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