*Tickets for the VOLUNTEER JAM show at The Meadows in Hartford I was telling you about last week are going on sale this weekend. The Jam returns to Hartford this year on Sunday, June 10, at 6 pm, with THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, .38 SPECIAL and DICKEY BETTS.

Please note the ticket prices I gave you last week, which were pulled from the SFX Web site, have been changed. Seats in the pavilion are now $18.50 and $27.50, while lawn seating is $15 per person. I do apologize for any confusion.

Also going on sale this weekend are tickets for this year’s Big Eighties Hair Scare: a concert by POISON with WARRANT, QUIET RIOT and ENUFF Z’NUFF all opening. This show will be on Friday, June 16, also beginning at 6 pm. Tickets for this show are $25 and $35 in the pavilion, $15 for the lawn.

Tickets for both shows will be available at the ctnow.com Oakdale Theater box office (because the Meadows on-site box office is not yet open for the season) by calling 203-265-1501, on the web at www.tickets.com, by calling tickets.com at 800-477-6849, or by visiting any tickets.com outlets including Strawberries Records.

*The former Our Place Café in Danbury (176 Osbourne Street; 791-2770) has a new owner and a new name. Richard Liveli is working with Mindsnap Promotions, an East Haven-based company, to bring live music back to Osbourne Street every Saturday night. Coming in to the club next weekend will be CYX XMAS and ANOTHER DARK DAY (April 7), with the remainder of the month as follows: April 14, VICIOUS CIRKILL and VITAMIN F; April 21, OF MY OWN…, EVENTIDE and DISMAY; and April 28, EDIPUS, SWIFT and STILL LIFE.

*Details will be coming up in next week’s Enjoy section, but the Newtown band PLAYBACK has undergone some personnel and outlook changes. The band is now called SUGAR, the lead singer is SHANNON DOOLEY, and the group has shows set up at Hot Shots II in Newtown on April 21 and 28, May 5 and 19, and June 8. The café winds up March with a local talent showcase Saturday night. Call the club for details, 203-335-folk (3655).

*Acoustic Café in Bridgeport has a fantastic schedule this month, which includes a SWEETERTHAN WINE and SANS CHERUBS show on April 6. Also coming up will be the monthly WPKN benefit show on the 14th, a musicians’ workshop on the 18th, and PATTY LARKIN on April 27. Details next week, I promise.

*AMORTAR has a pair of shows it’s pretty excited about in the next few months. The first one will be at City Hall, the club behind Curtis House Inn in Woodbury (506 Main Street South; 203-263-6265) on April 21, and the second is a return to Laszlo’s Arts Cafe in Monroe (Main Street; 459-8889) on May 26.

This is a primarily rock band that plays songs that are also danceable (that’s my word, yes; I like to invent my own verbs sometimes). The band is lead guitarist Danny, Pete on rhythm, six-string bassist Reggie, drummer Jason, and Susan on vocals. Danny writes the songs and Susan handles the lyrics for the band’s original music, which has been recorded onto a four-song CD available at Amortar’s shows. Those attending the Monroe show in May will also be able to admire original paintings by Susan, which will be exhibited during the evening.

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

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or shannon@thebee.com; or call The Bee office at 426-3141.

Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

MARCH 30 — Bryan Adams at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; Culture at Toad’s Place New Haven (all ages), The Lightning and Above Suspicion opening; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe; No Frills at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe; Big Blue at Next Stop Café, Bethel; Aztek Trip at The Webster Theater, Hartford (all ages);

March 31 — FUBAR at Tuxedo Junction; Local Talent Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, featuring Dorie Colangelo, Darian Cunning, Chelsea Genzano & Christina Abbot; Edipus at Laszlo’s Arts Café; Luxx at The Webster Theater, 30 Stones, Facing Sideways and Hard Luxury opening (all ages).

APRIL 1 — Bennett Harris at Next Stop Café, Bethel; Yngwie Malmsteen at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, Lizzy Borden, Core and Buff Daddy opening (all ages);

April 3 — The Pat McGee Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages);

April 5 —Eric Johnson and Derek Trucks Band at The Webster Theatre; Dark Star Orchestra at Toad’s Place, Ink opening (all ages); Ferron at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, Jerree Small opening;

April 6 — Riders on the Storm at Toad’s Place (all ages); Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Black Rock; Leftover Salmon at The Webster Theatre;

April 7 — Chris Rello at Next Stop Café, Bethel; Cyd Xmas and Another Dark Day at Players (formerly Our Place Café), Danbury.