*If you’d like to check out one of the bands that will be at OzzFest this summer, SCARLET will be one of this weekend’s performers at The Empress Ballroom in Danbury. The quartet is touring to support its full-length debut for Ferret, called Cult Classic, and will be in Danbury on Friday, April 30.

The show is apparently a festival of Ferret Music bands. In addition to Scarlet the evening’s line-up includes MISERY SIGNALS, TWELVE TRIBES, HENRY SPENCER and IF I HAD EYES.

Empress is an all-ages, non-alcoholic venue. Doors open at 7 and shows start shortly thereafter.

*CHARISMA is getting ready to start performing again. Kathy Buda dropped a line this week to mention that she and the band – which is now Kathy on vocals, newest member Bob Bonvivi on drums, guitarist Peter Obre, and Mitch Taub and Gustavo Mori – will be at The Red Door (formerly Fat Daddy’s) in Watertown on Friday, May 7, and then at Jim Barberies in Danbury on May 8.

The band is also going to be participating in Newtown’s Relay for Life event next month. Linda and Guy Russo “purchased” the band during last October’s dinner-dance auction at Reed Intermediate School, and have decided to donate Charisma’s musical services to the June 12 event at Newtown High School. Details will follow.

*Tickets are still available for MARC COHN’s upcoming performance at Ridgefield Playhouse for the Performing Arts. Cohn will be in town on Saturday, May 15, at 8 pm. Tickets are $46 and $56, or $76 for Gold Seating (which includes a Meet & Greet reception). Call the box office at 203-438-5795 for details or reservations.

*Tuxedo Junction in Danbury is organizing a ten-band show for next Friday that will be a fundraiser for AIDS victims. While the club’s website doesn’t specify how the money raised from the May 7 show will be distributed, it does offer the beginnings of a line-up.

Friday’s show, which will be open to all ages, will include WORK FORCE, CLOSE TO FATE, EPA and MICHAEL MOURNING, among others. Contact Tuxedo Junction directly, at 748-2561, if you are interested in the show.

*ZOX news: The band (which includes Newtown native Spencer Swain) opened for THE ROOTS last weekend at East Carolina University. If that weren’t enough they learned last week that they have also landed an opening show for THE BLACK-EYED PEAS on May 8 at Plymouth State University.

Now if they would just get back to western Connecticut for a show…

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 CONCERTS

APRIL 30 — Off The Hook at Proud Mary’s (The Inn at Newtown), Newtown; Hat City Blues Band at The Georgetown Saloon; SideShow at Sports Bar, North Windham; Blue Oyster Cult at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Megahertz and Done Mama Proud opening; Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Evolution and Unchained at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Scarlet at The Empress Ballroom, Danbury, also Misery Signals, Twelve Tribes, Henry Spencer and If I Had Eyes;

MAY 1 — Sophie B. Hawkins at The Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford; Rick Springfield at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Bouncing Souls at Toad’s Place, New Haven, The Unseen, Randy and Let It Burn opening (all ages); Dr Mudd and Philip The Meatbox at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Bone Dry at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 2 — The Roots at Toad’s Place (all ages); Todd Rundgren & The Liars at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Cinnamon Sky Trio at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 3 — King’s X at Toad’s Place, Stealing Providence and Eblend opening (all ages);

May 5 — Chulrua at Newtown Meeting House; Shania Twain at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Name Taken at The Empress Ballroom, Danbury, From First To Last and Scatter The Ashes opening;

May 6 — The Doors of the 21st Century at Mohegan Sun Arena; Howie Day at Toad’s Place, Matt Nathanson opening (all ages);

May 7 — An Evening with Aaron Lewis at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Charisma at The Red Door (formerly Fat Daddy’s), Watertown; Tesla at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Sol Dog at The Georgetown Saloon; SideShow at Black Rock & Blue, Bridgeport; Foghat at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Off The Hook at Proud Mary’s (The Inn at Newtown), Newtown; Big Shot at Toad’s Place, Wax Palace and Gamma Rays opening;

May 8 — Joan Jett at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts; Charisma at Jim Barberies, Danbury; The Toasters at The Empress Ballroom, No Name Charlies, East Coast Skank, et al opening.