*The NHS Band Parents will be hosting a “Battle of the Bands” on Friday, May 11, from 5 to 11 pm, in the NHS cafeteria.

There will be 17 bands performing throughout the night. Most of the bands are members of the Newtown HS community, but there will be bands from the greater Newtown area performing as well.

Tickets are $8 prior to the event and $10 at the door. Pizza, chips, candy, soda and water will be available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the high school’s marching band, which is directed by Kurt Eckhardt.

*Music at Mocha later this month will include THE BANDOLINS on Saturday, May 19, and MIKE GRIFFIN & STEVE BIEGNER on Saturday, May 26.

The Bandolins will be playing “foot stompin’ bluegrass” at the coffee and dessert venue at 3 Glen Road in Sandy Hook.

Mike Griffin is a singer-songwriter originally from Bethlehem, now living in Northampton, Mass., whose work has been compared to Wilco and Ryan Adams. He will be playing songs from Sooner Than Later, his new album, which will also be available at the show.

Steve Biegner is also a singer-songwriter, from Easthampton, Mass., who is celebrated for his play on works and haunting melodies. His new album, As The Orchestra Swells, will also be highlighted and available at Mocha.

*Legendary pianist and composer DAVE BRUBECK and his jazz quartet will be performing a benefit concert on Saturday, May 19, at Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham. The rare Connecticut concert, which will begin at 6 pm, will be the kick-off for Jazz’d 4 Life, a new non-profit organization whose goal is to raise funds to benefit youth around the world by staging entertainment events. The non-profit organization, which was founded by Brubeck’s daughter Catherine Brubeck, has an international focus to support schools, orphanages, medical clinics, camps, food and clean water programs. Its domestic initiatives support a variety of programs that strengthen urban American youth.

Stamford-based AmeriCares will receive some of the proceeds from the May 19 concert, as will Camp Farnam, which brings New Haven children to Durham for a rural camping experience each summer, Coginchaug Scholarship Fund, and The B.E.M. School, a K-12 school building project in Les Cayes, Haiti.

The performance will feature the legendary Brubeck, of course, along with Michael Moore on bass, Randy Jones on drums, and Bobbie Militello on sax and flute.

Actor, writer and producer Chris Lemmon (son of the late Jack Lemmon) will be the master of ceremonies for May 19. Tickets range from $75 to $150 and can be purchased online at Jazzed4Life.org or by calling 800-476-8394.

Dr Mel Goldstein, the chief meteorologist for WTNH Channel 8 (and a Jazz’d 4 Life board member), will host a VIP Reception following the concert at 8 pm at Lyman Homestead in Middlefield. A limited number of tickets are available for this reception; contact Anthony Rinaldo, at 860-989-9546, for details about that.

*Mohegan Sun’s Signings & Sightings program, in conjunction with Spin Street (one of the casino’s stores in The Shops at Mohegan Sun), will present its next offering for fans attending the Heaven and Hell Live 2007 concert on May 15.

The former members of BLACK SABBATH — Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice — will sign copies of their latest CD, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, immediately following the sold-out concert in Mohegan Sun Arena Tuesday night. The first 500 fans to purchase the new album at Spin Street in The Shops at Mohegan Sun or bring their own copy of the new CD will receive an After Show pass which will guarantee them a place in line to meet the band.

Prior to the concert, Black Sabbath’s opener, multi-platinum recording artist MEGADETH will also be participating in a Signings & Sightings event at 4:30 pm, also at the Spin Street Stage. They will be signing copies of their new CD United Abominations, which is being released on Tuesday.

*Classic rock bands DEF LEPPARD and STYX are teaming up for a summer tour that will bring them to Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday, July 19. Tickets have been set at $60 and $75 for that show, and will be going on sale Friday morning at 10 am through TicketMaster vendors. Remaining tickets will also be available at the arena’s box office beginning Saturday morning.

*On Saturday morning, tickets for KELLY CLARKSON’s show at Mohegan Sun Arena, set for Thursday, August 16, will be going on sale at 10. Those tickets are also going to be available first-day through TicketMaster, and then also through the box office beginning on Sunday. These tickets have been priced at $75, $95 and $110.

*Local jazz band VERVE JAZZ QUARTET (www.verve-jazz.com) will provide the music on Saturday, May 19, at the Three Oaks Banquet facility at Capellaro’s Grove, 42 Vail Road in Bethel. The evening will run from 7 until 11 pm.

The event is a big fund raiser for the Bethel Education Foundation (more than 200 people will be attending), whose local work generates financial support for teacher grants and educational enrichment programs.

The band is led by drummer Josh Feldstein, who is joined by Billy Cofrances on tenor saxophone; Jon Blanck on tenor and alto sax; guitarist Ed Chervansky; and bass player Chris DeAngelis, as well as numerous plenty of guest artists on piano, trumpet, reeds, rhythm, and vocals.

These guys like to play “the best loved jazz tunes of all time,” according to their website, “from Armstrong to Basie, Brubeck to Coltrane, Ellington to Goodman, Ella to Dinah, Gordon to Monk, Jobim to Kenton, Miles to Getz...and many more.” I’m a sucker for all of those performers’ work. The good news is, this Bethel event is open to the public, so give Beth or Brian Gorry a call (748-3829) for ticket information and other details.

I’m hoping Josh will keep in touch so that as the band continues to schedule more shows, I can continue to let you guys know where to find some good jazz. Meanwhile take a look (and a listen!) at the band’s website (again, that’s verve-jazz.com).

*J.D. HILL has started an acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook. These weekly events will take place on Wednesdays, and start time is 8 pm.

A PA and microphones are provided. Sign-up can be done in person or by phone; call Mocha at 364-9200.

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

MAY 11 — Five For Fighting at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; David Bromberg and Angel Band at Fairfield Theatre Company; The Evan Goodrow Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Bob’s Your Uncle at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

May 12 — John Voket at Brass House Restaurant, Waterbury; The Webb Wilder Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Blue Steam Band at Georgetown Saloon;

May 15 — Heaven And Hell: Black Sabbath at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Megadeth and Machine Head opening;

May 16 — acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook (weekly event, 8-10:30 pm);

May 17 — Steely Dan at Mohegan Sun Arena; The Derek Trucks Band at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; round one of 2007 CT Blues Society Blues Challenge at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

May 18 — Rod Stewart at Mohegan Sun Arena; Steely Dan at The Chevrolet Theatre; Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Tangled Vine at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 19 — John Voket at Mocha Coffee House; Verve Jazz Quartet at Three Oaks Banquet Facility (Capellaro’s Grove), Bethel; Hat City Blues Band at The Georgetown Saloon; Lydia Warren Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

May 20 — Godsmack at Mohegan Sun Arena;

May 21 — Gwen Stefani at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guests Akon and Lady Sovereign.