*This weekend will mark the official beginning for a new store in the Borders Books*Music*Café chain as well as a new beginning for a Westport-based singer, songwriter and pianist.

The Borders store in Southbury Plaza has opened at long last. The store opened last week, in fact, on May 22, but will celebrate its grand opening this coming weekend and among the performers it will welcome into the new space will be PORTER, who will debut her first indie release, the self-fulfilling prophecy, on Sunday, June 1, at 7 pm.

“Ever since I first started performing last January, I’ve been on the Borders music circuit,” admits Porter (through a press release). The multi-talented musician has already done shows at Borders in Danbury, Manchester, Meriden and Simsbury (including two in one day) this month alone. She not only wrote and arranged all the music on her first full-length album, but also produced it.

“It’s fitting,” she said, “that I’d release my album the same weekend as the opening of a new Borders store.”

Though she will be performing solo on piano on Sunday, the musical lineup of the self-fulfilling prophecy includes cello, oboe, flute, violin and clarinet.

“My engineer says I’m likely to have the only album in Connecticut with this many oboe parts,” she said with a grin.  “I’m thinking it’ll be a good selling point.”

*Also this weekend, tickets for ELTON JOHN’s first performance at Mohegan Sun Arena – and the only public one scheduled in New England this fall – will be going on sale. Elton John and his band will be at the arena on Friday, November 14, at 8 pm, as part of the 2008 Tour: Rocket Man * Number Ones.

Tickets have been set at $101.50 and $165.50 apiece, plus service charges, and will be on sale Saturday morning at 10 through TicketMaster vendors. There is a six ticket limit per person. The arena will also begin selling tickets on Sunday if they don’t sell out on Saturday.

*A couple of highlights from calendar of The Webster Theater in Hartford: RYAN CABRERA will be in town on June 8, BRET MICHAELS will be making a solo stop there as part of his Rock of Love Tour 2008 on Wednesday, June 11, and then two days later the legendary reggae band THIRD WORLD will be making their first appearance in Hartford.

*Among the upcoming shows at The Palace Theater in Waterbury will be one by GORDON LIGHTFOOT, who will be headlining on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:30. Tickets are $34.75 to $52.75 and can be purchased by calling 203-755-4700 or visiting PalaceTheaterCT.org.

*Sorry, my bad: Recently reunited boy band NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK have released a new single, “Summertime,” and are hitting the road for the first time in more than 14 years that will include a stop at Mohegan Sun Arena as part of their 2008 tour. Tickets are $45 and $60 and are already on sale through TicketMaster vendors.

I missed this notice by a few weeks. I bet there are still some tickets available for this show, however. Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood will be in Uncasville on Tuesday, September 30.

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 30 — Ryan Weber at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Tab Benoit at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; The B. Willie Smith Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Filter at Pig’s Eye Pub, Hartford

May 31 — Donovan Roberts at Mocha Coffee House; Foghat at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville (two shows, 8 and 10 pm); Air Supply at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; Stayin’ Alive at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre (tribute show, also June 1).

JUNE 1 — Stayin’ Alive at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre, Uncasville (also May 31); Porter at Borders Books, Southbury;

June 2 — Eric Clapton at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Robert Randolph and The Family Band opening;

June 4 — Allison Kraus and Robert Plant at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville;

June 6 — Discobiscuits at The Webster Theater, Hartford;

June 7 — Lil Wayne featuring Birdman, Rickross, Brisco and other guests at Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport;

June 8 — Tim McGraw with Jason Aldean and Halfway To Hazard at Dodge Music Center, Hartford; Ryan Cabrera at The Webster Theater; June 11 — Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at Dodge Music Center, Hartford, with special guest Steve Winwood; Bret Michaels at The Webster Theater;

June 13 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT); Dave Matthews Band at Dodge Music Center, Hartford, with special guest Paolo Nutini (also June 14); Third World at The Webster Theater;

June 14 — Dave Matthews Band at Dodge Music Center, with special guest Paolo Nutini;

June 15 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena;

June 17 — Tom Tom Club at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; Gordon Lightfoot at The Palace Theater, Waterbury;

June 19 — Stevie Wonder at Mohegan Sun Arena; Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks at Fairfield Theatre Company (also June 20);

June 20 — ZZ Top at The Chevrolet Theatre; Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks at Fairfield Theatre Company;

June 21 — Brooks and Dunn with Rodney Atkins and James Otto at Dodge Music Center;June 22 — Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band at Mohegan Sun Arena;

June 24 — Fish at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

June 25 — Steely Dan at the Chevrolet Theatre;

June 27 — Pearl Jam at Dodge Music Center, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists opening; Hot Jam 7 featuring Keyshia Cole, Akon, Rick Ross, Ray J, et al, at the XL Center;

June 28 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena.