Date: Fri 11-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Evans-Costanzo-Cherubs-Kansas

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

This weekend's Oyster Festival in Norwalk features a lot more than food. On

Saturday, SANS CHERUBS will be performing at 6:30 pm. KANSAS is expected to be

another one of the weekend's biggest draws. With the greatly anticipated

performance/return of original member Robby Steinhardt (the band's original

violinist), the band will be on the festival's Main Stage at 8 pm, also on

Saturday.

Sunday afternoon, STREET CORNER BLUE opens the Main Stage at 1 pm. The music

continues with GOVERNMENT MULE at 4 pm, THE GOOD RATS at 6, and the festival's

Main Stage finale, CHUCK NEGRON at 7:30 pm. Admission to all concerts is

included with festival admission, which is $7 per person. To get to the Oyster

Festival, head towards Norwalk and watch for the signs. They'll be everywhere.

Next week, Connecticut magazine is hosting a party at the Oakdale Theatre in

Wallingford. Co-host is the March of Dimes, which will benefit from some of

the party's proceeds. The September 17 party, "The Celebration of

Connecticut's Best," comes from the annual list readers of Connecticut

magazine are asked to vote on during the summer, asking for their favorites in

everything from radio station to night club, lobster roll to chocolate

dessert, TV weatherman to sports team, and 72 other categories. The party will

present as many of the category winners as can fit into the theatre.

Part of the evening's entertainment will be provided, of course, by bands

voted on by the magazine's readers. Among those scheduled to perform will be

the SONNY COSTANZO JAZZ ORCHESTRA, which won the Best Big Band category.

Additional music categories included Best Rock Band, Best Jazz Band and Best

Folk Singer. Those categories' winners -- EIGHT TO THE BAR, GALVANIZED JAZZ

BAND and SALLY ROGERS, respectively -- will also be performing Thursday night.

Tickets for the grand evening are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. The

party will run 6-9 pm at the Oakdale. Call 849-9800 or 860/290-5440 for

tickets, directions or any other information.

Night Lights Coffeehouse will begin its new season of monthly events next

weekend with a CD release party. BRENDA EVANS is celebrating the release of

her debut album, called waiting here for you .

Night Lights events are at the United Methodist Church, 244 East Avenue in

Norwalk. Doors open at 7 pm and open mic runs until 8:30, when the main act

takes the stage. Evans will be joined next week by her new back-up band,

Midlife Crisis, along with some promised "other special guests."

Evans was among those featured at the Beardsley Zoo's Connecticut Artists

Showcase last month. The musician has a busy September 11 lined up: she'll be

on "The Exchange" on Channel 12 (CPTV) with Dave Smith at noon, speaking with

Mike Horyczen on WPKN (89.5 FM) at 3 pm, and then performing that night at The

Green Parrot in Norwalk beginning around 7:30.

Admission for Night Lights events is $10 per person, or $7 for seniors and

children, which includes refreshments like soup or stew, sandwiches, baked

goods, coffee, tea and/or juice. Info? Call Joe Kaestner, 849-9130.

Through the end of the year, remaining Night Lights events include THE SLOAN

WAINWRIGHT BAND, October 10; THE NUDES, November 14; and BROOKS WILLIAMS,

December 12. Same number for info.

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

Questions and comments concerning "On The Road" (or anything music related)

should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road,

Newtown 06470, or shannon @thebee.com. Include a phone number for

confirmation, please . If you don't have a stamp or a piece of paper or a

writing utensil that works, give me a call! Phone number at the office is

426-3141. Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and

over unless specified.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

SEPTEMBER 12 -- Bonnie Raitt at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Moppin'

Sauce at Fat Daddy's, Watertown; Sans Cherubs at the Norwalk Oyster Festival

(Budweiser Entertainment Tent, 6:30 pm); Kansas at the Norwalk Oyster Festival

(Main Stage, 8 pm);

September 13 -- Pearl Jam at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Ben Harper &

the Innocent Criminals opening; Government Mule at the Norwalk Oyster Festival

(Main Stage, 4 pm);

September 16 -- Elton John at Hartford Civic Center;

September 17 -- Union at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Burning Spear at The Globe

Theatre; Mighty Purple at Toad's Place, Smoke the Prophet opening (all ages);

A Celebration of Connecticut's Best at Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, with

performances by Eight to the Bar, Galvanized Jazz Band, Sonny Costanzo Jazz

Orchestra, and Sally Rogers (call 849-9800 or 860/290-5440 for details);

September 19 -- Brenda Evans at Night Lights Coffeehouse (East Ave Methodist

Church), Norwalk (CD release party);

September 20 -- Local H at the Webster Theatre, Hartford;

September 21 -- Candlebox at the Webster Theatre;

September 23 -- Marcy Playground at Webster Theatre, Pete Droge and Garrison

Starr opening;

September 24 -- The Samples at Toad's Place (all ages), Pat McGee Band and

Sarah Masen opening;

September 25 -- Cobalt Rhythm Kings at Toad's Place (Swing Dance Night w/

dance instruction), Jitterbug Jane opening;

September 27 -- Hatebreed at Toad's Place, Ground Zero and Stigmata opening

(all ages);

September 30 -- Blink 182 at the Webster Theatre.