*DARIA MUSK TRIO, or DM3 for short, returns to Danbury this weekend with a show tonight at The Colorado Brewery. Showtime is 10 pm so you have time to put your copy of The Bee aside for now – pick up back up and finish reading it tomorrow morning – and head over to 6 Delay Street in the CityCenter area of Danbury.

The band will be playing a new set, with more new songs, and there may be some more videotaping for the band’s upcoming DVD. Those who showed up at last weekend’s show at Shenanigan’s in South Norwalk were included in that taping session. Close To Fate featuring Mike and Eddie will be opening.

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND is already looking well into 2004. The guys added another show to their schedule last week; they’ll now be playing at Mario’s in Danbury on January 23.

Another new addition for the band is a show at The Black Duck in Westport next weekend. Showtime is 9:15 or so for Friday, December 12.

*Regular readers of this column will recognize new listings for Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café in Hartford – it’s another of my favorite restaurants in the state. The eatery and music room will be featuring a show next weekend, on December 12, by SAM TAYLOR’S BLUES MACHINE. Here’s an interesting tidbit for you: Taylor was “the whistler” on OTIS REDDING’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay.” I remember reading somewhere that Redding either couldn’t or didn’t care to whistle, so Taylor – who was in Redding’s band at the time – stepped in to offer what’s now one of the most famous whistle breaks in American music history.

The following evening will see the Sally’s debut of COMMANDER CODY & THE LOST PLANET AIRMEN (named World’s Best Live Band by Billboard in 1974 and 1975).

*Acoustic Café in Bridgeport (the Black Rock section of…) will be closing for a Christmas vacation from December 24 until January 5. Before taking that break the café will host a Bluegrass & Beer Open Jam Session on December 18, and then a Hanukkah celebration show with MARGOT LEVERETT & THE KLEZMER MOUNTAIN BOYS headlining.

When the café re-opens next month the first event on the schedule is the weekly Domino Effect meeting on Wednesday, January 7 (including an open jam that night at 9:30), and then a show on January 9 by GIRLYMAN and WE’RE ABOUT 9.

Also coming up at Acoustic Café: a return of SLOAN WAINWRIGHT on February 7.

*Tickets are going on sale Saturday afternoon at 1 for the just-announced return of SHANIA TWAIN to Mohegan Sun Arena. The megastar of country and pop radio stations will be back in Uncasville (having played a sold-out show there just about a month ago) on Wednesday, May 7. Ticket prices have been set at $65, $95 and $125, seating will be in the round, and sales will be done through tickets.com online or by calling 800-477-6849. Wristbands will be distributed Saturday beginning at 10 am.

*If you are one of the few who ventured out to purchase tickets for A ROYAL CHRISTMAS, a national tour that was to stop at Hartford Civic Center on December 10, you need to venture out with those tickets once more. Unfortunately this outing will be a return to the location where you purchased those tickets, and not to your seats at the civic center.

Promoters announced this week that “due to a late start and disappointing ticket sales” the national tour featuring Angela Lansbury, Christopher Plummer, The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, LINDA RONSTADT, THE ROYAL FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA, THE WESTMINSTER BELL CHOIR, and others, has been cancelled completely.

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

DECEMBER 5 — Riders On The Storm at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); Nerissa & Katryna Nield at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, Girlyman opening; Tish Hinojosa at UHartford’s Wilde Auditorium, West Hartford; Three Days Grace at The Webster Theatre, Hartford; The Tony Trischka Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Karl Denson and Psychedelic Breakfast at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

December 6 — Seal at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Ledyard, wilshire opening; SideShow at Stash’s, New London; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction; 8 Deep at The Colorado Brewery, Danbury; The Cottars at UHartford’s Wilde Auditorium; Beautiful Creatures at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, Dead Legend, Warped, Age of Anchors, Junktion 2-1, Ethic and Scarlett opening (all ages); Sugar Ray & The Bluetones at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

December 10 — Zen Tricksters at Acoustic Café;

December 11 — Badfish at Toad’s Place (all ages); Michael Glabicki (of Rusted Root) at The Webster Theatre, Nico, Robbing Opie, Not For Scholars and Greg Wood opening (all ages);

December 12 — Cheryl Wheeler with David Roth at UHartford’s Wilde Auditorium; Sam Taylor’s Blues Machine at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Mushroomhead at The Webster Theatre, Cortez opening (all ages); Mountain of Venus at The Colorado Brewery; The Nerds at Toad’s Place; The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Round Robin at Acoustic Café, Stealin’ Back opening; Evolution and Unchained at Tuxedo Junction;

December 13 — Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen at Black-Eyed Sally’s; The Wayne Keenan Quartet at Acoustic Café; Grover Dill at The Webster Theatre; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction;

December 14 — Eve 6 at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

December 16 — David Bowie at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Macy Gray opening.