*SIDESHOW returns to Black Rock & Blue in Bridgeport on Friday, January 23.

Beyond that show the good news is SideShow continues to keep busy, with shows scheduled most weekends these days. The bad news is it’s going to be a bit of a drive to see any of the band’s shows in February. Grady, Fred, Chris, Jay and John will be at Sports Bar in North Windham on February 6, Murphy & Scarletti’s in Farmington on February 7, Stash’s on February 20, and Sports Rock USA in Bristol on February 28.

*Also playing tonight is HAT CITY BLUES BAND, who will be at Mario’s – back (almost) where everything started for this band. Ron Caruso, Gary LeVan, Dave Lott, Bill Morris and Ed Pryzby met during an open mic event 16 months ago at Blues Alley, which was the previous name for Mario’s. They guys were tossed together at random, but there was something special in that combination and the five followed that chance meeting with rehearsals, performances and even a competition appearance last year at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café in Hartford.

On January 23 the band will return to 127 Park Avenue in Danbury, this time playing a headlining show. Start time is 9:30 or so.

*CHARISMA is also playing again this weekend. The “party band for everyone” will return to J.C. Hooks Bar & Grill in Waterbury on Saturday, January 24. They’ll be starting around 9:30. The restaurant is at 550 Chase Ave; call 203-755-3632 for directions.

*NEIL YOUNG will be returning to the state in a few weeks. Tickets for his March 15 show at the Oakdale in Wallingford went on sale last weekend (I’m sorry I missed getting that into last week’s column). This will be one of Young’s Greendale shows – the first portion of the show will consist of Young’s album of the same name, played in its entirety. A few songs from earlier albums complete the show.

Rolling Stone described the shows like this in August: “Young has enlisted a cast of more than fifty to bring the fictional musical portrait of the Green family – who reside in Greendale and face an impending eco-disaster – to life. … Though Greendale is the focus of the sets, Young begrudgingly offers a few chestnuts in the mix.”

Tickets are $39.50 to $75 a pop, and available from the Oakdale’s box office or any TicketMaster outlet.

Also returning to Connecticut is Grammy winner JOHN MAYER, who will be at The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport on St Patrick’s Day (another oversight on my part; this should have run last week.) The Bridgeport native – this should be a fantastic show for him – will headline a show that will feature an opening set by GUSTER. Tickets are $38 and also available through TicketMaster outlets and the box office at Arena at Harbor Yard.

What is new this week is a second show by the phenomenal young singer JOSH GROBAN at the Oakdale. Already scheduled for an April 8 show (which is sold out), Groban will now be returning to Wallingford on Friday, April 30.

Tickets for the new show are going on sale Saturday, January 24, at 10 am, through the Oakdale box office or any tickets.com vendor. If you’re heading to the box office on Saturday you should know that there will be wristbands distributed at 8:30 and the drawing to determine where the line begins at 9:30.

*Local classic rock band FOG will be playing at The Alexandria Room on Saturday, February 7, as part of a benefit evening for Trinity Episcopal Church’s Workcamp program. About 34 adult and young adult (ages 13 and up) members of the church are planning to attend Workcamp in Canton, Ohio, later this year, and they could use some help to pay for their transportation and other related costs.

“Trinity Rocks the Town Hall: The 1st Annual Dance Party Benefit” is one of several fundraisers being organized by the church to do just that. Tickets are February 1 are $25 per person or $40 per couple, which gets you into the event, allows you to enjoy hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, and enjoy the live music and some dancing to work off those treats. Attire is jacket and tie.

Contact Leslie Konneker, 270-9116, to purchase tickets and receive additional information. Anyone unable to attend the dance but interested in helping the Workcampers can also made a donation. Call Leslie for that information as well.

*The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and The Performing Arts recently released its schedule for the first part of 2004, and there are some good concerts (in addition to children/family shows, programs and film screenings) coming in to the venue. The playhouse opened its season with a show last week by David Sanborn. Coming up David Johansen will be pulling his alter ego, BUSTER POINDEXTER, out of retirement for a special “Champagne & Diamonds Valentine’s Day Fundraiser” on Saturday, February 14. Tickets for the 7:30 performance are $60 and $70. Proceeds will benefit the playhouse.

Allman Brothers Band founding member DICKEY BETTS will also be returning to the area. Betts and his current band The Great Southern will be at the playhouse on Saturday, March 6. Tickets are also $60 and $70 for this show.

In April former state troubadour KEVIN BRIODY will be joined by LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and JEN CHAPIN for a triple bill on April 3; tickets are $45 and $55. Also appearing in the spring: EDDIE MONEY on April 8 (tickets $65 and $75), JOAN JETT on May 8 ($75 and $85), and MARC COHN will headline on May 15. Tickets for Cohn’s show are available in three tiers – $46, $56 and $75 – the highest of which will include a meet and greet reception with the musician.

For details or to reserve tickets for any of these shows contact the playhouse’s box office at 203-438-5795.

*New at The Webster is a March 3 show by MEST. Tickets are $12 for the all ages show and doors open at 7.

Also new is a March 27 date by EDWIN McCAIN, who will be performing with a full band. Tickets for this show, also open to all ages, are $15.

*Tuxedo Junction in Danbury hasn’t unveiled its full February schedule yet, but TicketMaster is listing a February 6 show by MOLLY HATCHET; all tickets are $20.

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

JANUARY 23 — Hat City Blues Band at Mario’s, Danbury (formerly Blues Alley); SideShow at Black Rock & Blue, Bridgeport; Sol Dog at Café 127, Shelton; Gargantua Soul at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); Big Boned at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport (Black Rock) The Pull opening; The John Primer Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford (also January 24); The Roots at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Bayside, Days Like These, Welton, et al, at The Empress Ballroom, Danbury (all ages);

January 24 — Charisma at J.C. Hooks Bar & Grill, Waterbury; B.B. King at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; Lara Herscovitch at Acoustic Café, followed by Green Inside and The Daria Musk Trio; Off The Hook at 707 On Main, Monroe; Anti-Flag at Toad’s Place (all ages); The John Primer Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s (also January 23); Them Bones at Tuxedo Junction;

January 25 — Sol Dog at Bar, New Haven (early show, 1-5 pm, part of annual beer tasting-food tasting-music fundraiser for The Pediatric AIDS Fund of New Haven);

January 27 — Anti Flag at Toad’s Place (all ages), Rise Against, Against Me!, None More Black and The New Mexican Death Squad opening;

January 29 — Young Neal & The Vipers at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

January 30 — SideShow at Shenanigan’s, South Norwalk; The Nerds at Toad’s Place; Catie Curtis at Acoustic Café; Jacqueline Marie Blues Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s; The Machine at Tuxedo Junction; Hatebreed at The Empress Ballroom (all ages);

January 31 — Twice Around and Open Book at Acoustic Café; Sugar Ray & The Bluetones at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction; Hatebreed at The Empress Ballroom (all ages).