Date: Fri 03-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

WASP-McLachlan-Lilith-Ashlar

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

WASP has decided to pull out of Iron Maiden's forthcoming Metal Mania/Virtual

XI North American dates, as the band needs finish recording its new album.

"We haven't finished the record as early as we had expected," said lead

vocalist Blackie Lawless, via a press release this week. "When you're in the

creative process it's impossible to abandon it and go on the road, because you

know that when you come back to it, it will be gone. It waits for no one, and

at the moment I'm in deep, so touring will have to wait. My apologies to Steve

and Maiden, and I wish them the very best for a successful tour. Our most

sincere apologies to our fans. See you in '99!"

As a result of this, Iron Maiden has elected to play an extra long set and has

invited Dio to extend his set.

Surprisingly, tickets are still available for next weekend's LILITH FAIR when

the grand event returns to the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford. (Actually,

if we want to talk about amazing tickets still available, I should mention yet

again that Jimmy Buffett tickets can still be purchased for the King of

Summer's late August show, same venue.)

On the bill for Lilith this year for the Connecticut appearance is SARAH

McLACHLAN (of course), BONNIE RAITT, NATALIE MERCHANT, TRACY BONHAM, LAUREN

HILL, HEATHER NOVA, IMANI COPPOLA, GARRISON STARR and DONNA MARTIN. (PAULA

COLE, a strong draw of last summer's touring fair, returns to Connecticut with

the HORDE Tour on August 4.)

Opening performances for Lilith will begin around 4:30 pm. Tickets for the

Fair are $26.50 for the lawn, and $43.50 or $54 for pavilion spots. Meadows

tickets are available through any Pro-Tix outlet, and Lilith tickets may even

be available at the gate next Saturday. When MIGHTY PURPLE returns for another

concert at Toad's Place in New Haven later this month, the band's show will be

recorded for a future live CD release. The band headlines a July 30 bill that

reads more like one of the touring festivals that have become so popular as of

late. In addition to Purple's headlining work, opening performances will

include Paradise Vendors, Underpass and Chemical Grooves. The show will be

open to all ages.

One of the best concert photos I have ever taken was done years ago, when Lake

Compounce was a regular stop for summer concert tours. I have this amazing

photo of Mark Slaughter from a SLAUGHTER show at the Bristol theme park.

Slaughter will be in Connecticut next month, performing at Toad's Place in New

Haven on August 10. No openers have been announced yet, but the show is open

to all ages.

Summer is the season to be outdoors, and hence is the season for outdoor

concerts. Two series are back right here in Newtown. (Sadly, it looks as if

the excellent jazz series at McLaughlin Vineyards in Sandy Hook is on hold for

this summer.)

The Booth Library Summer Concert Series began last week, when the Sandy Hook

trio TREBLEHOOK performed on the library's back lawn. Performances in the

Booth series are free of charge -- that's the best part about most summer

concerts in the area! Shows start at 7 pm.

The next concert in that series will be July 10, with THE TORNADOES. The group

performs 50s rock n' roll. In the event of rain, concerts are postponed to the

following night. Picnics are welcome (please clean up after yourself), and

bring blankets and/or chairs for seating.

Also returning this month is the Ashlar Sounds of Summer series, which is

moving from its traditional Toddy Hill Road location to the front lawn of

Newtown Middle School. These shows are also free, and also at 7 pm. The best

part is, it's a different night than the Booth series, so you don't have to

try to juggle. Ashlar's series is presented on Tuesday nights.

This year's schedule begins July 7, with THE KENNY LEE ORCHESTRA performing

music from the 1940s to 1960s. The Ashlar-sponsored concerts are held rain or

shine. So pack a picnic, grab a chair, and----

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... outside, listening to the music.