*The first tickets for summer concerts at the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford (or The New England Dodge Music Center, depending on which Live Nation website you’re looking at) have been announced. The 2009 IGA Country Megaticket will be available this morning (Feb 27) at 10 am, which will grant access to four shows this year: BRAD PAISLEY with Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne on Saturday, June 13; RASCAL FLATTS with Darius Rucker on Friday, June 26; TOBY KEITH with Trace Adkins on Friday, July 17; and KENNY CHESNEY with Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum on Thursday, August 13.

There are two price levels available: Reserved Pavilion Seating, which gives you the same seat for all four shows and one Premiere parking pass for every two tickets purchased, is $550; and Festival Lawn Seating, which is $136.50.

Tickets will be available through MegaTicket.com or by calling 877-598-8689.

*TOWER OF POWER, the band The Hollywood Reporter calls “tighter than a clenched fist” and who, after 40 years is still collecting reviews calling them “a very contemporary sounding band,” will perform at the Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport on March 27. David Sanborn will have the opening honors.

Tickets are available for $22 to $67 and can be purchased by calling 203-269-1036.

*TALESPIN, the four-man band with 20 years of music experience behind them, will return to City Ale House in Danbury next weekend. The classic-progressive rock group (with a little rockabilly thrown in for good measure) will be at 253 Main Street on Friday, March 6. Showtime is about 9:30 and there’s no cover charge.

*Music at Mocha Coffeehouse this weekend will begin with singer-songwriter MOLLY BRYCE on Friday night and then guitarist and vocalist JON SLOW tomorrow night. Both shows will run 8 to 10 pm, and Friday’s performance will be the music to accompany a special closing reception for the Monroe artist Alison Cole, whose artwork has been featured at the Glen Road hangout all month.

Friday happens to also be Alison’s birthday, so be sure to give her good wishes whether you stop in to see her, listen to the music, or just grab some goodies for the road. If you want to do something really special for Alison, write a check – any amount – for Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS), which Alison volunteers much of her time for. That, she says, would be the best gift eva.

*Blue Z Coffee House, the new hangout over at 127 Main Street South, will have poetry and music this weekend.

Haley Keane will host a slam poetry event tonight (February 27), with an open mic scheduled to start at 6:30 and then the slam from 7 to 9 pm.

I know it’s tight notice, but contact Haley at Kheane@charter.net or 203-628-0347 if you want to sign up for this week’s event. I’m sure there will be more in the future, and we’re working with the coffee house to get information in this space for you guys on a regular basis.

Tomorrow night HIP REPLACEMENTS will be playing “good old-fashioned rock and roll” from 7:30 until 9:30 pm.

Open mic nights will be hosted by the coffee house each the first and third Thursday of each month, with the next two coming on March 5 and 19. Sign-ups will run from 6 to 6:45 pm, and then the open mic from 7 to 10 pm.

*After a four year hiatus, NO DOUBT announced on Wednesday plans for a massive 2009 tour that will include a stop at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday, June 24. Tickets will be going on sale next weekend – on Saturday, March 7, at 10 am – and have been priced at $67.50 and $87.50. They will be available through TicketMaster vendors on Saturday and then also from the casino’s box office beginning Sunday.

Paramore and Janelle Monae will have opening sets.

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

FEBRUARY 27 — Molly Bryce at Mocha Coffeehouse, Sandy Hook; 3 Doors Down at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Hoobastank opening; Hat City Blues Band at Black Duck Café, Westport; John Waite at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, Norfolk; Hammer of the Gods/The Led Zeppelin Experience at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; Alexa Ray Joel at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Marc Huberman at Donna Marie’s Cucina Italiana, New Milford;

February 28 — The Adults at The One-Eyed Pig, Newtown; Jon Slow at Mocha Coffeehouse; Hip Replacements at Blue Z Coffee House, Newtown; Aaron Lewis at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville (solo acoustic show); Lou Gramm at Ridgefield Playhouse, Doug Wahlberg Band opening; River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs at Georgetown Saloon.

MARCH 5 — John Waite at Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, Norfolk, with Patricia Mitchell;

March 6 — The Robert Cray Band at Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield; Trippy Phonics at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; TaleSpin at City Ale House, Danbury;

March 7 — Bob’s Your Uncle at Georgetown Saloon;

March 8 — Nickelback at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Seether and Saving Abel opening; The James Cotton Band at Infinity Music Hall;

March 9 — Dropkick Murphys at The Webster Theater, Hartford.