*A fourth Billy Joel concert has been added to the 2006 run at the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday, April 22. Tickets for that show will go on sale Saturday, January 21, at 10 am, priced at $41.50 and $77.

The tickets will be available on Saturday through TicketMaster vendors only. The civic center’s box office will not be open over the weekend. Tickets, if any remain, will be sold beginning Monday at noon.

The April show will be Joel’s 22nd performance (including four sold out performances with Elton John) at Hartford Civic Center, the most ever by any artist. Joel has now surpassed the previous record holder — The Grateful Dead (18 performances) and Jerry Garcia (three performances).

*An open mic session will be taking place this weekend at Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook.

Jim Allen will host the event, which will run on Sunday, January 22, from 5 to 7:30 pm.

*Premier Music Hall has just added a large number of shows to its calendar, starting with ROBERT KLEIN on Friday, January 27. Tickets are $40 general admission, and the show is open to all ages.

LEZ ZEPPELIN, an all-girl band playing the music of Led Zeppelin who has been called “80 percent flawless and 99 percent awesome” by Spin magazine, will be in Danbury on Saturday, February 4. Tickets are $12, and the show will be open to all ages.

ERIC BENET, with special guest Amanda Dumas, will celebrate the release of his latest album, Hurricane, on Friday, February 10.  Tickets are $32.50 for this 21-and-over show.

BIG SHOT, which performs regularly at Toad’s Place in New Haven, will make its Danbury debut on Saturday, February 11 (ages 21 and over, tickets $15), while fellow cover band THE MACHINE will be in town on Friday, February 17 (all ages, $15).

THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS will bring their mix of blues, r&b, Cajun and rock into Premier Music Hall on Saturday, February 18. Tickets are $32.50; the show is for 21 and up.

DUNCAN SHEIK, with special guest David Poe and opening act Jim Broggia, will headline on Sunday, February 19 (all ages, $18); MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD will headline on Wednesday, February 22 (all ages $25); RICK WAKEMAN of Yes will bring his Grand Piano Tour to town on Friday, March 3 (all ages, $35); THE FAB FAUX, a Beatles tribute band, will headline on Saturday, March 4 (all ages, $30); THE OUTLAWS, who are still together after 31 years, will headline on Sunday, May 12, following an opening set by Blackberry Smoke (21 and over, $20); and guitarist JOE BONAMASSA will headline on Friday, July 7 (21 and over, $20).

Tickets for all of these shows are on sale from Premier Music Hall’s box office, at 6 Delay Street (walk-in hours are Tuesday through Saturday between 11 am and 6 pm), over the phone at 866-384-3060 (Monday through Friday between noon and 8 pm), online at PremierConcerts.com, and also at Strawberries stories.

*Stephen Pearcy of RATT is back on the road again. He will be at The Webster Theater in Hartford on Saturday, February 18. Tickets for that show, which will feature opening sets by Bang Tango and The Bulletboys, are just $15 in advance.

*The following evening LIVE will be at the same venue, performing an all ages show. Tickets are $35 and on sale now.

*WU-TANG CLAN’s show at Toad’s Place on February 7 will feature all of the band’s original members.

Tickets for that show, which is a 21-and-over affair, are $40 whether purchased in advance or at the door.

*Overkill has postponed its March 2 show at The Webster Theater in Hartford. Former CREED singer SCOTT STAPP will be playing an all ages show now instead. A press release from the theater earlier this week said that the Overkill show will be rescheduled.

Tickets for that new show, $22.50 apiece, will be going on sale Saturday morning. No word on who, if anyone, will be opening.

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 SHOWS

JANUARY 20 — Kid Rock at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; The Nerds at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Megahertz opening; Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Black Rock;

January 21 — Johnny Winter at Toad’s Place, Cobalt Rhythm Kings and Bobby T. opening; The Click Five at The Webster Theater, Hartford; Cameo at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville;

January 22 — The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret (matinee performance); The Click Five at Toad’s Place, October Fall opening (all ages);

January 26 — Sevendust at Toad’s Place, Nonpoint, Wicked Wisdom and One opening (all ages);

January 27 — Less Than Jake at The Webster Theatre, A Wilhelm Scream, Rock & Roll Soldiers and Damone opening (all ages); Rascal Flatts at Mohegan Sun Arena, Keith Anderson opening (also January 28); The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also January 28)

January 28 — Blue Oyster Cult at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Rascal Flatts at Mohegan Sun Arena, Keith Anderson opening (also January 27); The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also Jan 27); Hat City Blues Band at The Georgetown Saloon; OK Go at Toad’s Place (all ages, early show);

January 29 — Armor For Sleep and Boys Night Out at Toad’s Place, Chiodos and Action Reaction opening (all ages); Silvertide at The Webster Underground, Hartford;

January 30 — Avenged Sevenfold, CKY and Day of Contempt at The Webster Theater.