*Fans of STAIND have a very unique opportunity to see a solo show by lead singer AARON LEWIS on Friday, May 7, when the vocalist plays a solo show at Mohegan Sun Arena. Lewis has decided to play shows in just a few markets, performing acoustic versions of the band’s biggest hits along with many of the songs that have influenced his life.

Tickets for this event will be going on sale Friday, April 9, at 10 am. A limited number of wristbands will be distributed at 7 that morning, or you can go through tickets.com outlets. All seats are $45.

*Tickets for a May 15 GINUWINE show, which will also feature Avant, Joe and Jagged Edge, at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, are on sale as of 3 pm April 2. Seats are $39.75 and $59.75; call 203-265-1501 for details.

*Chicago bands EARTH, WIND & FIRE and CHICAGO have announced plans for a summer tour of amphitheaters. The itinerary released by the bands last week includes a June 26 stop at The Meadows in Hartford, and tickets will be going on sale Monday morning.

While the show will be at The Meadows, the on-sale will be taking place at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford; the box office in Hartford hasn’t yet opening for the season.

Tickets have been set at $19.50 for the lawn, or $35, $55 and $75 for reserved seats. Wristbands will be given out at 8:30 Monday morning, and the drawing for line placement will be around 9:30.

Plan on a full evening for this concert. The shows are expected to run three-plus hours, with the bands appearing together at the start of each show, then each playing their own sets before returning to close with another combined performance.

*If you can get your butt out of bed early enough next weekend (or better yet, just book a room for Saturday night in Hartford), then Black-Eyed Sally’s might be an interesting choice for Easter Sunday.

The Asylum Street eatery will be hosting its 2nd Annual Easter Sunday Gospel Brunch and it starts at 10:30. JOHNNY RAWLS & HIS GOSPEL REVUE will be providing the music, along with special guest the legendary organist LUCKY PETERSON. I would strongly suggest making a reservation; call 860-278-7427.

Also coming up at Black-Eyed Sally’s are shows by former Robert Cray Band vocalist CURTIS SALGADO, with his current band, on April 16, and a return by POPA CHUBBY BAND the following night.

GROOVE BLENDERS, one of the finalists from the 2003 CT Blues Society Blues Challenge, will be playing April 22. THE PHIL GUY BLUES BAND (yep, the namesake is the little brother of Buddy) is there April 23 and 24; Saturday’s show will also feature THE NUTMEG HORNS.

JOHNNY VIBRATO & THE RAZORBACKS will be headlining on Thursday, April 29, followed by the Hartford debut of Saturday Night Live vocalist CHRISTINE OHLMAN with REBEL MONTEZ on April 30.

*Toad’s Place will offer an all ages show by ADREW WK on May 23, with opening sets by The Locust and No Motiv. Tickets are $13.50 in advance or $15 at the door.

LITTLE FEAT will be headlining on June 25. Tickets are $22.50 now or $25 later.

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

APRIL 2 — Alabama at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Wyclef Jean at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theater, Ledyard; De La Soul at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Bile at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, Moribound, Down to Zero, et al opening (all ages); SideShow at Murphy & Scarletti’s, Farmington; Roxy Perry at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 3 — Livingston Taylor, Jen Chapin & Kevin Briody at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts; SideShow at The Thirsty Turtle, Stamford; Ludacris at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction; Old School Revue at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 4 — Toots & the Maytals at Tuxedo Junction; Great Big Sea at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); Irish Traditional Music & Song (featuring members of Nomos, The Karen Casey Band and Lunsa) at Black Rock Art Center, Bridgeport; Willow at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 6 — Boys Night Out and Red Tape at The Webster Theatre, Flatline and Tepid opening (all ages);

April 8 — Eddie Money at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts;

April 9 — Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott at Hartford Civic Center, Tamia opening; Max Creek at The Webster Theatre, Robbing Opie opening (all ages); Musiq at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, Uncasville; John Brown’s Body at Tuxedo Junction; Tin Roof at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 10 — Hat City Blues Band at Mario’s, Danbury; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; Method Man at The Webster Theatre, Q opening (ages 18 and up); Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction; Curtis T & The Bernadettes at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 11 — Scratch & Sniff Duo at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 15 — Johnny Rawls & His Gospel Revue at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford (brunch show, starts 10:30 am)

Godsmack at Mohegan Sun Arena, ill nino and Dropbox opening; The Wailers at Toad’s Place (all ages); Brand New, Piebald and Denali at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

April 16 — Sol Dog at Café 127, Shelton; Ruben Stoddard at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; SideShow at The Brickyard, Hartford; The Mark Rigg Band at The Georgetown Saloon; Bad Medicine at Tuxedo Junction; The Curtis Salgado Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

April 17 — “Weird Al” Yankovic at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Due West at The Georgetown Saloon; Popa Chubby at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

April 18 — Breaking Benjamin at The Webster Theatre, Downward Limit and Look West opening (replaced previously-announced Brett Michaels show, all ages).