*THE BLUE YODELS, one of the bands confirmed for the 4th Annual Newtown Earth Day Festival later this month (April 30 at Newtown Middle School), has a show this weekend for those who want an extra dose of this band’s “acoustic jangle pop/country/folk.”

Bob Brophy and crew, with special guest Mark Miller, will be at The River Bistro, 300 Kent Road (Route 7) in New Milford, on Friday, April 8. Showtime is 8:30, and there is no cover to get in.

*Speaking of the big Earth Day event, the musical line-up so far includes not only The Blue Yodels but also performances by THE BANDOLINS, THE PEARS, THE MIDDLE GATE SCHOOL CHORUS, THE SEAN SHERIDAN TRIO, THE SKANKTONES and THE RUST FRAMERS. In addition to the live music, students and faculty from Graceful Planet in Sandy Hook also have an early afternoon dance performance planned.

*Back to the Yodels for a minute: The band is also going to be performing a show on Saturday, April 23, at Busters Billiards, 46 Old State Road in New Milford, to benefit The 2011 Walk to Benefit Alzheimer’s (Saturday, May 7, in Harrybrooke Park, New Milford; visit www.NewMilfordWalk/kintera.org for details on that event).

The Busters show will be from 2 to 6 pm, and while admission is free any donations collected will be forwarded to The Alzheimer’s Association. Live music will also be performed by MARK MILLER, DON LOWE, AUSTIN GOLD, et al. There will be free pool and darks, complimentary appetizers, 50-50 cash raffles, and an auction featuring items from local businesses.

Full cash bar will be running, and soft drinks will also be available.

Children are welcome as long as they bring a parent with them.

*Also locally, OLD SCHOOL will be performing at Proud Mary’s in Newtown on April 8 and April 22, and then over at Blue Chip Restaurant in Danbury on April 23.

*SCOTT STAPP of CREED will perform his solo songs (including those from his upcoming solo double release Between Lust and Love) and those of the band Creed at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, April 14, at 8 pm. Creed touring rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman will also be featured.

Regular tickets for the acoustic concert are $65; AllShows.com VIP Party Passes are also available, offering VIP parking, a pre-show cocktail party and an open bar are an additional $50. These tickets sometimes include seating upgrades and meet & greet with the performers — contact the playhouse (23-438-5795 or www.RidgefieldPlayhouse.org) before committing the extra bucks if you are considering this.

*For those who have opted to not go for the 2011 Country Megaticket, the individual shows that ticket would have covered also begin to go on sale next week month including the June 4 Comcast Theatre show by BRAD PAISLEY. Tickets are $31.75 and $73.75 (including service fees) and will be on sale Friday, April 15, at 10 am, through www.LiveNation.com.

*LiveNation will have tickets on sale this weekend for a KID ROCK with SHERYL CROW show at the Comcast Theatre in Hartford scheduled for Thursday, July 7. Tickets are $25.50 for the lawn, and run from $35.50 to $75.50 for reserved seating.

They’re going on sale Friday, April 8, at 10 am, through www.LiveNation.com. A limited number of VIP packages are also available. Check the website for details on those.

*And while they aren’t available this weekend, tickets for JOURNEY with special guests FOREIGNER and NIGHT RANGER will be going on sale next Friday, April 15, at 10 am, for what looks to be $32 (including service fees) for lawn seating and up to $156 for reserved seats. This show will be Thursday, August 25, also at The Comcast.

That’s it for now. 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

APRIL 8 — Old School at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; Kenny Chesney at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Uncle Kracker and Billy Currington opening (also April 9); Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Hollywood Undead, 10 Years, Drive A and New Medicine at The Dome at The Oakdale, Wallingford; Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; The Blue Yodels at The River Bistro, New Milford;

April 9 — Kenny Chesney at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncle Kracker and Billy Currington opening; Average White Band at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk;

April 14 — Scott Stapp at The Ridgefield Playhouse (acoustic show), with special guest Eric Friedman;

April 15 — Poco at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

April 16 — Dave Mason at Infinity Music Hall; Lee Brice at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; All Stars of Boston Rock at The Palace, Waterbury (featuring J. Geils, Magic Dick, Danny Klein, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, David Hill, Elliot Easton, Sandy MacDonald, Johnny A., The Uptown Horns & many others), The Stompers and Ernie and The Automatics opening;

April 17 — Ricky Martin at Mohegan Sun Arena;

April 18 — Fran Cosmo at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

April 20 — Diddy-Dirty Money at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket;

April 22 — Old School at Proud Mary’s; Harry Connick Jr & Orchestra at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods; Rusted Root at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

April 23 — Old School at Blue Chip Restaurant, Danbury; The Doobie Brothers at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; The Blue Yodels, Mark Miller, Don Lowe, Austin Gold, et al at Busters Billiards, New Milford (2 pm show, fundraiser for The Alzheimer’s Association);

April 28 — Jon Anderson at Infinity Music Hall;

April 29 — Alan Jackson at Mohegan Sun Arena, Sunny Sweeney opening; Roomful of Blues at Infinity Music Hall; The Trolls at The Redding Roadhouse;

April 30 — Eddie Money at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den.