*Sax and jazz legend MACEO PARKER will be spreading the funk in Hartford next month when he visits The Webster Theater on Saturday, May 12. Showtime is 10 pm for the show, which will support Parker’s latest release, dial:MACEO. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door; call 860-246-8001 for details or reservations.

*It looks like BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES will be at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on August 12, with Keb’ Mo’ opening, and all seats priced at $25. Also, YES looks good for a September 1 show. Tickets for that show right now stand at $25 to $51.50. There are no public on-sale dates for either of these shows yet.

*The Newtown-based SUGARR™ (three of its members come from the former PLAYBACK, while vocalist Shannon Dooley has joined the fray and helped update the group’s sound) will return for its second gig at Hot Shots II in Newtown this weekend. WNHU radio personality Komplikated will be special guest for the April 28 show.

Here are a few shots from last weekend’s debut of SugarR™, which drew a fairly good crowd of friends, family and curious Hot Shots II patrons. The turnout was good, the music was very good, and I’d have to say the drum and guitar solos were two of the best parts of the show. Visit the bar/café at the corner of Route 25/Route 6 and Mt Pleasant Road on Saturday night to see what the buzz is all about for yourself. The one-column photo is of Josh Swetts, and in the group photo, from left, are Shannon Dooley, David Goodwick and Jason Hirou.

*A group called THE SMUGGLERS will be playing at Toad’s Place next weekend. The May 5 show starts at noon and will be both a record release celebration and a video shoot.

A few days later, the club is hosting a special benefit show for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. CHRIS TOFIELD & THE BLUESBENDERS, STANLEY MAXWELL, THE ROASTERS and FAULTLINE will all be performing on May 8.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or shannon@thebee.com; or call The Bee office at 426-3141.

Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

APRIL 27 — Holden Truelove at Bethel High School, Chance Browne and Dan Bonis & Friends opening; Strangefolk at The Webster Theater, Hartford; Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe;

April 28 — SugarR (formerly Playback) at Hot Shots II, Newtown, Komplikated opening; Mourning Widows at The Webster Theater; Edipus, Swift and Still Life at Players, Danbury (formerly Our Place Café); Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

April 29 — Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville; Blues Traveler at The Webster Theater;

April 30 — Clutch at Toad’s Place (all ages), V.O.D., Murphy’s Law and Tree opening.

MAY 1 — Toots & The Maytals at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Mystic Bowie and Soul Merchants opening (all ages);

May 3 — The Pharcyde at Toad’s Place, Ugly Duckling and DJ DSL opening (all ages);

May 4 — Amphibian at Toad’s Place (featuring Tom Marshall of Phish); After Dark IV at The Webster Theater, Hartford, featuring Chair 13, Fuse 5, Missing Joe and Renata (all ages); The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

May 5 — SugarR (formerly Playback) at Hot Shots II, Newtown; Cynics at Tune Inn, New Haven; America at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville; Groove Homes Band at The Webster Theater, Hartford (all ages); The Limit, Kudra and Sterves of Neil at Players, Danbury (formerly Our Place Café); The Smugglers at Toad’s Place (at noon, for record release and video shoot); Joe Rockstar at Tuxedo Junction;

May 6 — Tim Reynolds at The Webster Theatre.