*Legendary blues artist LOUISIANA RED will be in Bridgeport to perform at the Acoustic Cafe on Friday, May 23, at 8 pm. Louisiana Red is 75 years old, with over 55 years of experience in recording and performing. His recording career began in ‘52 with recordings for Chess/Checker, where he was backed by Little Walter on harp and Muddy Waters on guitar.

He’s continued to record relentlessly even to date, with recent releases on Earwig, Severn and Hightone. Over the years Red has toured frequently throughout the world, sharing the stage and backing such greats as Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. He’s a master of slide guitar in both traditional acoustic and urban electric styles, and along with his powerful, passionate lyrics and vocals, he has been captivating audiences and gaining lifelong devotees at every step along the way.

This should be a fantastic show, and tickets are just $15 each. I strongly suggest putting in a reservation for this one if you are thinking about going. I expect a full house will be there to welcome Red in a few weeks. Call the care at 203-335-3655 or visit AcousticCafe.com for tickets, reservations, directions or any other information you might need.

*MARC HUBERMAN has a number of shows coming up this month. It looks like the acoustic guitarist is not only hosting the twice-weekly (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) open mics at Georgetown Saloon, he’s also headlining his own shows this month at Southwest Café in Ridgefield (109 Danbury Road/Route 35; telephone 203-431-3398) on Saturdays, May 10 and 24, with special guest percussionist Edward James Murphy. Both of the Ridgefield shows will start around 7.

*Actor and musician Tim Piper will offer two performances of “A Day in His Life: The John Lennon Anthology Concert” at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre, Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7. Tickets are $50 and both shows will start at 7:30.

Mr Piper transports audiences to the beginning of Lennon’s life and the remarkable journey that influenced the music and culture of generations. He also shares stories about the man, his music, and the legendary musician who, as co-founder of the Beatles, created a revolution that shook the world. The multi-media production utilizes visual images, anecdotes and note-perfect renditions of some of the best known pop and rock songs of all time.

Tickets are already available for these shows, through TicketMaster and from the casino’s box office.

*Tickets went on sale this morning (May 2) for a LIL WAYNE CARTER III Album Release Concert set to take place Saturday, June 7, at Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Prices range from $50.25 to $75.25.

If you happen to grab this issue of The Bee when it’s published on Thursday night and want to participate in the start of ticket sales Friday morning, be aware that there will be a lottery wristband system in effect for ticket sales. Between 8 and 9:15 am anyone standing in line will be given a wristband. At 9:15 a number will be drawn to correspond with the wristband number of the person who will be first in line. Anyone arriving after 9:15 will be put in the back of the line.

The bill will also include sets by Birdman, Rickross, Brisco and other guests, although the notice that was sent around to announce the on-sale dates this week also included an “artists subject to change” note, so caveat emptor on this one.

*ZOX, who is still celebrating the release of Line in The Sand, will be in Connecticut for one night this month. These guys seem to be touring steadily, around the world, so seeing Newtown native Spencer Swain and his fellow bandmates so close to home is becoming more of a treat with each passing positive album and concert review.

The guys will be at The Field Restaurant & Bar, in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport (3001 Fairfield Avenue; telephone 203-333-0043), on Friday, May 9. There is no charge to get into the gig, but this is a show for the 21-and-over crowd. It may also be a semi-acoustic show.

*Music at Mocha (Coffee House, in Sandy Hook) this week will begin with the return of Sandy Hook native J.D. HILL, performing his “impassioned brand of classic/indie rock vocals and funky guitar” on Friday, May 2.

Then on Saturday Mocha regulars will welcome another familiar musician, when MIKE GRIFFIN does his own return performance. Both shows begin at 7:30 and will run until closing, which will be 9 pm for J.D. on Friday and 10 for Mike on Saturday.

*Classic rock fans have a triple-play to look forward to this summer when JOURNEY, HEART and CHEAP TRICK join forces for a massive tour that will be stopping at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, August 17, at 7 pm.

Tickets have been set at $55, $70 and $85, and will go on sale Saturday, May 3, at 10 am through all TicketMaster vendors. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun box office starting Sunday, May 4, subject to availability.

Journey fans should note that this outing will mark the debut of new Journey singer Arnel Pineda, whom the group crowned in December as the replacement for the band’s short-lived previous vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto, who split with the group last May after fronting the act for less than a year. The raffle to see how long Pineda sticks around has started; give me a call to buy a box on the office pool if you want in.

(Meanwhile, Heart continues to be led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, while Cheap Trick’s roster continues to include founding members Robin Zander on lead vocals, Rick Nielsen on lead guitar, Tom Petersson on bass, and drummer Bun E Carlos).  *Also going on sale Saturday morning will be tickets for DONNA SUMMER, who will return to Connecticut for the first time since, I believe, playing the Ives Concert over in Danbury a few years ago, this summer. Summer, whose musical career spans more than thirty years (!!!), will be in Uncasville on Wednesday, July 9.

Tickets are $40 and will be on sale Saturday at 10 am through TicketMaster; Sunday also through the casino’s box office.

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

MAY 2 — J.D. Hill at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Three Dog Night at The Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport; Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield;

May 3 — Mike Griffin at Mocha Coffee House; Liz Carroll & John Doyle at Fairfield Theatre Company; TaleSpin at City Ale House, Danbury;

May 4 — David Sanborn at The Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville;

May 7 — Third Eye Blind at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

May 8 — Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z at Mohegan Sun Arena; Zox at The Field Restaurant & Bar, Bridgeport (Black Rock); Aiden and Scary Kids Scaring Kids at Toad’s Place;

May 9 — Sheena Easton at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also May 10);

May 10 — Panic at The Disco at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound and Phantom Planet opening; Sheena Easton at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

May 11 — Marshall Tucker Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

May 16 — Kanye West at Dodge Music Center, Hartford, Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco opening;

May 20 — Van Halen at Mohegan Sun Arena, Ky-Mani Marley opening;

May 22 — The English Beat at Fairfield Theatre Company;

May 23 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT); Ed Roland at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theater;

May 25 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT); Stone Temple Pilots at The Chevrolet Theatre;

May 26 — Stone Temple Pilots at Mohegan Sun Arena;

May 29 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena (SOLD OUT); “Stop in the Name of Love: Band Together Benefit” at Fairfield Theatre Company, featuring Jen Durkin, Jay Stollman, Christopher Brown, Chris Coogan and Band Together founders Rob Fried and Jerry Vigorito;

May 30 — Tab Benoit at Fairfield Theatre Company; The B. Willie Smith Band at Toad’s Place;

May 31 — Foghat at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (two shows, 8 and 10 pm); Air Supply at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; Stayin’ Alive at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre (tribute show, also June 1).