*HAT CITY BLUES BAND continues to prepare for its 2nd Annual Newtown Youth Services Benefit Concert. This year’s show will be Saturday, May 22, and it’s moving to The Fireside Inn, which means more room for attendees and more room for dancing. Showtime is 8 pm, and admission is a suggested donation of $8.

All of the money collected through door admissions and ticket sales for raffles will be donated to Newtown Youth Services. Last year’s show raised $2,000, and Blues Band member David Lott said recently that the band’s goal this year is to double that amount.

As of this week, according to Mr Lott, 16 sponsors have signed up for the show and nearly $1,000 has already been raised. Five B.B. King Sponsors – pledges of $100, $175 or $200 – have been renewed from last year, and six new B.B. King Sponsors have signed on. Lux & Timmell, Curtiss & Crandon, Newtown Insurance, Dr Curt Riebeling and Prudential Real Estate/Sue Catino are renewals, while Champagne Carpentry, Fireside Inn, Newtown Color Center, Drug Center, Universal Tile & Marble, and Lexington Gardens are new sponsors at this level.

Also, three Eric Clapton Sponsors, who provide products of gift certificates for the event’s raffle, have renewed their commitment, and three new have joined up. Amaral Motors, The Ice Cream Shop and Starbucks will be offering items once again, as will Bagel Delight, Newtown Pizza Palace, and Church Hill Wine & Spirits.

Last year’s raffle alone raised a few hundred dollars, with tickets selling for $1 apiece. Look for many more names to be appearing in this category during the next week. The raffle had a great selection last year, so I imagine it will do just as well this time around.

The band is still looking for a title sponsor for this year’s show. A $1,000 donation will give that honor to any business, family or group who would like to have such a role. That donation – again, 100% of which is promised to go to NYS – will get the donor a full table for ten guests and mentions in all related publicity and show materials.

Members of the NYS Youth Advisory Board will be participating in the event again this year, selling tickets, collecting money and serving refreshments. Hat City Blues Band recently finished producing its first CD and the band promised to give out at least ten copies of that recording as well as band T-shirts.

Interested in helping this fundraiser? Donations are still being accepted for the raffle – gift/theme baskets, single items, gift certificates… anything that could be raffled off would be super.

For additional show or volunteer information contact David Lott at 270-9357, Newtown Youth Services at 270-4335, or visit the band’s website, www.HatCityBlues.com.

Another thing that’s developed this week: Ann Cote, a professional singer who spends her days working at Newtown Color Center, will be joining the band for a performance of the Susan Tedeschi song “It Hurts So Bad.”

*THE DARIA MUSK TRIO will be playing Friday night (May 14) at Ives Concert Park in Danbury. Their show starts at 7:45, is free of charge, and is open to all ages. Raindate is Saturday, May 15.

The band promises plenty of favorites and four “brand spankin’ new, never heard before songs.” Blankets and picnics are welcome. Also performing will be Closer To Fate.

DM3’s next shows will include “a Domino Effect” event on May 22 at The Green Room in Bridgeport and then a performance starting at noon during the Stratford Day Festival on Saturday, June 5. That first show is open to ages 21 and over, but the second event is an all ages event.

*Speaking of Ives Concert Park, I had a note this week from a Danbury based publicity who tells me there’s another addition to the venue’s summer schedule: PAT BENATAR will be headlining on Saturday, July 24.

*Hoping to repeat on past success, MARC ANTHONY will bring his Nada Personal Tour to Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday, June 28. Anthony’s last appearance in Uncasville resulted in a pair of sold-out shows in 2002, including a CBS Television special.

Tickets for next month’s shows will be going on sale Saturday, May 15, at 10 am, available through the casino’s in-house box office, online at tickets.com, over the phone from 800-477-6849, or any tickets.com vendor. Wristbands will be distributed Saturday beginning at 7 am, and tickets have been priced at $60 and $80.

*Also going on sale this weekend will be tickets for JESSICA SIMPSON’s first show at Mohegan Sun Arena, scheduled for Thursday, June 17. Her tickets, priced at $33.50 and $46, will be going on sale Sunday at noon. Wristbands will be distributed at the box office beginning at 9, and ticket purchasing options for those who don’t want to drive to Uncasville first thing Sunday morning are the same as those outlined for the Marc Anthony concert.

Until next week I’ll be seeing you… on the road, trying to get over going cold turkey on Starbucks Mocha Malt Frappuccinos. I went in to order one Monday morning and was told that the drink – my absolute favorite! – had been discontinued. I’m just heartbroken. I had no warning for this. No time to adjust to this idea. *long, sad sigh*

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

MAY 14 — Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Black Rock; Daria Musk Trio (DM3) at Ives Concert Park, Danbury (rain date May 15); Erik Burdon & The New Animals at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; The Nerds at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Green Inside and Paper Chaser opening; Jay Stollman & The Black Rock All-Stars at The Georgetown Saloon; Big Shot at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

May 15 — Marc Cohn at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts; Off The Hook at Bank Street Café, New Milford; Orgy at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages); Ginuwine at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Avant, Joe and Jagged Edge opening; MOP at Toad’s Place, Pharoahe Monch and Scratch opening (all ages); Blood For Blood at The Empress Ballroom, Danbury, Bury Your Dead and Bloodshot Hooligans opening; Retro Rockets at The Georgetown Saloon; Hipnotic at Tuxedo Junction;

May 16 — Jewel at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre.

, Ledyard; Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Sworn Enemy at Toad’s Place, Freya and Billy Club Sandwich opening (all ages).

May 19 — Life of Agony at Toad’s Place, Candiria, Full Blown Chaos and Agents of Man opening (all ages);

May 20 — Fearless and Junction 18 at The Empress Ballroom;

May 21 — Lynyrd Skynyrd at Oakdale Theatre, .38 Special opening; Off The Hook at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; Sol Dog at The Black Duck, Westport; Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place, Another Day Wasted opening; Party Boss at The Georgetown Saloon; Reid Genauer & The Assembly of Dust at Tuxedo Junction;

May 21-22 — The Neville Brothers at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

May 22 — Hat City Blues Band’s 2nd Annual Newtown Youth Services Fundraiser at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; Jason Mraz at Oakdale Theatre; SideShow at The Brickyard, Hartford; Jim Weider Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Sister Funk at The Georgetown Saloon; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Daria Musk Trio (DM3) at The Green Room, Bridgeport.