*A final reminder for you that Booth Library’s Summer Concert Series begins tonight — Friday, June 15 — with Newtown welcoming the wonderfully talented and friendly Connecticut State Troubadour KEVIN BRIODY.

A Ridgefield resident, Mr Briody is tooling around the state quite a bit these days thanks to his appointment as the official state troubadour, a two-year term he began in January. The majority of his performances include songs from his ten-song original collection called When No One’s Watching, which was released in July 1999. A new album is well underway, and probably about ready to be released.

Showtime is 6 pm at the library’s back lawn. These concerts usually begin at 7, but tonight’s show is special in that it will have an opening set performed by Newtown Middle School student and guitarist ERIK BAGGER.

Bring blankets and low lawn chairs if possible (as soon as a few people start setting up the regular lawn chairs, it ruins the view for everyone stuck behind them; at least the lower-setting chairs provide a better performer-viewing opportunity). Picnic dinners are also welcome, just bring along your own waste bag, too. Admission is free and the performance is suitable for all ages.

*The 6th annual International Festival of Arts & Ideas returns to New Haven this weekend (it kicked off actually on Thursday, June 14) and continues through June 30. The funk-rock band CAMEO and blues artist ROBERT CRAY will head the World Stage line-up at this year’s festival. The stage is set up along the lower New Haven Green, at Elm Street between Church and Temple.

CAMEO, a major funk act, will headline on the World Stage on Saturday, June 23, at 7:45, preceded by the Nigerian Afro-beat star FEMI KUTI at 6:15.

Called “a purveyor of sweet soul music,” bluesman Cray will headline on Sunday night, June 24, at 7:45 pm, preceded at 6:15 by Jamaica’s prominent reggae band, THIRD WORLD.

The free World Stage concerts are traditionally the highlight of the entire festival. Last year, KOOL & THE GANG drew an estimated audience of 33,000 to the New Haven Green. Organizers are expecting that record to be broken this year. For full festival details, visit www.artidea.org; for last-minute details try emailing festfriends@snet.net or calling 888-ARTIDEA (888-278-4332).

*The CityCenter Summertime Festival of the Arts kicks off next weekend in Danbury, on the CityCenter Green. The annual series offers free outdoor concerts every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Thursday being family night. BOCK AND BLU, a nine-piece band led by STEELY DAN arranger GARY BLU kicks off the Friday night concerts on June 22. The band performs classic rock, r&b favorites and originals. Showtime is 7:30; bring blankets or low lawn chairs for seating.

The following night LEON RUSSELL inaugurates the Saturday night concerts, which also begin at 7:30. The legendary singer-songwriter was once labeled “The Master of Space and Time.” Uhhh, OK. Russell is expected to perform his hits “A Song for You,” “Delta Lady,” “This Masquerade,” “Tight Rope” and “Lady Blue,” among others. Rain location, if necessary, will be Tuxedo Junction, which is just across the street from the green.

And later in the season, on July 28 to be exact, JOHN SEBASTIAN, a key figure of 1960s rock via THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL, backed by The J-Band, will be performing “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” “Nashville Cats” and “Summer in the City” among other songs. Rain location for that show will be Danbury High School.

*And finally this week, a reminder of why I love CNN.com so much. The news network has consistently provided good, reliable reporting during its history, yet every now and then it also provides an unexpected laugh. A few weeks ago it was the reporting on the network’s Web page of a runaway train in southern Ohio coupled with an ad for the air-conditioning company Trane, whose logo is “it takes a lot to stop a Trane.” When said phonetically and coupled with the idea that a train company had to actually have one of its employees finally go running alongside the train whenit hit an upgrade and slowed down before anyone was able to stop the train (which, it turned out, had left its station without a conductor in the first place!), it was a funny coincidence.

Last Friday I was scrolling through the latest headlines when I came across these two, right next to each other: “Storm dumps nearly a foot of water on Houston area,” which was immediately followed by a separate story called “Forecasters amend their hurricane predictions.” I should think so.

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

JUNE 15 — Kevin Briody at C.H. Booth Library, Newtown (Summer Concert Series, free, 6 pm), Erik Bagger opening; The Jason Bonham Band at The Webster Theater, Hartford, with Sterves of Neal, Third Rail and Healing Sixes (featuring Jason Bonham); Glam Metal Jam with Poison, Warrant, Quiet Riot and Enuff Znuff at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford; Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s, Hartford; Moppin’ Sauce at Amberjacks, South Norwalk; Roy Bookbinder at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, Tim Regan opening; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Carpe Diem, The Limit and Hour Zero at Empress Ballroom, Danbury;

June 16 — Richard Lloyd at Tune Inn, New Haven; Curtis Salgado at Black-Eyed Sally’s; The Blackstones at Tuxedo Junction; Intensify, Minus and Megahertz at Players Café, Danbury;

June 20 — Pantera at New Haven Coliseum with Slayer, Static-X, Skrape and Morbid Angel all opening; CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport;

June 21 — Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Big In Japan, Junction 18 and Quickstep Maneuver at Empress Ballroom;

June 22 — Bock and Blu at CityCenter Green, Danbury (free 7:30 show of band led by Steely Dan arranger Gary Blu); Rival Schools at Toad’s Place; Joe Rock Star at Tuxedo Junction; Unlucky Few, Victims of Society, Clockseed, Statement of Purpose and Altitude at Empress Ballroom (all ages);

June 23 — Lynyrd Skynyrd at Meadows Music Centre, Deep Purple and Ted Nugent opening; Leon Russell at CityCenter Green, Danbury (free 7:30 show, rain location Tuxedo Junction);

The Pilfers at Tune Inn; Bill Perry at Acoustic Café; Poppa Squat at Tuxedo Junction; Lorenji Shift, Slackhjaw, Prize Fighter and Just For Today at Empress Ballroom (all ages); Buzzhound, Smoke the Prophet and Electric Mayhem at Players Café;

June 24 — Robert Cray at New Haven’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Third World opening;

June 28 — Backstreet Boys at Meadows Music Centre, Shaggy and Krystal opening (separate sets);

June 29 — Backstreet Boys at The Meadows, Shaggy and Krystal opening (separate sets); Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction; Three Finger Demon, Fourth Corpse, Justice League and Altitude at Empress Ballroom; Sol Dog at The Classic Rock Brew Pub, Danbury;

June 30 — Bill Perry at Black-Eyed Sally’s; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction; Another Dark Day and S.A.T.O. at Players Café; Joe Proc at Putnam House, Bethel.

JULY 1 — Dido at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Travis opening;

July 3 — Echo & The Bunnymen at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

July 5 — Deep Banana Blackout at Toad’s Place (all ages);

July 6 — The Go-Go’s at Foxwoods Casino, Ledyard;

July 7 — Journey at Meadows Music Centre with John Waite and Peter Frampton.

July 8 — The Go-Go’s at Ives Concert Park, Danbury;

July 13 — Mary Sippin & The Diamond Spurs at C.H. Booth Library, Newtown (Summer Concert Series, free, 7 pm); Stevie Nicks at ctnow.com Meadows Music Center, Sheryl Crow and Jeffrey Gaines opening; Larry Garner at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Kristin Hersh at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield;

July 14 — Paul Simon with Brian Wilson at ctnow.com Meadows Music Centre; “Walk Down Abbey Road” featuring Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson, Alan Parsons and John Entwistle at Mohegan Sun; Jerry Cantrell at The Webster Theater (rescheduled from May);

July 17 — MTV’s TRL Tour featuring Destiny’s Child at ctnow.com Meadows Music Theatre; The Wallflowers at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theater, Uncasville;

July 18 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; American Hi-Fi, Everclear, Flip and The Mayfield Four at The Webster Theater, Hartford; Dennis Quaid & The Sharks at Foxwoods’ Fox Theater;

July 19 — Kip Winger at Toad’s Place;

July 20 — The Barenaked Ladies and Vertical Horizon at Meadows Music Centre, Action Figure Party and Sarah Harmer opening; 68 Comeback Special at Mohegan Sun Casino (trio led by Brian Setzer); Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

July 21 — Phil Lesh & Friends and Ratdog with Bob Weir (co-headlining) at Meadows Music Centre (tickets on sale May 5); The Doobie Brothers at Ives Concert Park, Danbury;

July 22 — “Walk Down Abbey Road” featuring Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson, Alan Parsons and John Entwistle at Oakdale Theatre;

July 24 — The Smithereens at Mohegan Sun Casino;

July 25 — Mystikal, Ginuwine, Jahem, Jagged Edge and Public Announcement at New Haven Coliseum (no ticket info yet);

July 26 — Johnny Rawls at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Chicago at Foxwoods’ Fox Theater;

July 27 — Chicago at the Oakdale Theatre;

July 28 — Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Mohegan Sun Casino; John Sebastian & The J-Band at CityCenter Green, Danbury (free 7:30 show, rain location Danbury High School).

AUGUST 1 —Pat Benatar at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge, Uncasville (free show);

August 2 —Survivor at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show); Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band at Mohegan Sun Casino;

August 3 —Dave Matthews Band at ctnow.com Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Ben Kweller opening; Michael Burks at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café; Asia at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show); Huey Lewis & The News at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre;

August 4 —(SOLD OUT) Dave Matthews Band at ctnow.com Meadows Music Centre, Ben Kweller opening;

August 5 — OzzFest 2001 at Meadows Music Centre, featuring (Main Stage performers) Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Crazytown, (Second Stage performers) Mudvayne, Cold, Taproot, Union Underground, Systematic, Nonpoint, American Head Charge, Drowning Pool, Pure Rubbish, Hatebreed, Beautiful Creatures, Black Label Society, Otep, Godhead, Boy Hits Car, et al;

August 6 — Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 9 — Eddie Money at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 10 — Rod Stewart at Meadows Music Centre; The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

August 11 — Janet Jackson at the Hartford Civic Center (date changed from August 14, tickets with original date will be honored);

August 12 — Bela Fleck & The Flecktones at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Keb’ Mo’ opening (no tickets yet);

August 16 — Jethro Tull at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre; Starship at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 17 — River City Slim and The Zydeco Hogs at C.H. Booth Library, Newtown (Summer Concert Series, free, 7 pm); The Beach Boys at Ives Concert Park, Danbury;

August 18 — matchbox twenty at Meadows Music Centre, Train opening;

August 20 — Crosby, Stills & Nash at Meadows Music Centre (no ticket info yet);

August 21 — Southside Johnny at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 22 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; David Fosters & The Mehegan Sun All-Stars at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 23 — Godsmack and The Deftones (co-headlining) at Meadows Music Centre, Puddle of Mudd opening; Aaron Carter at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre, The A*Teens and Leslie Carter opening; Joan Jett at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 24 — Nils Lofgren at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show); DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid with Matthew Shipp at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield;

August 26 — The Allman Brothers Band at Meadows Music Centre, Susan Tedeschi opening;

August 29 — The B.B. King Blues Festival at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre, with King, Buddy Guy, John Hiatt and Tommy Castro; Kansas at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den Lounge (free show);

August 30 — The B.B. King Blues Festival at Mohegan Sun Casino;

August 31 — Johnny Rawls at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Styx at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theater, Uncasville.

SEPTEMBER 1 —The Yes Symphonic Tour at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford;

September 3 — The Yes Symphonic Tour at Ives Concert Park, Danbury;

September 7 — REO Speedwagon at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theater, Uncasville;

September 9 — Alabama at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre;

September 12 — John Mellencamp at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, The Wallflowers opening;

September 13 — Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford;

September 14 — Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s;

September 19 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport.

OCTOBER 12 — Ben Allison & The Medicine Wheel at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield;

October 13 —America at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville;

October 24 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport.

NOVEMBER 3 —Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville;

November 16 — The Gonzalo Rubalcaba Trio at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefeield (two shows, 7 and 9:30 pm);

November 21 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport.

DECEMBER 19 — CSA Songwriters’ Showcase at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport.