*RAY MASON and his trusted 1965 Silvertone guitar will make their Mocha debut this weekend… along with a lot of room for the back catalog of albums he has under his belt.

The Northampton, Mass., resident started his first band in 1966 and has been going strong ever since. Ray, who will be at Mohca on Friday, June 20, starting around 7:30 pm, has released five critically acclaimed (albeit cassette only) albums, followed them with a single on his own Captivating Music label and has appeared on numerous compilations from such labels as East Side Digital, Shimmy Disc, Sound Asleep (Sweden), Signature Sounds, Dren Records and Paisley Pop.

The initial release of his first “official” CD (Between Blue & Okay) came in 1994, followed by Missyouville, Old Souls Day, Castanets, When the Clown’s Work is Over, Square Crazy, Three Dollar Man, Idiot Wisdom, Old School, A Man and His Silvertone, and the latest, Don’t Mess With Our Routine (on the Hi-N-Dry label out of Cambridge, Mass.). He has also recorded (along with Jim Armenti) six albums as a founding member of the Lonesome Brothers, with whom he appeared A Prairie Home Companion and at last year’s Newport Folk Festival.

Ray has recorded with plenty of names, and he has opened for many others (among them NRBQ, The Band, Fountains of Wayne, Marshall Crenshaw, Bill Morrissey, Warren Zevon, et al).

So what can we expect following his two hour drive from Massachusetts Friday night? Ray says his tunes follow no trend while keeping an upward slide on the songwriting scale.

*Woodbury Ski Area will present its 36th Annual Reggae Fest this weekend, rain or shine on the grounds of the Route 47 ski area. The show will run from 11 am until 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22.

Among the bands scheduled to appear are The Inner Roots Band (featuring former members of The Rhythm Kings), Eric Smith & Dybnotix, Clivell featuring Bliss and the Otis Brain, Lisa Love and the ferafinken, Pete Scheips Band, The Proverd Reggae Band, Black Rebels, Mystic Rebels (performing a three-hour tribute to Bob Marley), Totemic (think Outback TV ads) and the Newtown band Squinty and the Screw Ups.

Tickets are $35 per day, and will be available at the gate.

In addition to all the music, there will be a skateboard demo all day Saturday (which is also, I am told, National Skateboard Day), and a skateboard competition on Sunday. There will be grand prizes given to the top three finishes, and gifts for all entrants provided by Grind Inc.

There will also be swimming, camping (nearby), arts and crafts, and refreshments. Call 263-2203 or visit the website at WoodburySkiArea.com.

*TALESPIN will return to City Ale House in Danbury on Friday, June 27. Cover charge is $4 for the show that is expected to include classic and progressive rock “with a little rockabilly thrown in for good measure,” says the band. Think Green Day, Deep Purple and Brian Setzder meets Jethro Tull, Mountain and Alice Cooper.

Slight Return featuring Brandee Carl-Werner will have an opening set.

*American Idol favorite BO BICE will be at The Ridgefield Playhouse in a few weeks. Tickets are $42.50 and are already on sale for the July 8 show with the American Idol runner-up headlining. Like Carrie Underwood – under whom Bice was the runner-up back in 2004 – Bice had others writing and producing his first album (The Real Thing), but has found a voice of his own with the release of his second album, See the Light. Expect to hear cuts from both albums on this tour.

For tickets and additional information call 203-438-5795 or visit RidgefieldPlayhouse.org.

*One week earlier, fellow American Idol star JOHN GRACIN will be performing a special concert in conjunction with Milford’s fireworks show on Wednesday, July 2. Gates will open at 4 pm at Westfield CT Post Mall in Milford, allowing access to the upper level of the Green Garage at the mall on Boston Post Road.

There are two ways to enjoy the event, which is being called “Honoring Our Heroes.” General admission is $1 for adults, free for ages ten and under, and will allow viewing of the fireworks, access to family activities, amusements and refreshments, and enjoyment of the concert. General admission is payable at the gate.

For those who want to do the evening in style there is a VIP option which, at $50 per person, includes a meet and greet with Gracin, appetizers and raw bar at 5, and then full dinner (entrée choices of Kansas City NY strip or orange glazed salmon, with roasted potatoes and grilled summer vegetables) at 7. Seating for dinner will be reserved and under a tent, and then VIP folks will have front row viewing of the fireworks and concert when those shows start. Beer and wine will be available as well, for a separate charge.

VIP tickets are limited and should be reserved as soon as possible. Call 203-331-2051 or Milford Chamber of Commerce, 203-888-8888.

A portion of all proceeds (from general and VIP admissions) will benefit Give2TheTroops.org, an organization that supports America’s deployed and wounded troops.

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

JUNE 20 — Ray Mason at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; ZZ Top at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; Dark Lotus at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Haystack, Wolfpac and The R.O.C. opening (all ages); Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

June 21 — Brooks and Dunn with Rodney Atkins and James Otto at Dodge Music Center, Hartford; Dickey Betts & Great Southern with Devon Allman’s Honeytribe at The Ridgefield Playhouse (also June 22); Alkaline Trio at Toad’s Place, Bayside and The Fashion opening (all ages); Old School Revue at Georgetown Saloon;

June 22 — Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Dickey Betts & Great Southern with Devon Allman’s Honeytribe at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Groundation at Toad’s Place (all ages);

June 24 — Fish at Toad’s Place (all ages);

June 25 — Steely Dan at the Chevrolet Theatre;

June 27 — Pearl Jam at Dodge Music Center, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists opening; Hot Jam 7 featuring Keyshia Cole, Akon, Rick Ross, Ray J, et al, at the XL Center; Fade To Blues at Georgetown Saloon; TaleSpin at City Ale House, Danbury, Slight Return featuring Brandee Carl-Werner opening;

June 28 — Billy Joel at Mohegan Sun Arena; Rustic Overtones at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Bottoms Up at Toad’s Place, The Shape opening; The Connecticut Rhythm Section at Georgetown Saloon.