*Two of the instructors at this summer’s National Guitar Workshop, at Canterbury School in New Milford this year, are taking their teaching beyond the classroom. ROB FLETCHER and LOU MANZI have two groups they perform as, and the two men are performing at three locales this month and early next. Shows combine blues and soul standards and originals.

THE ROB FLETCHER-LOU MANZI DUO will be at Kaleidoscope, 59 Bank Street in New Milford (telephone 860-354-8162), for 9 pm shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24 and 25, and again on Wednesday, August 1. On August 3, the duo will be over at Bank Street Coffee House, 56 Bank Street in New Milford (just below the movie theater; telephone 860-350-8920), also for a 9 pm show.

On Thursdays through August 9, THE FLETCHER & MANZI ELECTRIC BLUES BAND continues weekly shows at Clancy’s Chop House, 10 Railroad Street in New Milford (850-355-8081).

Fletcher and Manzi perform acoustic blues and r&b and have performed throughout New England and New York City. Their original music, in addition to what was mentioned earlier, blends blues, soul and folk styles in songs that run the gamut from deeply heartfelt to “rip-roaringly funny,” I am told. Fletcher is a singer, harmonica player and guitarist who has performed with Trey Anastasio of PHISH, blues great RONNIE EARL, opened for CRASH TEST DUMMIES, writes for American Harmonica Newsletter, and is the author of Blues Harmonica for Beginners. Manzi has performed acoustic blues since the 1970s, has written four fingerstyle guitar books including Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar, is known as a leading teacher of acoustic guitar, and has appeared as a speaker in various lectures and seminar presentations on blues music and guitar education.

*As part of a nationwide tour, rock ‘n roll legends THE DOOBIE BROTHERS will be at Ives  Concert Park this weekend to perform as part of the 2001 Audi Summer Concert Series. The band will be in Danbury on Saturday, July 21, at 8 pm.

The Doobies are known for house-rockin’ classics such as “China Grove,” “Listen To The Music,” “Takin it to the Streets” and Black Water.” Long time band members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Keith Knudson, John McFee and Michael Hossack will be showcasing current material from the band’s new album, Sibling Rivalry. In addition to tracks from the current album the band is expected to reprise all of its biggest hits.

Opening for The Doobie Brothers will be THE PETER SPINK GROUP. Mr Spink, who is appearing for the third time at Ives Concert Park, first performed at Woodstock ’94 and plays about 200 dates a year across the nation.

The concert begins at 8 pm, with gates opening at 6 pm. Tickets range from $25 for the lawn ($10 children ages 3 to 12) to $40 for reserved seats and $55 for Gold reserved. Tickets can be purchased at or reserved through from the Ives box office or at all TicketMaster outlets (203-744-8100) Filene’s, The Wiz and HMV Records stores. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of show, cash only and subject to a $3 surcharge. For more information call 837-9226 or visit the www.ivesconcertpark.com Web site.

*Forgive me for not letting you in on this last week when it was announced, but I was out of the office all week. Tickets went on sale July 14 for the latest Big 80s Hair Scare touring package: VINCE NEIL, RATT, SLAUGHTER and VIXEN. This one is going to be at The ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre on Friday, August 24, at 7:30 pm.

You can purchase tickets online at www.ctnow.com, in person at the ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre box office, or by calling the theater’s box office at 203-265-1501.

*Tickets are still available for PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS and RATDOG with BOB WEIR AND THE DISCO BISCUITS on Saturday at The Meadows. Pavilion seats are $39.50 and lawn seats are $22.50. Former GRATEFUL DEAD members Lesh and Weir will get the afternoon rolling at 4 with a jam festival. Call 203-265-1501 or go to www.ctnow.com for last-minute details or ticket reservations.

*Also still available are tickets for the second Connecticut presentation of “A Walk Down Abbey Road” (the first having already taken place at Mohegan Sun), Sunday night at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. This is the show that will featur ALAN PARSONS, TODD RUNDGREN, ANN WILSON and JOHN ENTWISTLE each performing their own hits, followed by a BEATLES tribute session. Tickets for this are $28.50, $38.50 and $48.50 apiece and can be reserved at 203-265-1501 or at www.ctnow.com.

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

JULY 20 — The Barenaked Ladies and Vertical Horizon at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Action Figure Party and Sarah Harmer opening; 68 Comeback Special at Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville (trio led by Brian Setzer); Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials and Tab Benoit at Black-Eyed Sally’s, Hartford; After Dark V at The Webster Theater, Hartford, featuring Atavus, Clip, Sibil and Medicated Savage (all ages); The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury (7th anniversary band celebration); Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe;

July 21 — Phil Lesh & Friends and Ratdog with Bob Weir (co-headlining) at Meadows Music Centre; The Doobie Brothers at Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Peter Spink opening; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction; Robert Jackson and Odds & Sods (Who tribute band) at Players Café, Danbury; Jennifer George at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; Joe proc at Putnam House, Bethel;

July 22 — “Walk Down Abbey Road” featuring Todd Rundgren, Ann Wilson, Alan Parsons and John Entwistle at Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Tree and Nullset at The Webster Theater, Hyde, Clokseed and Powertripp opening (all ages);

July 24 — The Smithereens at Mohegan Sun Casino; Guided By Voices at Toad’s Place, New Haven; The Rob Fletcher-Lou Manzi Duo at Kaleidoscope, New Milford;

July 25 — Mystikal, Ginuwine, Jahem, Jagged Edge and Public Announcement at New Haven Coliseum; The Rob Fletcher-Lou Manzi Duo at Kaleidoscope;

July 26 — Buckcherry at The Webster Theater, Econoline Crush opening (all ages); Johnny Rawls at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Chicago at Foxwoods’ Fox Theater; Lawn Boy at Toad’s Place (Phish cover/tribute band); The Lauren Delallo Band and Mudstone at Acoustic Café; The Fletcher-Manzi Electric Blues Band at Clancy’s Chop House, New Milford;

July 27 — Our Lady Peace at The Webster Theater, Sinomatic opening (all ages); Chicago at the Oakdale Theatre; The Derek Trucks Band at Toad’s Place (all ages); Poppa Squat at Tuxedo Junction;

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); Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction; Illface, Silencer and Dismay at Players; Off The Hook at Bear & Grill, Fairfield;

July 29 — Collective Soul at The Webster Theater (all ages); James Cotton at Washington Park, Bridgeport (3 pm, free show).