*It’s a huge weekend for Newtown native KIM LEAMAN and her band, THE PARTING GIFT.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland is hosting a Jeff Buckley Fan Gathering and Tribute Concert this weekend. Buckley, you may recall, was a rising star in the music world when he drowned in Memphis in 1997. He left two official releases, both from Columbia Records – a four-song EP called Live at Sin-é (December 1993) and a full album, Grace, released in August 1994 – along with guest appearances as vocalist or instrumentalist on recordings by The Jazz Passengers, John Zorn, Rebecca Moore and Patti Smith. After his sudden death his status, says Leaman on her website, quickly grew to “a mythic musical figure.”

In addition to screenings of the DVD Live In Chicago and a listening party for a new double CD called Live at Sin-é Deluxe Edition, the museum will host sponsoring a major Jeff Buckley tribute concert event and that’s where The Parting Gift comes into play. While nearly 30 bands have been invited to participate in the concert on Saturday will be playing two songs by Buckley or Nina Simone (a soul-jazz artist whose song “Lilca Wine” became part of Buckley’s repertoire), The Parting Gift’s originals have been so influenced by Buckley’s music that the band has been asked to play its own originals.

Vocalist and guitarist Leaman will be joined by bandmates Brian DeAngelo on drums, Paul Maddison on guitar and Dan Golden on bass.

*Next weekend will be a big one for Newtown-based DIOXIDE, who return to The Webster Theatre in Hartford to play an opening set for TAP ROOT on July 26.

Dioxide will be joining Social Burn and Boy Sets Fire for Sunday evening’s show, which I believe will be an all-ages event. Tickets are $22 if you purchase them through the Webster’s box office or tickets.com, but Dioxide vocalist Shawn Rosenthal says fans can get tickets through the band for just $15. Visit the band’s website, www.DioxideMusic.net, for details.

*Speaking of tickets, two just-announced shows Oakdale Theatre are going on sale this weekend. Tickets for CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, who will return to Connecticut on Saturday, September 6, will be going on sale this morning (Friday) at 10 am. Prices are $36, $46 and $56, with wristbands distributed at the theater at 8 am and lottery for line placements at 9:30.

On Saturday tickets for DEF LEPPARD, who will play the Oakdale on Thursday, August 28, will going on sale. Wristbands will be handed out at 8, the drawing will be at 9:30, and tickets are priced at $39 and $49.

*I received a call last week from bass player STEVE BUSLOWE, who lives and teaches here in town, who told me that MEAT LOAF is no longer a Connecticut resident. I had mentioned in a recent column that I wasn’t sure about the whereabouts of Casa Meat Loaf, so Steve called to let me know that the musician is now a former resident of Redding.

I’m taking Steve’s word on this, considering the guy played bass with the man for over two decades. Meat Loaf, he says, first moved into New York somewhere and then out to California. At least local fans can still look forward to seeing Meat Loaf on what he’s calling his final tour. Tickets went on sale last weekend for Meat Loaf’s stop at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 3, a show that has Cyndi Lauper as the opener.

*News from GIA is that the band has a new drummer, Brookfield resident (and former Newtowner) JOHN DEUTH. A local tomato farmer, Deuth “has played drums and percussion with numerous loco and not so local bands in the last 15 years,” according to a note from guitarist David Goodwick.

The band will be at MsFits Café in Southbury on July 25, and appearing at WPLR’s “Buried on The Beach” Festival in West Haven on Friday, August 1. The band is expected to be taking the stage around noon at that beach event.

GIA has also been invited to participate in the M.E.A.N.Y. Festival in New York City, to be held the week of September 20-27. A juried showcase/competition for up-and-coming musicians, the event – Musicians and Emerging Artists of New York – will be presented at The Downtown, Continental, CB’s Gallery, CBGB’s, Tribeca, Arlene Grocery, Kenny’s and Lux. This year’s finalists will appear on the television show Rockin’ Clubs, which is presented in New York City on Time-Warner Cable and seen in almost 500,000 households. Last year’s top four bands went on to play at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… maybe we’ll be hearing more about another Newtown-based band heading to Cleveland very soon.

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 club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

JULY 18 — Tim Reynolds at The Colorado Brewery, Danbury (all ages); American Idols Live! at Hartford Civic Center; Off The Hook at The Rathskeller, Southbury; Stangefolk at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, Midnight Jamboree opening; Big Shot at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Wax Palace, Eblend and The Gamma Rays opening;

July 19 — The Eagles at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Shakedown at Toad’s Place, Electric Mayhem and Lottery opening (all ages); Deborah Coleman at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Hipnotic at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

July 20 — Lamb of God at Toad’s Place (all ages);

July 21 — Puddle of Mudd at The Webster Theatre;

July 22 — Iron Maiden at The Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Dio and Motorhead opening; Freddie McGregor at Toad’s Place (all ages);

July 23 — John Scofield at Toad’s Place (all ages); The Machine Presents Dead Floyd at Tuxedo Junction (all ages);

July 24 — Night Ranger at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Mighty Purple at Toad’s Place, Bunji, Rara Avis, The Naomi Star, Starside and Roho opening (all ages);

July 25 — GIA at MsFitz Café, Southbury; Gargantua Soul at Toad’s Place, Split Shift, Dogfight and The Givin opening (all ages); Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café; Lunasa at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, NY;

July 26 — Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; The Commitments at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Bryan Lee at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café; Taproot at The Webster Theatre, Dioxide, Social Burn and Boy Sets Fire opening; Peat Moss & The Fertilizers at Tuxedo Junction; Type O Negative at Toad’s Place (all ages); Off The Hook at The Blue Heron, Brookfield;

July 27 — Sheryl Crow at Ives Concert Park; Three Dog Night at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Rainer Maria at Toad’s Place (all ages); Leon Redbone at Town Crier Café, with special guest Todd Charles;

July 29 — Hootie & The Blowfish at Mohegan Sun Arena; Joan Jett & The Blackhearts at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Explorations at Toad’s Place;

July 30 — The Spin Doctors at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Secret Smile at Toad’s Place (CD release party);

July 31 — The Beach Boys at Oakdale Theatre, Dion opening; Sheryl Crow at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Joe Firstman opening; Colonel Bruce Hampton & The Code Talkers at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café; Average White Band at Toad’s Place, Rearview opening.

AUGUST 1 — Off The Hook at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe; SideShow at Shenanigan’s, Norwalk; Rick Springfield at The Fox Theatre at Foxwoods Resort & Casino, Ledyard;

August 2 — Aerosmith and Kiss at Meadows Music Centre, Hartford, Saliva opening; Huey Lewis & The News at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre; Off The Hook at The GW Tavern, Washington Depot; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Luciano at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages);

August 3 — The Allman Brothers Band at Meadows Music Centre, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe opening; Scream III Tour at Hartford Civic Center featuring B2K, Marques Houston, Mario and Nick Cannon, et al;

August 4 — Bon Jovi at Meadows Music Centre, Goo Goo Dolls opening;

August 5 — The Beach Boys at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville;

August 6 — The Outfield at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville;

August 7 — India.arie at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Mashantucket;

August 8 — Off The Hook at 707 On Main, Monroe; SideShow at Captain’s Cove, Bridgeport; Eddie Money at Mohegan Sun; Roomful of Blues at The B.B. King Nite Club at Foxwoods, Ledyard (band also playing Aug 9, same location); Charisma at J.C. Hooks Bar & Grill, Waterbury;

August 9 — OzzFest 2003 at Meadows Music Centre featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Disturbed, Chevelle, et al; Roomful of Blues at The B.B. King Nite Club at Foxwoods; Off The Hook at Redding Roadhouse, Redding; Sister Hazel at Toad’s Place, Virginia Coalition and Gavin DeGraw opening (all ages);

August 10 — Jethro Tull at Mohegan Sun Arena;

August 13 — The Doobie Brothers at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre (tickets on sale June 26);

August 20 — John Mayer and Counting Crows at Meadows Music Centre;

August 14 — Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera at Hartford Civic Center; Black-Eyed Peas at Toad’s Place (all ages);

August 15 — i-95 Unplugged at CityCenter Green, Danbury, featuring Joel Cage (headliner), with Jeffrey Braun, David Brewer, Ethan Carey, Ethan James & Pat McMinn (7:30 show, no rain location); The Nerds at Toad’s place, Simple Jim opening;

August 17 — Mary Fahl at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, N.Y.;

August 21 — ModeReko at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford;

August 22 — Fiend Fest featuring The Misfits and The Damned at Toad’s Place, The Dickies, Balzac, Agnostic Front and DI opening (all ages); Adrian Legg at Towne Crier Café, Buzz Turner opening;

August 24 — George Clinton & Parliament Funk at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Hall & Oates and Kenny Loggins at careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre;

August 25 — Steely Dan at Mohegan Sun Arena;

August 27 — Melissa Etheridge at careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre;

August 28 — Def Leppard at careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre;

August 30 — James Cotton Blues Band at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, NY;

August 30-31 — Dave Matthews Band at Meadows Music Centre; Bridgeport Blues Festival at Seaside Park, featuring B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Chuck Berry, James Brown, James Cotton, et al; Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen at Towne Crier Café.