*JOHN VOKET returns to Mocha Coffee House this weekend. JV will be at the Sandy Hook beanery on Saturday, July 29, playing from 7 to 10 pm.

*SOL DOG has a pair of local shows in upcoming weeks, including a special acoustic gig right in Sandy Hook. The band will return to Shelton next week, playing at Café 127 on Friday, August 4. Then the boys will be at 100 Church Hill in Sandy Hook on Saturday, August 19, for that acoustic show.

*LEON RUSSELL and his legendary sounds will be at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and The Performing Arts on Saturday, July 29; Scrapomatic will be opening.

Tickets are $45 for all seats. Call the box office at 203-438-5795 or visit RidgefieldPlayhouse.org to purchase tickets or for additional information.

Also coming up on the playhouse’s calendar is an August 5 show by JOHN CAFFETY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND. Ticket for that one are $40 and $45.

*Folk icon RICHIE HAVENS will be at Fairfield Theatre Company next weekend. Havens will be performing on FTC’s StageOne on Friday, August 4, at 7:30 pm, and tickets are $22 for members, $42 for non-members.

The theater, which is at 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield, has a number of shows on the horizon including DEBBIE DAVIES tonight (tickets $22 and $32). On Sunday, THE JERRY GARCIA BAND ($22 and $32) rolls into town, and then August has LESLEY GORE on August 5 (tickets $32 and $42), JOSH KELLEY on August 6 ($22 and $32), JOHN HAMMOND JR, with Mark Naftalin opening, on August 11 ($27 and $37), ARI HEST on August 12 ($22 and $32), MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS on August 24 ($32 and $42), PORTER, BATISTE & STOLTZ on August 25 ($27 and $37), and BILL KIRCHEN on August 31 ($22 and $32).

For tickets and additional information about the theater and its schedule call 203-259-1036 or visit FairfieldTheatre.org.

*Connecticut Grand Hotel, the official hotel of Litchfield Jazz Festival stars and guests, will sponsor the first-ever Jazz Fest After Party this year. The event will be held from 10:30 pm to 1 am on Saturday, August 5. The hotel is at 3580 East Main Street in Waterbury (Exit 25A off I-84)

The event will cap the second day of the world-renowned jazz festival, which this year will feature Dionne Warwick, Eddie Palmieri, James Moody, John Scofield, Dr John and many more.

The public is invited to enjoy music by The Albert Rivera Quartet, featuring Adam Christgau on drums, Sean Pentland on bass, Zaccai Curtis on piano, and Albert Rivera on saxophone.

Guests over 21 years of age are invited. There is no cover charge or admission, and hors d’oeuvres and sweets will be provided by the hotel, also free of charge. There will be a cash bar.

For information about the after party call 860-567-4162; for special festival-rate room reservations call 800-446-1449. For complete information about the 2006 Litchfield Jazz Festival visit LitchfieldJazzFest.com.

*LUCINDA will be performing an acoustic performance, joined by Michael Connolly, on Sunday, August 6, at the stage at the Sandy Hook Village Farmers’ Market. This is the weekly event that takes place in the parking lot off Glen Road in Sandy Hook; Lucinda and Michael will be performing from noon to 2 pm next weekend, during the operating hours of the market.

“I am excited about this show as I have just moved back to Newtown, and … Michael Connolly grew up and lives in Newtown as well, so it will be a home town event with a lot of old and new friends,” Lucinda mentioned in an email last week.

The singer-songwriter is also gearing up for a September release of her newest fully produced record, Aquamarine, and she’s planning to release a single from that collection soon.

*ROB ZOMBIE is coming to Toad’s Place on September 5. Tickets for the 2006 American Witch Tour went on sale July 21, priced at $39; call 203-624-TOAD (8623) or visit eTix.com for tickets.

*THE DOUG WAHLBERG BAND will rock the Levitt Pavillion in Westport on Saturday, August 5. Also appearing on the bill is guitar virtuoso Marc Huberman. The music begins at 8 pm and admission is free.

Their current CD, entitled Party Boss, is available at CD Baby, Tower Records and through the band’s website (DougWahlbergBand.com). The band recently performed live in-studio on I-95 FM in Danbury and will appear on the Brian Smith News and Variety Show on WICC (600AM) in Bridgeport on Friday afternoon, August 4.

Tonight they’ll be at Ziggy’s in Fairfield, and upcoming shows include a performance as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser at Luciano Park in Westport on September 24 and then two shows at The Georgetown Saloon, first on September 29 and then on November 10.

*Tickets will be on sale Saturday morning for ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA, coming to The Chevrolet Theatre. Described as Dweezil & The Zappa Family Trust Play the Music of Frank Zappa featuring DWEEZIL ZAPPA, STEVE VAI, NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK and TERRY BOZZIO, this show will roll into Wallingford on Sunday, October 29.

Tickets are $38 and $48 and will be available Saturday at 10 through the theater’s box office, online at LiveNation.com, and all TicketMaster outlets.

*Finally this week, Mohegan Sun Arena will put tickets for a September 14 concert by THE BLACK EYED PEAS on sale this weekend. Tickets will be on sale Friday, July 28, at 10 am, priced at $45 and $65.

Friday’s sales will be through TicketMaster vendors only; remaining tickets will also be available at the arena’s box office beginning Saturday morning.

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 SHOWS

JULY 28 —Roberta Flack at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; The Pretenders at The Palace Theater, Waterbury, IV Thieves opening; James Cotton at McLevy Green, Bridgeport; .38 Special at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville (also July 29); The Freelance Pallbearers at The Bitter End, Bridgeport; Debbie Davies at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; The Doug Wahlberg Band at Ziggy’s, Fairfield;

July 29 — John Voket & Friends at Mocha, Sandy Hook; Anita Baker at Mohegan Sun Arena; .38 Special at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 28); Peter Frampton at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Leon Russell at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Scrapomatic opening;

July 30 — OzzFest 2006 at The Dodge Music Center, Hartford; Jerry Garcia Band at Fairfield Theatre Company;

July 31 — The Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows at Mohegan Sun Arena.