*When concertgoers head to Ives Concert Park on Sunday to see the PATTY LOVELESS show, they will be treated to more than a concert with sets by two of country music’s leading females (CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON, shown here, has the opening set that evening). While the July 4 Pops & Fireworks concert had to be cancelled earlier this season, the fireworks show itself was rescheduled to the season finalé concert… which will be Sunday.

Loveless is touring this summer to support her latest release, On Your Way Home, a collection Loveless recorded with acoustic six-strings, mandolin banjo, pedal steel and fiddle. No keyboards, no piano, no drum machines, and very few overdubs. The album, and her resulting concerts, is a revisit to the songs, sounds and styles Loveless grew up with.

Gates at the concert park will be opening at 5:30 on Sunday, and Johnson’s set is to begin at 7:30.

Tickets are $21 for adults on the lawn, $12 for children on the lawn (ages 2 and under are free on the lawn), and $36 and $51 for reserved seating. Senior citizens receive a 10 percent discount. All shows are rain or shine, and tickets are an additional $3 on the day of the show.

If you can get to a TicketMaster vendor before Sunday you can save on the $3 surcharge that gets tacked on the day of a show. Tickets are also sold at the Ives Center box office Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, and on the day of a concert from 9 am to noon and also once the gates open (which will be, again, at 5:30).

The concert part is on University Boulevard, which is the main road of the Western CT State University westside campus in Danbury. The entrance to the campus is off of Mill Plain Road, opposite Super Stop & Shop.

*COWBOY JUNKIES will be performing an all-ages show at Toad’s Place on September 12. The US tour is in support of their latest release, One Soul Now, marking nearly 20 years together. A “Night With” will offer an acoustic set by Michael and Margo Timmins as well as an electric set with the full band. The new CD is continuing to receive rave reviews and the band will have three songs in the upcoming John Sayles movie, Silver City, opening on September 17.

Also new at Toad’s Place is a September 8 show by MELISSA FERRICK; a September 22 show by THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS; JOHNNY WINTER featuring JAMES MONTGOMERY, BOBBY T & THEELECTRIC CIRCUS and THE LOST FORTY FIVES on October 1; and TYPE O NEGATIVE on October 7. All of these shows are open to all ages.

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND enjoyed three shows on Martha’s Vineyard last month, plus a show at the Goshen Fair. This week the guys will be at The Black Duck on Westport, and then they’ll be at the Fireman’s Festival in Kent on the 27th. Showtime for the Kent show is 7 pm.

(and the heck with the music… if it’s a festival of firemen, I’m there!)

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

AUGUST 20 —Huey Lewis & The News at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard, with special guest G.B. Leighton; Marshall Crenshaw at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Rufio at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Over It, Say Anything and Halifax opening (all ages); Sister Funk at Georgetown Saloon;

August 21 — Renata at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (CD release party); Phillip The Meatbox at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Teeny Tucker Blues Band at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hartford; Bone Dry at Georgetown Saloon; Fishbone at Toad’s Place (all ages), The AV Club, Pencilgrass and  Livintrust opening;

August 22 — Yes at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Dream Theater opening; Patty Loveless at Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Carolyn Dawn Johnson opening;

August 27 — Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Black Rock; The Dave Brubeck Quartet at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, Danbury; Eight To The Bar at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Old School Revue at Georgetown Saloon; Hat City Blues Band at Kent Firemen’s Fair;

August 28 — Cher at Mohegan Sun Arena; The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also August 29); Hot Rod Circuit at Toad’s Place, Armor For Sleep and Receiving End Of Sirens opening (all ages); Party Boss at Georgetown Saloon; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

August 29 — The Nelsons at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

August 31 — Journey at the Oakdale Theatre; The Serious Times Tour at Toad’s Place featuring Luciano, Mikey General, Dean Fraser and Jah Messenjah Band (all ages).