*The Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield begins its new Aldrich After Hours concert series this weekend. Rising pop-folk star JOSH ROUSE will be at the museum on Friday, September 29, from 7 to 9 pm. Admission for the show is $20, which includes not only Rouse’s performance but also light refreshments. The museum is at 258 Main Street (Route 35) and can be contacted at 203/438-4519.

*SOL DOG not only had a great time when they played at Hogs & Heifers (“the ‘Coyote Ugly’ bar”) in lower Manhattan earlier this month but they made such a great impression on the club’s owners they already have a second gig set up (and possibly a third, we’re still waiting to hear…). Rev, Ron, Mark and Curtiss will be returning to 1st Avenue between 95th and 96th Streets on Saturday, November 11.

Can’t make it into the city that night? The guys also have a few shows set up a bit closer to home before the H&H date. Tonight (Friday, Sept 29) the guys are back at The Avenue Café in Black Rock (call athe club directly, 203/333-7848, if you need directions). On Wednesday, October 3, they return to the storefront stage at Shenanigans in South Norwalk (203/853-0142), and then on Friday, October 13, it’s another show at Jimmy’s Seaside in Stamford (203/962-9225).

*For whatever reason (there are a few different stories floating around…), radio 104 is not presenting its annual “Big Day Off” fall concert event this year. But the radio station isn’t going to let its listeners down, either. Instead, the station is sponsoring its first-ever StrangeJam on Friday, October 27, with THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES headlining. The Expo Center is the building on the right that you pass when you are entering the Meadows; it was a Sam’s Wholesale Club store when the Meadows first opened, in fact. Now it’s home to big trade shows and the occasional concert.

Also on the StrangeJam bill is 2 SKINNEE J’S, SUM 41, FLOGGING MOLLY and THE LITTLE KINGZ. Tickets are just $13 each and can be purchased at Strawberries, Coconuts or Lasalle Music Stores, or online at tickets.com.

*The William O’Neill Center, on the westside campus of Western CT State University, presents concerts every now and then. Next weekend the center will be home to a show by THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND, which will be a benefit for NOW, Inc., a homeless shelter based in Meriden. Tickets for the show are $17.50, $25, $30 and $45 apiece, with those holding the top-piced tickets also being given admission to the post-concert meet & greet with the bands. Yes, bands — the opener for Marshall Tucker Band will be Gene Donaldson and The Stingrays. Showtime is 7:30 pm, and tickets are available through the O’Neill Center’s box office (call 837-8499 for directions) or any TicketMaster outlet.

*ALICE COOPER has two shows in Connecticut next month. The first will be on Thursday, October 19, at the ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford (tickets through that theatre’s box office, 203/265-1501), and then Monday, October 30, at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard (800/200-2882).

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. Include a phone number for confirmation, please. If you don’t have a stamp or a piece of paper or a writing utensil that works, give me a call! The phone number at the office is 426-3141. Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

SEPTEMBER 29 —John Valby at Toad’s Place, New Haven; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Electric Mayhem at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe; Josh Rouse at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield (Aldrich After Hours series, begins 7 pm); Off The Hook at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe; Mighty Purple at Husky Blues, Storrs; Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Black Rock;

September 29 & 30 — Alabama at Foxwoods Casino, Ledyard;

September 30 — The Royal Crowns at Tune Inn, New Haven; Them Bones at Tuxedo Junction; Mighty Purple at Acoustic Café, Fairfield (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance); punk bands festival at Laszlo’s Arts Café (call for bands list); Wyclef Jean at UConn’s Jorgensen Auditorium, Storrs, The Black-Eyed Peas opening.

OCTOBER 1 —Joan Osborne at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café, Manchester (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance);

October 3 — Kiss at Mohegan Sun’s Uncas Pavilion, Uncasville, Skid Row opening; Sol Dog at Shenanigans, South Norwalk;

October 5 — Tim Regan at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport;

October 6 — Black 47 at Toad’s Place; Marshall Tucker Band at WCSU’s O’Neill Center, Danbury; Sam Shaber, Edie Carey, Bari Koral and Anne Heaton at Acoustic Café;

October 7 — Mary Gaultier at Acoustic Café;

October 8 — America at Mohegan Sun Casino’s Wolf Den (free show); Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance).