*STEVIE WONDER, who was just profiled as the World News Tonight Person of the Week on October 5, will be in Connecticut later this year.

The iconic singer-songwriter will be in Uncasville for two nights, performing at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday, November 14, and Friday, November 16. Tickets, priced at $75 and $100, went on sale earlier this week through TicketMaster vendors, and they’re also available directly from the theater’s box office.

*Tickets went on sale last Friday (the press release for which I received after deadline, of course), for an October 28 show by DURAN DURAN at the Chevrolet Theatre in Wallingford. Tickets for a second Duran Duran show, on October 29, will be on sale this weekend (Friday, October 19).

The shows will be special preview performances of the band’s upcoming (and historic) performances on Broadway, when the guys will play nine shows on Broadway over a two week period in celebration of the launch of the album Red Carpet Massacre… which will be released on November 13, the day after the final show in Manhattan. The Connecticut show, as well as the New York shows, will include the band’s greatest hits and the new album performed in its entirety. There will be a special electro set as well.

Band members Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor (the fifth original member of the band, Andy Taylor, left in October while the band was on the US leg of a world tour) will be performing for over two hours each night.

The November 1-3, 5-6, 8-10 and 12 at the Barrymore Theatre will be the first time any band has undertaken such an extended run on a Big Apple stage.

Tickets for the Chevrolet Theatre performances are $35 and $55, and are available online at LiveNation.com, TicketMaster outlets and the theater’s box office. There will reportedly be a limited number of tickets sold for the Wallingford show in order to replicate the setting of the upcoming Broadway performances.

Additional details about the Barrymore Theatre performances are available at DuranDuran.com and DuranDuranMusic.com.

Performing for over two hours a night on November on 47th Street and Broadway, band members Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor will take audiences in this historic thousand-capacity venue on a musical journey, presenting their new record in its entirety, as well as classics such as ‘Rio’, ‘Save A Prayer’, Hungry Like The Wolf’ and ‘Ordinary World’, with magnificent production values and a completely new stage show. These concerts will be the band’s first dates in support of their exciting new release, which they have worked on over the past year with Justin Timberlake and top producers Timbaland and Nate ‘Danja’ Hills.

*Music at Mocha Coffee House will feature Sandy Hook native J.D. HILL on Saturday night. Showtime is 7:30 pm for J.D., who offers his own take on classic and indie rock vocals and funky guitar.

Next weekend SARAH GUILD will headline on Friday, with her bland of jazz, indie rock and folk that has been described as “Billie Holiday meets Radiohead, with Bob Dylan in the background.” On Saturday, October 27, the mic will be shared by KEVIN KING and GARRET UHDE. All shows start at 7:30 and there are plenty of goodies available for the evening crowd.

Mocha, at 3 Glen Road, can be reached for additional information by calling 364-9200 or going online to MochaCoffeeHouse.com.

*Café Nine in New Haven (250 State Street; call 203-789-8281) will host a fundraiser and “punky reggae party” featuring I.N.I.T.Y. and WEST ROCKERS on Saturday, October 27, for the independent, listener supported Bridgeport radio station WPKN. Showtime is 10 pm for these two reggae bands. Admission is $5.

*A reminder that NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE will be at Fairfield Theatre Company this weekend. The band’s current roster will be at the Fairfield theater on Saturday, October 20, at 7:30 pm.

Musicians on the road this season are guitarist David Nelson, pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage, guitarist, mandolin player and vocalist Michael Falzarano, drummer and vocalist Johnny Markowski, and bassist and vocalist Ronnie Penque. Due to health concerns, band founder John Dawson isn’t part of this current tour.

Tickets are $42 ($32 for FTC members) and can be reserved by calling 203-259-1036 or going online to FairfieldTheatre.org.

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 clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

OCTOBER 19 — Phil Lesh & Friends at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Cracked Ice at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville (also October 20);

October 20 — J.D. Hill at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Bouncing Souls at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); New Riders of the Purple Sage at Fairfield Theatre Company; Jay Stollman & The Black Rock All Stars at Georgetown Saloon; Insane Clown Posse at The Webster Theater, Hartford, Necro and Tali Demon opening; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

October 21 — Kelly Clarkson at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guest Jon McLaughlin; Aztec Two Step at Fairfield Theatre Company;

October 24 — Horatio Sanz & The Kings of Improv at Toad’s Place (all ages); Orb Mellon & Brownbird Rudy Relic at Georgetown Saloon;

October 25 — Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Fairfield Theatre Company; The Breakfast at Toad’s Place, Hubinger Street and Bad Apples opening (all ages);

October 26 — The Moody Blues at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Sarah Guild at Mocha Coffee House; The Misfits and Balzac at The Webster Theater, Fourth Corpse, Covin, King Hell and DeVile opening; Aztec Two-Step at Fairfield Theatre Company; Smokehouse at Georgetown Saloon; Shakedown at Toad’s Place, Mo’ Folkies and Rizzo’s Dilemma opening (all ages);

October 27 — Blue Man Group at Hartford Civic Center; Kevin King & Garret Uhde at Mocha Coffee House; Old School Revue (with special guest Victoria Cave) at Georgetown Saloon; The Zoo Halloween Party at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; I.N.I.T.Y. and West Rockers at Café Nine, New Haven (fundraiser for WPKN radio);

October 28 — The Derek Trucks Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Duran Duran at the Chevrolet Theatre; Unearth at Toad’s Place (all ages); Unearth at Toad’s Place,  Darkest House, August Burns Red, Suicide Silence and Livintrust opening (all ages);

October 29 — The Tragically Hip at Toad’s Place, Joel Plaskett Emergency opening (all ages); Quietdrive, My American Heart, Just Surrender and House of Fools at The Webster Theater.