On The Road With Shannon Hicks, November 5

*LOU BELLOFATTO (one half of the duo Old School) will be at Café on the Green in Danbury this weekend. Lou will offer a solo piano performance on Saturday, November 6, from 6 to 8:30 pm. Expect a mix of light pop and standards.

Then from 9:30 until 1 am, Lou will join Chris Brown and Eddie Denise to perform at THE BOOKENDS TRIO at Brodie’s Pub, an Irish bar and grill over in Mohegan Lake, N.Y. That show will offer a great mix of songs ranging from listening/concert material to sing-alongs, promises Lou.

*I’m not sure if Lou’s first show this weekend is meant to be seen as its own event or for diners at the upscale restaurant that overlooks Richter Golf Course. You may want to call ahead to double check that there is room for those who want to enjoy the music without going for a full meal.

In a similar vein to the former, my friend and co-Associate Editor here at The Bee is doing a number of performances at Tambascio’s Grill. JOHN VOKET will be at the restaurant, 1 Dodgingtown Road (Route 302) in Newtown, performing from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, on Fridays, November 5 and 19, and December 3, 17 and 31.

Because the restaurant doesn’t really have a large bar area for non-diners, John’s entertainment at Tambascio’s is primarily for the diners. But hey, John Tambascio and his family have always done right by me when I’ve dined at any of their restaurants, so dinner by the Tambascios and staff, with music by Voket? Sounds like a good dinner plan to me.

*LESLIE COSTA AND THE USUAL SUSPECTS will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a CD release party on Saturday, November 13, at Redding Roadhouse. Showtime is 9 pm and admission is free.

The new 3-CD set, The Early Days Collection, includes remastered versions of the band’s CDs Long Way Home, ‘Til Tomorrow and Early Days Live. Band members include Costa on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Goan on bass, Mary O’Hare on vocals, percussion and acoustic guitar, Rory Gordon on lead guitar and vocals and Stuart Stahr on drums.

*Foxwoods will welcome country superstar TOBY KEITH back to the MGM Grand Theater on February 11 with special guest Eric Church. Tickets are $85, $100 and $125, and will be on sale Friday, November 12, at 9 am. 

Tickets may be purchased online at www.MGMatFoxwoods.com, by calling the MGM Grand Box Office at 1-866-646-0609, by visiting the casino’s box office in Mashantucket, and through TicketMaster vendors.

*Meanwhile tickets went on sale last week for THE B-52’s, who will return to the same theater on Friday, January 21. Tickets are $25, $35 and $45 for that show.

*A change of plans for those planning to attend the IAN ANDERSON show at The Palace in Stamford: If you haven’t heard and/or haven’t been contacted by the vendor who sold you your tickets, that show has been cancelled (moved, actually: Anderson will now be in New York City on November 23).

Anderson will, however, be at The Warner Theater in Torrington on November 19. Tickets for that, now the performer’s only Connecticut appearance on his current tour, are $45 and $75, and available by calling 860-489-7180 or going to www.WarnerTheatre.org.

*Having reportedly fallen in love with Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne lights after playing seven shows there over the last two years (and one at Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport), two tone ska/punk rockers ENGLISH BEAT are back for more.

Led by original member Dave Wakeling, the band will be back in Fairfield next month, and this time they’ll be in town for two nights in a row. Tickets are available for both shows, Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11, both starting at 7:30. Tickets are $42. Call the theater’s box office (203-259-1036) for details and tickets.

If that isn’t enough English Beat for you, the band will also be at Infinity Music Hall up in Norfolk on Sunday, December 12. Tickets for that show are $40 and $55; call 866-666-6306 or visit www.InfinityHall.com.

*People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) is inviting the public to a free musical plea for a green-powered earth on Saturday, November 20, to be held at the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Avenue in Hartford.

 From 5 to 6:30 pm, environmental organizations and companies will exhibit benign solutions to energy challenges and will promote solar, geothermal, wind and energy efficient technologies. Clean energy installers and representatives from the CT Clean Energy Fund will be on hand to answer questions. Vegetarian pizza from Little City Pizza, non-alcoholic beverages and homemade desserts will be available for a small charge. A folk music group will play during dinner.

The 6:30 program will open with a short meeting, more music and then drumming, followed by videos and awards to outstanding environmental and legislative leaders.

Harvey Wasserman, the author of Solartopia and one of the world’s leading advocates of renewable energy, will describe the earth in 2030 after it has struggled with the problems of energy and the environment. Harvey’s words, a poignant Irish reading and dramatic videos will be followed by stirring music performed by trumpets, human voices, banjo, guitar, banduras, drums, harmonicas, instrumental groups and dancers. The performers will chronicle the pain of the earth, the joy of sensible solutions, and celebrate the wisdom of caring for the earth.

For more information, visit www.pace-cleanenergy.org or call 860-693-4813.

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

NOVEMBER 5 — Midnight Rodeo at Rivalry Sports Grille, Monroe; P.J. Pacifico at Fairfield Theatre Company; Joan Baez at The Shubert, New Haven; The Australian Pink Floyd Show at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; James Otto at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; The Bernadettes at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

November 6 — Dave Mason at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; All That Remains at The Webster, Hartford, Asking Alexandria and And She Whispered opening; The Alternate Routes at Fairfield Theatre Company, The Kin opening; Don McLean at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk, Terence Martin opening (shows at 6:30 and 9 pm);

November 7 — The Alternate Routes at Fairfield Theatre Company, Brian Jarvis opening;

November 8 — Midnight Rodeo at The Cookhouse, New Milford;

November 9 — Toots and The Maytals at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne;

November 11 — Rusted Root & Assembly of Dust at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Robert Randolph & The Family Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Arlo Guthrie at Infinity Music Hall (also November 12);

November 12 — Brad Paisley at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Darius Rucker and Justin Moore opening; Don McLean at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Arlo Guthrie at Infinity Music Hall; Sister Funk at Georgetown Saloon;

November 13 — Jack Wagner at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; La Roux at The Webster, Francis and The Lights opening; Leslie Costa & The Usual Suspects at Redding Roadhouse (20th anniversary and CD release party); Smokehouse at Georgetown Saloon.