*DURAN DURAN, my favorite band of the Second British Invasion during the 1980s, will be at Mohegan Sun Arena on April 3. Tickets are going on sale Friday morning, at $35 and $45 apiece, through the Mohegan Sun box office and all TicketMaster outlets.

*New Haven-based photojournalist Daniel Smith, who returns to Iraq early next month to begin working on his next series of images, will be hosting the Sunday afternoon (4-8 pm) performances by ROCK THE CASBAH and GROOVSKI at Café Nine in New Haven this weekend. All proceeds from Sunday’s show will benefit Iraqi relief efforts.

The weekend will open with THE GEORGE BAKER EXPERIENCE’s “Home For The Holidays” show on Friday (cover is just $4), a Saturday afternoon jazz jam hosted by Mr Baker (no cover charge), and then an evening of rockabilly starting at 9 pm with THE COBRA-MATICS (featuring ex-Royal Crowns guitarist The Colonel) and THE TOMBS TONES ($4 cover).

The club is at 250 State Street; telephone 203-789-8281.

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

DECEMBER 17 — Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe; Roamer at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport (Black Rock area); The George Baker Experience “Home For The Holidays” at Café Nine, New Haven; John Valby at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, N.Y.;

December 18 — Off The Hook at Jacob Marley’s, Orange; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Marion Meadows at Toad’s Place (Christmas show, all ages), followed by Eight To The Bar; Chris Isaak (holiday show) at Foxwoods Casino, Ledyard; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Christmas show at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Liam Baily and Liz McNichol at The Acoustic Café; The Cobra-Matics and The Tombs Tones at Café Nine; Breaking Benjamin, The Exies and Ill Nino at The Webster Theatre; Smokehouse at The Georgetown Saloon; Aztec Two-Step at Towne Crier Café, Mad Agnes opening;

December 19 — Rock The Casbah and Groovski at Café Nine, New Haven (fundraiser for Iraqi relief efforts, hosted by photojournalist Daniel Smith); BR-549 at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Jane Siberry at The Acoustic Café; Galuminum Foil at Towne Crier Café featuring Danny Lanzetta, Chris Cubeta & The Liars Club and Flywheel & Parlor;

December 21 — From Autumn To Ashes at Toad’s Place, Emery, Honorary Title and Emanuel opening (all ages);

December 23 — The Breakfast (formerly Psychedelic Breakfast) at Toad’s Place (all ages); John Torres at The Acoustic Café;

December 26 — Willie Nininger at The Georgetown Saloon;

December 27 — Aaron Lewis at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre (solo acoustic show, not a Staind performance; also December 28);

December 28 — Aaron Lewis at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre (see December 27 details);

December 31 — The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; New Year’s Eve with Max Creek and Psychedelic Breakfast at Toad’s Place; Nina Sky, Ciara and Monica at Foxwoods Casino; Party Boss at The Georgetown Saloon; New Year’s Eve Celebration with Debbie Davies Blues Band, Rob Carlson and others at Towne Crier Café.