*Music at Mocha begins this week with singer-songwriter BRIAN DOLZANI headlining on Friday, December 21, from 7:30 to 10 pm. Brian “writes with compassions, earnestness, awareness and self-reflection that invites listeners into his world, and just as importantly encourages others to see themselves in the songs as well,” according to notes sent over by Mocha this week.

Find out for yourself on Friday when Brian plays songs from his fourth self-released CD, Compass, along with plenty of other materials.

JON SLOW will be the featured performer on Saturday, December 22, also 7 to 10:30 pm. Influences, according to his press release, include The Who, Live, Colin Hay, David Gray, DMB and the Beatles “shine through on his repertoire of originals and covers.”

Next weekend will see a return by JOHN VOKET and BRENDAN WALSH, who are planning – weather permitting, of course – a year-end jam for Saturday, December 29. Showtime is 7:15 to 10 pm.

*Speaking of John, he’ll be trying out a new locale this weekend (new for him; the restaurant’s been around for a while). John will be playing at Milano’s Restaurant & Pizzeria, at 10 Railroad Street in New Milford, on Friday night from 9:30 pm to 1 pm. He will be performing his usual mix of popular and obscure favorites from the 1960s to today.

*Heard from another venue getting ready for New Year’s Eve: The Acoustic Café in Bridgeport will host a “Welcome to 2008 Party” starting at 8 pm on Monday, December 31. There will be “nibblins,” a champagne toast at midnight, and of course plenty of music.

Performers will include MIKE FALZONE, RENARD BOISSIERE’S NARDY BOY and THE COSMIC JIBAROS.  The evening will include delicious “nibblins” and a champagne toast at midnight.

The café is at 2926 Fairfield Avenue in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. For ticket information call 203-335-3655-8742 or send e-mail AcousticCafe@aol.com.

*This weekend The Acoustic Café (see street address above) will host the Roamer Christmas Party Show, with jam band ROAMER headlining a 9 pm show. Admission is $5 for the band that “combines great lyrics, keyboard, conga and supporting backline, creating a tuneful blend.” See for yourself.

Tomorrow night’s headliner will be CHRISTOPHER HAWLEY, who will start at 8, and then the café will be closed for its Christmas break until December 28, when it reopens with Chris Morgan’s Birthday Music. Details TBA, I’m told.

*KY-MANI MARLEY has been bringing rock audiences to their feet and earning rave reviews opening the news-making Van Halen reunion tour of sold out arenas this fall, proving himself up to the challenge of the unusual pairing. As the title of his recently released CD Radio implies, the mix of reggae roots, hip-hop, world music, R&B, rock and pop played by the second youngest son of musical icon Bob Marley has broad mainstream appeal.

Marley was invited to open the reunion tour of the band by David Lee Roth. According to a press release last week that announced Marley’s continuation on the next leg of the Van Halen tour, “He’s a fan,” Marley said of Roth. “He’s a big fan of my dad. And apparently he knows some of the work that I’ve done. He was a fan of a movie I did called Shottas, and in no way would I have imagined he would have been a fan of that.”

The tour is giving Marley an opportunity to distinguish himself from the daunting legacy of his father, whose music he draws from and mixes with his many influences to create a sound all his own. If you missed this show when it rolled through the state earlier this year, the good news is the tour will be back in Uncasville in a few months.

Tickets have already gone on sale, but as of late last week there will still plenty available for the March 26 VAN HALEN show, with Marley opening.

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

DECEMBER 21 — Brian Dolzani at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; John Voket at Milano’s, New Milford; Badfish at Toad’s Place, New Haven, All in Blind opening (all ages); The Alternate Routes at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Roamer Christmas Party Show at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; Tangles Vine at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

December 22 — Jon Slow at Mocha Coffee House; John Valby XXXmas Show at Toad’s Place; Christopher Hawley at The Acoustic Café; Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon;

December 26 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre, Uncasville (nightly shows through December 31);

December 27 — Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars Holiday Show at Fairfield Theatre Company; Clutch at Toad’s Place (all ages); Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly shows through December 31);

December 28 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly shows through December 31); Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place (all ages); Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Fairfield Theatre Company; Smokehouse at Georgetown Saloon;

December 29 — John Voket & Brendan Walsh at Mocha Coffee House; Doug Wahlberg Band at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly shows through December 31); Scarecrow Collection and The Brew at The Acoustic Café;

December 30 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly shows through December 31); The Way Up at Georgetown Saloon;

December 31 — The Wailers at Fairfield Theatre Company, Tea Leaf Green opening; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre; Mike Falzone, Renard Boissiere’s Nardy Boy, and The Cosmic Jibaros at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; New Year’s Eve Bash with Charlie Karp & Friends at Georgetown Saloon featuring Charlie Karp, Mark Naftalin, Roger Ball, Kenny Owens, Chance Browne, Kenny Owens Jr & John Piolo.

JANUARY 3 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre, Uncasville (nightly until January 6);

January 4 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly until January 6); Kid Rock at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Andrea & The Armenian Rug Riders at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

January 5 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre; Uncle Mustache at Georgetown Saloon;

January 6 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre; Chance Browne & Friends at Georgetown Saloon (5:30 start)

January 12 — Ozzy Osborne & Rob Zombie at Mohegan Sun Arena;

January 13 — Willie Nininger at Georgetown Saloon (5:30 start);

January 18 — The Quake at Georgetown Saloon;

January 19 — Shoo Fly Blues at Georgetown Saloon.

January 25 — John Cain & The Blues Busters at Georgetown Saloon;

January 26 — Bob’s Your Uncle at Georgetown Saloon;

January 31 — Keith Urban at Mohegan Sun Arena, Carrie Underwood opening (also February 1).