*Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook has scheduled an open mic night next week. Musicians are invited to show up with their own acoustic instruments between 7 and 11 pm on Thursday, June 16. Advance sign-up is requested, but registration will also be taken up to 6 pm on Thursday.

 Speaking of Mocha, Bee reporter and entertainer JOHN VOKET returns to the Glen Road coffeatery next weekend. John’s next show is Saturday, June 18, starting at 7.

 *CROSBY, STILLS & NASH have reunited and will perform at Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday, August 8. Tickets are going on sale Saturday morning at 10, and have been set at $35 and $45. A limited number of wristbands will be distributed at 7 am Saturday for those who want to head to Uncasville for first-day sales, otherwise tickets can also be purchased through all TicketMaster vendors.

 *Tickets for THE BEACH BOYS with HARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, a special event to take place Saturday, August 6, at Simsbury Performing Arts Center, will also be on sale Saturday at 10 am. These tickets have been set at $32.50 for the lawn and $56 and $76 for reserved seats.

 *TOBY KEITH’s concert at the Meadows, which was announced a while ago as coming in on Sunday, August 28, is also going on sale Saturday at 10. Lawn seats are $34.25, and all reserved seats are $69.25. These tickets will be sold at the Oakdale box office in Wallingford; the Toby Keith show (which will feature opening sets by Lee Ann Womack and Shooter Jennings) and the Beach Boys show will also be sold through TicketMaster vendors.

 *DESTINY’S CHILD will bring its “Destiny Fulfilled… and Lovin’ It” Tour to Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday, August 3. Tickets for that show are going on sale this morning at 10 (sorry, that means Friday, June 10). These are available through the arena’s box office and all TicketMaster vendors and have been priced from $63.25 and $78.25 to $98.25.

 *New shows that have been announced by The Webster Theatre in Hartford include a July 8 performance by TOOTS & THE MAYTALS; then GIZMACHI and BYZANTINE on July 12; G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE, July 13; and WHITESNAKE, August 5.

 *New research shows amphitheaters are second only to clubs as the favorite location for live music. So said the headline of a press release from Clear Channel Music Group last week. The announcement went on to say that CCMG is hoping to revitalize the outdoor music scene this summer at 33 of its amphitheaters – which includes The Meadows in Hartford – by not only bringing in top artists, but also offering lower ticket prices, new food choices, and now even the chance to bring in food, blankets and lawn chairs.

 CCMG has begun offering something called the Grass Pass, which is a $39 ticket that includes admission to the show, parking and a $10 food and beverage voucher.

 The group is also increasing both the number of concession stands within its venues as well as tapping local favorite eateries to offer a different array than those tired, dry hamburgers and frightening-looking hot dogs. For Connecticut, this means concerts will now include offerings from Legal Sea Foods, Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Café, Hot Tomato’s, Ginza Sushi and Franklin Grinders.

 Finally, The Meadows will also join the venues across the country offering live recordings of shows available for purchase as fans leave select shows. No word on what the cost of Instant Live™ CDs.

 These changes, according to the press release, were guided by two fan surveys – one done by Streetwise Concepts & Culture, a “youth-marketing specialist,” and the other by the marketing firm Modem Media.

 Across the board, the passion for outdoor music remains strong. “Some 69 percent of concertgoers in the Modem Media poll that ‘sitting on the lawn at a concert is something I really enjoy.’  … [while] 77 percent said they were likely to sit in a lawn seat … [and] 72 percent of respondents to the Modem Media poll said they were ‘very likely’ to attend an outdoor concert.”

 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 SHOWS

JUNE 10 — Hat City Blues Band at The Lodge, Southbury; Kenny G at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Alternate Route at The Acoustic Café, Black Rock; Wanderly and Banda Real at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Steel Pulse at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville;

June 11 — Judas Priest at Mohegan Sun Arena, Queensryche opening; Baby Macaroni at The Webster Underground, Hartford (18 and up); The Neville Brothers at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Aztec Two Step at The Acoustic Café; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

June 12 — Otep, Devil Inside and Day Send at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

June 14 — Hat City Blues Band at The BoxCar, Southport; Michael Graves and Trashlight Vision at The Webster Theatre (18 and up);

June 15 — Edwin McCain at The Webster Theatre, Jeffrey Gaines opening;

June 16 — Mike Morello at The Acoustic Café (CD release party), with special guest Romaer;

June 17 — (SOLD OUT) Jimmy Buffett at Mohegan Sun Arena; James Taylor at The Meadows Music Centre, Hartford; Steve Miller Band at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Unforgettable Fire at Toad’s Place, Ink opening; Hat City Blues Band at 95 North, Norwalk; Pencilgrass at The Acoustic Café, Chris Coogan & Mark Scott (two pianists, one piano) opening; Pam Tillis at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

June 18 — John Voket at Mocha, Sandy Hook; Dave Matthews Band at The Meadows Music Centre (also playing June 19); Hat City Blues Band at The Georgetown Saloon, Georgetown; Melissa Mulligan Band featuring Ellen Corso and Casey Chafe at The Acoustic Café; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction; Alan Parsons Project Live at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

June 19 — Dave Matthews Band at The Meadows Music Centre; Santana at the Oakdale Theatre, Los Lonely Boys opening; Cidade Negra at Tuxedo Junction; Rick Derringer at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

June 20 — Seal at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre.