*So what did I tell you last week??! Something about VAN HALEN and Connecticut and March 28, 2008, at Mohegan Sun Arena…

Well I got almost everything correct. I would have had the date right too, had I been able to read the calendar to see that Wednesdays in March don’t include a 28th but a 26th. Regardless, it comes as no surprise this week while in the midst of one of the most highly anticipated and successful tours of the year, VAN HALEN has announced an extension of this tour well into 2008. Mohegan Sun will have tickets going on sale this weekend for a Wednesday, March 26 show at its arena.

Tickets are $125.50, $155.50 and $199.50 and will most likely sell out again. They’ll be going on sale Saturday morning at 10 through TicketMaster vendors, and will also be available – if any remain – beginning Sunday through the casino’s box office as well.

*Also going on sale this weekend will be tickets for LUDACRIS, who will be the featured performer for the annual Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) concert on Friday, February 15.

The Grammy Award-winning platinum-selling performer will be performing in Alumni Hall that night, and tickets will be available to the public beginning Saturday, December 8, through TicketMaster vendors, all priced at $40. Students have been able to buy tickets since Monday, but there should still be plenty to go around this weekend.

*Music at Mocha this weekend will feature a friend of mine kicking off what he hopes will be a regular event, and something that will allow more people to try their hand at public performances.

JOHN VOKET will have a John Voket & Friends Acoustic Jam Session at the Glen Road coffeehouse on Sunday, December 9, starting at 1. John will be joined by fellow musician Brendan Walsh for some live music, and he’s inviting others to join him for the afternoon.

Local acoustic musicians, especially those who want to experiment with playing out, are invited to meet John and talk with him about the possibility of continuing with informal jam sessions at Mocha with some regularity. This is going to be a friendly, supportive environment. Low key, no pressure – just grab your guitar or whatever small acoustic instrument you play and head out to try something new.

Anyone interested in talking to John before or after Sunday’s program can send him an email at John@TheBee.com.

John and Brendan will be co-headlining another show at Mocha later this month as well. The guys will be in Sandy Hook again on Saturday, December 29, starting at 7:30.

*As Christmas and Hanukkah prepare to steamroll over us, so too does New Year’s Eve.

Fairfield Theatre Company will be hosting a big event at the Klein Memorial Auditorium over in Bridgeport. For $75, ticket-holders will be treated to a show by THE WAILERS, with an opening set by Tea Leaf Green, open bar all night,

Doors open at 8 and the shows will start shortly thereafter, around 8:30. FTC members can get their tickets for $65. Visit the theater’s website for details about becoming a member, which supports the theater and provides discounts on tickets to shows all year, among other things.

This weekend – tonight in fact, sorry for the late notice – there may still be a few seats available for a special performance of Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory. The special holiday cocktail event begins with wine and hors d’oeuvres at 6:30, followed by a reading of the one-act autobiographical play at 7:30.

Tickets are $43 for this one.

Music will be back at the theater next weekend, when I VOCALI CAMARATI               leads a holiday music performance/art workshop for all ages on Sunday, December 16. Tickets for this are $17 ($12 FTC members) and cover the workshop, which begins at 4 and will have participants busy creating snowflakes, lanterns and reindeer to take home.

Following the workshop, the vocal group will made its debut Connecticut performance. The singers will have the children participating in a Wassail procession, reenacting the old English tradition of caroling; acting out “The 12 Days of Christmas,” ringing jingle bells, and singing their favorite holiday songs.

Grammy winners MANHATTAN TRANSFER will be at Klein Memorial Auditorium in another show co-sponsored by Fairfield Theatre Company, performing “A Manhattan Transfer Christmas featuring The Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra.” That big event will be on Friday, December 21, starting at 7:30. Tickets are $32 to $67, with discounts for FTC members.

And then THE PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK will offer a holiday show of its own on Thursday, December 27, at 7:30, at the FTC theater. Tickets for this are $17 ($12 members).

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 7 — Neil Young at the Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; John Mellencamp at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Los Lobos opening; Marion Meadows at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

December 8 — Sol Dog at The Black Duck Café, Westport;

December 9 — John Voket & Friends Acoustic Jam Session at Mocha Coffee, Sandy Hook;

December 13 — The Backstreet Boys at The Webster Theater, Hartford;

December 14 — Gary Hoey at The Webster Theater;

December 16 — I Vocali Camarati at Fairfield Theatre Company (early workshop & performance, begins 4 pm); Chimaira at Toad’s Place, Kataklsym, Terror and The End opening (all ages);

December 21 — Badfish at Toad’s Place, All in Blind opening (all ages); The Alternate Routes at The Ridgefield Playhouse;

December 22 — John Valby XXXmas Show at Toad’s Place;

December 26 — Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (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;

December 29 — John Voket & Brendan Walsh at Mocha Coffee House; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre (nightly shows through December 31);

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

December 31 — The Wailers at Fairfield Theatre Company, Tea Leaf Green opening; Aaron Lewis (solo acoustic show) at Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theatre.