*A change of plans for this weekend’s entertainment at McLaughlin Vineyards in Sandy Hook: Newtown guitarist (and teacher, and HOMEWARD BOUND member) PETER OBRE will be performing outside the tasting room at the Alberts Hill Road winery on Sunday, July 31.

This is a change from the originally scheduled show by LIZ McNICHOLL & THE CRICKSTONES… but Liz and crew will be back in Sandy Hook on Sundays, August 14 and 28.  Tickets for any of these shows are $15 in advance or $18 at the door, which includes a glass of wine or wine tastings.

To open the weekend, the vineyard has booked a performance by guitarist FRED KRUG for Friday, July 29, running from 6 to 9 pm. Same admission prices. Call the vineyard at 203-426-1533 or visit www.McLaughlinVineyards.com for reservations and additional details including directions if you need them.

*Local smooth jazz duo GOMEZ&SADLON (guitarist Thom Gomez and saxophone/flutist Rick Sadlon) will return to The Twisted Vine in Derby, this weekend, performing from 7:30 to 10:30 pm on Saturday, July 30.

The restaurant is at 285 Main Street (Route 34); call 203-734-2462 for details. There is no cover charge, but Thom and Rick suggest making reservations for the Birmingham Cellar, where they will be performing.

If you’d like to hear a sample of their music, visit www.myspace.com/smoothjazzexpressions.

*Plans are well underway for the 2011 Newtown Hook & Ladder Firehouse Motorcycle Ride & Pig Roast. Whether you have a motorcycle to take on the 40-mile ride planned for Saturday, September 25, or not, this event — the second annual one — is open to everyone interested in a pig roast lunch, live entertainment, and fundraising for one of Newtown’s volunteer fire companies.

CRYSTAL PYRAMID will provide the music for this year’s event. Registration will open at 9 am Sunday morning, and the ride will begin with an 11 am siren start.

Cost is $30 per bike, with an additional $15 charge per passenger. The lower rate can also be paid for those who want to take in the music and party without going out on the ride, also payable at the door. Funds raised through the event will benefit Hook & Ladder in its quest for cover the cost of replacing its historic but deteriorating firehouse at 45 Main Street.

I know the event is almost two months away, but one of the reasons I am mentioning it now is there are sponsorship opportunities available until August 19. A commemorative booklet is being prepared for the event, and the deadline for artwork and payment for that is August 19. Call Tim Hoeffel, one of Hook & Ladder’s engineers, who is again helping to organize the Ride, at 203-482-6141 for details on sponsorships.

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

JULY 29 — Steely Dan at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket; Zappa Plays Zappa at Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport; Alternate Universe at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; Fred Krug at McLaughlin Vineyards, Sandy Hook; Cross Purpose at CityCenter Green, Danbury;

July 30 — Queensrÿche at The Webster, Hartford; Josh Groban at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Steve Katz at The Alison Palmer Studio at Stone Fences, South Kent; Morris Day & The Time at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Eight To The Bar at CityCenter Green;

July 31 — Peter Obre at McLaughlin Vineyard; Jefferson Starship at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den.

AUGUST 3 — Guster at Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Ra Ra Riot opening; All Time Low at The Dome at Oakdale, Wallingford, with special guests Mayday Parade; Steve Smith & The Naked featuring Clarence Clemons at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk; Three Dog Night at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield;

August 4 — Alternate Universe at Dickinson Park, Newtown;

August 5 — The Voice Live On Tour at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Toad the Wet Sprocket at Infinity Music Hall; Abraxas at CityCenter Green, Danbury;

August 6 — Alison Kraus & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket; The Way-Back Machine at Redding Roadhouse, Redding;

August 7 — Maroon 5 and Train at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 9 — Britney Spears at the XL Center, Hartford, Nicki Minaj, Jesse and The Toy Boys, and Nervo opening; The Bacon Brothers Band at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 11 — The Manny Pavone Group at Dickinson Park; Rascal Flatts at the Comcast Theatre, Hartford, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore opening; The J. Geils Band at the Oakdale Theatre, with special guests The Chris Robinson Brotherhood;

August 12 — Ke$ha at Mohegan Sun Arena, LMFAO and Spank Rock opening; The Beach Boys at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; O.A.R. at The Comcast Theatre; Leon Redbone at Infinity Music Hall; Beyond The Wall at CityCenter Green;

August 13 — Alice Cooper at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; Kings of Leon at The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, Band of Horses opening; The J. Geils Band with Peter Wolf at Ives Concert Park, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood opening; Joan Osborne at Infinity Music Hall (acoustic show); Volbeat at The Dome at Oakdale, Wallingford, Cold and Anchored opening;

August 14 — Blink 182 at the Comcast Theatre, My Chemical Romance and Manchester Orchestra opening; The Beach Boys at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; Drivin N’ Cryin at Infinity Music Hall; Liz McNicholl & The Crickstones at McLaughlin Vineyards, Sandy Hook;

August 17 — Selena Gomez & The Scene at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guest AllStar Weekend;

August 18 — Shawn Taylor & Wandering Roots at Dickinson Park;

August 19 — Colin Hay at Infinity Music Hall; Tusk at CityCenter Green;

August 20 — Pitbull at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; The Nighthawks at Infinity Music Hall; Roxy Perry at CityCenter Green;

August 23 — The Tubes featuring Fee Waybill at Infinity Music Hall; The Spin Doctors at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 25 — John Voket & Newtown All-Stars at Dickinson Park; ZZ Top at Ives Concert Park; Journey at The Comcast Theatre, with Foreigner and Night Ranger;

August 26 — ZZ Top at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; Aztec Two-Step and Pete Fornatale at Infinity Music Hall (performing The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook); Limelight at CityCenter Green;

August 27 — John Sebastian at Infinity Music Hall; 3rd Annual Are You Dense MusicFest at Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, featuring Marion Meadows, Major Motion, The Devino Bros Ol Skool Horn Band, et al;

August 28 — Liz McNicholl & The Crickstones at McLaughlin Vineyards.