*I can’t even think of the last time CARLY SIMON came around on tour, and for good reason. The last time the performer did a multi-city tour was ten years ago, and I don’t think she came to Connecticut then.

  Now she has decided to do some live performances and will be making The Chevrolet Theatre in Wallingford the second stop of a ten-city tour. Tickets for her Sunday, November 20 concert will be going on sale Saturday morning at 10, and they’ve been priced at $55 and $75. Purchase tickets through TicketMaster vendors or directly at the theater’s box office.

  According to Simon’s website her 2005 shows – which will begin in Boston on November 19 and run until December 6, when she performs in Chicago – will not only include selections from her latest release, Moonlight Serenade, but will also reach deep into her extensive library. Simon’s children, Ben Taylor and Sally Taylor, will each be performing opening acts for her, and will then join her for a few selections during the concert.

  *BARENAKED LADIES will tour this winter with a show that incorporates holiday music alongside some of the hits that have made them radio regulars lately. The band will bring this holiday spectacular to Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, December 2, at 7:30 pm.

  Tickets are $35 and $45 and will be on sale at 10 am Friday through all TicketMaster outlets.

  *Sandy Hook singer-songwriter MARC HUBERMAN continues to develop a weekly open mic series at Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook that he’s pretty excited about. A look at Marc’s website this week includes a note that said when he and Mocha owner Mike Palumbo “discussed bringing this to Sandy Hook, [they] knew it would take some time. Well, word has been spreading and … it is coming together.

  “I won’t say that it’s a standing-room-only type of scene, but there has been a very exciting, eclectic bunch of performers showing up.  On any given Thursday, you can find someone playing hammer dulcimer, piccolo, flute, mandolin, violin, keyboards and saxophone, to name only a few,” Marc continued.

  Mocha is at 3 Glen Road in Sandy Hook, with some parking in the lot in front of the coffee house’s building and plenty of additional parking in the new parking lot off the next driveway (between Tre Regazzi and Glen Road Garage). Admission is free and as is tradition for any good coffee house worth its salt (caffeine?), there are plenty of refreshments available.

  Performers and audience members alike are welcome.

  Sign-up begins each week at 7 pm, and the music starts at 8.

  I’m going to sit down with Marc some time soon, along with Mike Palumbo, to get some more information about this great opportunity that Newtown has been waiting on for quite some time. In the meantime join me also in checking out a few of the Thursday evening events, won’t you?

  *Finally this week, a few more shows have been added to the always-changing calendar at The Webster Theater in Hartford.

  VH-1’s Stripped Across America Tour, a special acoustic show, will visit Hartford on Friday, November 11, and will feature sets by DOKKEN, FIREHOUSE, JANI LANE, STEPHEN PEARCY and KIP WINGER. Tickets are $22.50.

  HOT HOT HEAT, THE RED WALLS and WE ARE SCIENTIST will co-headline the following evening (tickets are $13 in advance), and then DEAD KENNEDYS, LOST CITY ANGELS and THE CODE will play the club on November 19 (tickets $15).

  Tickets are on sale for each of these shows. Call the Webster’s box office at 860-525-5553 or visit www.tickets.com for details.

  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

OCTOBER 14 — Rob Thomas at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, Antigone Rising opening; Shawn Mullins at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; Jack Wagner at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville (also Oct 15); The Pink Floyd Laser Show at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; Billy Ray Cyrus at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard;

October 15 — Rob Thomas at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Jack Wagner at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also Oct 14); Gene Gallagher and Matt Miklus at The Acoustic Café; Olivia Newtown-John at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

October 16 — Little River Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; My Chemical Romance, Alkaline Trio, Reggie and The Full Effect at The Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford; Tish Hinojasa at The Acoustic Café;

October 17 — Def Leppard and Bryan Adams at Mohegan Sun Arena;

October 19 — Local H and Riddle of Steal at The Webster Theater, Ediya and Sevenender opening (all ages); The Alternate Routes at The Acoustic Café;

October 20 — U-Melt at The Acoustic Café;

October 21 — The Fixx at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den.

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October 22 — Bonnie Raitt at The Warner Theatre, Torrington, Maia Sharp opening; Average White Band at The Ridgefield Playhouse; David Cassidy at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Housewives on Prozac at The Acoustic Café; Hidden In Plain View at The Webster Theater (all ages); The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

October 23 — Senses Fail, Saves The Day, The Early November and Say Anything at The Webster Theater (all ages); 4 Hands 1 Piano at The Acoustic Café;

October 24 — The Fixx at East Hartford Community Cultural Center; GWAR at The Webster Theater, Devil Driver, A Dozen Furies and Mensrea opening (all ages);

October 26 — The Alternate Routes at The Acoustic Café;

October 28 — Duke Robillard at The Acoustic Café;

October 29 — Hat City Blues Band at Redding Roadhouse; Bret Michaels at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; The Breakfast and Rane at The Webster Theater, Otherwise and Corkscrew opening (all ages); Dr Mudd at Tuxedo Junction; Group Therapy at The Acoustic Café; Odetta at Towne Crier Café, with special guest Buzz Turner;

October 30 — Aerosmith with Lenny Kravitz at Mohegan Sun Arena (also November 1); The Cosmic Jibaros’ Halloween Show at The Acoustic Cafe.