*Three announcements came across the wire this week from Clear Channel Entertainment.

  In addition to the latest announcement of new shows and their ticket on-sale dates (details to follow), the first announcement is that as of Friday, July 8, The Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford will be called The Dodge Music Center.

 The second announcement is that as of Friday the careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford is becoming The Chevrolet Theatre.

 Yawnnnnn.

 I’ve always hated it when corporations buy sponsorships that turn into venue names. I much prefer creative names. The Meadows and the Oakdale sound much more romantic – and artistic – than The Dodge, Chevrolet, Fleet, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, etc.

 *sigh* OK, am stepping back down off my soapbox.

 The other aforementioned announcements concern an August 23 concert by 50 CENT, with special guests LUDACRIS, LIL JON, CIARA, MIKE JONES and G-UNIT at The Dodge Music Center (nee The Meadows). Tickets will be on sale Saturday morning, priced at $35 and $55 for reserved seats and $20 up on the lawn.

 Also on Saturday the tickets for BOB WEIR & RATDOG and BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS will be going on sale for an August 27 show at The Chevrolet Theatre (nee the Oakdale). All tickets for that show are $38.

 Tickets for either of these shows can be purchased at the Oakdale/Chevrolet Theatre box office and through all TicketMaster vendors.

 *MARY BETH AND GARY SIPPIN of Newtown and their band GOLDRUSH have a big gig this weekend. The band will be playing an opening set at Ives Concert Park in Danbury on Sunday, July 10, for headliners THE CHIEFTAINS. Showtime is 7 pm.

 Goldrush combines traditional and contemporary country, western swing, bluegrass and rockabilly.

 Tickets for that show are available through the Ives Concert Park’s box office, which is on the westside campus of Western CT State University, and also through TicketMaster vendors. Tickets are $20 for adults on the lawn, $10 for children on the lawn, and $40 or $55 reserved.

 *New Haven’s Concerts on The Green series returns on Saturday, July 16, with THE NEVILLE BROTHERS.

 These are nice, free concerts held right in the center of the city’s arts and entertainment district and I can attest from personal experience that they can also be a lot of fun. Bring a picnic dinner and a chair or blanket – or buy your dinner there, because there are plenty of food vendors along the College Street edge of the green – and settle in for an evening of good music.

 Local bands have opening sets at 6 pm, and the headliners begin at 8.

 In addition to The Neville Brothers, this year’s series will bring BLUES TRAVELER into town on July 23 and then VANESSA WILLIAMS on July 30.

 *THE MACHINE will be doing something different with its show next weekend at Toad’s Place. The Pink Floyd tribute band has promised an all-request show.

 Expect plenty of requests on July 16 for “Breathe,” “Money,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb,” the four songs the real band performed last weekend at Live 8.

 The Machine’s next show at Toad’s Place, on August 19, will feature a performance of Pink Floyd’s 1978 album Animals. And even better, the opening set that night will be played by one of my all time favorites, SOL DOG.

  *Woodbury Ski Area is still preparing for its 34th annual REGGAR FEST, which is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, July 16-17, at the ski area on Route 47. Music will run from noon until 8 pm each day, with gates opening at 10 am.

  Tickets are $40 in advance for both days, $25 per day in advance, or $30 per day at the gate; call 203-263-2203 or visit www.WoodburySkiArea.com.

  Bands scheduled to perform include PETE SCHIEPS BAND, BLACK REBELS and LOOSE CABOOSE. More bands are expected to be announced.

  Also, arts and crafts vendors can still contact the ski area about participating in the festival.

 The weekend will also include a large competition for skaters of all ages. The Hoodlum Skate Team and Soft Truck is on a national tour, which will be stopping in Woodbury for the weekend. There will be plenty of contests, prizes and giveaways during the festival’s run.

 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

JULY 8 — ZZ Top at The Chevrolet Theatre (formerly The Oakdale), Wallingford; The Moody Blues at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; Big Jim’s Birthday Bash at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Megahertz opening (all ages); Hat City Blues Band at Higganum Green, Higganum; Toots & The Maytals at The Webster Theatre, Hartford;

July 9 — John Voket at Mocha, Sandy Hook; Faith Evans at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; John Waite at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; The Radiators at The Webster Theatre;

July 10 — John Mellencamp and John Fogerty at The Dodge Music Center, Hartford (formerly The Meadows); The Chieftains at Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Mary Beth Sippin & Goldrush opening;

July 11 — Asia at Toad’s Place;

July 12 — Gizmachi and Byzantine at The Webster Theatre; Luciano at Toad’s Place, The Jah Messinjah Band and Matisyahu opening (all ages);

July 13 — Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago at The Chevrolet Theatre (formerly The Oakdale); G Love & Special Sauce at The Webster Theatre;

July 14 — Tom Jones and Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun Arena; W.A.S.P., L.A. Guns and Stephen Pearcy at The Webster Theatre, Hartford;

July 15 — Fantasia at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Kindred opening; Kottonmouth Kings at The Webster Theatre, Hartford; Richard Marx at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 16); Ra at Toad’s Place, Our Finest Hour, Kai Blackwood and The Tokyo Death Squad opening (all ages);

July 16 — Three Doors Down at The Dodge Music Center (formerly The Meadows), Staind and Breaking Benjamin opening; The (Original) Cast of Beatlemania at Ives Concert Park; Richard Marx at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; 34th Annual Reggae Fest at Woodbury Ski Area, Woodbury (continues July 17); The Neville Brothers at New Haven Green; The Machine at Toad’s Place (all request show, all ages), Odds & Sods and Robbing Opie opening;

July 17 — OzzFest at The Dodge Music Centre; Queen Latifah at Mohegan Sun Arena, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott opening; 34th Annual Reggae Fest (continues) at Woodbury Ski Area;

July 20 — Bruce Springsteen at The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport (SOLD OUT); Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 21);

July 21 — Kenny Chesney at The Dodge Music Center (formerly The Meadows), Gretchen Wilson and Pat Green opening; Rock Never Stops 2005 featuring Cinderella, Ratt, Quiet Riot at FireHouse at Mohegan Sun Arena; The Doobie Brothers at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; Babyface at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Vivian Green opening; Soilent Green, Perfect Murder, Into The Moat and Watch Them Die at The Webster Theatre; Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

July 22 — Elvis Costello & The Imposters at The Chevrolet Theatre (formerly the Oakdale), Emmylou Harris opening; Michael McDonald at Ives Concert Park; The Doobie Brothers at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place, Red Handed opening; Vixen at The Webster Theatre;

July 23 — Buddy Guy at The Webster Theatre; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 24); Michael McDonald at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Blues Traveler at New Haven Green; Shakedown at Toad’s Place, The Melissa Mulligan Band and Rusty Horse opening;

July 24 — Blues Traveler at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 23); BIG Summer Classic 2005 at Yale Field, West Haven, featuring The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey’s McGee and New Monsoon; The Wailers at Toad’s Place (all ages);

July 25 — Hilary Duff at Hartford Civic Center;

July 27 — John Cafferty at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

July 28 — Lou Gramm at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 29);

July 29 — Clay Aiken at Mohegan Sun Arena; American Idols Live Tour at Hartford Civic Center; O.A.R. at The Chevrolet Theatre (formerly the Oakdale); 112 at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Brooke Valentine opening; Lou Gramm at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also July 28); Jeffrey Gaines at The Webster Underground, Hartford; Yellowman at Toad’s Place, The Sagittarius Band opening (all ages);

July 30 — The Wildflower Festival at Ives Concert Park, featuring Judy Collins and Joan Osborne; Bad Medicine at Tuxedo Junction; Big Shot at Toad’s Place, LipLok and Outta the Basement opening; Static X, American Head Charge and Blood Simple at The Webster Theatre; Vanessa Williams at New Haven Green.

July 31 — Action Action and Spitalfield at The Webster Theatre.