*BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’s Devils And Dust Tour, a solo acoustic event for the performer, will arrive in Connecticut on Wednesday, July 20. Tickets for that 8 pm show – taking place at The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport – are going on sale Saturday morning at 10 am and have been priced at $75.25 and $85.25.

 There will be a lottery wristband system at the arena’s box office. Between 7 and 9 am Saturday, patrons standing in line will receive a wristband. At 9 am a number will be drawn and the holder of that number will be first in line. The line will form in order beginning with that number. Anyone arriving after 9 will be put at the back of the line. This system only sets up placements in line; it does not guarantee tickets for the show.

 *Fans of ONCE REMOVED, and fans of everything Irish music related, this weekend marks the return of the annual Fairfield County Irish Festival. The event has moved from the edges of Long Island Sound to Indian Ledge Park in Trumbull this year, but it will continue to offer a family celebration of Irish music, art, culture and sports. Organizers promise non-stop entertainment on three stages, pipe band marches, a huge vendors’ tent, a children’s tent with rides and activities, Gaelic football and hurling matches, and plenty of food and drink.

 Festival hours are 6 to 11 pm on Friday, noon to 11 pm on Saturday, and noon to 9 pm on Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, of $15 for a three-day pass; $8 for students ages 16-11, and free for those ages 15 and under. Parking is $2 per car.

 THE SHAMROGUES will be in the festival’s Pub Tent on Friday at 6:15, and then CHERISH THE LADIES will be featured in the Main Tent on Friday beginning at 8:30.

 On Saturday, performances in the Main Tent will include THE ELDERS at 6:15 and BLACK 47 at 9 pm; ONCE REMOVED will be playing in the Pub Tent starting at 8:15; and The Shamrogues will be in the Cultural Tent at 5:45.

 Sunday’s music includes, but is certainly not limited to, The Elders in the Main Tent at 2:45, and GLENGARRY BHOYS at 5:30 and 6:30 in the same spot; in the Pub Tent – THE KERRY BOYS at noon, POGEY at 2, LIZ McNICHOLL at 4:30 and THE PUB ALL-STARS at 7; and in the Cultural Tent, another performance by The Shamrogues at 5:45.

 These are just a handful of the musical highlights, remember. For full festival details including schedules for all of the music and sporting events visit www.IrishFestival.org.

 I know of at least one Newtowner who will be in Trumbull for this shindig. If you bump into Laurie Borst when you’re at the festival on Saturday be sure to buy her a beer for me. She’ll be in the tent for the Black 47 show.

 *A second show by KEITH URBAN has been added at the Oakdale in Wallingford. Tickets for a Saturday, August 13 concert will be on sale today (June 17) at 10 am, with prices set at $35, $45 and $55.

 Urban has already filled the theater for an August 4 concert.

 Also added to the Oakdale calendar is an August 9 BACKSTREET BOYS concert, and tickets for that are going on sale Saturday morning. These tickets will be available for $45, $55 and $65.

 Tickets for either of these shows are available in person at the Oakdale’s box office and through TicketMaster vendors.

 *Already it’s just over a week before Ives Concert Park will be opening for the season. STEVE WINWOOD will be opening the park in Danbury this year with a show on Saturday, June 25.

 Tickets are available for that rain or shine event (all shows are scheduled rain or shine) and they range from $28 for adults on the lawn to $62 and $88 for reserved seating; lawn seats for children are $14. Tickets are available at the Ives box office and through all TicketMaster vendors. Visit www.IvesConcertPark.com for details about the remainder of the 2005 summer season.

 *Music is still an important part of weekends at Proud Mary’s, the lounge at The Inn at Newtown. THE ADULTS, an acoustic duo featuring Jim Sheridan of Newtown and Mark Iannucci of Danbury, return to Proud Mary’s this weekend. The guys generally perform on one of the middle Fridays of the month; this month that gig is set for June 17.

 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 17 — James Taylor at The Meadows Music Centre, Hartford; Steve Miller Band at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre, Ledyard; The Adults at Proud Mary’s, Newtown; Unforgettable Fire at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Ink opening; Hat City Blues Band at 95 North, Norwalk; Pencilgrass at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport, Chris Coogan & Mark Scott (two pianists, one piano) opening; Pam Tillis at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville;

June 18 — John Voket at Mocha, Sandy Hook; Dave Matthews Band at The Meadows Music Centre, Hartford (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, Danbury; 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;

June 21 — The Derek Trucks Band at The Ridgefield Playhouse; The Strange Days Festival at the Oakdale Theatre (The Doors of the 21st Century, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Vanilla Fudge, The Yardbirds, and Pat Travers Band); 

June 22 — Kenny Wayne Shepherd at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

June 23 — Tom Petty and The Black Crowes at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford; Deep Purple at Mohegan Sun Arena, Mountain opening;

June 24 — Steve Winwood at Foxwoods Casino’s Fox Theatre; Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation at Mohegan Sun Arena, The Soundtrack of Our Lives opening; Scarecrow at The Acoustic Café; Herman’s Hermits featuring Peter Noone at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also June 25);

June 25 — Steve Winwood at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; Badfish at Toad’s Place (all ages); Swivelchair at The Acoustic Café; Almost Queen at Tuxedo Junction; Herman’s Hermits featuring Peter Noone at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den.

June 26 — Pimenta Malaguela at Tuxedo Junction; Shangri-Las at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

June 27 — Def Leppard at Mohegan Sun Arena, Tesla opening;

June 29 — djehli at The Acoustic Café;

June 30 — Bret Michaels at The Webster Theatre (all ages).