*I’m back from vacation – with plenty of new freckles to prove it – and have wrestled control of my column back from John Voket, so let’s get back to business (while John slinks off to the Live Earth concert on Saturday, not Sunday as he wrote in this space last week):

While I was away, Mohegan Sun broke ground on its next project: Mohegan Tribal chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Boszum used a Trackhoe to break ground on Friday, June 29, for a new 64,000-square foot Casino of The Wind. In addition to a 35-foot high electronic and animated water wall (which will act as an immense protection screen for programmed video entertainment, plus plenty of new table games, slot machines and a 42-table Poker Room, my big interest in this new construction is the announcement of a two-level, 16,000 square foot JIMMY BUFFETT’S MARGARITAVILLE RESTAURANT.

While it’s impossible to compare a Connecticut version to the original eatery in New Orleans or even Buffett’s second favorite in Key West, it’ll be interesting to have JB offerings in our own backyard by next summer if plans stay on track. The restaurant will be complete with an outdoor dining terrace, a Boatdrinks Bar complete with a classic wooden runabout docked onto the bar, live music at the Florida Key’s Screw-Pile Lighthouse, continuous video images projected on the sails of a replicate Euphoria (one of Buffett’s sailboats)… and that’s just on the first floor!

The second level will feature tiki huts and palm trees overlooking the Thames River and Margaritaville Marina (the main dining area), replica marine sea creatures, and a 30-foot spinning waterspout that will fill a giant 8-foot tall blender with margaritas every hour.

*Also last week, tickets were put on sale for that legendary “little ol’ band from Texas,’ ZZ TOP, who will hit the road this summer and fall, including a stop at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 21. Tickets for that show went on sale last Saturday morning, priced from $30 to $50. They’re still available and can be picked up through any TicketMaster vendor or directly from the arena’s box office in Uncasville.*Tickets also went on sale last weekend for VELVET REVOLVER, who will be at Mohegan Sun with “very special guests” ALICE IN CHAINS and KILL HANNAH on August 21. Continuing the arena’s promise of 164 Events In 64 Days, headliners Velvet Revolver will celebrate this week’s release of their much anticipated second album with this tour.

Tickets are all seats in Uncasville are $50 and if still available by this weekend can also be picked up at any TicketMaster vendor or the arena’s box office.

*Georgetown Saloon in Redding will host a huge BBQ and a full afternoon of folk, bluegrass, Americana and instrumental music for the whole family on Sunday, July 15, starting at 2.

 Not only will this be a gathering of some of the areas best singer-songwriters and performers, but the day will serve as a fundraiser for New Pond Farm, the Redding working farm-as-classroom founded 30 years ago by the actress and environmentalist Carmen Matthews.

Marc Huberman will serve as the event’s emcee. Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and chicken will be cooking out on the grill; regular menu items will also be available. The music and dancing will be in the dining area.

The schedule of performers looks like this: at 2 pm, FAIRFIELD CROSSING will open the event with its traditional and contemporary Irish, Scottish, Appalachian, and French-Canadian tunes, lively jigs and reels, beautiful ballads and waltzes; at 3 it’ll be RANDY BRODY, a hand drummer, music educator, drum circle and workshop facilitator; then at 4 it’ll be BERN McWAIN, a  singer-songwriter providing “delightful musical gumbo for the entire family.”

Folk signer LEEAM ALDOUBY will perform Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Yiddish and American songs at 5; LISA FURMAN & THE BLUEFLY BOYS will begin a set of bluegrass, Celtic and Americana at 6; HOE, the modern old-time string band, will play at 7; and then THE ALL-GRASS BLUE STARS will close the formal performances with a set at 8.

The music won’t stop then, however. The saloon will welcome all interested musicians to the stage area at 9 for a musicians’ jam, so who knows when the night will end?!

There is neither a fee nor a cover charge at the door.  The saloon will be donating a portion of the day’s proceeds and simply asks that you give what you can to help support New Pond Farm.  Representatives from the farm will be at the saloon, answering questions and handing out information and literature about upcoming events and classes.

Contact the folks at the saloon by emailing GeorgetownSaloon@aol.com, visit GeorgetownSaloon.com, or call 203-544-8003. Georgetown Saloon is in the Georgetown section of Redding, at 8 Main Street (at the intersection of Routes 107 and 57).

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 6 — John Cain & The Blues Busters at Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

July 7 — Shrdlu Band at Georgetown Saloon;

July 8 — Willie Nininger at Georgetown Saloon;

July 9 — Daryl Hall & John Oates at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; Rush at Mohegan Sun Arena;

July 10 — Roger Waters at Dodge Music Center, Hartford; Kanye West at Mohegan Sun Arena with Lupe Fiasco and Common.

July 11 — The Rev & Ron (from Sol Dog?) at Georgetown Saloon;

July 12 — Diana Krall & Chris Botti at the Chevrolet Theatre;

July 13 — Sol Dog at Ray Kelly’s Pub, Black Rock; Old School Revue at Georgetown Saloon;

July 14 — John Mayer at Dodge Music Center, with special guests Ben Folds and Brett Dennen; Sol Dog at Top Side Café, Milford; Blue Steam Band at Georgetown Saloon;

July 15 — BBQ For New Pond Farm at Georgetown Saloon, with performances by Fairfield Crossing, Randy Brody, Bern McWain, Leeam Aldouby, Lisa Furman & The Bluefly Boys, Hoe, and The All-Grass Blue Stars (starts 2 pm, fundraiser for New Pond Farm);

July 18 — Benjamin Madison Band at Georgetown Saloon;

July 19 — Def Leppard and Styx at Mohegan Sun Arena;

July 20 — Paris Bennett at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; Doug Wahlberg Band at Georgetown Saloon.