*Tickets for STING, who will return to Connecticut on March 17 when he plays at the careerbuilder.com Oakdale Theatre, will go on sale Saturday morning. Distribution for a wristband lottery will begin at 8:30, and the lottery itself will occur around 9:30. Tickets are priced at $51. $71 and $91 for this show and will be available through ctnow.com, in person at the Oakdale box office or over the phone from the box office at 203-265-1501.

*Also returning to the state after the first of the year will be JAMES TAYLOR, who will be at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, January 3. Tickets are going on sale for this show Monday morning at 10, through the same outlets as above.

*Huge congratulations to THE BOMB SQUAD, who received the Third Annual AMA Coca-Cola New Music Award last weekend. How cool was it to see the band performing on the American Music Awards Sunday night?

Fifty bands were selected following a call for entries that was issued back in April. The initial selection of 50 was announced in early August and was a good cross-section of bands from across the country. There were musicians from California to Massachusetts, Florida to Minnesota, West Virginia to Alaska. The Bomb Squad was one of six bands selected from New York City.

A few weeks later, on August 25, the field was narrowed to ten semi-finalists who had to next prepare for a play-off at The Knitting Factory in New York City. That next stage was held on September 12, and the field was narrowed to three finalists: Mere, from Hoboken, N.J.; Elcodrive from Boston; and relax to paris, from Los Angeles.

The Bomb Squad was actually the first runner-up following the semi-final round. On September 29, however, Mere announced it needed to withdraw from the competition for personal reasons. As part of the competition rules for the Coca-Cola New Music Award, if a band or artist withdraws or is otherwise unable to participate in the competition’s activities, the first runner-up artist or band from the semi-finalist event moves on to the next phase of the competition.

The three semi-finalists then performed at a CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, and it was a combination of selections by a judging panel and an Internet vote that selected the winner. The band – Jen Durkin, Dan Grennes, Brad Mason, Ian McHugh, Mike Raskin, Pete Stoltzman and Mark Traggesser – wrapped up this amazing run with a performance in front of millions last Sunday night.

Regulars at Tuxedo Junction, The Bomb Squad has a show tonight at the Danbury venue. Chances are this may be one of the most popular shows for the band to date; loads of people are going to want to join the party and offer congratulations. Tickets are just $10 in advance, so probably $12 or $15 at the door. It’s an all ages show, and Hot Soup will be doing the opening set.

*SOL DOG returns this weekend to 100 Church Hill in Sandy Hook. Ron, Rev, Mark and Curtiss will be at the bar on Saturday, starting around 10 pm.

*SIDESHOW also has a good schedule set up for the next two months. Grady McAuliffe, Fred Dotson, Jay Bremen, John Dotson and Chris Messner will be at Murphy & Scarletti’s in Farmington on November 21, at Black Rock & Blue in Bridgeport on November 22, and then have a big Thanksgiving eve show at Tuxedo Junction in Danbury on November 26. After that the guys will close out the month at The Brickyard in Hartford on November 29.

Next month SideShow will be at Stash’s in New London and December 6, and Shenanigan’s in South Norwalk on December 20.

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND’s next show will be at Bohemian Pizza & Ditto’s Bar in Litchfield on November 22. The guys plan to start around 10 pm, and the cover charge is just $5. The restaurant-bar is at 342 Bantam Road; call 860-567-3980 for specifics.

Upcoming shows include a performance as part of Danbury’s First Night Celebration, in the ballroom of Ives Manor, on Wednesday, December 31; at The Georgetown Saloon on January 9, and at Redding Roadhouse on February 21.

*Legendary Allman Brothers drummer JAMOIE (who lives in Bloomfield, I recently learned) will join The Fairfield University Jazz Ensemble for its winter concert this year. The ensemble is an accomplished group of university students who often invite and manage to land spectacular guest musicians to join their concerts. Previous guests have included James Williams, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Steve Turre, members of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dave Samuels, and Ingrid Jensen, among others.

For its winter concert on Friday, December 5, the ensemble has a program of standards and originals planned, including ensemble director Brian Torff’s “Dominating” and “Steady Flo,” “A La Mode” by Curtis Fuller, “Freedom Jazz Dance” by Eddie Harris, “Gingerbread Boy” by Jimmy Heath, and “Statesboro Blues,” a Willie McTell piece made famous by the Allman Brothers Band.

Performances will be at 7 and 8:30 pm. Tickets are just $8 for adults and $5 for students; call 203-254-4010 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 CONCERTS

NOVEMBER 21 — The Derek Trucks Band at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; SideShow at Murphy & Scarletti’s, Farmington; Jen Durkin & The Bomb Squad at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury, Hot Soup opening; Michael Hill’s Blues Mob at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues Cafe, Hartford; James Keelaghan with Sonia (of disappear fear) at UHartford’s Wilde Auditorium, West Hartford; Johnny Winter at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages);

November 22 — Lynyrd Skynyrd at Foxwoods’ Fox Theatre, Ledyard; SideShow at Black Rock & Blue, Bridgeport; Sol Dog at 100 Church Hill, Sandy Hook; Hat City Blues Band at Bohemian Pizza & Ditto’s Bar, Litchfield; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction;

November 23 — MTV2 Presents featuring Thrice and Thursday at The Webster Theatre, Coheed and Cambria opening (all ages);

November 24 — Godsmack at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Adema opening;

November 25 — A Perfect Circle at the Oakdale Theatre;

November 26 — SideShow at Tuxedo Junction; Fuel at The Webster Theatre, Revis opening; Phil Lesh & Friends at the Oakdale Theatre; Deep Banana Blackout at Toad’s Place (all ages, all original and current members);

November 27 — Sol Dog at The Avenue Café, Bridgeport;

November 28 — Bad Medicine at Tuxedo Junction; NRBQ at Toad’s Place; Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Disco Biscuits at The Webster Theatre (all ages);

November 29 — The Moody Blues at ctnow.com Oakdale Theatre; SideShow at The Brickyard Café, Hartford.

; Anthony Gomes at Black-Eyed Sally’s; Disco Biscuits at The Webster Theatre (playing two nights, all ages shows); The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction;

November 30 — Dark Star Orchestra at Tuxedo Junction.