*GREG BROWN and THE NIELDS are once again back in our area, although in separate performances.  The Nields will be at Towne Crier Café in Pawling, N.Y., on Friday, November 12. Showtime is 9 pm, and as of right now there doesn’t seem to be an opener for the show. Call the Crier at 914/855-1300 for ticket reservations ($15 each) or additional information.

On Sunday, November 14, Greg Brown returns to the Crier. The Iowa native is at his best — as anyne who has ever heard Brown perform will tell you — when he is in a live and intimate atmosphere. His concerts at Edmond Town Hall here in Newtown are perpetually popular, and the crowds pack in to the small setting of the Crier for every one of his shows. It’s hard to believe his latest album, Slant 6 Mind, is already nearly two years old (and is his 14th release, a far cry from the three albums the Crier seems to think the major league singer-songwriter has under his belt), but the cool thing about seeing Greg Brown perform is how he makes all of his songs feel fresh and alive regardless of how young or old they may be.

Tickets for next Sunday’s show are $25 each. Garnet Rogers has an opening set at 8 pm. Call the Crier for reservations or other details.

Also new on the café’s schedule are performances later this month by CHERISH THE LADIES, November 26; and LUCY KAPLANSKY, November 28, with The Wiggins Sisters opening. In December, THE CLANCY TRADITION returns on the 3rd; and CHERYL WHEELER is in Pawling on the 5th. Later in the month, performances will be by CHRISTINE LAVIN, December 17, with special guest Ron Renninger;  and LEON REDBONE, December 18.

The café’s New Year’s Eve celebration will feature RICHIE HAVENS, THE BILL PERRY BLUES BAND, TODD CHARLES, VON EM, and others. Tickets for that evening are $200 apiece, which includes the performances, a full course dinner, a bottle of champagne, and an open bar. (The café will be very careful to make sure open bar visitors will be accompanied by a designated driver or have some other form of safe transportation home.)

*Without sounding sarcastic, I really didn’t know RICK SPRINGFIELD was still recording, performing and  touring these days until a fax came in to the office this week announcing a tickets on-sale date for Springfield at the Oakdale next month. Yes, the (one of many) former cast member of “General Hospital” and the performer of “Jessie’s Girl,” “I’ve Done Everything For You” (yes, that Rick Sprinfield!!!), and multitudes of other songs, is back on the road.

Springfield will be in Wallingford on Thursday, December 9. Tickets are going on sale this Saturday (Nov 6) at 10 am, all at $33 apiece. Oakdale tickets are available only through in-person purchases at the theatre’s box office at 95 South Turnpike Road, or by calling the Oakdale at 203/265-1501.

*Also going on sale Saturday morning will be tickets for the CROSBY, STILLS, NASH &YOUNG stop at Hartford Civic Center on April 12. Tickets for the CSNY2K Tour in Hartford start at $31.75 and run to $77.25 apiece, with even higher-priced Gold Circle seats being offered on a limited basis. Call TicketMaster (203/624-0033 or 860/525-4500) or visit any of its outlets for these tickets. On-sale time is the standard 10 am.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road, stopping long enough to enjoy Alisa and Dennis’ November 6 wedding. Honk your horn for their good luck if you happen to be driving past Newtown Meeting House around mid-afternoon this Saturday.