*I knew something was wrong last week when my weekly newsletter from U2.com arrived with a ticket on-sale update that was discussing the new shows on the Evolution Tour going on sale January 27 and the Hartford date was no longer on that listing. The Connecticut show scheduled for June 9 was to have gone on sale last weekend, but word came mid-week that the June show had been postponed. Not cancelled, but postponed. Nevertheless, I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed.

The good news, for anyone who isn’t following this game play-by-play, is the foursome from Ireland will now be in Hartford one weekend earlier than was previously announced. Tickets are now going on sale Saturday, February 3, for U2’s concert at Hartford Civic Center on Sunday, June 3.

There is going to be a wristband policy in effect for the ticket sales this weekend; visit TicketMaster.com for the details about that. Tickets will be priced at $45 for the “Best of Show”/floor seats, $85 for the majority of the reserved seats and $130 a the limited area of Gold Circle seats. There is a two-ticket limit for the floor tickets and a four-ticket limit for the others.

Tickets will be sold through TicketMaster stores and online, and through the civic center’s box office. Tickets purchased on Saturday only at the box office will not be subjected to a service charge.

Sales elsewhere last weekend continued the Elevation Tour phenomenon, and this tour is still six weeks away from even kicking off! Opening night in Miami is sold out, and I have no doubt that the second Miami show, which goes on sale Friday, will also sell out. A fourth show in Chicago sold out in less than an hour; performances in Albany, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, San Diego have all also sold out. Both Toronto shows are sold out, as are the two shows in Calgary, as well both shows in New York City, Philadelphia, San Jose and Washington, DC.

By the way, Billboard.com released the results of a poll this week in which music fans were asked to name the tour the are most excited about this year. U2 came out well ahead of anyone else, with 4,676 votes, or 45.8 percent of the total count. In second place was MADONNA, with 16.1 percent of the vote, and then the OUTKAST/LUDACRIS coupling with 9.5 percent.

Good luck Saturday.

*A major force in the New England folk scene, DAR WILLIAMS will be returning to the state in the spring. Tickets for an April 13 show (a Friday, yikes!) at Garde Arts Center in New London will be going on sale Monday, February 5, at 10 am. All tickets are $22 and they will be available at the Garde Arts box office, over the phone at 860/444-7373 or 888/ON-GARDE (888/664-2733), or online at gardearts.com.

*Fresh from two open mic appearances in January at the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in New York City, LUCINDA returns this weekend to Bank Street Coffee House in New Milford. Her February 3 show will begin at 8 pm, and I don’t think there is any cover to get in up there. There is, however, plenty of great coffee and snacks, so bring some money and an appetite for music and munchies.

Next week the Newtown native (and Bethel resident) will be featured on WCSU’s student-run radio station, WXCI (91.7 FM). DJ Nancy London will be interviewing Lucinda about her music and career approach, and also adding the singer-songwriter to the station’s list. The in-studio appearance and performance will take place Friday, February 9, from 8:15 to 9 pm. You can listen to the show the old-fashioned way — push a button and turn on the ol’ stereo — or use the university’s live link at www.wscu.ctstateu.edu/wxci/homepage.html.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or shannon@thebee.com; or call The Bee office at 426-3141.

Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

FEBRUARY 3 — The J&B 2000 at Hot Shots II, Newtown; Gargantua Soul, Toxic Field Mice, simple and Still Life at The Webster Theater, Hartford, C-60, 8-Trak Mind, Collapse and Facing Sideways also playing (all ages, doors open 4 pm); Joe Proc & Abu at Mimi’s, Danbury; Invaderz from Marz at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Christine Olham and Rebel Montez at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport;

February 6 — Pat McGee Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages), Electric Mayhem opening;

February 8 — Electric Mayhem dance party at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe; Sans Cherubs and Milk at Toad’s Place (all ages), Queen of Hearts and Jennifer Taylor opening;

February 9 — Turn Styles at Hot Shots II; Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals at UConn’s Jorgensen Auditorium, Storrs, Jack Johnson opening; Amy Kateri at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Far Cry Fly opening; Peanut Jones at Tuxedo Junction; Simple Jim at Toad’s Place, Ink, Eclectic Nobodys and Saffron opening;

February 10 — Just Visiting at Hot Shots II; Everlast at The Webster Theatre, Dexter and Free Bishop opening (all ages); Adva at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Industrial opening; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction; Three Dog Night at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Terence Martin at Acoustic Café (monthly WPKN benefit show).