On the heels of his new album, “First Kiss,” Kid Rock kicks off his “$20 Best Night Ever” tour on Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, with special guests Foreigner. Tickets (lawn and pavillion for $20 “all-in”) go on sale this Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. through livenation.com, ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Before that, though, country star Jason Aldean ($31.25-$71.25) plays the Xfinity Theatre on Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m., with special guests Cole Swindell and Tyler Farr. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster.com.
Def Leppard ($59-$79) returns to Connecticut for a show at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville on Sunday, July 5, at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets beginning on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello ($32.50-$42.50) co-headline a dozen shows this summer, including a stop at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale starting Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
Matt and Kim (singer/keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino) play two shows at the Heirloom Arts Theatre in Danbury on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20. Young Statues heads to BAR in New Haven for a free show on Wednesday, March 11 at 9:30 p.m., with the Lively opening, followed by Honeyblood on Wednesday, March 25 at 9:30 p.m., with special guests Violent Mae and loom. No Joy will be playing at the Ballroom at The Outer Space in Hamden on Saturday, March 28, followed by Jimkata ($10-$12) on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 p.m. Lazyeyes plays a free show at BAR on Wednesday, April 22 at 9:30 p.m. Spirit Family Reunion ($15) heads to the Ballroom on Sunday, April 26 at 9 p.m. Visit manicproductions.org for tickets.
Calabrese ($8) plays Cafe Nine in New Haven on Monday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m., with Biters and the Naked Heroes. MV & EE ($8-$10) performs at Cafe Nine on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8:30 p.m., with the Mountain Movers and Rivener opening. James and the Ultrasound ($6-$8) plays Cafe Nine on Tuesday, March 24 at 8:30 p.m., with Dangerous Animals opening. Visit cafenine.com for tickets and more information.
The Official Blues Brothers Revue ($47.50), produced by Dan Aykroyd, Judith Belushi and musical director Paul Shaffer, arrives at Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield on Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m. Former Eagle Don Felder ($80) performs at Ridgefield Playhouse on Wednesday, March 18 at 8 p.m. Call 203-438-5795 or visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org for tickets.
The Heritage Blues Orchestra performs at Hartford’s Infinity Hall on Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m. Visit infinityhall.com for tickets.
The Alchemystics ($12) perform at Black-eyed Sally’s in Hartford on Friday, Feb.27, with special guest D.P.R., followed by Caravan of Thieves ($20) on Saturday, Feb. 28. Head to blackeyedsallys.com or call 860-278-7427 for tickets.
Folk legend John Gorka ($18) plays Bridge Street Live in Collinsville on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. Head to 41bridgestreet.com or call 860-693-9762 for tickets.
The next incarnation of WimBash, a pop-up festival organized by Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish, arrives at Z’s Corner Cafe in West Haven on Saturday, Feb. 28. The event features Doug Wimbish & Friends, Dougalow & Markie, Chemical Z, Solistic, Forgotten By Friday and others. Doors open at 2:45 p.m.
Guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson brings his quintet to the North Madison Congregational Church in Madison on March 7 at 8 p.m.
