A recent and likely possible rumor has been that the band would play two nights at Hartford’s Comcast Theatre. And now that rumor has likely turned into the truth.

Live Nation has listed two dates for Hartford on their Phish tickets page, which all but confirms the dates as true. We’ll just have to wait until Phish announces the dates themselves (likely in coming days) for the 100% confirmation.

Tickets (most likely) will go on sale April 2.

The brand new festival, which is set for the 2010 Fourth of July weekend (Jul. 2-4), is a  new multistage music and camping festival that has already locked up some of the most significant artists usually involved in the festival scene.

Already in place for the weekend outside of Furthur, moe. and The Flaming Lips are Lotus, Keller Williams, Zappa Plays Zappa, The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band and Moonalice. Dozens more are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets are currently on sale right now, with a limited time discount price of $199 for a weekend camping pass and $179 for a weekend pass without camping.

The festival, which is set to take place at Oxford Fairgrounds, is hoping to be New England’s premier jam band festival. It’s only competition? Gathering of the Vibes, right here in Connecticut.

One immediate screening is the Tuesday, Feb. 2 date for Couple’s Retreat. The film is also set to screen on Thursday, Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 7.

Following in rotation is New Moon, the box office success and sequel to Twilight. The film has three screening dates (2/16, 2/18 and 2/21).

Next comes the critically acclaimed Precious. The film has already taken home some Golden Globes for acting and is expected to content heavily at the upcoming Academy Awards. The film will screen three dates as well, including 2/23, 2/25 and 2/28.

Stay tuned for more film screenings on the CCSU campus.

The McLovins caught Internet fame when their cover of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” made its way around. Since then, the trio has released their great debut album Conundrum and have been playing shows up and down the northeast.

For more info on this 18+ local show, check out the event’s Facebook page.

Remember, the band returns to the state in February, so get your tickets fast if you want in one what some people are calling the next best thing to the real Grateful Dead.

Setlist:

I: Shakedown Street, Alabama Getaway, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Pride of Cucamonga, Loose Lucy > Minglewood Blues > The Music Never Stopped
II: Jam > China Cat Sunflower > Eyes of the World > Born Cross-Eyed > Dark Star, Strawberry Fields, St. Stephen > The Eleven > Not Fade Away
E: GDTRFB

New Grateful Dead spin-off project Furthur will make its first Connecticut appearance this weekend with a show at the Oakdale Theatre on Friday, Dec. 11. The band was formed by Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. Joining them are John Kadlecik of the Dark Star Orchestra, Joe Russo of the Benevento/Russo Duo (discussed in last week’s blog post about Benevento’s appearance in CT), and RatDog members Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane.

While everyone will certainly agree that none of the new incarnations of these legendary jam band members will ever come close to the Grateful Dead, there is a certain energy this band exudes in its lengthy, spread-out jams, perhaps brought on by the likes of Kadlecik and Russo. Kadlecik’s former band, Dark Star Orchestra, was a band aimed at recreating the live shows of the Grateful Dead. Now he has a chance to play right along with them.

I’ve already given the group a good listen. Their shows consist of tunes made classic by the Jerry Garcia-led band and are easily attainable online. Archive.org streams good quality soundboard recordings for free.

Now the bad news is that Friday night’s show has been sold out for awhile. But the band will return to the state on Feb. 26 as they plan to jam out the Mohegan Sun Arena as a part of a massive tour. Get your tickets quick, this band is not worth overlooking.

Marco Benevento Trio Poster via Downright Music and Art

Saturday night brings a special performance to Downright Music and Art in Collinsville (Canton), Conn. The Marco Benevento Trio will bring their experimental jazz act. Opening for Benevento’s trio will be local band The McLovins, a group of high school-aged youngsters made famous by their cover of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” that spread like a wildfire on Youtube.

A natural pianist, organist and composer, Benevento is a seasoned musician and has played with a number of legendary artists in the jazz arena and beyond. Most notably might be the time he spent accompanying Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon. Benevento, along with drummer Joe Russo, forms the aptly named Benevento/Russo Duo and joined Gordon for a series of shows over the course of six months. Anastasio joined them for a show in Cleveland in 2006. Russo has recently joined legendary Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in their new band Furthur.

With Benevento will come bassist Reed Mathis (of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Tea Leaf Green) and drummer Andrew Barr (of The Slip). The trio will perform at Downright Music and Art 41 Bridge St. this Saturday night.

On a person level, I find Downright to be a hidden gem nested inside Connecticut. I haven’t checked out the new indoor performance venue they apparently built (where this concert will be held) but I look forward to doing so. I would this Saturday night if I didn’t already have tickets to the USF @ UConn football game. So instead of groovin’ to the tunes of The McLovins and Benevento, I’ll be freezing my butt off watching UConn’s last regular season game of the season. A fair trade off, though.

The one time I did attend Downright was this past summer when Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey paid a visit. You can check out my review of that show on my own personal blog. Music aside, the place was great. They played an outside show and despite the rain things went off without a hitch. The atmosphere was great and the people were greater. It’s certainly a hippie heavy scene, but they’re a relaxing and freeing change of pace to the uptight pace the rest of our state takes on. So even if you can’t catch this show, catch the next. Or just head  to the supremely quaint town and visit their music store.

And make sure you get there for The McLovins, the wondrously talented band of high schoolers. These three kids can play. They’ll likely play a couple of covers and then material off their album Conundrum. Let it be known that Guitarlovin’ will blow your mind with his guitar work. He’s far advanced for his age. The rest of the band follows suit. It’s going to be worth getting there early to see these on-the-rise musicians who have already been featured in Rolling Stone magazine.

Benevento, who has recently joined up with Garage a Trois, an ever-changing jazz troupe, has recorded three solo albums, four albums with Russo and the one with Garage a Trois. He also just recently released a DVD of a special night in New York where he was able to gather an impressive collection of jazz musicians. After Benevento stops by Collinsville he’ll play a few shows with Garage a Trois.

Palmieri, best known for his work with the progressive/funk/jam band The Breakfast, will be joined by Todd Stoops (RAQ/keys), Kris Jensen (sax), David Livolsi (bass) and Adrian Tramontano (The Breakfast/drums).

Palmieri is a regular on the New Haven music scene, performing both sets as both a solo artist and as a member of The Breakfast. Palmieri and the rest of the band have a long track list, performing with the likes of John Scofield, Warren Haynes and Dave Matthews Band. Palmieri himself has played alongside major jam band scene artists such as Umphrey’s McGee, Tea Leaf Green and Phish’s Mike Gordon.

“Everyone is a monster,” Palmieri told Jambase.com. “This music is going to be funky, mature and powerful. It’s lethal funk,” explains Palmieri. “It’s music smart and strong enough to defend one’s self, or art’s self. I love this music.”

Jambase.com also reports that the band will be playing covers, improvisation material and eventually original content of their own as the new band grows.

The band, which aims at pushing the boundaries of improvisation inside the genre, will likely be performing weekly at Stella Blues in New Haven, Conn.

Check out Palmieri’s acoustic cover of Phish’s “Reba” at Anna Liffey’s in New Haven below:

The fest, which often plays host to many of the top jam band, funk, bluegrass, folk, jazz and all related acts in the business, will take place July 29 – August 1 at the Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Conn.

This year fans will be able to partake in the very first Vibes related celebrations by watching the first Town Hall Meeting on the Vibes’ official website Monday, November 30 at 7 p.m. Afterward a 11/17 performance at Klein Memorial Auditorium by Dark Star Orchestra will stream.

Early bird tickets are on sale now. You better hurry, the festival is only 243 days away.

Tip the Van, a six piece ska/punk band, originated in Marlbourough while sisters Nicole and Simone Oliva were in high school. Since then, the band has grown into a full-fledged group of artists and has toured with major artists such as Reel Big Fish and Streetlight Manifesto. The band is known for being a female-fronted project.

Tip the Van

The latest addition to Tip the Van’s discography is the 2009 3-song EP Passion, Love & Pride. The title marks the band’s third release beginning with their debut release Circles in 2004.

Strange Tribe from Watertown and Johnny 9 and the Racers from Cheshire are set to open for Tip to Van at the all ages concert.