Connecticut
Big bands bring the boom to Connecticut this week
Metal bands from the 1990s and 2000s crash and boom at College Street Music Hall and Mohegan Sun Arena, while indie rockers rage at the Space Ballroom this week in Connecticut.
There is also a saucy opera in New Haven and a Celtic punk band at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
The popular drag farce “The Legend of Georgia McBride” is having its umpteenth Connecticut production at the Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk, and there is an Elton John impersonator at the Oakdale Theatre.
Yes, there are calm respites with a cello concert at TheaterWorks and sultry hip-hop star Pardyalone at The Webster, but the oomph wins out.
Here are some of the top things to do and see.
Redscroll Records Release Party
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
Wallingford’s Redscroll Records is an indie record store, an indie record label, performance venue, a gathering spot for the local alt-rock scene and a state of mind. On Feb. 11, not at the store but at the Space Ballroom in Hamden, Redscroll celebrates new releases by several bands on its label: Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop Chop and Doom Beach (who share a new 12-inch release) and noise rockers Intercourse (introducing their singles “Egyptian Democracy” and ”Bum Wine”). The headliners don’t have current Redscroll product to tout but are firmly connected: Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean (which issued an album and an EP on Redscroll last year) and Tongued Depressor joined by Austin Larkin (whose recent tour was captured for a forthcoming Redscroll release) Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. $10. spaceballroom.com.
Static-X and Sevendust
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven
A couple of respected mainstream metal bands from the ‘90s, the midwestern powerhouse Static-X and “Driven” and “Enemy” hitmakers Sevendust have been on tour together since last year. Dope and Lines of Loyalty are also on the bill. It will get loud on Feb. 13 at 6:15 p.m. at College Street Music Hall in New Haven. $54-$75. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Pardyalone
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
The Minnesota hip-hop/alt-pop artist Pardyalone’s songs lurch from promising relationships (“She Likes My Tattoos”) to isolation and self-examination (“Alone,” “Still the Dumb One”). His national I Left You in Minnesota Tour hits The Webster on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. $15; $400 for VIP booth. thewebsterct.com.
311
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
The numbers 3 and 1 hold meaning to the band 311. They had three No. 1 singles on the charts: “Down”, “Love Song” and “Don’t Tread On Me.” They’ve released 13 albums. “Don’t Tread on Me” has 13 letters in its title, while “Down” has 4, which is 3 + 1. OK, we’ll stop now. The raging Nebraska rockers play Mohegan Sun Arena on Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. $47-$158; VIP packages range from $198 to $576. mohegansun.com.
Flogging Molly
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
St. Patrick’s Day is still a month away, but the Celtic punk band Flogging Molly has a rabid fan base and the band is welcome in Connecticut anytime. They really know how to rock a bodhran. The flogging commences Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Foxwoods’ Great Cedar Showroom. $71-$190; $185-$300 for VIP packages. foxwoods.com.
Courtesy Space Ballroom
California comedy rockers the Wolves of Glendale are at the Space Ballroom in Hamden Feb. 17. (Courtesy Space Ballroom)
Bearly Dead
Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford
Yes, Bearly Dead is a Grateful Dead tribute band. Give them credit for a name that spells that out clearly and cleverly. The Boston-based band tackles all things Dead, including the vast solo careers of that band’s many members. This leads to unique, deeply memorable sets that are catnip for Deadheads who want to be the first person in the room to proclaim “That song’ is from …” Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. $20. infinityhall.com.
‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’
Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Ave., Norwalk
Matthew López, who wrote the epic 20th-century gay historical romance drama “The Inheritance” (and premiered his “Reverberation” at Hartford Stage in 2015), also penned one of the most popular plays of the past decade, “The Legend of Georgia McBride.” In Connecticut, the play has been done at TheaterWorks Hartford, Ivoryton Playhouse, Seven Angels Theatre and elsewhere. Now it’s time for MTC in Norwalk to stage it . “The Legend of Georgia McBride” is about a heterosexual Elvis impersonator who tentatively becomes a drag queen when he’s desperate to perform, and how he grows to love the artform and trust the queens who teach him. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 3. $50-$60, $45-$55 for preview performances on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. Limited seating on the stage $65. musictheatreofct.com.
The Rocket Man Show
Oakdale Theatre, 985 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Elton John must be a fun target for tribute acts. There were two different ones at Seven Angels Theatre and New Park Brewing last month, and this month brings a third with one of the most extravagant out there. The Rocket Man Show comes to the Oakdale Theatre on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. $41-$53. livenation.com.
Johnathan Moore
TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl St., Hartford
The acclaimed young New Haven-born cellist/composer Johnathan Moore presents an intimate solo concert as part of TheaterWorks Hartford’s Living Room series. He gives two performances on Feb. 17. The first one, at 6:30 p.m., is sold out, but there are still tickets for the 8:30 p.m. one. twhartford.org.
‘The Rake’s Progress’
Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven
The opera program at the Yale School of Music does a full production of a full-length opera every winter. The operas they choose are often ones that don’t get done very often, at least in Connecticut. This year is a good example: Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress,” based on the famous 18th-century engravings by William Hogarth. The opera, with a libretto by W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is written in English but will be presented with subtitles anyway. There are two performances, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. $23.80-$71.40. shubert.com.
Wolves of Glendale
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
Wolves of Glendale is a comedy rock band that has opened for the likes of David Cross and Tenacious D. The Wolves released their debut album recently and are on tour, playing the Space Ballroom in Hamden on Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. $20, $15 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
BURLINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — A woman is dead after police said she was involved in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer on Friday in Burlington.
According to Connecticut State Police, a Toyota RAV4 and Peterbuilt 386 tractor-trailer collided head-on on Route 4 near Punch Brook Road at around 4:49 p.m. on Friday.
The driver of the Toyota, identified as 64-year-old Mary Christine Ferland of Burlington, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured, according to state police. No one else was in either vehicle at the time of the crash.
The crash is still under investigation by state police, anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Brew at 860-626-7900.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Thursday she is working to “shut down the bureaucracy of education,” telling an audience in New Haven that she wants to diminish federal involvement in schools and give more discretion to states.
Speaking at an event on the campus of Yale University, McMahon defended moves by President Donald Trump’s administration to radically reshape the Department of Education since his return to office.
McMahon said the federal government will continue providing education funding in the future, but direct more of it through block grant programs that empower states to spend the money where it’s most needed.
The approach will help school leaders identify promising programs that can be replicated across the country, McMahon said.
“I want to leave behind, if you will, a toolkit of best practices that you can deliver to states to say, ‘Look, this is what’s working. You might want to give this a try,’” McMahon said.
Her remarks come amid controversial policy shifts in higher education by the Trump administration, including moves to freeze billions in research funding and grants to universities and pressure schools to address antisemitism, crack down on campus protest and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, among other changes.
McMahon, a Greenwich resident and former CEO of Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment, stood by the administration’s tactics, saying the threat of withholding funds is a tool it can use to ensure universities spend money wisely and for the intended purpose.
“The goal is really to make sure that universities are giving equal opportunity across their campuses,” she said.
McMahon’s visit was part of a speaker series organized by the Buckley Institute, which describes itself as an independent nonprofit working to promote intellectual diversity and freedom of speech at Yale.
McMahon served as administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. She later helped establish Trump’s second administration as co-chair of his transition team, and was confirmed as education secretary last year.
During an appearance that lasted about 45 minutes, McMahon did not address many of the divisive policy changes enacted under her leadership. She said promoting literacy is her top priority, and touted the importance of school choice programs and career and technical education.
McMahon said she visited a community college in Connecticut earlier in the day, and met with the president of Yale during her stop at the school’s campus, which included a visit to Science Hill, the site of a major redevelopment project to support cutting-edge research into physical sciences and engineering.
Responding to a question from the moderator, McMahon also said she discussed so-called grade inflation with Yale’s president.
“One of the things that the university is looking at is to make sure that professors are grading accordingly in their classes, and that there’s not this grade inflation,” she said.
McMahon also briefly addressed recent controversy around a planned visit to an elementary school in Fairfield. Just hours after the event was announced, Fairfield Public Schools told families it was canceled due to community backlash.
McMahon said the event was planned as part of her nationwide “History Rocks!” tour, which celebrates the country’s 250th anniversary. Events typically include trivia games focused on history and civics that don’t have a partisan slant, she said.
“These are really feel-good programs of assembly,” she said, “and when you get that pushback from parents who are saying no this is going to be partisan … it’s really a minority of a few loud voices that are just calling … to maybe just make a statement of their own.”
McMahon has run unsuccessfully as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Connecticut. In 2009, she served for one year on the Connecticut Board of Education, appointed by then-Gov. Jodi Rell, a Republican. She has also served on the board of trustees of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
Responding to another question, McMahon reflected on how her time as a wrestling industry executive prepared her for her current role. She joked that she can “give you a mean body slam,” then said on a more serious note she benefitted throughout her life by always being open to new opportunities.
She stressed the importance of having university programs that teach older workers new skills.
“How great is it that we have these opportunities to go in a different direction?” McMahon said. “Just be wide open. Don’t think that you’re limited in your opportunity to do things. Be willing to take it on.”
This story was first published April 16, 2026 by Connecticut Public.
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