‘Soul’ in Bushnell Park, hitmaker Yung Bleu return to CT
Music from surviving members of the Grateful Dead and children of The Wailers. Plays by important writers Dominique Morisseau and Harrison David Rivers. Comedy from Kathleen Madigan and Gabriel Iglesias. From “Way More Close” (Yung Bleu) to “Way to Normal” (Ben Folds). The arts aren’t just back, choices are back. Call ahead for COVID precautions: some of these shows are asking for proof of vaccination, negative tests or just mandated masking.
Way More Close
The “You’re Mines Still” hitmaker Yung Bleu is in the main room of the Webster Theater, 31 Webster St., Hartford, on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. on his “Moon Boy” tour named for his first full-length album, which was released in July. He’s worked with Drake, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and others. $30 and $150. webstertheater. com.
Beyond the fluffy
Gabriel Iglesias, who has given new meaning to the word “Fluffy,” is at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Premier Theater for two shows on Sept. 5 at 5 and 8 p.m. $47-$70. 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket. foxwoods.com.
Blood at the root
Sept. 10-18: Dominique Morisseau is
known for her “Detroit” trilogy of plays, all of which have been performed at major theaters in Connecticut. She also wrote “Ain’t Too Proud,” the Broadway musical about The Temptations. From Sept. 10-18 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m.), the Brookfield Theatre, 184 Whisconier Rd, Brookfield, is doing Morisseau’s racial justice drama “Blood at the Root.” $25, $20 students & seniors. brookfieldtheatre.org.
The Dead don’t die
How many Grateful Dead-related tours do you think have been called “What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been”? Well, here’s another one. Dead & Co. — namely founding Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Bill Kreutzmann plus Mickey Hart (who joined up in 1967), John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Xfinity Theatre, 61 Savitt Way,
Hartford. $51.50-$210, plus VIP packages that cost up to $440. livenation.com.
Come to Her Window
The Garde Arts Center reopened its doors months ago for movies and some community events, but the first big national act to play there since COVID is Melissa Etheridge Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. Her latest album is “The Medicine Show.” $59-$250. gardearts.org.
Way to Normal
Just so you don’t have to double-check, Ben Folds has named his current jaunt “Ben Folds in Actual Person Live for Real Tour.” Not virtual then. The singer-songwriter that launched a thousand glee clubs did indeed do a lot of podcasts and livestreams in the last year and a half, but he and his piano are back on the road. Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 8 East Ridge, Ridgefield. $98. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Stir It Up
The Wailers Band, stocked with friends and relations of the legendary reggae group that backed Bob Marley on his most famous recordings, released their own album, “One World,” in 2020. The vibrations are right twice this week: Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. at Infinity Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk. Then Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. at Infinity Hall, 30 Front St., Hartford. $32-$42. infinityhall.com.