The Eerie Horror Film Festival is adding a new wrinkle this year. You can buy raffle tickets to win dinner for 2 with a special guest -- this year, Sid Haig, the star of "The Devil's Rejects" and a zillion other films.
Raffle tickets will cost $10. The dinner -- at a place to be announced -- will take place on Oct. 10. Tickets will be available starting Saturday, when the Erie Horror FIlm Festival visits the Millcreek Mall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You'll also find info on it at the fest web site, www.eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com.
Partical proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
By the way, the Eerie Horror Film Festival debuts its upcoming TV commercial tonight at Brewerie at Union Station. They shot the zombie-bar clip at Brewerie. After the commerical and outtakes air, four bands will play -- Glorious Goodnight, Denzel, the Trashed, and the Laundromat.

Dirty Looks will play Erie's Warner Theatre on Oct. 5. Henrik Ostergaard and company also plan to bring in two other acts, including a national one for the comeback show. Stay tuned for details.

Sugarland's "Love on the Inside" hits No. 1 on the next Billboard album chart. The country duo lists an Oct. 18 concert at the Tullio Arena with guests Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shephard. Stay tuned for on-sale info.

Erie's Matty B. and the Dirty Pickles have set an Aug. 22 date at Sara's for the CD release party of "Picklebilly," which will feature 14 originals. It'll be an outdoor show from approximatley 6 to 9 p.m. Look for a feature on the CD and the band in the Aug. 21 Showcase.

Billboard reports that the Clash's opening gig for the Who at Shea Stadium in New York in 1982 will be released on CD in October. The set draws heavily from their then-new "Combat Rock" and "London Calling."

Billboard also reports that Best Buy will exclusively offer a live CD/DVD release by the Police that was filmed in Buenos Aires during their wildly successful reunioin tour. "Certifiable" will be released on Oct. 7.

Tickets will go on sale Aug. 15 for David Byrne's Oct. 23 concert at Cleveland's Allen Theatre. They'll be available through tickets.com and by phone at 866-546-1353.

Also, Old 97s have added an Oct. 10 show at Beachland Ballroom. Tickets will go on sale Aug. 15.

We have no on-sale dates yet but notable concert news nonetheless.

According to USA Today, actor/comedian Robin Williams is embarking on a rare comedy tour. He'll play Cleveland's Allen Theatre on Oct. 10. (By co-incidence, comedian David Sedaris will be in the larger Palace Theater the same night).

Check playhousesquare.org. to see when tickets will go on sale. You know this will sell out, quickly.

Also, David Byrne will bring his tour to Cleveland's Allen Theatre on Oct. 23 and Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall on Nov. 7. He'll play songs from "Everything That Happens WIll Happen Today," a joint CD with Brian Eno, as well as songs from Talking Heads' albums that Eno produced. He'll also draw from the only previous Byrne/Eno album, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" (1981).
On-sale dates will be announced later.

This also just in: Hard-rock band Dirty Looks with Henrik Ostergaard is looking to play an Erie show in early October. We'll let you know more when more is confirmed.

The first dates are out for Cheech & Chong's tour -- and guess what? If you hoped to catch them nearby, your plans are up in smoke.
Not one date is in Buffalo, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh.
So far, the closest area date is Sept. 8 at Toronto's Massey Hall. Tickets go on sale Aug. 8 at 4:20 p.m., of course -- through Ticketmaster.
The tour's web site promises that more dates will be added. This is a LIve Nation tour, as well, so it's likely either Pittsburgh or Cleveland will be added at some point. To check dates yourself, visit www.cheechandchongtour.com.

LiveDaily reports that Iron & Wine will play Buffalo's Asbury Hall at the Church on Nov. 14. No on-sale date is listed, yet.

Plenty of fun stuff goes on this weekend, starting with the Erie Art Museum's Blues & Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Frontier Park. This is one I hardly ever miss myself, though it's usually Saturday that I attend on account I'm more of a blues and rock guy than straight jazz.
Mem Shannon's live CD leads me to believe he'll deliver a crowd-pleasing set; the man can not only sing -- he's got one of those gruff, authoritative voices -- but play guitar. He can a little political in song -- "SUV" is a funny rant about gas-guzzlers -- but doesn't preach or talk politics on stage. He's there to entertain. Wallace Coleman Band from Cleveland will bring the mail, too.

Of course, don't overlook our own local talent: Rodger Montgomery Blues Band, Torn Curtain, Mary Alice Brown Trio, and Matt Hudson -- an Erie native, who leads the Chicago group Hudson.

If you need a place to hang after Saturday wraps at Frontier Park, check out Harper at the Docksider. It's a welcome-home bash for bassist Ralph Reitinger, for one thing. Plus, the band plays satisfying blues-rock with a groove, and band leader Peter Harper himself is a soulful, fiery harp player.
Billboard reports that singer Fergie has been cast as a prostitute in "Nine," the movie adaptation of the Broadway show. With Rob Marshall ("Chicago") directing -- and a cast that also includes Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman -- this is a prestige project that sounds like a can't-miss. Don't expect to see it until 2009, however.
In the meantime, Fergie also tells Billboard that she's recording a new Black Eyed Peas' album. Good to see her go back to her band, be a part of the team. Gwen Stefani is finally doing the same; she's recording again with No Doubt.

David Byrne and Brian Eno will release their first joint project since 1981's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" in August. On the new web site for the CD, "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today," Byrne says Eno wrote most the music; he sings and wrote most the lyrics. The CD will be available through their web site, www.everythingthathappens.com., free for streaming and also for download. Physical CDs will be released later in the fall.
Byrne will launch a fall tour for the CD, but Eno reportedly will not join him on the road. Byrne says he'll not only play the new songs, but material from "Bush of Ghosts" as well as the three Talking Heads' CDs that Eno produced -- "More Songs About Buildings and Food," "Remain in Light," and "Fear of Music."
That'll be cool. My all-time favorite concert out of hundreds -- thousands? -- I've seen remains the Talking Heads' tour for what would become the "Stop Making Sense" film. I had a front-row seat at an outdoor Chicago venue for my then-favorite band.
Byrne came out by himself, with a boom box, that played the backing for "Psycho Killer." The band slowly emerged, a song at a time, eventually becoming a polyrhythmic powerhouse. Byrne wore the Big Suit, he danced, he ran laps around the stage. The crowd was so overwhelmed that Talking Heads came back out for an unplanned extra encore and did "Burning Down the House" for the second time that night.
Oh, I brought my camera, too, and have some really cool photos. THe only bummer of the night: Someone swiped the T-shirt I bought from right under my chair.
"Well, I'll get a new one on their next tour," I thought.
Talking Heads never toured again.

The Wolfgang's Vault web site, which posts free concerts online, added one today by the Clash from 1979 that was recorded during their first U.S. tour. Get this: It was recorded at Cleveland's Agora Theatre. Check www.wolfgangsvault.com., then click on concert vault.

Hide the bong! Cheech & Chong are coming back.
Billboard magazine reported today that the comedy duo will reunite for its first tour in 25 years. Details for the "Hey, What's That Smell" tour were scheduled to be announced later today (Wednesday) at a press conference in California.
In a world of Harold & Kumar, it's probably safe for Cheech & Chong to return, though it's doubtful many younger fans know how much of a stir they created in the 1970s with their pot-based humor.
Just hope ticket prices aren't as high as they are.

Billboard and Rolling Stone both report that Bob Dylan will unleash the next installment of his "Bootleg" series on Oct. 7. The three CD package will include outtakes and live versions of songs he wrote for more recent CDs, such as "Modern Times," "Love and Theft," and "Time Out of MInd," as well as "Oh Mercy."

How about Jack White of White Stripes and Raconteurs hooking up with Alicia Keys? They'll record the theme for the next James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace," due out in November. If anyone can write something that makes sense of THAT title, it's Jack White.

AC/DC will reportedly hit the road for an 18-month tour starting in October to support their next CD - their first studio one in eight years. Don't expect an Erie show. At this point, their legend looms too large for them to play a city our size. They'l'l likely stick to arenas.
Rolling Stone says the tour will open on Halloween in Chicago, preceded by a single -- "Rock & Roll Train" -- that'll hit radio in late August.

Cool news for Creedence Clearwater Revival fans. Reuters reports the Concord Music Group will reissue the band's first six CDs in September. Each one will include extensive liner notes, plus unreleased studio tracks, including some versions of classics the band recorded with Booker T and the MGs.
Look for them to arrive on Sept. 30.

Today is the last day for Erie-area rock fans to vote for their favorites to win RockErie Music Awards.
After today, the votes will be tabulated, then kept in a bank vault far, far away from the Joker and remain a closely-guarded secret until the ceremony is held Aug. 24 at the Bayfront Convention Center.
That ceremony will include not only the fan-voted winners in assorted categories such as blues and jazz but also the first Dr. Rock award for best local CD.
So, make sure you go to rockeriemusicawards.com and vote.

The Rolling Stones' concert film "Shine a Light" -- directed by Martin Scorsese -- will arrive on DVD on Tuesday. It's a must-see for Stones (and Scorsese fans), a thrillingly shot film that puts you practically right on stage while the Stones turn in a fiery, ferocious set at the intimate Beacon Theatre in New York.
Buddy Guy''s guest spot on "Champagne & Reefer" is staggeringly good, while Jack White and Christina Aguilera also appear. The DVD will include four performances not included in the original film -- "I'm Free," "Little T&A," "Paint It Black," and "Undercover of the Night."
And, speaking of the Stones, Billboard reported today that they're leaving EMI for a deal with Universal that includes back catalog and future CDs. That's cool news because we can now assume they have a future.
Also, the European Rolling Stones' fan site -- which is usually pretty reliable -- reports the Stones may tour again as soon as late 2009. That opens the door for a much talked-about Faces' reunion before then which would include Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. But nothing's certain on that Faces' reunion -- it's still speculation.

Fleetwood Mac has announced it will tour in 2009 but not with Sheryl Crow, who had told interviewers she'd hit the road with them. That won't happen.

Up for a road trip? Peter Frampton plays a free outdoor show tonight (Friday) at Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, N.Y.
This is also the weekend for the Pittsburgh Blues Festival at Hartwood Acres. Headliners include Tab Benoit, Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travelers, Sweaty Betty Blues Band (today), Taj Mahal and Joanna Connor Band (Saturday), and Tommy Castro Band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, and Jill West and the Blues Attack (Sunday). See www.pghblues.com for more details.

Terry Lee Goffee -- a Johnny Cash tribute artist -- will headline the Albion Area Fair on Sept. 13.

Don't forget: This is a Buggin' State St. night. I hope that doesn't mean we're inundated with Volkswagens tonight.