The Boss is back in town to kick off a music-filled week in CT arts

Sure, March 12 marks the return of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band to Connecticut, but that’s not the only legendary music act that’s been around 50 years or more visiting the state this week.

The prolific folk artist Richard Thompson is in Old Saybrook. The African chorus Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which has been around since 1960, is singing in Fairfield. Two deeply respectful Grateful Dead tribute acts are playing, and a younger act that’s close to matching Springsteen’s level of popularity, The Killers, is at Mohegan Sun Arena five days after he is.

Pick a legend. It’s that kind of week. Here are some of the top things to do and see this week in Connecticut arts.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Blvd., Uncasville

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are back on tour for the first time since COVID, for the first time since Springsteen’s acclaimed solo Broadway show and for the first time since the release of the band’s latest album “Letter to You,” so there are live versions of those songs to look forward to. March 12 at 7:30 p.m. mohegansun.com.

Thank You Scientist Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden

The pop-savvy rock/jazz fusion band Thank You Scientist brings its friendly eclectic psychopomp vibe to the Space Ballroom on March 12 at 8 p.m. with opening acts Head With Wings and Strawberry Cheesesteak. It’s an all-ages show. $20-$25.
spaceballroom.com.

Dawes Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield

The indie/alt-country/pop band Dawes brings its Misadventures of Doomscroller Tour to the Ridgefield Playhouse on March 14 at 8 p.m. The “All Your Favorite Bands” band carefully crafted its own sound with sharp melodies and pithy lyrics about modern gripes and has earned its loyal cult following. $80-$85. connecticuttheatrecompany.org.

Mauritius Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport

Westport Country Playhouse has a long-running, well-organized Script in Hand playreading series that ranges from forgotten classics to recent works that deserve a close listen. The latest one, March 13 at 7 p.m., is a special event with acclaimed playwright and TV screenwriter/producer Theresa Rebeck directing a reading of her own play “Mauritius,” a comic thriller set in the world of stamp collecting. The play had a brief Broadway run in 2007. $25. westportplayhouse.org.

Dark Star Orchestra Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford

One of the most acclaimed and most accurate and specific Grateful Dead tribute acts, Dark Star Orchestra, plays Hartford’s Infinity Hall on March 13 at 8 p.m. $54-$84. infinityhall.com. And if those endless guitar solos don’t sustain you, keep the flow going with a different Dead tribute, Dead on Live, on March 18 at 8 p.m. at Ridgefield Playhouse, 8 East Ridge, Ridgefield. $30-$35. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Richard Thompson Katharine Hepburn Cultural Art Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook

Revered progressive folk/pop singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson is at The Kate on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. He made his name as the guitarist for Fairport Convention in the 1960s, made the classic album “Shoot Out the Lights” with his ex-wife Linda Thompson in the ’70s and has had a prolific solo career since then. katharinehepburntheater.org.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Sacred Heart Community Theater, 1420 Post Road, Fairfield

The African vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been around since 1960 but gained international pop stardom when they sang on Paul Simon’s 1986 “Graceland” album. The ensemble continues to tour, record and promote their isicathamiya singing technique. March 16 at 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart University’s Community Theater space in Fairfield. $45-$55; table seating available. shucommunitytheatre.showare.com.

Red Hot Chili Pipers Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury

You may have heard that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are headlining the Sound on Sound festival in Bridgeport this fall. They are not to be confused with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who bring their rockin’ bagpipes and guitars to the Waterbury Palace for a St. Patrick’s-timely show on March 17 at 8 p.m. $29-$55. palacetheaterct.org.

The Killers Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The Killers formed in Las Vegas over 20 years ago and still fill stadiums and arenas with their anthemic modern rock. A new album is in the works, but the last one, “Pressure Machine,” is only a couple of years old. In any case, The Killers are on tour, playing Mohegan Sun Arena on March 17 at 8 p.m. mohegansun.com.

‘Spring Awakening’ Connecticut Theatre Company, 23 Norden St., New Britain

“Spring Awakening” is in the community theater zeitgeist. The dark musical (with songs by popsmith Duncan Sheik) based on an old weird German expressionist drama about disenfranchised youth had a production last month in Brookfield, will be staged by an opera company in Madison in the summer and is also being done March 17-April 2 at Connecticut Theatre Company in New Britain. At least one other Connecticut theater announced they were doing the show but decided not to when all these other “Spring Awakening” shows sprung up. If you don’t know this provocative coming-of-age show, it’s clearly time to see what all the fuss is about. connecticuttheatrecompany.org.