(Please call first to confirm -- things sometimes change at the last minute.)    

-- Sunday, May 9: CAFE NINE! 250 State St.-New Haven, CT. 9 p.m.
Come join The Cobalt Rhythm Kings as we once again return to the primordial swamp from whence we sprung to lead the always awesome CAFE NINE BLUES JAM! Got an ax? Bring it! -- be it a guitar, blues harp, sax or a set of drum sticks! We'll play a short set of our own, then bring y'all up! You never know WHO will show up, so BE THERE! For more info, go to www.cafenine.com or call (203) 789-8281. Need directions? Click here!

-- Thursday, May 20: Black-Eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum St.,  Hartford, CT. 10:50 p.m. -- Connecticut Blues Challenge! Come root for The Cobalt Rhythm Kings and listen to a bunch of great blues! We'll be joined by five other FINE bands -- come hear 'em all! The schedule is as follows: 7:30 p.m.: EZ Street; 88:10 p.m.: The Tones; 8:50 p.m.: Peter King  & the Wildcards: 9:30 p.m.: ShooFly Blues; 10:10 p.m.: TheFrankie2tone Band; 10:50: The Cobalt Rhythm Kings. For more info: www.ctblues.org or www.blackeyedsallys.com or 860-278-7427

-- Friday, July 30: BMW Riders Association International Rally in Pownal, VT! -- Listen up, folks! Ready for a short road trip! This is going to be an  AWESOME time -- at Green Mountain Energy Park in Pownal, Vermont! We expect to be playing from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., indoors -- rain or shine -- at this cool gathering of the nation's BMW riders, which takes place at a former race track in the southwest corner of Vermont, between Bennington, VT and Williamstown, MA! (Green Mountains to the North, Berkshires to the south, White Mountains to the northeast, Catskills to the west!) You can camp there or stay in a motel nearby -- or even just drive up for the day! Day passes available. Should be outrageous fun! For more info: www.bmwra.org

-- Sunday, Aug. 8: CAFE NINE! 250 State St.-New Haven, CT. 8:30 p.m. Come join The Cobalt Rhythm Kings as we once again return to the primordial swamp from whence we sprung to lead the always awesome CAFE NINE BLUES JAM! Got an ax? Bring it! -- be it a guitar, blues harp, sax or a set of drum sticks! We'll play a short set of our own, then bring y'all up! You never know WHO will show up, so BE THERE! For more info, go to www.cafenine.com or call (203) 789-8281. Need directions? Click here!

-- Wednesday, Aug. 18: Blues, Berries & Jams! noon-2 p.m. Come on out and see The Cobalt Rhythm Kings on the New Haven Green as we return to the popular lunchtime series organized by the city of New Haven and Ultraradio.com opposite City Hall and the cool Cityseed Farmer's Market that goes on in front of it every Wednesday. Bring a picnic -- or pick up some fresh fruit (or Mark's favorite -- some odd-shaped heirloom tomotoes!) at the farmer's market! For more info: Ultraradio.com or www.infonewhaven.com or www.cityseed.org

-- Sunday, Aug. 22: Books, Blues & BBQs benefit for Branford, CT.'s Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St. in Branford, CT. We'll be playing on the library steps roughly from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.! For more info: http://bbandbofb.com

-- Friday, Sept. 25: Bear & Grill, 385 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT. 9:30 p.m. Come on by and have some fun at  Orange's favorite nightspot -- with a nice, rustic ambiance, a great bar and delicious steak, seafood and Italian-style entrees. For info: www.thebearandgrill.com or 203-298-0742.