Once upon a time, there was a place called "The Shaboo."

The Shaboo Inn, to be precise, in Willimantic.

Opened by a young man named David "Lefty" Foster in 1971...the Shaboo was a music mecca until 1982.

Foster introduced Connecticut to new groups called Aerosmith and The Police. He brought in up-and-comers like Elvis Costello and Bonnie Raitt...and established stars like B.B. King and Count Basie.

And he put together an excellent house band known as The Shaboo All-Stars.

Saturday night at Recreation Park in Willimantic, Foster will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the closing of the Shaboo with a concert.

It will be a fundraiser for emergency services at Windham Hospital.

It's a good lineup. Jonathan Edwards ("Sunshine," "Shanty") opens the show at 5...the James Cotton Blues Band takes the stage at 7...and David Foster and the All-Stars perform just after 8:30.

By the way, they're no longer the Shaboo All-Stars, they're the Mohegan Sun All-Stars.

Hey, gotta change with the times.

And the reason I'm flogging this is...I've been asked to introduce the All-Stars.

Happy to. Should be fun.

They want me to read a proclamation from the governor before the show.

Isn't that why ANYONE goes to a folk/blues/pop/rock concert?

To hear, "Whereas... Whereas... Whereas..."?

Don't worry...we'll figure out a way to make it fun.

It's a good deal. Tickets at the gate are just $10, and for a good cause.

Our weather boys say it will be a beautiful night...maybe a bit chilly.

So bring a sweater.

After all, those of us who remember the Shaboo...well, we're not as young as we used to be.