Etheridge to perform at Sarasota's Van Wezel

   The people at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall just unveiled their new season a couple of weeks ago. There were plenty of great shows on the schedule as it was announced, and one more has already been added.

   Melissa Etheridge, the powerful singer/songwriter who's won two Grammy Awards (for

Melissa Etheridge

"Ain't It Heavy" and "Come to My Window") and an Oscar (for "I Need to Wake Up," from "An Inconvenient Truth") will be at Van Wezel on Nov. 23.

   She's touring in support of her new album, "This is M.E.," which is scheduled for release next Tuesday, Sept, 20. She'll be doing a lot of her hits and stuff from the new album.

    Alexander Cardinale, an up-and-coming singer and actor, will be the opener.

  Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 26.  Call 941-953-3368, or go to vanwezel.org. Tickets prices weren't immediately available but we'll post them here as soon as we have them.