Blues aficionados who believe a perfect night out is hitting all the down-and-dirty harmonica haunts of Sweet Home Chicago will have the opportunity to realize their musical fantasy May 12.

BiG Productions will whisk fans on the latest "Chicago Blues Tour" via "The Blues CTA" shuttle bus to a half-dozen live music venues to see performances by nine live blues artists, between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.

One ticket includes all cover charges and shuttle bus transportation for the 18th annual excursion.

The clubs participating in this tour are: Wabash Tap (1233 S. Wabash Ave.), Rosa's Lounge (3420 W. Armitage Ave.), Lee's Unleaded Blues (7401 S. South Chicago Ave.), Wallace's Catfish Corner (2800 W. Madison Ave.), Linda's Place (1014 W. 51st St.) and The Checkerboard Lounge (5201 S. Harper Ave.).

Visits will bring fans up close and personal with the artists -- Killer Ray Allison, Willie Davis All-Stars, Johnny Drummer & The Starlighters, Arkansas Bellyroller, Miss Peaches, Cyrus Hayes, Fantastic L-Roy & The Bulletproof Band, Chainsaw DuPont & The Blues Warriors and Mos Funnel.

Because of the popularity of this economical and safe romp through Chicago blues joints, advance reservations are strongly recommended to ensure a seat. For schedules, route maps and tickets, log on at www.chicagobluestour.com or call toll-free (866) LIVEBLUES.

Music notes

* The residents of the small town of Manteno, Ill. (40 miles south of Chicago's loop), are experiencing the same thrill the residents of Crown Point did last year when local teenage band, Asteria, inked its national record deal.

Manteno teen band Feature Presentation formed in junior high school and used to promote their shows by stuffing handbills into the pockets of clothing on the sale racks at the local JC Penney, because everybody in town shopped there.

"We've been dreaming about this since the seventh grade," said Josh LaMore of the experience of recording with famed producer Enoch Jenson (Kaddisfly, Amber Pacific) and now counting the hours until their CD is released.

Band members are LaMore (guitar/vocals), Kurt Skoglund (drums), Ivan Dunki (lead guitar/vocals) and Matt Monferdini (bass).

The group's maiden release, "To You, The Past, And The Questions Left Unanswered," hits retail racks on Tuesday via One Iron Records.

* After selling out every stop of the first leg, America's favorite kid rocker Ralph Covert will take his Ralph's World show back on the road for a second run through the House of Blues chain thanks to generous sponsorship from Kellogg's Rick Krispies.

Covert has been a longtime fixture on the Chicago nightclub and music scene as the founder of the 1990s frat-rock party band, The Bad Examples. The now middle-aged local legend began doing children's music after becoming a father some years back and now has six albums of children's music to his credit, plus a brand new CD/DVD,"Welcome To Ralph's World" (Disney Sound).

Not wanting to leave any of his little fans or their parents disappointed, 12 return dates have been added to the tour for cities where public demand outweighed available tickets the first time. Covert returns home to Chicago's House of Blues on June 2.

FYI: www.ralphsworld.com

* Chicago-based modern metal group, Marzene, is featured in the #165/May 2007 issue of England's top-selling heavy music magazine, "Metal Hammer." Issues are on sale at news stands across Europe and the United States.

Marzene has been touring nonstop since last summer to support its debut album, "MachiNation," and recently was on extended tours supporting the bands Mushroomhead and Deadstar Assembly.

FYI: www.myspace.com/marazene

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at beatboss@aol.com.