Sinners Circle returns

You've missed the Sinners Circle over these icy winter months, haven't you?

Breathe deep and relax: the acclaimed, songwriters-in-the-round series blooms anew with Season #3 kicking off Saturday in the Ballroom of New London's Harbour Towers.

Freshly adopted New Londoner Chris Castle, a tunesmith of almost scary vision, narrative acumen and hooky instinct, will anchor this edition. He's in town recording two different projects with studio whiz Carl Franklin, and the Circle should provide a fine stage to try out the new material.

But it's hardly Chris and some, ah, other folks. Darin Keech, a fine talent most associated with Band of Humans, blues-folk enthusiast Sue Mead, and Desmond McCaffrey of Uncle Flatty are also on the bill. No weak spots!

- RICK KOSTER

Sinners Circle, 8 p.m. Saturday, Harbour Towers Ballroom, 461 Bank St., New London; free, donations accepted; (860) 334-5679