*JOHN VOKET has joined a series of shows at the all-new Brass House Restaurant (the former Howard Johnson’s Lounge) on South Main Street in Waterbury. John played there on March 31, in the first of three shows he was booked to do as part of the venue’s Hot Acoustic Saturdays series there. The next shows are both this month – Saturdays, April 14 and 28 – and each runs from 9:30 pm until 12:30 am. He’s already on the schedule for next month too, on May 12 and May 26. (A Relay for Life fundraiser that evening originally scheduled for Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook has been rescheduled to the following weekend, to May 19.)

The lounge is within sight of the Route 8 exit to South Main Street, just before the Naugatuck town line. There’s no cover to get in, a cash bar and a full menu available.

Next weekend J-Vo will be back in Newtown, performing a Relay For Life Shining On For The Cure luminaria fundraiser at Proud Mary’s. That show is set for Friday, April 20, from 8 to 11:30 pm.

Finally in the realm of good causes, John will be joining AJ from WPLR’s Chaz & AJ Morning Show to provide entertainment for the Walk A Mile in Her Shoes – The Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence on Sunday, April 29. Noon registration precedes the 1 pm walk start from Daniel Wasson Field at the Government Center, to Lisman’s Landing, all in Milford. A buffet reception will follow.

*Speaking of Mocha (somewhere back there…), J.D. HILL has decided to start an acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House, on Glen Road in Sandy Hook Center. These weekly events will take place on Wednesdays, and the first one will be next week – on April 18. Start time is 8 pm, and the event will go until closing (around 10:30).

A PA and microphones will be provided. Sign-up can be done in person or by phone; call MocHha at 364-9200.

*Tuesday night’s concert by former Connecticut resident MEAT LOAF was postponed, first we heard Tuesday morning, due to illness. Unfortunately a few hours later the second notice from The Chevrolet Theatre said the show was cancelled. So time to take those tickets back, if you haven’t already done so.

Credit card transactions via the Internet, TicketMaster charge-by-phone or Chevrolet Theatre box office will all be automatically refunded. Be sure to check your next credit card statement.

Refunds for credit card transactions at TicketMaster outlets need to be made at the point of purchase. Also, refunds for cash transactions cash transactions at TicketMaster outlets or the Chevrolet Theatre box office also need to be made at the point of purchase.

*Tickets for a May 25 GODSMACK concert at The Chevrolet Theatre will be going on sale Saturday morning at 10. Priced at $35 for all seats, tickets will be available through the theater’s box office, online at LiveNation.com, and through all TicketMaster outlets or vendors.

*Fairfield University will sponsor in part a Hot Spring Jazz Festival next weekend, when STILL LIFE, THE FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY 5 O’CLOCK BAND and BRIAN TORFF’S BLACK ROCK HORNS all perform the 2007 Kim and Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship Benefit Concert at Black Rock Arts Center. The scholarship was created to honor the memory of the Donnellys, who were killed in their Fairfield Center jewelry store in February 2005. Funds donated will continue to assist Fairfield University music students (the couple had strong ties to the university, with Kim being a former employee, Tim a former student of Fairfield Prep, and both of their children Fairfield Univ. alumni).

The jazz festival was organized as a way to celebrate the lives of Kim and Tim Donnelly and to benefit a music scholarship in their name at the university.

Tickets for the event, which will start at 7:30, are $15 for adults, $10 for students with ID. Those who cannot attend are welcome to make donations for the scholarship fund; all donations are fully tax-deductible. For additional information visit BlackRockArtCenter.com or call 203-367-7917.

Black Rock Arts Center is at 2838 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport.

*Yes vocalist JON ANDERSON continues to lead classes and concerts with The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars, which seems to have been the inspiration for the Jack Black movie School of Rock and which recently visited The Ridgefield Playhouse (and which John Voket wrote all about a few weeks back).

Anderson and The Paul Green All-Stars will return to Connecticut next week, playing a show at Fairfield Theater Company on Thursday, April 19. Performances will be at 7:30 and 9:30 pm, with doors opening 30 minutes prior to each performance.

Tickets are $47 for members of FTC, $57 for non-members. The theater is at 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield, across the street from the Metro North northbound platform in downtown Fairfield.

Living legends TOM RUSH and ERIC ANDERSON will co-headline next Friday night at FTC’s StageOne. Tickets for the 7:30 show are $7 for FTC members, and $57 for non-members.

JONATHAN EDWARDS will return to Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne on Friday, April 27. Indie folk rocker Lisa McCormick will have the opening honors. Tickets are $32 for FTC members, $42 for non-members.

Tickets for any of these shows can be purchased from the FTC box office at 203-259-1036. Tickets, and additional show listings and information, are also available online at FairfieldTheatre.org.

Until next week I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

APRIL 13  — Norah Jones at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; Delbert McClinton at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Mary Chapin Carpenter at The Warner Theatre, Torrington; DNR at The Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

April 14 — The Music of Led Zeppelin by Hartford Symphony Orchestra at The Chevrolet Theatre; Muddy Waters, “Pinetop” Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Bob Margolin at Fairfield Theatre Company (two shows, 7:30 and 9:30 pm); Richie Havens & Friends at The Warner Theatre, Torrington, featuring Eliza Gilkyson and Susan Warner; Our Names at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook Hat City Blues Band at 59 Bank, New Milford; John Voket at Brass House Restaurant, Waterbury; Smokehouse at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 15 — Kevin Gianni at Mocha Coffee House; VNV Nation at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages);

April 17 — Buddy Guy at The Ridgefield Playhouse;

April 18 — acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook (weekly event, 8-10:30 pm); The All-Grass Blue Stars at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 19 — Jon Anderson & The Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield;

April 20 — John Voket at Proud Mary’s, Newtown (Relay For Life luminaria fundraiser); Martina McBride at Mohegan Sun Arena, Little Big Town and Rodney Atkins opening; Tom Rush and Eric Anderson at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne; Doug Wahlberg Band at The Georgetown Saloon; Still Life, The Fairfield University 5 O’Cock Band and Brian Torff’s Black Rock Horns at Black Rock Art Center, Bridgeport (performing 2007 Kim & Tim Donnelly Music Scholarship Benefit Concert).

April 21 — Jenilee and Freethought at Mocha Coffee House; Old School Revue at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 22 — Infrasonic at Mocha Coffee House (night of Pink Floyd); Skid Row at Foxwoods Casino’s Club BB (also April 25); Edwin McCain at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Willie Nininger at The Georgetown Saloon;

April 25 — John Legend at Mohegan Sun Arena, Corinne Bailey Rae opening; Skid Row at Foxwoods Casino’s Club BB; acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House (weekly event, 8-10:30 pm);

April 27 — Harry Connick Jr at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; Christina Aguilera at Hartford Civic Center, The Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane opening; Jonathan Edwards at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne, Lisa McCormick opening; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den (also April 28); Jay Stollman & The Black Rock All-Stars at The Georgetown Saloon; The John Hickey Band at Baxter’s at The Bitter End, Bridgeport;

April 28 — John Voket at Brass House Restaurant, Waterbury; Tower of Power at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Roxy Perry at The Georgetown Saloon.