*Some great news this week about Newtown native siblings Spencer and MorganEve Swain:

Motif Magazine, an arts and entertainment magazine in Providence, has announced its list of artists nominated for the Motif 2009 Music Awards and nominations include:

Spencer Swain’s and Dan Edinburgh’s (from Zox) music project Cowgirl in the Break-thru Band of the Year category;

MorganEve’s Providence band Brown Bird in the Best Folk Band of the Year category; and

MorganEve the Best Instrumentalist of the Year category.

If you’d like to vote for them go to VMAssociates.com/MotifMusicAwards

The only thing you need to provide is a valid email address. You don’t need to sign up for anything, and you don’t have to vote in every category if you don’t want to (especially considering many of us in this market are unfamiliar with the Rhode Island region’s music market)… but you (we!) can help a few locals

Voting ends May 7, so don’t put this off for too long!

*HAT CITY BLUES BAND will be returning to One-Eyed Pig in Newtown this weekend. The guys will be at 71 South Main Street on Friday, April 17. Music starts around 9:30.

*Also in Newtown this week will be BACK WATER RACKET, over at Mocha Coffeehouse in Sandy Hook on Friday night. Infused with blues, country and rock, their mix of originals, traditionals and covers incorporates a wide swath of genres spanning decades… at least that what their publicity promises.

Ean Bakes (mandolin), Sean Bowen (fiddle and vocals), Jess Karjanis (bass), Ben Donovan (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Dave Kaye (banjo and pedal steel) and Reverend Orion Wilson (vocals and guitar) will open the weekend with a show on Friday night starting at 8.

BRIAN JARVIS, who has played more than 200 shows in the last two years, will be Saturday’s headliner. The Massachusetts native draws on influences such as John Mayer and Vertical Horizon, performing “hook filled songs” (his publicity) on acoustic guitar.

*The 2009 Vans Warped Tour will celebrate its 15th anniversary tour this year, and will be returning to the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford on Sunday, July 12. The lineup for the Connecticut show will include NOFX, LESS THAN JAKE, UNDEROATH, BAD RELIGION, ANTI-FLAG and FLOGGING MOLLY, among others.

Tickets for that show are $33 apiece, all general admission, and will be going on sale Friday, April 17, at 10 am. Visit LiveNation.com or call 877-598-8689 for tickets.

*Tickets for an AEROSMITH concert at Mohegan Sun Arena, with ZZ Top in the opening set, will be going on sale tomorrow. Tickets are $125 and $175 for this show and will be available Saturday through TicketMaster vendors, and then also through the casino’s box office beginning on Sunday.

*Finally this week there is yet another name change for the big outdoor concert venue in Hartford.

Originally opened as The Meadows, then renamed Dodge Music Center and then New England Dodge Music Center before reverting temporarily back to the Meadows for a few months this year, Live Nation and Comcast announced this week a seven year partnership that gives Comcast the naming rights to the venue.

Starting with the opening of this summer’s concert season, the amphitheater — which is owned and operated by Live Nation — will be called the Comcast Theatre.

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 17 — Kenny Chesney at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum opening (also April 18); Hat City Blues Band at The One-Eyed Pig, Newtown; The Roches at Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University; Shoo Fly Blues at Georgetown Saloon, Redding; Back Water Racket at Mocha Coffeehouse, Sandy Hook;

April 18 — Katrina Boudreaux at Blue Z Coffee House, Newtown, also The Sunberry Trees; Brian Jarvis at Mocha Coffeehouse; Kenny Chesney at Mohegan Sun Arena, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum opening; Roxy Perry at Georgetown Saloon;

April 19 — Jo Dee Messina at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield;

April 20 — Buddy Guy at The Ridgefield Playhouse, The Christopher Robin Band opening;

April 21 — Chimaira at Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, with Killswitch Engage, Lacuna Coil, Disturbed, et al;

April 23 — Colin Hay at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Terence Martin opening;

April 24 — Bruce Springsteen at the XL Center, Hartford; Jen X at Mocha Coffeehouse; Popa Chubby at Infinity Music Hall; Remember September at Georgetown Saloon; Shawn Mullins at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Alex Woodard opening;

April 25 — Sammy B at Mocha Coffeehouse; John Gorka at Infinity Music Hall; Marshall Tucker Band at Ridgefield Playhouse, Chris Berardo & The Des Berardos opening; Jay Stollman & The Black Rock All-Stars at Georgetown Saloon;

April 28 — Joe Cocker at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; k.d. lang at The Shubert, New Haven;

April 29 — Newfound Glory at The Webster Theater, Bayside opening.