*THE WAY-BACK MACHINE will be back at Redding Roadhouse on Saturday, August 6, with a 9 pm start.

Bass guitar and vocalist Paul Fredricks, guitarist and vocalist Bobby Russell, drummer Rob Scheckler and guitarist and vocalist Tom Scheckler play music from the 60s and 70s.

*BROWN BIRD —Dave Lamb and Newtown native MorganEve Swain, now headquartered in Providence, R.I. — had some exciting news last week. The duo announced the official release date of their new full-length album, Salt For Salt, as October 18.

Brown Bird, you may recall, recently had an opening set for THE LOW ANTHEM at Edmond Town Hall, and then joined The Crickstones and Liz McNicholl (with whom MorganEve was a regular performer in the past) for a performance at McLaughlin Vineyards just a few weeks ago.

Among the upcoming shows for the duo will be an 11:30 am performance on Sunday, July 30, kicking off the Harbor Stage performances for the second day of the 2011 Newport Folk Festival. I’d send you to the festival’s website but I just went there myself and the entire festival is officially sold out.

Meanwhile, ZOX — a fellow Providence based band featuring MorganEve’s brother Spencer in its line-up — is planning a big ten-year anniversary reunion show for August 13, and Bird Bird will be opening. Zox has been on hiatus, other than one show last October, since June 2010.

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

JULY 22 — Gathering of the Vibes 2011 at Seaside Park, Bridgeport; Rihanna at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Cee Lo Green opening; Vertical Horizon at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Uncasville; Kashmir at CityCenter Green, Danbury; Gomez&Sadlon at Proud Mary’s, Newtown;

July 23 — Gathering of the Vibes 2011 continues; Tim McGraw at Mohegan Sun Arena, Luke Bryan and The Band Perry opening; Puddle of Mudd at The Webster, Hartford, Rev Theory opening; Gunsmoke at CityCenter Green;

July 24 — Gathering of the Vibes 2011 continues; 2011 Mayhem Festival at The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, with Disturbed, Godsmack, Megadeth, Machinehead, et al; Sammy Kershaw at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Lisa Furman & The Blue Flys at McLaughlin Vineyards, Sandy Hook;

July 25 — An Evening with Steely Dan at Ives Concert Park, Danbury;

July 26 — Lisa Loeb at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk; Salt N Pepa with SWV at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket;

July 27 — Alison Kraus & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at Ives Concert Park; Shaboo All-Stars featuring Matt “Guitar” Murphy at Infinity Music Hall;

July 29 — Steely Dan at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; Zappa Plays Zappa at Klein Memorial Auditorium, Bridgeport; Alternate Universe at Proud Mary’s; Cross Purpose at CityCenter Green;

July 30 — Queensrÿche at The Webster; Josh Groban at Mohegan Sun Arena; Steve Katz at The Alison Palmer Studio at Stone Fences, South Kent; Morris Day & The Time at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den; Eight To The Bar at CityCenter Green;

July 31 — Liz McNichol & The Crickstones at McLaughlin Vineyard; Jefferson Starship at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den.

AUGUST 3 — Guster at Ives Concert Park, Danbury, Ra Ra Riot opening; All Time Low at The Dome at Oakdale, Wallingford, with special guests Mayday Parade; Steve Smith & The Naked featuring Clarence Clemons at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk; Three Dog Night at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield;

August 4 — Alternate Universe at Dickinson Park, Newtown;

August 5 — The Voice Live On Tour at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Toad the Wet Sprocket at Infinity Music Hall; Abraxas at CityCenter Green, Danbury;

August 6 — Alison Kraus & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket; The Way-Back Machine at Redding Roadhouse, Redding;

August 7 — Maroon 5 and Train at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 9 — Britney Spears at the XL Center, Hartford, Nicki Minaj, Jesse and The Toy Boys, and Nervo opening; The Bacon Brothers Band at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 11 — The Manny Pavone Group at Dickinson Park; Rascal Flatts at the Comcast Theatre, Hartford, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore opening; The J. Geils Band at the Oakdale Theatre, with special guests The Chris Robinson Brotherhood;

August 12 — Ke$ha at Mohegan Sun Arena, LMFAO and Spank Rock opening; The Beach Boys at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; O.A.R. at The Comcast Theatre; Leon Redbone at Infinity Music Hall; Beyond The Wall at CityCenter Green;

August 13 — Alice Cooper at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; Kings of Leon at The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, Band of Horses opening; The J. Geils Band with Peter Wolf at Ives Concert Park, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood opening; Joan Osborne at Infinity Music Hall (acoustic show); Volbeat at The Dome at Oakdale, Wallingford, Cold and Anchored opening;

August 14 — Blink 182 at the Comcast Theatre, My Chemical Romance and Manchester Orchestra opening; The Beach Boys at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; Drivin N’ Cryin at Infinity Music Hall;

August 17 — Selena Gomez & The Scene at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guest AllStar Weekend;

August 18 — Shawn Taylor & Wandering Roots at Dickinson Park;

August 19 — Colin Hay at Infinity Music Hall; Tusk at CityCenter Green;

August 20 — Pitbull at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; The Nighthawks at Infinity Music Hall; Roxy Perry at CityCenter Green;

August 23 — The Tubes featuring Fee Waybill at Infinity Music Hall; The Spin Doctors at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods;

August 25 — John Voket & Newtown All-Stars at Dickinson Park; ZZ Top at Ives Concert Park; Journey at The Comcast Theatre, with Foreigner and Night Ranger;

August 26 — ZZ Top at The MGM Grand at Foxwoods; Aztec Two-Step and Pete Fornatale at Infinity Music Hall (performing The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook); Limelight at CityCenter Green;

August 27 — John Sebastian at Infinity Music Hall; 3rd Annual Are You Dense MusicFest at Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, featuring Marion Meadows, Major Motion, The Devino Bros Ol Skool Horn Band, and others.