This week’s top picks for upcoming live entertainment

"Dancers' photo by Peter Griffin

Mark your calendar and save these dates for the following entertaining and diverse line-up of events in New York City, Amherst, Massachusetts and Santa Monica, California.

New York City

The Just Kidding at Symphony Space all-ages series will continue to provide New York City families with ground-breaking entertainment most Saturdays through April 2012, and on this Saturday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. Just Kidding provides one of the nation's top "kindie rock" stars, Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights.

Leeds is one of those big, beautiful rock 'n roll sopranos whose voice goes full-out or soft and tender, and she uses both to full effect.

Her tuneful melodies and rich, funny and thoughtful child-respecting lyrics give depth and irresistible zip to songs about sunglasses at the beach, goodnight hugs, popcorn popping and creative blame-shifting.

Check out the video below from Leed’s YouTube channel to see her in action.

Then, on Saturday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. Just Kidding offers a unique mix of multimedia performance art from the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players  when they present their "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band" concert.

 

Originally from Seattle, and now based in Brooklyn, the Trachtenburgs are a domestic trio (dad Jason, mom Tina Piña, and 16-year-old daughter Rachel), who play quirky indie pop songs in the key of "unironic."

It's all good, clean fun with one major catch: All the songs and carefully rhyming lyrics come from the vintage slide collections they've found at estate or garage sales that accompany their performances.

The intrepid trio has appeared on Nick Jr. and the "Conan O'Brien Show," and they've taken their show on the road to Bonnaroo, the Edinburgh festival as well as comedy clubs around the nation - all the while winning over famous fans like Meg White (The White Stripes), Matt Groening ("The Simpsons") and John Waters ("Hairspray").

The Trachtenburgs have just released a new CD called Lost and Found.

and for your enjoyment below, the Players on Nick Jr.'s "Jack’s Big Music Show”.

This diverse line-up is part of the ongoing weekly shows aimed at children ages 3 to 9 and their families. For details about all of the shows, tickets and subscription information, visit Just Kidding online. 

Amherst, Massachusetts

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, Massachusetts, is presenting Picture Book Theatre featuring Eric Carle’s “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth and Rooster’s Off To See The World, Saturdays, November 12, 19, 26 and Friday, November 25 with 45-minutes performances at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.. Tickets are $5 and can be reserved in advance by calling the Museum at 413-658-1126.

Directed by founder Therese Brady Donohue, Picture Book Theatre is now in its sixth season and is known for adapting picture books into puppets and dance productions suitable for all ages, especially the very young.

This year’s productions include the premiere of the stick puppet show “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth, with music composed by Karen A. Tarlow.

The story includes 27 puppets representing endangered rain forest species. Norton Juster voices a recorded introductory message from Eric Carle and Onawumi Jean Moss is the storyteller.

Double cast local puppeteers include Margaret Arsenault, Frances Caparello, Joan Hanson, Naomi Ossar, Diane Westfall, and Karin Wilburn and professionally designed lighting is by Steve Morgan and operated by Dan Fedora of Harrison Digital Productions.

Each family will receive a copy of Carle’s “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth during the show (like a libretto) to reread and relive what they have seen.

A grant from the Amherst Cultural Council administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council has helped to underwrite this new show.

The second show is a revival of Carle’s Rooster’s Off To See The World that showcases young dancers from Amherst Ballet. Sharing the title role are Isabel Wardlaw and Stone Dresser. The dancing role of two cats is shared between Amy Benedetto and Isabela Gomez, and Madeline Poole and Rachel Oram-Brown. Music is again by Karen Tarlow and the recorded narration is by Museum Chief Curator Nick Clark.

All puppets in the show exactly replicate the illustrations in the Carle books.

For further information about these performances and current exhibitions in the Museum’s galleries and many other ongoing events visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

Santa Monica, California

To celebrate the launch of her newest CD, Everyday Adventures, award-winning singer/songwriter Deborah Poppink (a/k/a affectionately known by her fans as “DidiPop”) is appearing at the legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Boulevard., at 31st Street, Santa Monica, California on Sunday, November 13 at 11:00 a.m.

The performance includes a 5-piece band (not too loud) costume changes and magic. Plus, there will be Mardi Gras beads for the kids, and a chance for them to do the hula with the magnificent BoBo Bernstein on pedal steel.

 DidiPop will play spoons, piano, guitar, ukulele and even some mock accordion.

Ticket price is $8 (kids under 2 get in free). To purchase tickets online, connect to McCabe’s website at http://www.mccabes.com/condata.html

Below, for your enjoyment, is a sample of DidiPop’s The Cool Alphabet Song, which she’ll be performing at McCabe’s.

Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

‘PlayingGuitar’ by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to another edition of “Musical Notes.” This week’s post covers news of super star Mary J. Blige’s recording for Dreamworks upcoming feature film, THE  HELP; live events and performances in Florida and California and the latest release from award-winning musician Joanie Leeds. Also featured are adorable music videos to share with your child from Princess Katie & Racer Steve, and a special Flag Day Celebration from Didipop.

NEWS

Super star Mary J. Blige records original song for upcoming feature ‘The Help’

DreamWorks Pictures and Geffen Records announced that multiple Grammy® Award–winning recording artist Mary J. Blige wrote and recorded an original song for the soundtrack of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media’s THE HELP, a film based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, opening in theaters August 12, 2011.

“The Help” soundtrack - music from the motion picture, will feature the original song from Mary J Blige “The Living Proof.”  The soundtrack, from Interscope Records, will be available Tuesday, July 26 at select Starbucks locations.

The song, “The Living Proof,” was written and recorded by Blige especially for THE HELP after she saw a screening of the film, which takes place in 1960s-era Mississippi and chronicles the journey of three very different women who come together and embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. “The beautiful thing about these women is that they were very smart,” says Blige. “They chose to walk in love and forgiveness.”

The film celebrates the courage to inspire change; “To speak to so many women with this song means a lot to me” says Blige. “I wanted to be involved with this film, because I think we need to encourage each other more, we are here to tell a story.”

Blige has received 9 Grammy® Awards and four American Music Awards as well as recorded eight multi-platinum albums. Mary J. Blige has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and her next album "My Life Too....The Journey Continues" will be released Sept 20, 2011. 

In the video below, Mary J. Blige discusses her recording “The Living Proof.”

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND ENTERTAINING EVENTS

Baby Loves Disco

Baby Loves Disco

Friday, June 10, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
Don Cesar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel
3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706
$15 per person or 4 for $50

Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
Seminole Towne Center
200 Towne Center Circle, Sanford, Florida 32771

FREE*

Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
Loews Miami Beach
1601 Collins Avenue, Miami, Florida 33139
$20 per person or 4 for $60

EVENT NOTES:

“Families are invited to join the Baby Loves Disco Nation, to dance, play, savor healthy snacks and generally enjoy good times with family and friends. Parents and kids are invited to dress up as their favorite superheroes, or come just as they are. For daily updates on the Tour, visit Baby Loves Disco's pages on Facebook and Twitter.  

Each event of the tour rocks with special guest superhero DJs and MCs, dance instruction, big video screens, super contests and surprises at every turn.  At its core, each event retains the patented mix of Baby Loves Disco magic that has helped connect a worldwide community of moms, dads and kids of all nations, of all colors and all walks of life, all in the name of dance (and fun!).”

For more information or to purchase tickets, please follow this link.

Pasta: A Pop-Ups Musical Adventure

Electric Lodge Performance Space
1416 Electric Ave., Venice, California , 90291

Wednesday, June 15 through Thursday, June 30, 2011

Performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays are at 11:00 a.m.
 

Friday, June 17 through Sunday, July 3, 2011

Performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are at 11:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m.

Admission: $15.00 per person

EVENT NOTES:

Join kids’ rockers Jacob Stein and Jason Rabinowitz as they treat young audiences (ages 2 and up) to an educational and comic musical adventure, taking children through the magical land of Brooklyn - with the audience's help. The Pop Ups will search for the ingredients to make the best locally sourced pasta sauce ever, so prepare for a high-energy live act involving life-drawing, dance-beats, colorful puppets, animals, trains, guitar riffs, mermaids, gardens, instruments, vegetables, sparkles, and rocking interactive dance numbers that will catapult kids out of their seats guaranteeing a good time for everyone. You’ll be entertained with their rocking music from their critically acclaimed CD “Outside Voices.”

For more information phone 1-800-838-3006 or visit this link to purchase tickets/

CD’s

JOANIE LEEDS & THE NIGHTLIGHTS: WHAT A ZOO!

   WITH GUEST ARTIST SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO

Joanie Leeds, 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winner for her hit album I’m a Rock Star, offers a solid line-up of kid and parent-pleasing songs in her newest album release: What a Zoo!
 
A delightful musical menagerie of rockin’ tunes, expertly sung , covering a wide variety of animal critters, from mosquitoes to clams, blue whale to ‘Tofurky;’ all with clever lyrics - some embedded with important messages like remembering to look both ways when you cross the street.

Leeds is expertly joined with her band, The Nightlights, and guest artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.

The 37-minute CD, offers ten originals compositions and four cover tunes, including time –tested favorites, “Wimoweh” and “Froggy Went A Courtin.”

What a Zoo! is available online through the artist’s website, where you can listen to sound samples, and is also avaiable through amazon.com, cdbaby.com, and at specialty toy and bookstores across the country.

MUSIC VIDEOS

Here’s a music video to make you and your child smile, “Sand in My Sandwich” – from Princess Katie & Racer Steve’s CD, Tiny Cool!

Katie says, “We certainly had a lot of laughs making it and hope kids get a kick out of it.”

And now another treat to share with the child in your life, a music video that salutes Flag Day from Deborah Poppink a/k/a Didipop.

Deborah says, “I've always liked Flag Day, so I created this music video to explain the history of June 14th. Happy Birthday Old Glory!”

Musical Notes: Music industry news and releases for children and teens

‘Playing Guitar’ photo by Petr Kratochvil

Welcome to “Musical Notes,” this weekly column is dedicated solely to music. Like our Friday “Popcorn Report,” which features the latest information on movies, this post highlights current news and announcements in the music industry, and introduces you to the best of everything in CDs, music videos, games, instruments and upcoming performances for children, teens and families. Be sure to check back each Thursday.

LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS

On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m., that energizing and fun duo from Okalahoma, the Sugar Free Allstars bring their grooving mix of music and beats to the McKinney Performing Arts Center (at the Historic Collin County Courthouse) 111 N. Tennessee, McKinney, TX 75069.

Families will enjoy everything from New Orleans funk and Memphis soul to rock and roll.

General Admission $11.50 adults; $9.50 seniors 55+/students 13+; and $6.50 for children under 12- Tickets are available online or by calling (214)-544-4630.

Below is a music video of the song “Cars and Trucks” from their latest album release, FUNKY FRESH AND SUGAR FREE.





In celebration of the new release, WHEELS ON THE BUS, Groove Kid Nation is hosting a charitable fund raising event and CD release party Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.) at Capoeira Besouro Studio, 2901 Ocean Park Ave. #103, Santa Monica, CA 90405, Telephone: 310.314.2617

WHEELS ON THE BUS features the incredibly fun and funky music for today’s generation performed by Rodney Lee on keyboards, Fred Clark on guitar, Katisse Buckingham on sax and flute, Andre Berry on Bass, Satnam Ramgotra on percussion, and Jeff Robinson on vocals.

One Hundred percent of the proceeds of this event will benefit The YWCA Family Cooperative Preschool at the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside.

Patrons will receive one FREE CD with the minimum suggested donation of $25 per family or $15 per single person. Additional CDs will be available for $15 each.

Take a look at the adorable video below that features the song “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” one of the tracks from WHEELS ON THE BUS.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Kinder Harp
One of the loveliest sounds for making gentle, almost ethereal music comes from a Kinder Harp, which is also known as a Kinder Lyre.

The beautiful sound this instrument produces is primarily because it is set in the five-note pentatonic scale: d' e' g' a' b' d' e'.

Young children studying at Waldorf Schools are introduced to the calming musical properties of this unique instrument at a very early age.

The video below from demonstrates the finely crafted Choroi Pentatonic Kinderharp, which retails online through Bellaluna Toys for $99.95.

MUSIC APPS

KIBOOMU
Some of the first songs that parents and caregivers share with the child in their lives are “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Old Mac Donald” and the “ABC” song, and now all three of these toddler top hits are available in apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad from the Montreal based company, KIBOOMU.

Co-founded by entrepreneurs Wendy Wiseman and Sherry Segal, KIBOOMU launched as a company in January 2010 and has established a strong following from their website.

These music apps have a variety of play modes in addition to being colorful, engaging and educational. All three apps are available for $0.99 each from iTunes.

The video below does fine job of explaining the multiple features for the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” app.

CD

Beethoven's Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies
Getting children and teens interested in listening to classical music is sometimes a daunting task, but not with the multi-award-winning CD series, Beethoven’s Wig.

In this fourth installment from Rounder Records, one again finds some of the world’s most beautiful instrumental music expertly performed, and as an added bonus (in a separate version) paired with delightful rib-tickling lyrics.

A five star entertainment winner for the entire family, the full CD comes with a booklet that includes not only the lyrics but trivia questions and activities.

All 24 tracks are available to sound sample and download at iTunes or Amazon.com for $0.99 per track.

Best pricing for the entire MP3 album is $9.49 through Amazon.com.

Best price for the actual CD with booklet is currently through Amazon Marketplace for $9.79.

ONLINE VIDEO

Something special for St. Paddy’s Day was delivered online by popular children’s recording artist/entertainer DidiPop (aka Deborah Poppink Hirshland).

Hirshland says, “My daughters asked me to explain St. Patrick's Day. I was a bit stumped, so I checked out a book from Delilah's elementary school library (which was really fun), read it and wrote this song for them. Please enjoy it here and share it with your friends:”

Below is the catchy song “Potatoes and Cabbage,” which is actually a full history of St. Patrick's Day in less than 1 1/2 minutes! Enjoy, and be sure to share with the child in your life.

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and NORAD is tracking his every move

For more than 50 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa Claus on his Christmas Eve flight, providing Santa, his reindeer, and sleigh, safe and unimpeded air space over North America and Canada, while sharing information with children, on Santa’s minute-by-minute progress around the globe.

NORAD is staffed by the good folks who keep our skies safe, 24 hours a day, seven days week with radar and intercept aircraft, and this time of year, they also invite you to their NORAD Tracks Santa web site where you can keep an eye on Santa’s Christmas flight right along with them in real time.

At the NORAD site, children, parents and caregivers will see video images from the “Santa Cams” that have been pre-positioned around the world to catch glimpses of Santa, the reindeer and his sleigh.

You’ll also track Santa by downloading a free application of Google Earth, available from the NORAD web site, as well as following Santa's progress on NORAD’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

NORAD provides some fun and games during the countdown at "Santa’s Village," where you click on any shop in the village, and find an interesting activity that is inside each of the different buildings.

There are also special pages where you’ll see and hear Santa read the Night Before Christmas in a pre-recorded video, and learn lots of interesting facts about the big guy in red, everything from his sleigh’s technical data to how he gets down a chimney.

For Santa skeptics there is even a page where you can listen to the reading of a real letter, which was written to a newspaper in 1897 by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, questioning the existence of Santa, and hear the newspaper editor’s touching and thoughtful reply.

Information about appropriate “Santa Snacks” to leave out for the main man, and pages about NORAD – "why" they track Santa and details on how the tracking is actually done are available.

The NORAD Tracks Santa website is a non-profit organization funded solely through corporate donations, and is fully staffed by an all-volunteer crew who love children, Christmas, and honor the memory of Colonel Harry Shoup, (Retired) USAF, who by serendipity in 1955, became NORAD’s very first Santa Tracker.

While you and your little one are waiting for Santa, below is an adorable video, “Let’s Make Santa Claus Happy Tonight,” by award-winning songwriter, performer and music teacher Deborah Poppink who is affectionately known by her fans as “DidiPop.”