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.

Save that date: The Dirty Sock Funtime Band performs at Sesame Place

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band to perform at Sesame Place

Time to rock your socks off (and shoe leather too) when The Dirty Sock Funtime Band visits Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18^th.

Notes lead singer Mike Messer, “We’ve based our show on the idea of taking many of the elements you would find in a big arena rock show – a flashy lead guitarist, a front-man seriously committed to leaping gyrations, a drummer who continuously puts on a one-man show – all performing the entire gamut from raucous rock songs to quiet acoustic ballads, enhanced, of course, with what we’re famous for: really clever lyrics and plenty of audience participation.  Energy wise, the level is high, but everything is presented in a child-appropriate context.”

The band recently released a new CD, Sock-A-Delic, and their first DVD, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band. 

The next Dirty Sock Funtime Band release, in fall 2011, will be an interactive e-book based on their song “Treasure.” 

November 2011 will see the release of an all-new studio CD.

THE DIRTY SOCK FUNTIME BAND
WHERE:         Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA
WHEN:           10:00 a.m., Saturday/Sunday, September 17/18
TICKETS:       Free, with Sesame Place admission 
INFO:              http://www.sesameplace.com   
   
The video below is a behind-the-scenes look at The Dirty Sock Funtime Band – “the highest energy kids’ rock band ever to break out of NYC.”

Stellar new season of cultural programs for kids at Symphony Space

Outstanding cultural season for children at Symphony Space

Advance ticket sales have begun for Symphony Space and its jam-packed 2011-12 season of arts and cultural programming for kids of all ages, including the Just Kidding performing arts series for younger children, and the interactive Thalia Kids’ Book Club for 9 to 12 year olds.
 

The Just Kidding program has become a destination for New York area families on Saturday mornings. They will find here not only their kids’ favorites but also upcoming (and outstanding) artists.

The Thalia Kids’ Book Club brings top authors together with preteen kids in meaningful, interactive discussions and activities.

“These programs are designed both to entertain and to introduce kids to a wide variety of artistic expression. After all, they are our audiences of tomorrow,” says Cynthia Elliott, Executive Director of Symphony Space

Symphony Space’s Just Kidding series kicks off in October with a cornucopia of family-friendly performances. Every Saturday from October through May, Symphony Space continues their tradition of offering New York families ground-breaking programming from around the country.

This year, the Upper West Side cultural mecca will host dozens of family-centric performances, including the return of perennial favorites Elizabeth Mitchell, Gustafer Yellowgold and Justin Roberts, as well as a lively, kid-powered dance performance from National Dance Institute: The Celebration Team.

Other standouts of the 2011-12 season include Afro-Cuban rhythms from Women of the Calabash, the retro slide show vaudevillian group The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, as well as “kindie rock” stars Joanie Leeds, RecessMonkey and Caspar Babypants (also known as Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the USA).

Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in Manhattan, New York City.

Ticket prices range from $11 to $25.

Symphony Space offers “create your own” subscriptions to the 2011-12 Just Kidding series. 

Members of Symphony Space enjoy up to 40 percent in discounts on ticket prices. 

To learn more about this season’s performers, play songs, watch videos and get updates about family programs at Symphony Space, visit http://www.symphonyspace.org/genre/family or call 212.864.5400.

The 2011-12 family season kicks off with the following fall events. Details about each of these Just Kidding performances are available online by following the highlighted link. You may wish to bookmark this page for easy future reference.

Just Kidding Saturday Performances, Fall 2011

October 1, 11 am and 2 pm (Thalia): The Story Pirates -- This zany-smart NYC based troupe creates musical sketch comedy, comprised entirely of stories written by kids. Jon Stewart is a fan of their award-winning shows, which have been described as “Monty Python meets Schoolhouse Rock.”

October 8, 2 pm (Thalia): Women of the Calabash -- Combining traditional instruments, lush vocals, and musical forms with contemporary influences, this musical group has enchanted audiences of all ages for 20 years,performing music from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Black America.

October 15, 11 am: (Sharp): Galumpha -- Combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy, and inventive choreography, Galumpha transforms three human bodies into one floating, flying, and gravity-defying piece of art.

October 22, 11 am: (Thalia): Cat and a Bird -- With catchy beats, a variety of instruments and animal-themed lyrics, Cat and a Bird delivers a fun musical experience for kids with style that older siblings and parents can enjoy. “Out with the Kids” describes their sound as “beautifully strange, Eastern European-gypsy lounge dinner party music.”

October 29, 11 am: (Thalia): Ben Rudnick and Friends – With countless awards to their credit, including five Parent’s Choice awards, this family jam band’s adventurous, high-energy blend of happy, upbeat acoustic music is guaranteed to entertain the entire family. Bending musical styles from country to bluegrass, rock to second-line New Orleans, their original songs and fun takes on familiar tunes make audiences sing, dance, and just be happy.

November 5, 2 pm (Sharp): National Dance Institute: The Celebration Team  – Ballet star Jacques D’Amboise’ legendary children’s dance troupe has transformed the lives of more than 2 million public school children through award-winning arts and learning programs. This year, NDI brings another joyous afternoon of dance to the stage at Symphony Space with more than 50 children, ages 9-15, performing favorite works from their repertory.

November 12, 11 am: (Thalia):  Joanie Leeds & the Nightlights – A favorite star of the NYC “kindie rock” scene, Joanie and her brand bring catchy songs that will have everyone moving and grooving. 

November 19, 11 am: (Thalia): Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players – Known for their quirky, low-fi acoustic songs and unusually engaging slide show performances, this family trio from NYC is sure to create an indie-vaudeville-conceptual-art-rock-slideshow experience like none other in family entertainment. 

December 17, 11 am (Sharp):  Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower –Smithsonian Folkways artist Mitchell's gentle, heartfelt music transfixes audiences of all ages with homespun renditions of great songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Vashti Bunyan, Gillian Welch and more. The quiet sweetness and intimacy of her concerts cement her as an icon whose music will be remembered for years to come. Dan Zanes says, “This is the family music that I love---soulful, mysterious, inclusive and rollicking!"

December 31, 11 am. (Thalia): Tim and the Space Cadets – Celebrate a family New Year’s Eve with this dynamic family-friendly pop rock band. Tim’s songs exist somewhere in the realm between Raffi and Blink-182, inspired by memories of school days, snow days, pizza parties, and summer vacations. Their song “Superhero” enjoys frequent spins on Sirius-XM’s Kids Place Live. 

For More Information on the entire 2011-2012 season visit: http://www.symphonyspace.org/genre/family

Membership information: http://www.symphonyspace.org/support

 
Box office: (212) 864-5400  

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

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.

NEWS

Seventeen- year old recently shorn, two time GRAMMY nominated Justin Bieber, the tween/teen singing idol sensation made it into headlines this week more times than Sarah Palin.


The most important news coming out of Bieber’s camp is that his recently released 3-D musical documentary, NEVER SAY NEVER has set a significant milestone, becoming the third highest grossing documentary of all time, raking in a highly respectable total of $63,805,941 since opening on 3,105 screens nationwide on February 11, 2011.

NEVER has joined the rarefied air with Michael Moore’s FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and MARCH OF THE PENGUINS per results tabulated by Box Office Mojo.
.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Beamz C-4 Interactive Music Player

This is one of the more fascinating gizmos to come on the scene in recent memory – the Beamz Interactive Player, which utilizes laser beams that when disrupted by hand movements create a variety of musical notes, rhythms and even sound scratches. You can perform a wide range of musical genre from pop all the way to classical.

The "C-4" generation of Beamz is geared for the non-professional musician, and is best targeted for computer savvy tweens or teens.

Batteries are not needed for the Player as it plugs directly into a Windows PC (not available for Macs). The product comes with compatible software. All that is needed is a desire to make music and have fun.

The suggested retail price for the Beamz C-4 Interactive Player is $199.99, and currently best available pricing is available through Amazon Marketplace for $124.99

The video below demonstrates the Beamz C-4.

LIVE PERFORMANCES

The Festival of the Arts Boca, opening tomorrow, Friday, March 4, 2011 and continuing until Saturday, March 12 features a wide-variety of performances, two in particular geared perfectly for children and teens.

Friday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. the Boca Raton Symphomia performs The Wizard of OZ at the Amphitheater, and on Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m., A Night at the Opera, featuring 10-year-old operatic soprano singing sensation, Jackie Evancho along with four incredible young stars of the Metropolitan Opera who are just establishing their careers.


Evancho, who wowed the judges and stole the hearts of viewers of last season’s America’s Got Talent with her rendition of Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro” will be joined by Soprano Katie Van Kooten, mezzo Jennifer Holloway, tenor John Tessier and baritone Michael Todd Simpson. The performers will be accompanied by the Boca Symphonia under the able direction of Constantine Kitsopoulos.

Evancho’s November 2010 Christmas album, O Holy Night, became a certified platinum- winner before year’s end.

Festival of the Arts Boca: Mizner Park Amphitheater and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center (2nd floor above ZED 451), Mizner Park, Boca Raton, Florida.

For further information and tickets, Call (561) 368-8445 or (866) 571-2787 or visit: festivaloftheartsboca.org

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra presents their 5th annual “Rising Stars Showcase” on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Under the direction of Steven Karidoyanes, this family-oriented concert features fourteen-year-old South Shore Conservatory concerto competition winner, Ilve Bayturk performing music from Mozart’s “Piano Concerto in A Major, K. 414.

Also on the program, the 120-voice Plymouth Children’s Chorus, directed by Kathy McMinn, performing music from Aaron Copland’s collection of “Old American Songs,” “What a Wonderful World,’’ and “This Little Light of Mine.’’

The orchestra also performs a special selection, John Philip Sousa’s “The National Game,” in honor of the centennial anniversary of Fenway Park’s, (home of the Boston Red Sox) groundbreaking, which took place in 1911.

An instrument demonstration for children will be held at 2 p.m. followed by the concert at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $8 and $15 for children, $12 and $20 for adults.

For more information or tickets, call 508-746-8008 or visit www.plymouthphil.org.
.
MUSIC CDs

Putumayo Kids: Acoustic Dreamland

In the fifth release in this series of Dreamland lullaby albums, eleven well-known artists come together on this beautifully produced CD, Acoustic Dreamland, from Putumayo Kids.

Gentle songs, delivered by gentle voices backed with calming acoustical accompaniment, all the selections on this album will easily become part of a child’s soothing bedtime ritual.

Dan Storper, founder and CEO of Putumayo World Music says, “Over the years, many people have told me that our CDs are indispensable to help put their children to sleep. They also use the CDs themselves to relax. With Acoustic Dreamland., I wanted to bring together some of my favorite singer-songwriters, children’s musicians and songs. We’ve also included a mini-storybook that parents can read or sing along to. I’ve tested most of these songs on my 5 year-old son, William, and they’ve worked very well.”

Sound samples of all tracks of Acoustic Dreamland are available at Putumayo Kids.

The suggested retail price for Acoustic Dreamland is $14.98, and best available pricing is currently through Amazon Marketplace for $9.00.


The Baby Grands II

Chuck Nash and Ben Rowell, the NAPPA honor-winning artists known as The Baby Grands, offer a delightful kindie rock mix in their second album release, Baby Grands II from indie label, Backspace Records.

With songs delivered in a variety of styles, this sophomore album touches upon the things important in a child’s life, everything from Dinosaurs to Paper Airplanes. The music carries strong melody lines, delivered with clear vocals, thoughtful lyrics and a performance sound that engages the entire family.

Nash and Rowell are joined on this album by industry friends, Rob Peck (George Jones) on harmonica, Eric Brigmond (Donovan Frankenreiter) on keyboards, Brian Homan (Vassar Clements) on pedal steel and Ken Nasta (Royal Trüx) on drums.

Rowell summarizes the recording experience for this album by saying, “I’ve never had so much fun making music of any kind.” When you hear their clips, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Sound samples of both Baby Grands albums are provided for your review below, along with a cute music video of “Robot” from their newest release, Baby Grands II.

CDs of The Baby Grands may be ordered direct from the artist’s website for $9.99 each plus a flat shipping rate of $2.49 (no matter how many you purchase.)

MP3 download of Baby Grands II are offered at iTunes for $0.99 cents per track or $9.90 for the album (10) tracks.

The Baby Grands original album is also available at iTunes in MP3 download 12 tracks for $9.99.




Baby Grands II

Baby Grands 1