Wicker Park Fest Kids Tent

Wicker Park Fest is this weekend both Saturday and Sunday. Kids tent will be on Milwaukee on Evergreen. If I wasn't playing this fest, I would never have been able to find the kids tent line-up:( on-line. I've played this fest twice before and I love it! It's so much fun.

This year's line-up is bursting with Old Town Folk Wiggleworms peeps like Lindsay Weinberg, Laura Doherty, Karen Lubicz-Banks and I. Also, Jeremy Babcock who isn't a Wiggleworms instructor is part of the Old Town family!

Saturday
Noon Mary Macaroni
1:00pm Lindsay Weinberg
2:00pm Beazley Phillips
3:00pm Jeremy Babcock of the
Dream Tree Shakers
4:00pm Bucktown Music School
5:00pm Little Miss Ann


Noon Mary Macaroni
1:00pm Kids’ Yoga with Soulistic
2:00pm Chang’s Martial Arts
3:00pm Mad Science of Chicago
4:00pm Laura Doherty
5:00pm Karen 4 Kids

Where's the kids stage?

Logan Square, Chicago. . . is the home of Pitchfork headquarters. If you live in Chicago, you might know that Logan Square is bursting with hipsters. And hipsters have kids too! Grown-up hipsters, otherwise known as "Grubsters" want their kids to have access to quality indie rock kids music. Even the Shins were on Yo Gabba Gabba! And Andrew Bird was Dr. Stringz on Jack's Big Music Show. So Pitchfork, where's the kids' stage????

Oh well. . maybe next year?? Here's their grown-up line-up. Maybe Yo La Tengo will do "Speedy Motorcycle".
FRIDAY Built to Spill • The Jesus Lizard • Yo La Tengo • Tortoise SATURDAY The National • Beirut • Doom • Yeasayer • Final Fantasy • The Pains of Being Pure at Heart • Fucked Up • Plants and Animals • Cymbals Eat Guitars • The Black Lips • Matt & Kim • Lindstrøm • Wavves • Ponytail • Bowerbirds • The Dutchess and The Duke • The Antlers • Disappears SUNDAY The Flaming Lips • Grizzly Bear • M83 • The Walkmen • The Thermals • Pharoahe Monch • Blitzen Trapper • Frightened Rabbit • The Mae Shi • The Very Best • Mew • Vivian Girls • Japandroids • DJ/Rupture • Women • Killer Whales • Dianogah • Michael Columbia

Folk and Roots Fest

The Old Town School of Folk Music will host a kids tent at their Folk and Roots Festival this Saturday and Sunday in Welles Park. There will be a wonderful line-up of diverse music, percussion, and dance for kids. First off, I will be playing with my husband. Laura Doherty and Julie Helenius will also be doing a set. I am excited because Erin Flynn will be playing with her band. Erin's cd "Dreamer of Dreams" is a wonderful addition to any family music library.

Saturday, July 11th

* 12:00p | Wiggleworms with Little Miss Ann
* 12:50p | Ecuadorian Folk Dance with Carmen - Nuestra Música
* 1:40p | Cowpoke Sing-along with Annie
* 2:30p | Storytime Dances with Jen
* 3:25p | Laura Doherty
* 4:35p | Kids Rhythm Circle with Lenny
* 5:30p | Special Music by Special People

Sunday, July 12th

* 12:00p | Wiggleworms with Julie
* 12:50p | Hip Hop Kidz with Lyn
* 1:45p | Remember the '80s? with The Swing Sets
* 2:45p | West African Drumming with Rick Neuhaus
* 3:40p | Erin Flynn Band
* 4:40p | Zumba for Kids with Isabella - Nuestra Música

Family Music?

So, when I went to Stinkfest now known as Kindiefest back in May, the discussion was about how kids music was now being called family music. What I gathered from the discussion is that family music is music that appeals to all members in the family and not just the kids. Being a kids musician, honestly, I didn't totally jump on board that one. After Monday night, I might be persuaded now. Some of the parents and kids from my daughter's school gathered at Millenium Park's Pritzker Pavilion for one of their free concerts - The Feelies. If you're in, uh ahem . . my age bracket, you might remember the band. I guess for me this video of my daughter and some of her friends dancing says it all.

Joel Frankel

Joel Frankel has been on the Chicago kids music scene for over 2 decades. He's got several kids cd's with numerous awards. His song "We go together" was in the movie "Big". The video I posted is a song that I do a lot in my Wiggleworms classes (giving full props to Joel of course). Thumbs up to a Chicago Pioneer in Kids Music who continually earns my high respect!

Mr. Joel Frankel will be playing on Saturday, July 4th at Village of Deerfield Farmers Market.

Taste of Chicago Fun Time Stage

This weekend kicks off the start of the Taste of Chicago which runs from Friday, June 26th to Sunday, July 5th. The kids entertainment stage is located in the Family Village on the corner of Columbus and Jackson. My band, the Little Miss Ann Band will be playing (Shameless Self-Promotion). I'm excited because a great kids hip hop band from North Carolina called Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will be playing after us. They are actually playing 3 shows on Saturday and Sunday.



Taste of Chicago Fun Time Stage Schedule:
Friday, June 26, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am, 3:30pm - Kidbucks Game Show (win prizes) www.kidbucksgameshow.com
• 12:30pm - Histories for Kids, Inc. presents Pirate Tales www.historiesforkids.com
• 1:30pm - The Smarty Pants Big Balloon Show www.smartypantsworld.com
• 2:30pm - Dave Herzog's Marionettes presents Captain Cranky and His Crew www.herzogmarionettes.com
• 4:30pm - ComedySportz www.comedysportzchicago.com
• 5:30pm - The Happiness Club www.thehappinessclub.com


Saturday, June 27, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - The Little Miss Ann Band www.littlemissann.com
• 12:30, 2:45pm - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo www.secretagent23skidoo.com
• 1:45pm - Just Us Kids of the All-City Elementary Youth Chorus
• 4:05pm - CircEsteem & The Chicago Youth Circus www.circesteem.org
• 5:05pm - Kidz Clog & Cloggin' Craze www.newlenoxclogging.org
• 6:10pm - 2nd Thought www.2ndthoughtband.com


Sunday, June 28, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo www.secretagent23skidoo.com
• 12:45pm - Northside College Prep Cheerleaders & M.I.T. Step Team
• 1:10pm - M.A.D.D. Rhythms www.maddrhythms.com
• 2:15pm - Paul Green School of Rock - Chicago www.schoolofrock.com/chicago
• 4-7pm - Battle of the Bands (finalists ages 13-18 compete for prizes)


Monday, June 29, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - Misericordia Heartbreakers & Heartzingers www.misericordia.com
• 12:30pm - Ella Jenkins www.ellajenkins.com
• 1:30pm - Leonardo www.leonardomusic.com
• 2:30, 6pm - Kidbucks Game Show (win prizes) www.kidbucksgameshow.com
• 3:30, 4:40pm - ComedySportz www.comedysportzchicago.com
• 4:10pm - The Poetic Storyteller www.poeticstoryteller.com
• 5:20pm - Wheeling High School's Crucial Step Clique


Tuesday, June 30, 2009
"International Day"
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - The Sunrise Chorus from The Chinese Fine Arts Society www.chinesefinearts.org
• Noon, 4:30pm - Halau 'O Manulani
• 12:30, 5:30pm - Matsiko Children's Choir from Uganda www.icnchildren.net
• 1pm - McNulty Irish Dancers www.mcnultyirishdancers.com
• 1:30, 2:30pm - Polonia Polish Folk Dance and Song Ensemble
• 2, 3:30pm - The Japanese Culture Center presents Aikido & Capoeira Demonstrations www.japaneseculturecenter.com
• 3pm - Indonesian Performing Arts Chicago
• 4pm - Wavel Polish Dance Group
• 5pm - Perifaneia Dance Group
• 6pm - AfriCaribe www.africaribe.net


Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - Magic That Quacks You Up with Steve Belliveau www.sbmagic.com
• 12:45pm - Nelson Gill Duo www.nelsongill.com
• 1:45pm - Getting Excited About Science with Steve Belliveau www.sbmagic.com
• 3, 4:10pm - ComedySportz US vs ComedySportz UK www.comedysportzchicago.com
• 3:40pm - The Poetic Storyteller www.poeticstoryteller.com
• 4:50pm - Wheeling High School's Crucial Step Clique
• 5:45pm - Emerald City Theatre Company's Jolly Rogers www.emeraldcitytheatre.com


Thursday, July 2, 2009
"Healthy Kids Day" presented by United Healthcare
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - Come Out and Play with Chicago Park District for a kids fitness demo www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
• 12:15pm - Healthy cooking with Chef Gloria D. Hafer, Vicky Solczak, & After School Matters
• 1:00pm - Stretch-n-Grow, Fabulously Fun Fitness for Kids! www.stretch-n-grow.com
• 2:15pm - Healthy snacks with Belle & Liv Gerasole, The Spatulatta Girls www.spatulatta.com
• 3:15pm - Hip-Hop Yoga with Mindful Practices www.mindfulpracticesyoga.com
• 4:45pm - Healthy cooking with Michelle O'Malley, Executive Chef/Owner, A Kid's Kitchen www.akidskitchen.com
• 6pm - PKay's Health & Fitness Hula Hoop Aerobics www.pkayshealthandfitness.com


Friday, July 3, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am, 2:15pm - Six Flags Great America presents The Wiggles www.sixflags.com/greatamerica
• 12:10, 1:40, 2:55pm - It's Hip Hop, Baby! www.itshiphopbaby.com
• 12:45pm - Super Stolie and The Rockstars www.superstolie.com
• 3:30pm - On Broadway Dancers from Coal City, IL www.onbroadwaydancers.com


Saturday, July 4, 2009
Emcees: Young Chicago Authors Word Play Performers
• 11:30am - Eric Galvan (2007 Taste of Talent All-Star) www.ericgalvan.org
• 11:45am - On Broadway Dancers from Coal City, IL www.onbroadwaydancers.com
• 12:35pm - The Trouble With Boys (2008 Taste of Talent All-Star)
• 1:35pm - Tri-Town Raiderette Dance Team
• 1:55pm - Maya Tatum-Lattimore (2005 Taste of Talent All-Star)
• 2:20pm - Ashika Sachdev (2008 Taste of Talent All-Star)
• 2:50, 3:45pm - Chi-Town Cheerleaders (2002 Taste of Talent All-Star)
• 3:15pm - Faith Bardney (2008 Taste of Talent All-Star)
• 4:10pm - Asha Kamali's Kids J.A.M. (Just Aim and Move!) (celebrity choreographer) www.ashakamali.net
• 5:30pm - Radio Disney Road Crew 4th of July Dance Party (games, music, prizes) www.radiodisney.com


Sunday, July 5, 2009
• 11:30am - Taste of Talent Contest for Kids, hosted by NBC5 Brant Miller (finalists ages 4-14 compete for prizes)
• 3pm - Be A Karaoke Star (ages 18 & under)
• 5:15pm - Jesse White Tumbling Team

Andersonville Midsomer Fest

Andersonville Midsomer Fest Family Stage

This weekend is one of my favorate festivals in Chicago in the heavily Swedish influenced neighborhood of Andersonville. The family tent offers 5 hours of family entertainment on both Sat. and Sun.



Saturday
12 pm - Pet Parade
1 pm - Trowbridge Guitar Studio
2 pm - Raisin Rhyme
3 pm - Scribble Monster
4 pm - Emerald City
5 pm - Little Nashville

Sunday
12 pm - Merry Music Makers
12:30 pm - Dream Big Performing Arts
1 pm - Andersonville Suzuki Academy
2 pm - Happiness Club
3 pm - Trinity Irish Dancers
4 pm - Radio Disney
5 pm - School of Rock