Family Music Meltdown By Southwest
Celebrating our move to Austin, we are proudly sponsoring two days of lunchtime family music showcases during SXSW week. The Family Music Meltdown (Austin Incarnation) will take place on Thursday and Friday, March 14 and 15 at Tamale House East, 1701 E. 6th St., Austin. And it’s free to all — we don’t need no stinkin’ badges!
Thursday’s line up features local Austin family musicians Joe McDermott and Laura Freeman, along with Brooklyn’s Deedle Deedle Dees and New England’s Lake Street Dive (doing a rare family performance) 11am to 2pm.
Friday’s show kicks off with the legendary Jad Fair, and also will feature Austin favorite Mr. Leebot, Minneapolis singer Haley Bonar, Oklahoma City funk duo Sugar Free Allstars, and a reprise from the Deedle Deedle Dees 11am to 1pm.
More acts may be added, including some potential very special surprises. Keep an eye on sparetherock.com for information and to learn more about the radio show and label. The showcases are presented in cooperation with Spirithouse Records and WRSI-FM (Northampton, MA).
Elizabeth Mitchell at the Carle – some video
Yes, that is the riff from “Sabotage” during the “how to be a train” lesson at the start. Camera by Liam:
Some folks couldn’t get into the sold-out show, including this very sweet four-year-old who came all the way from Albany (if I heard right). So Liz & Daniel sang some songs at the merch table, including this one. It’s a lovely moment and worth your time:
That’s what music for families can be, folks. Do that.
Green River Festival Meltdown Stage!
We’ll be back at the Green River Festival again this year — July 14-15 — with the best in family music. We’ll be joining in the celebration of Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday (we’ll have some special surprises to announce between now and then), along with a generally amazing lineup. Check out who we’ve confirmed so far:
- Sarah Lee & Guthrie & Johnny Irion
- Mister G
- Flannery Brothers
- Sweetback Sisters
- Deedle Deedle Dees
- Alastair Moock & Friends
- Eloise the Great
- Uncle Rock
- Dog on Fleas
- Royal Order of Chords and Keys
And, as in past years, we’ll have the Meltdown Stay Up Late Stage (or something like that), with other acts into the evening, including:
- Session Americana
- Sun Parade
- Peter Mulvey
- Lake Street Dive
- Frost Heaves (CD release show)
- Alchemystics
Details, including the schedules, soon…
Melted Down.
Holy smokes, the Meltdown was fun.
Wanna do it again next year? Saturday, March 30.
(And yes, even though we’re moving away, the Meltdown will continue, I’m pretty certain.)
Thanks to all of the artists, authors, illustrators, vendors, bouncing people, librarians, fencers, gymnasts, circus arts people, radio sales people…everyone. You all rock.
Pictures to come.
Meltdown! Saturday!
All the details are at RiverMeltdown.com. Short version: you wanna be there. Amazing music, authors, activities, vendors, fun! Download the whole program here (PDF)
Meltdown Promo
Here’s the promo for this year’s Meltdown:
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The lineup is crazy good. Deedle Deedle Dees, Robbi K & Friends, Ratboy Jr., Planet Z, Aric Bieganek, Alastair Moock & Friends, Brendan Taaffe, Nields, Anna Sobel Puppets, Tom Knight Puppets, Josh Gannon-Salomon Stories & Songs, Shiprock & Anchordog, Beethoven’s Wig, School for the Dead, Hey Dango. Plus authors John Marciano, Lisa Yee, Eric Wight, Jeff Mack, and Heidi Stemple & Jane Yolen!
Saturday, March 31, 2012. 10-4. JFK Middle School. Rock.
Uncle Rock! Saturday!
Who’s ready? I’m ready. Saturday morning, 10:00, Flywheel in Easthampton, the triumphant return of Uncle Rock. Plus, free pancakes!
Suggested donation of $5 each or just $10 for a whole family!
(He’s signing holiday songs in that picture. Probably not at Flywheel.)
Quick Interview with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants
On my regular (grownup) shift on the River on Sunday, I did a short interview with John Flansburgh from They Might Be Giants. They’ll be on the station Thursday afternoon before their show at the Calvin (don’t have tickets yet? get ‘em now), and we’ll record an in-studio with them to air probably on March 17. You can listen to Sunday’s interview here:
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Jonathan Coulton is opening the show, and we’ll be getting him in the studio too.
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem wish to give your children parts to make a harmonica.
For real. Scott will tell you about it here:
They’re playing at First Churches in Northampton on Saturday, March 3, at 10:30, and everyone gets the parts to make one, and your child, too, can play an abbreviated national anthem.
We’ll air an in-studio with them that morning, including this excellent version of “Zudio,” from Many Hands:
Your Plans for October 29
Man, we’ve got you covered for the afternoon of Saturday, October 29, and it’s all at the Eric Carle Museum!
1:00 Deedle Deedle Dees CD release show. They’ll play stuff from their excellent new CD, Strange Dees, Indeed, and anyone who comes dressed as someone or something from a Dees song (check out a list of ideas here) will get a special special prize. Just $6 at the door, benefiting the Northampton Community Music Center. (Museum admission extra.)
And then at 2:00, Jarrett Krosoczka will be reading from his brand-new book, Ollie the Purple Elephant, followed by a family dance party! (Free with museum admission.)
Listen!
On demand any time PRX.org
Sat. 8 am - 93.9 The River, Northampton, MA/ Brattleboro, VT
Sun. 8 am106.1 The Corner, Charlottesville, VA
Sat. 9 am - KVRZ 88.9 Libby, MT
Sat. 7 pm - KIYU Western Koyukon Region, Alaska
Sat. 7 am - 103.3 VFR, Northampton, MA
TBA - WMCN St. Paul, MN
Science Fair
Science Fair, eighteen tracks themed around and benefiting science education for girls, is out now. Click the cover for details!
Order the CD now at Amazon.com or at iTunes!Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti
Order the CD now at Amazon.com!Locals: Buy the CD at Turn It Up, Cup & Top Cafe, or A Child's Garden. Or buy it on iTunes!
kinDIY
If you have anything to do with family music, you should be participating in kinDIY.org.
