Hi there, NYT readers.

Apr 28

Yup, I got quoted in the New York Times.  (In case you’re curious, this is the third time; both other times have been in my capacity as a law professor.)

First, if you’re looking for information about KindieFest, head here now (click on “Festival” up top to find out about the public Sunday event).

If you are here for the first time, a little tour for you.  If you visit our page at WRSI.com, you can listen to recent shows on demand.  You can also listen live online via WRSI.com.  Up across the top there, you can read a little more about us, see old playlists, listen to some in-studio performances, watch in-studios and other live music, see some of my picks for the best family music of the last few years, see what books Ella has talked about, or learn more about our forthcoming CD to benefit Haiti relief, featuring new music from an amazing lineup, including They Might Be Giants, Pete Seeger, Elizabeth Mitchell, and many more.

And then along the right-hand column, we’ve got lots more, including upcoming events in the Pioneer Valley, links to a bunch of other family music sites like ZooglobbleOut with the Kids, and Gooney Bird Kids.

So: take a look around, listen to the show, and enjoy!

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2010-04-24 Playlist

Apr 24

Happy Earth Day weekend!  Listen on demand at our page at WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – ICU
Lunch Money – Wake Up World (Dizzy)
Haley Bonar – Beautiful You
ID
Uncle Rock (with Elizabeth Mitchell) – There Is No Away (The Big Picture)
ScribbleMonster – The Song of Life (Songs with No Character)
ID

Segment 2
ID
Dan Zanes & Friends – I Won’t Grow Up
Frances England – Spring has Sprung (Family Tree)
ID/prep to rock
Sippy Cups – Springtime Fantastic
Mike Doughty – 27 Jennifers (Golden Delicious)
The Not-Its – When I’m Five
Clementown – Polkabats

Segment 3
Pencilhead and the Playground Punks – Super
Robbert Bobbert – We R Super Heroes
Flaming Lips – Waitin’ for a Superman
ID
Princess Katie & Racer Steve – Tube Sox (Tiny Cool)
Natalie Merchant – The Janitor’s Boy (Leave Your Sleep)
ID

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
Lennon’s Song – We Love, We Learn, We Grow
The Living Sisters – Cradle (Love to Live)
Red Hook Ramblers – Down By the Riverside
ID
Jimmies – What’s that Sound? (Make Your Own Someday)

Segment 5
Toots & the Maytals – Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (The Disney Reggae Club)
Heidi Swedberg & the Sukey Jump Band – Paw Paw Patch (Play!)
ID/book time with Ella (Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Roger Day – Inside My Cranium (Why Does Gray Matter?)
Rodrigo y Gabriela – Diablo Rojo
Roy Handy & the Moonshot – I Am a Dog!!! ((I’m Gonna Be) Your Best Friend)
ID

Segment 6
Sugar Free Allstars – Little Red Wagon (Funky Fresh & Sugar Free)
Walter T and the Rated-Gs – Rough Day at the Sandbox (Rough Day at the Sandbox)
Mister G – Sneaky Chihuahua (Pizza for Breakfast)
ID (Mister G at Pulaski Park tomorrow)
Ralph & Ralph – Arms of My Love (Opposites)
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem – They All Ask’d For You (live at Spare the Rock)
ID
They Might Be Giants – Science is Real (Here Comes Science)
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

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Book Time for 2010-04-24

Apr 24

This week, Ella talked about A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Click below to buy it from an independent bookseller:


Shop Indie Bookstores

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Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti

Apr 20

With a national release on August 10, Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti is the first release from Spare the Rock Records. This unique collection of songs is filled with uplifting messages from some of today’s very best family musicians.

After the January 12th, 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of the Haitian capital, family musician Dean Jones (Dog on Fleas) found himself feeling helpless and desperately wanting to help the people of Haiti. Having close friends in Haiti and feeling a deep love and respect for the music from the region, Jones felt the need to create something that could help the ongoing rebuilding effort.

The idea for Many Hands came to him in the middle of the night and the very next day several of his fellow family musicians signed on. “When I had the idea for the Many Hands CD, I knew without a doubt that I could count on the big-hearted kindie community.” said Jones. “The generosity and the amazing work of all the musicians and everyone involved definitely exceeded my initial expectations.”

Almost all of the tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them recorded especially for this release. The gathering of artists featured here is a strong assortment of the unique and special talents creating and performing for today’s all ages audiences, from the legendary Pete Seeger to family hip-hop star Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. In addition, everyone involved in the process of getting this album out into the world from replication to distribution has also either drastically discounted or donated their services. Proceeds from this release will benefit the Haitian People’s Support Project and their long-standing work to help the people of Haiti.

Many Hands will be released as the debut album of Spare the Rock Records, founded by kindie rock connoisseur Bill Childs. “After speaking with Dean it was immediately obvious to me that this would be a great record, and, just as importantly, that it would have the potential to help keep people’s attention on the ongoing recovery of Haiti,” recalls Childs on how the partnership came to fruition. “Dean asked for some help reaching out to a few artists, and that just naturally flowed into my helping the record get a wider release; ultimately, that meant starting a label.” Childs produces, with his kids, the weekly radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Bill also writes about kids’ music for various parenting magazines and has produced numerous kids’ concerts and is the cofounder of KindieFest, the family music conference.

CD release shows are planned on both coasts, including:

  • Sunday August, 15: Dog on Fleas, Grenadilla, Uncle Rock, Rosendale Theater, Rosendale, NY (Details.)
  • Friday, August 20: Elizabeth Mitchell & Family and Frances England, Mill Valley Library, Mill Valley, CA (Free!)
  • Saturday, August 21: Dog on Fleas, Lunch Money, Randy Kaplan, Deedle Deedle Dees, Armory, Somerville, MA (Buy tickets here.)
  • Saturday, September 11, 11:00: Randy Kaplan, Johnny Bregar, and Recess Monkey , Multnomah Arts Center, Portland, OR, presented by A Child’s Time to Rock!  (Buy tickets here.)
  • Saturday, September 11: Deedle Deedle Dees, Gustafer Yellowgold, Dog on Fleas, Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
  • Sunday, September 26: Dan Zanes, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Deedle Deedle Dees, Grenadilla, and very special other artists TBA, Pines Theater, Look Park, Northampton, MA

Click on the thumbnail for a high-res image of the cover:

Media Contact: Stephanie Mayers

The record features the following artists:

Dan Zanes
Pete Seeger
Elizabeth Mitchell
They Might be Giants
Gustafer Yellowgold
Caspar Babypants
Frances England
Dog on Fleas
Lunch Money
Baby Gramps
Recess Monkey
The Deedle Deedle Dees
Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem
Bonga and the Vodou Drums of Haiti
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Jonathan Coulton
Uncle Rock
Grenadilla
Dean Jones
Emily Curtis
Randy Kaplan
Jerrice Baptiste

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2010-04-17 Playlist

Apr 17

Listen any time you like at our page on WRSI.com!

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – Sleepwalkers (No!)
Astrograss – Let Me Stay Up All Night (Let Me Stay Up All Night)
Ratboy Jr. – Floating Up (Smorgasboard)
ID
Bill Harley – Grownups Are Strange (Yes to Running)
Songeez – Love’s Enough
ID

Segment 2
Gustafer Yellowgold – Pinecone Lovely
School for the Dead – Beautiful Day in the Woods (Ayla) (Live at Spare the Rock)
ID/prep to rock
Beatles – Birthday
Justin Roberts – It’s Your Birthday (Meltdown!)
The Jimmies – Somebody’s Birthday (Make Your Own Someday)

Segment 3
ID
Royal Order of Chords and Keys – Cruisin’ for a Snoozin’
Elvis Costello – (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
Young Fresh Fellows – Picnic (Play)
ID
Alexandra & the Good Batch – Extended Playdate (Extended Playdate)
Baze & His Silly Friends – All My Silly Friends (One Little Smile)
ID

Segment 4
ScribbleMonster – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
ID
Ralph’s World – The Rhyming Circus
She & Him – Brand New Shoes
Ella Fitzgerald – You’re the Top (Cole Porter Song Book)
Bonerama – You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Funky Kidz)
Jose Conde – Cumbamba (Jazz Playground)
ID

Segment 5
ID
Dream Warriors – My Definition (And Now the Legacy Begins)
Bunny Clogs – Shpilkas (More! More! More!)
Hank Hooper – Hey! Batter! (Playground Fortune Teller)
ID/book time with Ella (Emily Winsnap & the Monster From the Deep)
Key Wilde & Mr Clarke – The Rattling Can

Segment 6
ID
Dar Williams – Babysitter’s Here (at Academy of Music 4/25)
Joe’s Backyard Band – Crow (Kick Up a Breeze)
Earth Wind & Fire – Sing a Song (Greatest Hits)
Keith Munslow – Spork (Homemade Fun)
Sweetback Sisters – Have You Seen My Chicken? (Chicken Ain’t Chicken)
ID
TMBG – E Eats Everything
TMBG – Spare the Rock

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