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

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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

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

Ella talked about Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep.  Click on the book cover to find an independent bookseller selling it!

I was going to try to write about the whole day of the Meltdown.  It’s pretty much impossible, especially since I spent much of the day running around maniacally.  So a few thoughts, and then some links:

• Our best estimate is that at least 3,500 people came through.  Even though it got a little cozy at times, everyone was super friendly, happy, and fun!
• Everyone seemed to like the addition of the third performance area (the Chill Room).  Storytelling, puppets, cartooning, singing — what’s not to love?
• Hula hooping rocks.
• Trombones are awesome.  If you’re thinking about putting a sax solo in a song, replace it with a trombone solo.  It’ll probably be better.
• Sponsors: You rule.  Yankee Candle, Comcast, WEBS – America’s Yarn Store, Hampshire Gymnastics, River Valley Market — they, and the vendors (who also rule!) are how the event was free.  Thank you.
• Jarrett Krosoczka is amazing.  He put together an insane lineup of authors and illustrators.
• Our performers: crazy good.  Thanks to, in order of appearance: Dog on Fleas, Rona Leventhal, Maria Sangiolo, Royal Order of Chords and Keys, Alastair Moock, Tom Knight & Amy Dawn Kotel, Mister G, Mariana Iranzi, Jay Mankita, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Ratboy Jr., Keith Munslow, Uncle Rock & the Playthings, Marcy Gregoire, Flannery Brothers, Laura Daisybee, and the Deedle Deedle Dees (who, as usual, destroyed) (in a good way).  I stand by my assertion that there will not be a better lineup of family music anywhere this year.

Some links:

• Great photos from the day are over at WRSI.com.  Or, maybe easier, at WRSI’s Facebook page.
• I’ve posted my photos on this (public) Facebook album.
• Dadnabbit came to the event and posted a nice overview.
• Out With The Kids came and has a whole series of posts.

And I’ve put all of the videos I am aware of from the event into one playlist; watch it here (or go to it here):

If you know of any videos or photos I don’t have up here, let me know!

Finally: Thanks to everyone who came, laughed, danced, ate, drank, bounced, hula hooped, shopped, made a weird wax thing with your hand, or just walked around, mouth agape.  I hope you had a ton of fun, and we’ll see you next year!  (And before then!)

Listen any time you like at WRSI.com!  And see you Sunday at 2 for Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, with Mister G opening, at the Iron Horse!

Thanks to Clementown for the terrific guest DJ set.

Segment 1
TMBG – It’s Spare the Rock
-Ella ID
TMBG – The Vowel Family
Heidi Swedberg & the Sukey Jump Band – Pop Goes the Weasel (Play!)
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion – Go Waggaloo (Go Waggaloo)
ID
Gourds – Fossil Contender
Monty Harper – Roundy Round (Take Me to Your Library)
ID

Segment 2
Johnny Bregar – Dragonfly
Little Miss Ann – Mockingbird
ID/prep to rock
Hold Steady – Take Me Out to the Ballgame
ScribbleMonster – The World’s Greatest (Chocolate Milk)
Roy Handy & the Moonshot – Socks Are Overrated!!! ((I’m Gonna Be) Your Best Friend)
Quiet Two – Invisible Trousers (Make Some Noise)
ID/book time with Ella (Cornelia Funke – The Thief Lord)

Segment 3
Ralph & Ralph – Opposites
Dean Jones – Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here!
Mates of State – Jellyman Kelly
ID
John & Mark – People Have Good Reasons
Keith Munslow – Are You Gonna Eat That? (Homemade Fun)
Recess Monkey – Sack Lunch (Field Trip)
ID

Segments 4 & 5
Clementown guest DJ set:
Twilight Zone Theme
Bellville Rendez-vous – M&S
Yes, We Have No Bananas – Baily’s Lucky 7
Little Bed – Clementown
Big in Japan – Tom Waits
Little Old Money Maker – Meters
Radio One Radio Jingle – Jimi Hendrix
Fixing a Hole – Beatles
Fun Services – Phone Phreaks
Flea Keepers – Clementown
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Julie Andrews et al
Fistful of Dollars – Morricone
Shining Star – Earth Win & Fire
Runaway Waffle – Clementown
Man from UNCLE theme

Segment 6
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Luck
Run DMC – Reading Rainbow
Deee-Lite – Groove is in the Heart
Baby Loves Jazz – Duck Jam
ID
TMBG – Meet the Elements

This week, Ella talked about Cornelia Funke’s The Thief Lord.  Click on the cover to find an independent bookseller to buy it from!