If you’re heading out to Lollapalooza this weekend in Chicago and you have little ones along for the ride, the Kidzapalooza stage has some fine, family-friendly music from the likes of BRADY RYMER AND THE LITTLE BAND THAT COULD, PLAY DATE, SCHOOL OF ROCK and more. But this year, something special is happening – performances by the Chicago Kindie All-Stars on Friday (1:30pm) and Saturday (12:30pm) featuring some of the Windy City’s best family music stars performing alongside THE HEARTBEATS, best-known as LAURA DOHERTY’s backing band. How many All-Stars you ask? Six.
LAURA DOHERTY
Back in February, LAURA DOHERTY and THE HEARTBEATS released IN A HEARTBEAT, a 13-song set of folk-driven tunes inspired by the Hudson Valley region of New York where she grew up, along with some of the Chicago flavor you’d expect. She’s even got WILCO drummer Glen Kotche behind the kit for… “Drum Kit.”
RALPH COVERT of RALPH’S WORLD
Grownups might know Ralph from THE BAD EXAMPLES, while kids may know RALPH’S WORLD or that “Potty Dance” jingle that Ralph was rockin’ for HUGGIES Pull-Ups awhile back… which is how my kids first discovered him.
MR. SINGER
Normally, Singer rocks out with his band, THE SHARP COOKIES, but here he’ll be backed by THE HEARTBEATS. Singer has been featured here on THE ROCK FATHER in the past, and is currently working on his third album.
LITTLE MISS ANN
FOLLOW ME, the latest album from LITTLE MISS ANN is a lot of fun. The kids dig it. I dig it. That’s a win right there. There’s sort of a 90s folksy alt-rock thing happening on it, and it’s well-worth checking out. Actually, don’t be surprised to see it pop-up on my year-end wrap-up as a favorite.
JOHN JOYCE of POOCHAMUNGAS
What can I say about John? Well, he’s a friend, and has been featured here on THE ROCK FATHER on several occasions, most recently as one of the fellow “Rock Fathers” highlighted during #RockFathersDay 2014. John’s band POOCHAMUNGAS has been growing in notoriety over the past year, with their recent album BLOCK PARTY! getting some attention, and thus securing a place here on the All-Stars lineup.
JEANIE B!
Jeanie is the one artist present that I haven’t ever featured in the past. I’m told she has a popular song about Bubble Wrap, but I haven’t heard it.
For each Kindie All-Stars set, Laura Doherty will lead off the show, then share the stage with each artist and finally, bring everyone back on stage for the finale. Friday’s set includes Ralph Covert, Little Miss Ann and John Joyce. On Saturday, Mr. Singer, Jeanie B! and Ralph Covert will join Doherty and the band.
