Win Tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space on October 3, 2009!
Symphony Space has some excellent concerts and events lined up for their 2009-2010 Family Season including mega kiddie acts like Ralph’s World and Brooklyn favorites such as, Randy Kaplan, Astrograss and Gustafer Yellowgold, just to name a few. The new season kicks off on Saturday, October 3 with the Woodstock based folk-rock singer Elizabeth Mitchell who will charm both children and adults alike with her renditions of songs by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley. In celebration of the new season, (and because I love giveaways), I’m giving away family four-pack of tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space to one lucky reader who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite family/kids album. A random winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, September 30. View the entire 2009-2010 Symphony Space season of family programming over here.
It’s officially fall now, and not only does that mean back to school, but it also means that there is a bumper crop of children’s fare available on home video, at the movie theatres and even at the record store (if they still have a record store where you live, that is). This Tuesday (September 22) marked the release of The Fine Friends Are Here, the latest DVD from venerable Brooklyn entertainer Dan Zanes (his first DVD in four years, and his first release for Razor and Tie). The new DVD, recorded live at The Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook, Brooklyn, contains 13 live tracks, 3 new videos and a four-song bonus cd of late-night (read “lullaby”) music. The songs and videos on the new disc draw from Zanes’ fine back catalog, with over half the tunes coming his most recent albums, Catch That Train and Nueva York and the rest being drawn from Family Dance, and a few of his various older releases. The new DVD is a huge step up from his previous wildly successful video release, All Around The Kitchen (which I watched until it was etched in my brain) in terms of production quality. The transitions between songs are seamless and clever, the band is well lit for the entire performance (a real fault of the first video if you ask me), the direction is well thought out, the camerawork is solid (not shaky), and the image you see on your screen just looks about 100 times better than the last DVD, in fact, it looks like the show was captured on film (though I suspect it was probably some form of HD video). Sure it’s a much slicker package this time around, but when all is said and done, it’s really the songs and the performances that make this new video a winner. Though Dan has assembled an almost completely new band since Kitchen was released (long time drummer Colin Brooks remains), the new players can still “bring the party”, and the joy and enthusiasm taken in the rendition of each song is directly reflected on the faces of the audience members at the Jalopy and should carry over to those viewing at home too. On a final note, it was nice to see that they got rid of the cookie cutter Noggin videos that were included in the last DVD and created some cute original videos for this new release. Like you might expect, Dan has a few DVD release shows lined up in the near future, he’ll be playing on Friday, September 25 (tomorrow) at the Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe and then again at the 92Y Tribeca on September 30 at 4PM. View all of Dan Zanes upcoming tour dates and the track list for the The Fine Friends Are Here over here.
In TV soundtrack news, on October 20, 2009 the gang from Yo Gabba Gabba, one of the most indie savvy kids programs on TV, will release a new album full of songs from the show as performed by some of your favorite artists including: Of Montreal, Mark Kozelek, The Shins, The Roots and many more artists you wouldn’t expect to find on the Nickelodeon Channel. In celebration of this release, the YGG stars (DJ Lance Rock, Lance Robertson; Brobee, the little green one; Foofa, the pink flower bubble; Muno, the red Cyclops; Toodee, the blue cat-dragon; and Plex) are headed out on a small three city tour which will make its way to the Beacon Theatre in NYC on November 21, 2009, tickets for that show go on sale on October 9. View the track list for Yo Gabba Gabba! Music is Awesome! over here. One last thing, YGG Live isn’t DJ Lance‘s only upcoming local appearance, he’ll be appearing this Saturday, September 26 at Riverside Park as part of the RBC Race For The Kids, and then again on Sunday, October 4 at the New York Times Great Children’s Read at Columbia University.
Last but not least, Spike Jonze‘s long delayed, yet much anticipated movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak‘s beloved children’s book Where The Wild Things Are will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, with the official soundtrack dropping on September 29. The soundtrack features original songs by Karen O and The Kids (“The Kids” includes Tristan Bechet, Tom Biller, Bradford Cox, Brian Chase, Dean Fertita, Aaron Hemphill, Greg Kurstin, Jack Lawrence, Oscar Michel, Imaad Wasif, Nick Zinner and an untrained children’s choir) and to celebrate the new release in style, Karen O and her other band, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be performing an intimate show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 29, 2009.
Tons more fall and winter family events from The New York Times, 92Y Tribeca, New Victory Theatre, The Bell House, Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts, The Jewish Museum, Symphony Space, Kidrockers and other fine NY institutions after the jump.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe Family Events
09/25/09 at 4 pm Dan Zanes DVD Screening with Live Dan Appearance
Riverside Park (72nd St & Riverside Drive)
09/26/09 RBC Race For The Kids (4K Run/Walk) w/ Nick Cannon, DJ Lance Rock, the Cast of Degrassi Junior High, Sponge Bob, Dora The Explorer and Tiki Barber
Columbia University (Broadway & 116th Street)
10/04/09 10 am – 5 pm The NY Times Great Childrens’ Read featuring Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players, Peter Yarrow, Playhouse Disney’s “Choo-Choo Soul”, John Carter Cash, Hip Hop Harry, and DJ Lance and Brobee of Yo Gabba Gabba, Bernadette Peters and more
Symphony Space 2009-2010 Season
10/03/09 at 11 am Elizabeth Mitchell
10/04/09 at 1 pm Judy Blume’s The Pain and the Great One series
10/10/09 at 2 pm Bubble Do Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
10/17/09 at 11 am Randy Kaplan
10/18/09 at 1 pm Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
10/24/09 at 11 am Ezra Jack Keats in Story and Song
10/25/09 at 1 pm Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Peter and the Sword of Mercy
11/07/09 at 11 am and 2 pm Cats Paying Dues
11/08/09 at 1 pm Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan
11/14/09 at 2 pm National Dance Institute’s Celebration Team
11/21/09 at 11 am Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could
12/11/09 at 8 pm The Christmas Revels
12/12/09 at 2 pm and 8 pm The Christmas Revels
12/13/09 at 3 pm The Christmas Revels
12/26/09 at 11 am and 2 pm The Muppets Christmas Carol
01/02/10 at 11 am and 2 pm The Muppets Take Manhattan
01/09/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny
01/16/10 at 11 am The Jimmies
01/24/10 at 1 pm Jon Scieszka’s Robot Zot
01/31/10 at 1 pm Walter Dean Myers’ Riot
02/06/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
02/13/10 at 11 am Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
02/20/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Ralph’s World
02/27/10 at 11 am Astrograss
02/28/10 at 1 pm Kristin Cashore’s Fire (the companion to Graceling)
03/07/10 at 1 pm Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series
03/27/10 at 11 am The Sippy Cups
04/10/10 at 11 am and 2 pm Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
04/11/10 at 1 pm David Levithan and John Green’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson
04/17/10 at 11 am The Gustafer Yellowgold Show
New Victory Theater 2009-2010 Season
09/18/09 – 09/27/09 Cinderella (Ages 4 – Adult)
10/02/09 – 10/18/09 My House (18mo – 3yrs)
10/02/09 – 10/11/09 The Man Who Planted Trees (Ages 7 – Adult)
10/15/09 – 11/01/09 Hansel and Gretel (Ages 8 – Adult)
11/13/09 – 11/29/09 Peter and the Wolf (All Ages)
12/04/09 – 01/03/10 Chestnuts Roasting On The Flaming Idiots (All Ages)
01/08/10 – 01/17/10 Once and For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are So Shut Up and Listen (13 – Adult)
02/05/10 – 02/21/10 The Enchanted Pig (Ages 7 – Adult)
03/05/10 – 03/14/10 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
03/19/10 – 04/04/10 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes
04/09/10 – 04/18/10 Time Step (Ages 6 – Adult)
04/23/10 – 05/02/10 Elephant (Ages 7 – Adult)
05/07/10 – 05/23/10 Pagagnini (Ages 6 – Adult)
05/14/10 – 05/23/10 The Butterfly Garden (Ages 3 – 8)
92YTribeca B.Y.O.K. Events
09/30/09 4 pm Dan Zanes: The Fine Friends Are Here!
10/11/09 11 am Astrograss Country Bluegrass Brunch
10/18/09 11 am The Dream Jam Band
10/25/09 11 am Robbi K & Friends present Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin Rock! A Storytelling-Dance Party
11/01/09 11 am The Suzi Shelton Band
11/08/09 11 am Shana Barry And The Fofers
11/15/09 11 am Billy Kelly & The Blahblahblahs
11/22/09 11 am Elizabeth Mitchell
12/06/09 11 am Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem
12/13/09 11 am Princess Katie & Racer Steve
01/10/10 11 am Asylum Street Spankers
Little Orchestra Lolli-Pops Fall Series at Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College
10/03/09 10:30am & 12 pm Peter and the Wolf
10/04/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Peter and the Wolf
10/24/09 10:30am & 12 pm Animal Tales
10/25/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Animal Tales
12/05/09 10:30am & 12 pm Things That Go Bang!
12/06/09 1 pm & 2:30 pm Things That Go Bang!
Little Orchestra Lolli-Pops Spring Series at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
02/06/10 10:30 am & 12 pm The Orchestra A Happy Family
02/07/10 1 pm & 2:30pm The Orchestra A Happy Family
03/06/10 10:30 am & 12 pm A Musical Toy Store
03/07/10 1 pm & 2:30pm A Musical Toy Store
05/15/10 10:30am & 12 pm Music Tells a Story feat. Guest Artist Peter Reynolds
05/16/10 1 pm & 2:30pm Music Tells a Story feat. Guest Artist Peter Reynolds
Little Orchestra Happy Concerts at Avery Fisher Hall
12/19/09 11 am and 1 pm Babes in Toyland
01/30/10 11 am and 1 pm Magic, Music and Mystery feat. Guest Artist Lyn Dillies
04/17/10 11 am and 1 pm Aerialists, Athletes and Arpeggios feat. Guest Artists AntiGravity
Jewish Museum Fall Family Concerts
10/18/09 Funkey Monkeys 11:30 am and 2 pm (Ages 2 – 6)
11/15/09 Gustafer Yellowgold 2 pm (Ages 3+)
12/13/09 Chanukah Concert: Shirlala 2 pm (Ages 3 – 8)
12/25/09 Family Celebration 11:30 am – 3 pm (Ages 3+)
Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts
10/11/09 2 pm Harold and The Purple Crayon (Ages 4+)
12/13/09 4 pm The Colonial Nutcracker (Ages 4+)
03/14/10 2 pm Sleeping Beauty (Ages 6+)
04/11/10 2 pm Dirty Sock Funtime Band (Ages 4+)
04/25/10 2 pm Tap Kids (Ages 6+)
The Bell House Family Events
10/24/09 11 am Ralph’s World (under age 2 FREE)
Sundays in Jan & Feb 2010 – The Bell House Rocks (Schedule TBA)
Kidrockers at The Living Room
10/25/09 1 pm Neon Indian and Real Estate. Hosted by Seth Herzog and Craig Baldo.
“Yo Gabba Gabba Live: There’s A Party In My City” Tour Dates
11/14/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, CA (Buy Tickets Oct 9)
11/21/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY (Buy Tickets Oct 9)
12/05/09 Yo Gabba Gabba Live, Rosemont Theatre, Chicago, IL (Buy Tickets Oct 9)
Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music Is Awesome! Track Listing:
1. Yo Gabba Gabba! Theme
2. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Party In My Tummy
3. The Shins – It’s Okay, Try Again
4. Yo Gabba Gabba! – I Like To Dance
5. Money Mark – Robo Dancing
6. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Get The Sillies Out
7. Biz MArkie – Biz’s Beat Of The Day #1
8. Chromeo – Nice “˜N’ Clean
9. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Try It, You’ll Like It
10. The Roots – Lovely, Love My Family
11. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Don’t Be Afraid
12. I’m From Barceleona – Just Because It’s Different Doesn’t Mean Scary
13. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Bubbles
14. Of Montreal – Brush Brush Brush
15. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Nice & Easy
16. The Little Ones – Hey, Won’t Somebody Come And Play
17. Weird Science – Go Crazy Remix
18. Yo Dazzlers – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
19. Mark Kozelek – Bedtime Lullaby
20. Yo Gabba Gabba! – Goodbye Song
21. Yo Gabba Gabba! Closing Theme
Dan Zanes 2009 Fall Tour Dates
09/25 new york, ny housing works bookstore cafe
09/27 des moines, ia every family rocks!
09/30 new york, ny 92y tribeca
10/03 asbury park, nj paramount theater
10/04 westbury, ny capital one bank theatre at westbury
10/10 newark, nj nj performing arts center
10/11 roanoke, va shaftman performance hall
10/23 amherst, ma umass fine arts center
10/24 boston, ma halloweentown
10/25 boston, ma halloweentown
Fine Friends Are Here Track Listing:
Let’s Shake *CTT
Fine Friends *CTT
Wabash Cannonball *HP
Water For the Elephants *FD
Jump Up (with David Alan a.k.a. Cyclone) *FD
Cape Cod Girls *SM
El Canario *NY
The Welcome Table (with Caridad de la Luz a.k.a. La Bruja) *CTT
Thrift Shop *FD
Monkey’s Wedding *FFAH
Catch That Train *CTT
Colas *NY
Walking the Dog (with David Alan a.k.a. Cyclone) *CTT
Music Videos:
Wonder Wheel *FD
Pollito Chicken (with Caridad de la Luz a.k.a. La Bruja) *NY
Night Owl *NT