Monday, February 7, 2011

Incoming: Lucky Diaz (CMOP, March 27)

Lucky Diaz is coming to the Children's Museum of Phoenix next month, and I'm geeked about this show. His 2010 EP Luckiest Adventure made my list of Top 20 albums and his new album O'Lucky Day will be released in early May. Tickets, as always, are required but free with $11 admission. The video below is from a recording Diaz did in LA last summer...

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - "Blue Bear" [YouTube]

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Incoming: Mwamba Ugandan Children's Choir (Feb. 8, CMOP)

Brief note that the Mwamba Ugandan Children's Choir will be performing at 10:15 on Tuesday, February 8 at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. According to the Museum, "14 children and 5 adults will perform and play traditional African drums for an exciting and inspiring, 30-minute performance for Museum visitors." The performance is free with Museum admission.







Monday, January 24, 2011

From the Archives: Doug Snyder (Feb. 2010)

Doug Snyder, chief (and often only) musician in the Jellydots has come to Phoenix a couple times, most recently in February 2010. Here he is playing "Sunshine" from his Changing Skies disk.

Doug Snyder of the Jellydots - "Sunshine" [YouTube]

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Incoming: Randy Kaplan (April 2011, Children's Museum of Phoenix)

Yes, Randy Kaplan, who's performed for families in Phoenix three times already, is coming back again in 2011. He'll be coming to the Children's Museum of Phoenix in April to play another gig. He'll be supporting his soon-to-be-released album Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie. Always lots of fun, kids from upper preschoolers on up should dig it. Here's some video from his last trip to CMOP. More details soon...

Randy Kaplan - "The Kid Is All Id" (Live from the Children's Museum of Phoenix) [YouTube]

Thursday, January 13, 2011

You'll Have to Wait Until March 27 for Children's Museum of Phoenix Music

The cancelled Conductor Jack show for next week will not be rescheduled. The next (er, first 2011) show at the Children's Museum of Phoenix will be Sunday, March 27. The musician that Sunday morning will be... oh, I'm gonna make you wait. But it's somebody new to CMOP.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Ukuleles at the Musical Instrument Museum

MightyUke.jpgDidn't get around to posting news of this before it happened, but there was a showing of Mighty Uke, a documentary on the resurgence of ukulele over the past ten years or so, at Phoenix's Musical Instrument Museum this past Saturday. You can read a review of the movie and the post-concert jam with Heidi Swedberg here.

Conductor Jack Norton 1/18 Show Cancelled

I'll attempt to get this site up and going again. Unfortunately, the first post of this new era is to report a cancelled show: the Conductor Jack show scheduled for Tuesday, January 18 at the Children's Museum of Phoenix has been cancelled. I'll pass on updates when I've got 'em.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Slightly Self-Indulgent Self-Promotion

I've been on TV before, though I think every single one of those times involved screaming loudly at the camera in response to a particularly exciting play at a collegiate sporting event. A couple weeks ago, however, I appeared on Phoenix-area TVs talking coherently and at a rational volume. The folks at Raising Arizona Kids magazine, who interviewed me for their May issue, also produce a weekly segment for our NBC affiliate and on Memorial Day, I was the featured person. That segment about me Zooglobble is now online, which means that in just 56 seconds you can see Miss Mary Mack talk, me and my kids and my neighbors' kids dancing, and special brief appearances from Recess Monkey, Laurie Berkner, the KC Jiggle Jam, and Caspar Babypants. You can also see me giving me these odd sidelong glances that give me the appearance of thinking something like, "Is that an alien landing on our front lawn? I can't quite tell but I need to finish answering this question first." Go here to see...

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Ears Up: Todd Baio - Children's Musem of Phoenix, July 25

I realize that July in Phoenix is a good time to, well, not be in Phoenix, but for those of you who'll be in town, you should try to make it to see the Valley's own Todd Baio, who'll be playing a set at the Children's Museum of Phoenix on Saturday, July 25 at 10:30. Todd plays a mean ukulele and draws inspiration from folks like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Dan Zanes. Come out and join the fun -- the concert's free with Museum admission.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Music Together Demo Classes: Spring '09

While I'm waiting to confirm a few summer shows, thought I'd give a shout-out to Phoenix's Music Together folks. I'm sure there are other good groups for making music with your kids, but we found Music Together a number of years ago and were always happy with the classes and the take-home CDs.

Anyway, their free demo classes start up this weekend and go for the next month. If you're interested in the classes, they're definitely a must-take, but even if you're not sure, it's a fun 45-minute class. Schedule and details here.