Sunday, July 31, 2011

Play Locally: Kindie, Kids Punk and Family Friendly Music Events

Sunday:


Catch Charlie Hope and Little Miss Ann for an awesome mid-summer concert
Los Angeles-based Independent Music Award winner, Charlie Hope, is doing a Chicago stop at Beat Kitchen. Come see this amazing Kindie Music singer with special guest Little Miss Ann. Take a listen online and come and see the show live.

Buy tickets here. Beat Kitchen is located at 2100 W. Belmont.


To keep up to date with Concerts for Kids, become their Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/kidsshowschicago.




The Boogers are LIVE at Taste of Lincoln Avenue this Sunday! We'll be on the Fullerton Stage (main stage) starting at 11:00am. Come for the Boogers and stay for Tom Chapin



Save the Date:
Fall Fest Kicks Off the 2011-2012 Concert Series, Sunday, September 11, 11am-4pm

Beat Kitchen Concerts For Kids Series is back and ChiIL Mama's happy to be a sponsor.    We'll be giving away family 4 packs and loads of kindie CDs again.   Check out ChiIL Mama, your best source for live kindie concert footage and original band interviews. 

We'll be continuing Free Ticket Tuesdays and Win A Disc Wednesdays.   Enter for your chance to win.

Music, face painting, crafts and more to start off the fall series
Make Beat Kitchen your place for kindie music fun again every Sunday starting with Fall Fest. On the main stage rock out toddler style to Mary Macaroni (11am), Sarah Jayne Parker (12pm), Baby Take a Bow Hip Hop Demo and Class (1pm), the Hamburglars (2pm) and Mindy Hester & the Time Outs! (3pm). Upstairs there will be balloon animals (after Mary Macaroni's show), face painting, crafts and more. Plus the always delicious food from Beat Kitchen's kitchen will be available. Come make a day of it.
Here at ChiIL Mama, we're particular fans of Mindy Hester & the Time Outs and The Hamburgalars!    Mark your calendars.   Beat Kitchen's got a great line up throughout fall, to help with summer music fest withdrawl.    We've highlighted bands in red whom we've interviewed, featured, video taped live shows for, shot stills with and/or run CD give aways with.    We still have tons of great, new footage in the archives that we'll publish in conjunction with upcoming concerts and a prize cupboard bulging with kindie CDs and great give aways for our readers!
We'll continue to be out on the kindie scene this fall and winter, so if you're a band we haven't met yet, drop us an e-mail at zbluesun@gmail.com and maybe we'll feature you next.
Sun Sept 11: Fall Fest featuring Mary Macaroni, Sarah Jayne Parker, Baby Take a Bow, The Hamburglars and Mindy Hester & The Time Outs!
Sun Sept 18: Andy Roo
Sun Sept 25: The Dreamtree Shakers
Sun Oct 2: Human-Tim + Robot-Tim
Sun Oct 9: Kara Kesselring & Sugarcreek Road
Sun Oct 16: Little Miss Ann Band
Sun Oct 23: The Boogers
Sun Oct 30: Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies special halloween show
Sun Nov 6: Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans
Sun Nov 13: Suzi Shelton with special guest Little Miss Ann
Sun Nov 20: Karen 4 Kids!
Sun Dec 4: Laura Doherty
Sun Dec 11: Mary Macaroni
Sun Dec 18: Shana Sings! special Holiday Show

Count down to Kidza-Lucky #7!!




This year marks Lollapalooza's 20th anniversary, and we've been fans since those early days.   We've also covered Kidzapalooza with in depth, photo filled features every year since it began here in Chi-Town, 7 years ago.    2011 is no exception.   We cover the kindie music scene year round, but Kidzapalooza is our hands down favorite...our mega music mecca....and we just can't wait to do it again!


 


This week, ChiIL Mama's running a count down to Kidza including our original interview with Keller Williams, who plays kidza Sunday at 2:30pm.   We also have loads of Keller Williams' live show footage and stills that we'll be posting right before and after his Kidza appearance.   Keller has been our featured artist a number of times and ChiIL Mama's given away tickets to his show,  a bunch of his Keller Williams Kids CDs, and his cool hardback book/CD combo.   We're so excited he's joining the Kidza scene this year!


We've been covering Kidza for months, but this week we'll have additional band info and recommendations, photo and video filled previews, and recaps of the best from last Kidza.   In the meantime, browse through ChiIL Mama's YouTube and Vimeo Channels and input Kidzapalooza in the side search bar, for our best from the last 7 years of Kidza.    


We have live footage of Dan Zanes and a great interview with The Verve Pipe, two of our ultra favorites from Kidza last year along with slideshows that capture the essence and energy that permeate Kidzapalooza.   


The new 2011 lineup looks great and we'll be featuring a host of bands new to the kids stage and old favs--especially those where they don't just play for kids, the musicians ARE kids.    July and August at ChiIL Mama are all about the kids.






We will be covering Kidzapalooza and Lollapalooza again this Friday through Sunday and ChiIL Mama will be interviewing 16 year old prodigy, Ruby Jane, and more surprise musicians before and during Kidzapalooza.

Ruby plays Lollapalooza at noon on Friday at the BMI Stage.

RUBY JANE

From Austin, TX, 16-year-old Ruby Jane is the real deal. Born in Dallas and raised in Mississippi, she is a fiddler, singer/songwriter, and bandleader of The Ruby Jane Show, showcasing a mix of country, jazz, bluegrass, and blues. She exhibited a strong connection to music early, starting violin lessons at age 2, and began playing bluegrass when she was 8. Ruby played with Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent, Jesse McReynolds, and many others, and became the youngest fiddler in history to play the Grand Ole Opry at age 10. The CBS Evening News ran a feature on Ruby when she was 12, and she played with Big & Rich in front of 60,000 people on ABC’s CMA Music Festival Special. 

Ruby Jane moved to Austin in 2007, playing with Texas greats like Johnny Gimble, Dale Watson, Freddy Powers, and Will Sexton. Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel discovered Ruby while looking for a young fiddle player for his play “A Ride With Bob.” Ruby joined the cast, and through Ray met her childhood hero Willie Nelson during the making of Willie and the Wheel. This led to Ruby touring nationally with both Asleep At The Wheel and Willie Nelson. 

Ruby Jane’s primary focus now is her own band, “The Ruby Jane Show.” 2010 was busy for Ruby. She toured France in August, and in September at 2010′s ACL Fest, she sat in with Blues Traveler, and then drew over 2,000 people for her own performance, being named “MVP of ACL Fest” by the Austin Chronicle. Ruby Jane continues to write songs, improve in technique, and mature in style. She can be found making music in and around Austin, whether sitting in with bands and performers from across the musical spectrum, or leading The Ruby Jane Show. She is warming hearts, embracing audiences, and making everyone wonder just where she is bound. 



So check back in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi,IL...early and often.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Play Locally: Dome of Doom & Milwaukee Arts Festival


ChiIL Mama and Sagezilla paint for a good cause at the 2nd annual Art In The Park.   We have a total of 3 paintings for sale at Milwaukee Ave. Street Fest.   Proceeds benefit Unity Park.


Friday
Dome of Doom comes to Wicker Park tonight from 5-7pm.    Check it out!  Some of our favorite performance artists come together to make this awesome event happen.   Collaboraction, local author James Kennedy, and the circus, punk marching band, Environmental Encroachment make this must see family fun!



Wait, what is the Dome of Doom?  According to James Kennedy's site, it’s a real-life recreation of the scene in The Order of Odd-Fish in which knights don costume armor and fight in a gladiatorial arena!

We will supply the geodesic Dome and the costumes (although you’re invited to come in your own costume!). Competitors―that is, anyone who walks by and wants to join in―put on a costume and dance-battle each other to the delight of judges and a raucous crowd of spectators.

You’ve got 60 seconds to show off your best moves and take your opponent down, all to the marching-band music of Environmental Encroachment. All ages! (Don’t have a costume? We’ll have plenty on hand for you to use.)

TWO DANCERS ENTER. ONE DANCER LEAVES!



Friday-Sunday
Our big feature this weekend is The Milwaukee Ave. Arts Fest.   We've been promoting this excellent event for weeks.   It's going to be a music, art, dance, and food filled extravaganza.   Click HERE for ChiIL Mama's music recommendations.   We also recommend catching Sagezilla's teacher's band, Matadora (3pm Sat on the Coles stage at Milwaukee & Belden at the fest's south end).   We've checked out their EP and they're a lot of fun!    A number of our friends are also dancing at the fest.



Chicago Ballet
2778 N. Milwaukee, Gap Outlet windows
Sat & Sun: 1:30 PM + 3:30 PM
Special work choreographed by Adriana Durant and performed by the dancers in the Chicago Ballet After School Matters Summer program.
3433 W. Diversey, The Chicago Ballet Center; Sat + Sun: 2-3 PM
@ Main Stage; Sat + Sun: 12 PM
Dancers from the Chicago Ballet Center perform classical ballet, contemporary and theatrical works choreographed by Paul Abrahamson, Adriana Durant, Alison Rootburg and Laura Vinci.



Sagezilla and I made paintings at Art In The Park (see slide show above), that will be for sale at the fest, along with paintings from a number of professional Logan Square Artists, and adults and kids from the community.   Proceeds from all sales benefit Unity Park.   


Have a great weekend, and we'll see you out there.



Wednesday, July 27, 2011

ChiIL Mama's Video Interview With Sébastien Savard, Cirque du Soleil Ovo's Violin Playing Cockroach Dad

Behind the Scenes at Cirque du Soleil's Ovo




ChiIL Mama got a rare, sneak peek backstage at Cirque du Soleil's Ovo.   We were surrounded by acrobats warming up, working out and relaxing, but we chose to shoot mostly props, to be respectful of their private space.    I love the play of patterns and the splash of colors.    There's such a story in the order and disorder of things backstage.   I love the potential of props waiting to appear on stage and fulfill their destiny.   


So, enjoy this secret glimpse into the world backstage at Ovo.   We loved seeing grasshopper shoes and foot jugglers' cobs.....the Ovo egg itself, and its stand in, just in case something happens to the show's namesake.    If you haven't checked out this magical and amazing production yet, head on down to the big blue and yellow tent in the parking lot at United Center while you still can.   


Cirque du Soleil's Ovo is just playing in Chicago through August 21st.   Join Cirque Club for free and save 50% on tickets to select Ovo performances.

ABC Wednesday--A & B are for......

We're so close to the start of Round 9, that we'll squeak in with a two-fer.    They are related and relate to one of our favorite places in the whole city of Chicago.


A is for Absolutely and Agent

B is for Boring Store

Both refer to fronts for 826Chi, an amazingly cool, creative writing center for kids from 6-18.   They're part of 826National, a nationwide non-profit organization started by writer, Dave Eggers, that runs free workshops and tutoring.   The Boring Store sells secret agent supplies and proceeds from all sales go right to 826Chi for their writing programs.  We've been going there for years and still laugh at their great awning.



For more alphabetical posts every Wednesday, check in with ABC Wednesdays.  Follow along or jump right in and play, too.    It's a multicultural feast from around the world and a whole lotta fun.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Anvil Plays Reggie's Tonight and Tomorrow



Meet the real live Spinal Tap.   This band, Anvil, stars in an indie documentary so bad it's good. We've talked to many friends and had lively debates about whether it was a mocumentary or reality.   Yet, here they are in the flesh.   Come decide for yourselves.


mPshows.com Presents Anvil 
Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011 7:00 PM CDT
- Wednesday, Jul 27, 2011 1:00 AM CDT

Reggie's Rock Club, Chicago, IL
17 years and over


If you can't make it to the show, check out the movie of the same name.    My husband declared it "weak" but I enjoyed it.    There's something endearing about the rock star wannabes, slogging away at dead end day jobs and still trying to be a big time metal band long after most men their ages have let their dreams get beaten down.   I thought it was poignant and passionate, and pretty amusing, too.   Mostly, I found myself routing for the underdog and hoping that their rockumentary fame brings out a few more fans to their live rock shows.



Free Ticket Tuesdays: Schubas and Beat Kitchen Winners Announced



Big congrats to ChiIL Mama's Free Ticket Tuesday family 4 pack ticket winners.   


Schubas--Rock the House Tour-School of Rock All-Stars--7/30 at 2pm:    Kristine S.

Beat Kitchen--Charlie Hope/Little Miss Ann--7/31 at noon:   
Lisa W.




  • SATURDAY 07/30/2011 2:00 PM  |   ALL AGES   |   $20.00   
The AllStar Program is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student and is comprised of the top 2.5% of our students nationwide. The AllStars tour each summer with the best kids from each local school from all around the USA. 

Past students have toured worldwide and have shared stages with such notable acts as Jon Anderson (YES), Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction), Slash (Guns and Roses) and countless others. The AllStars are simply the best of the best kids from over 7000 School of Rock students nationwide. This year , students from across the country will be celebrating 50 years of Rock and Roll with the "Rock the House Tour"

All proceeds from this tour go to Local Ronald Mcdonald houses and Local Ronald McDonald House Charities.

With more than a decade of successful experience teaching music, School of Rock is the national leader in music education for kids from age 7 to 18. Students learn from professional musicians in an interactive environment combining weekly private lessons and structured group rehearsals with the ultimate goal of performing live in front of real crowds.

Click HERE for ticket info and more.

Check out these amazingly talented under agers, rocking out for a great cause!



Sunday, July 31st EARLY SHOW
Sunday 7/31/11
Doors: 12:00 pm | Show: 12:00 pm
Tickets: $5.00 | All Ages


Monday, July 25, 2011

ChiIL Mama's Video Interview With Cirque du Soleil Ovo's Artistic Director, Marjon van Grunsven


ChiIL Mama caught up with Marjon van Grunsven, Cirque du Soleil Ovo's Artistic Director on 7-20.    Here is our original video interview.




Another Danse Skitz from BONEdanse




Here's #6 in the awesome Danse Skitz series from BONEdanse.    This one's shot close to home at Logan Skate Park.    ChiIL Mama will have a big, photo filled feature from Logan Skate Park posted in the very near future.   We shot the big Maloof Board/Vans Competition there, earlier this summer, and had a blast.    

BONEdanseurs: Janna Barta, Anita Fillmore, Atalee Judy, & Mindy Meyers
Music: excerpts from "How to Quit Your Habit" Spoken Word LP by Earl Nightingale & "Anthrax" by Gang of Four
Sound/Video Editing & Costumes/Puppet: Atalee Judy
Choreography: Atalee Judy (with movement contribution from danseurs)
Videography: Carl Wiedemann
Location: Logan Square Skate Park , Chicago.


Here's a message from Atalee Judy, Artistic Director of BONEdanse--

Your donation to BONEdanse can now be matched dollar for dollar IF we reach our goal of $2500 by August 31st. Thank you to all of you who have already donated, we have put you on our donors list & program information.

We have raised $700. We still have a ways to go...please consider donating what you can. Even $10 is important. And now, doubly so.

Are you enjoying watching our weekly Danse Skitz's? We'd love to hear from you! We're doing these odd little videos for numerous reasons; to keep things interesting, to challenge ourselves, to share a bit of art with you, and to help develop a new evening length work. This current snippet is an excerpt culled from our newest performance piece and will be performed in it's entirety for The Other Dance Festival Sept 15/16. 

Hope you Enjoy! 
~Atalee Judy
 Artistic Director of BONEdanse | Breakbone DanceCo.

Tonight at Facets-One Night Only-The Edge of Joy




The Edge of Joy is a documentary that follows an ensemble cast of Nigerian doctors, midwives and families to the frontlines of maternal care. Inside a maternity ward, the film chronicles distressed labors, deaths, and miraculous survival. Outside, lack of blood supply transportation and family planning are examined as causes of the cycle that kills more than 36,000 Nigerian women each year. The central characters in The Edge of Joy are the people deep within the Nigerian culture who know its misconceptions, its limitations, but also its capabilities.

Narrated by award winning journalist, Eliza Griswold, and featuring animation by Yoni Goodman, this portrait of pregnancy and childbirth shows the consequences of poor maternal health as it explores the nuances and complexities of bringing emerging health technologies to the developing world.

Directed by Dawn Sinclair Shapiro, U.S.A./Nigeria, 2010, 61 mins. 

Ms. Shapiro is being awarded the 2011 Nafis Sadik Award for Courage for her film by the Rotarian Action Group for Population & Sustainable Development, part of Rotary International. The award will be presented to Ms. Shapiro at Facets immediately prior to this one-night-only screening of the film.

A discussion wiith Ms. Shapiro and reception will immediately follow the screening.



Seen on the Scene

Dropkick Murphys/Naked Raygun at Congress Theater (wins the prize for most kids we've seen at an "adult" all ages show this year) 2/26/2011    Check out Naked Raygun again this year at Riot Fest in October.

Families in Chicago rock!   Here at ChiIL Mama we're featuring a regular Seen on the Scene gallery of kids we've seen out at shows with their families.   This summer and into fall, we'll do you one better.

We have a bunch of CDs, DVDs, tickets and rock swag to give away to featured photos winners.  And we'll show off everyone's rockin' punk kin in a t-shirt, bandana or rock merch from any of the bands playing the following big Chi-Town music fests (you can even DIY it up if you don't have one, or hit up Psychobaby or Record Breakers Store at Reggies Rock Club for sweet onsies and black toddler concert t's):

Lollapalooza/Kidzapalooza

North Coast Music Festival

Riot Fest

Send submissions to zbluesun@gmail.com with Photo Contest in the subject line and the fest your kid is wearing band gear from and we'll get those cute mugs up on our site.    All we need is your favorite music to rock out to and the age(s) of your kid(s), so we can match you to prizes you'll love, if you're one of our winning photos, and you're good to go.   Kids' first names or nicknames are optional if you'd like us to include them with the photos.
 

Last Day To Enter Till Midnight-Free 4 Packs of Tickets to School of Rock All Stars at Schubas and Little Miss Ann/Charlie Hope


ChiIL Mama's giving away 4 free tickets to both of these great shows, coming up this weekend at Schubas and Beat Kitchen!

Enter below through midnight tonight 7/25 for your chance to win.
  • SATURDAY 07/30/2011 2:00 PM  |   ALL AGES   |   $20.00   
The AllStar Program is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student and is comprised of the top 2.5% of our students nationwide. The AllStars tour each summer with the best kids from each local school from all around the USA. 

Past students have toured worldwide and have shared stages with such notable acts as Jon Anderson (YES), Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction), Slash (Guns and Roses) and countless others. The AllStars are simply the best of the best kids from over 7000 School of Rock students nationwide. This year , students from across the country will be celebrating 50 years of Rock and Roll with the "Rock the House Tour"

All proceeds from this tour go to Local Ronald Mcdonald houses and Local Ronald McDonald House Charities.

With more than a decade of successful experience teaching music, School of Rock is the national leader in music education for kids from age 7 to 18. Students learn from professional musicians in an interactive environment combining weekly private lessons and structured group rehearsals with the ultimate goal of performing live in front of real crowds.

Check out these amazingly talented under agers, rocking out for a great cause!



Sunday, July 31st EARLY SHOW
Doors: 12:00 pm | Show: 12:00 pm
Tickets: $5.00 | All Ages


Sunday, July 24, 2011

Mellow Yellow Monday--ChiILin' With Cirque du Soleil's Ovo




We had the great pleasure of checking out Ovo earlier this month and snapped these yellow smartphone photos on our way into the tent.    Some of our favorite talented teens from Chicago's own CircEsteem were performing outside the Ovo tent on 7/14 and they were the main entertainment for the VIP tent there just this past Thursday.    We have some great, original interviews coming early this week with both Ovo's Artistic Director and their Violin Player/Cockroach/Father.   


MellowYellowMondayBadge



i ♥ Faces--Water






Water--fun to play in, crucial to drink and this week's i ♥ Faces contest theme.   Here's Sagezilla with her ubiquitous red water bottle sling, playing in the water post zoo camp, on a hot Cincinnati day last month.   We have traveled 2 states away for the last 3 years to enroll the kids in this world class zoo camp (and visit the grandparents).    


With 110 degree heat index for most of last week, we've been loving and appreciating water more than ever.   Although Chicago set an all time rainfall record in the last 2 days with more than 8" of rain!   That saved me from having to water....


http://www.iheartfaces.com/

Final Day To See Sandman The Rappin' Cowboy LIVE at Facets



It's the final day to meet The Sandman http://www.facets.org/pages/cinematheque/films/july2011/rolloutcowboy.php


Check out ChiIL Mama's prior coverage of Roll Out Cowboy HERE.



ROLL OUT, COWBOY
WINNER
Best Documentary
Seattle True
Independent
Film Fest

WINNER
Best Indie Doc
Edmonton Intl
Film Fest

"A charming, intimate portrait of one of America's most unusual entertainers... sometimes awkward, sometimes joyful, and always entertaining"
  -Onion AV Club

"Affectionate"
  -TimeOut Chicago

"Director-cinematographer Elizabeth Lawrence treats her likable, talented subject with the bemused affection he deserves"
  -Chicago Reader

Recommended!
  -NewCity Chicago


His tour bus is broken, he bought his house for a thousand bucks, and his hometown's population is 120 and shrinking. Chris "Sandman" Sand is the face of the nostalgic American West, except for one thing: He looks like a Woody Guthrie protégé but raps like LL Cool J. Roll Out, Cowboy follows this country/hip-hop musician as he tours the country during the during the last U.S. presidential election. When hip hop music hit the airwaves of the North Dakota badlands, where Sand grew up, he learned to rap and rhyme to the pulse of baling machines and irrigation pumps. From indie rock groupies in city clubs to flirty grannies grinding against him in rural community dance halls, no one can resist Sandman's winsome charms or the genre-blending and endearing style that's uniquely his own. Chris Sand's story is about one man's daily effort to make his voice heard.


Roll Out, Cowboy is a one of a kind documentary, that not only showcases the musical fusion of country/hip hop/folk/rap/ styles, but also presents a part of America that remains immune to marketing campaigns, record labels, and consumerist politicking, as if it were the truth. Director Elizabeth Lawrence in her outstanding debut film, allows us to follow Sandman the Rappin' Cowboy as he travels from red state to blue and back again, blending discordant music genres into a style uniquely his own. This is not the romanticized, Roy Rogers version of the American frontier. This is Sandman. The cowboy who raps. 

Directed by Elizabeth Lawrence, 2010, U.S.A., 75 mins.


Filmmaker Elizabeth Lawrence will be here in person for a Q&A for all of the screenings from Friday, July 22 - Sunday, July 31st!

In addition, the Rappin' Cowboy Chris "Sandman" Sand will be here (as well as perform!) for all of the screenings from Friday, July 22-Sunday, July 24th, accompanied by producer, Warner Boutin

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Mom's Night Out Tonight At Kenmore Studio With 150 Friends!



I can't wait for mom's night out tonight with 150 Chicago area moms.  Thank YOU ChiTown Moms and Little Tech Girl!    We'll get massages, manicures, wine, great food, and goody bags.    This event is at capacity with 35 on the wait list, but you can follow along on the food demo here:



The cooking show portion of the event (7 - 8)  will be STREAMED LIVE on Facebook!!   Check it out on the Kenmore Facebook Page.   And yes, we'll get to eat the goodies! Plus we'll know how to make them when we get home.  There will be lots of wine!


  • We will have 5-10 handsome "Man servants". If you missed last year, you missed the auction (and action). LOL! This year they will just be there to wait on us hand and foot!
  •  a few spots available for moms to get natural manicures and/or massages 

PRIZES: There will be many, many prizes to give away. Winners are picked right from our registration list. Here are just a few:
  • Gift cards for food, sweets, and even "toys" (notice the quotes!)
  • A family membership to a Chicago museum
  • Laptop bag stuffed with office supplies
  • A bag full of random goodies and gadgets
  • Beauty products
  • A Fitness Session
  • ....and even a 1 week car loan from GM in a shiny new vehicle!!

We'll have a photo filled recap after the event.

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