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Showing posts with label Tor Hyams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tor Hyams. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2013
KINDIE LAND: Labor Day 3 CD Giveaway -- Justin Roberts' Recess & Shine and the Moonbeams #giveaway
New Fests, ChiIL Mama's Giveaways, Kids Music Releases and More From Our Friends at Sugar Mountain
Friday, October 19, 2012
Halloween Giveaways--Disney Treat Bags, Halloween Kindie CD & Ghost Hunters Kids' Book #giveaway #review
Here's a rockin' video for your Punk Kin! Punkin' Patch by Andy Z
Here at ChiIL Mama, Halloween is one of our all time fav holidays. And to celebrate we've got treats for YOU....No tricks.
Enter here through midnight 10/23 for your chance to win. We'll announce our big winner on our next Winning Wednesday. One of our lucky readers will get:
*Ghost Hunters book-The Haunted House by Jason Mark ($8.99)
*2 Disney Trick or Treat Bags--Woody and Cinderella ($10.50 each)
Total Value: $43.00
*Thanks to Disney, Jason Mark and Andy Z for providing prizes for our give aways and/or review copies. All product opinions are our own.
Enter right here for your chance to win it all. Then check below for ChiIL Mama's reviews and details on these rockin' Halloween treats.
A New Release by Multiple-Award Winning Kindie Artist Andy Z
We gave you the scoop back when this sweet CD came out, but now you can win one of your own. Our friend and Kidzapalooza host, Tor Hyams, produced it, and more kindie rockin' artist friends of ours like Paula Messner from Candy Band were on guest vocals. Super sweet!
Click the links here for our original interviews, live footage and still shots of Tor and Paula in action:
*ChiIL Mama's interview with Tor Hyams
*Tor introduces The Verve Pipe-ChiIL Mama's live concert footage-VIR Breakfast at The James Hotel/Kidzapalooza 2012
There is a plethora of high quality kindie music coming out now, but it still skews young, with the swing set set getting the bulk of the attention. Many top kindie artists are still aiming low, at the birth to 8 year olds, tops. We're super stoked to see Andy z aging it up a bit and catering to the underserved tweens with a target audience of 8-12 year olds. I happen to have 9 & 11 year olds at home and they both dug this tasty 23 track treat as much as I did. Is there a Hallowtween party in your near future? This would make an excellent sound track!
Rockin' tunes alternate with goofy and spooky stories complete with sound effects like old time radio shows. We share our lives and home with two big dogs, so we particularly dug the tune, When You're a Dog, with it's jazzed up rock riffs and bad dog jokes, and the fact that Andy's dog, Reggie the sidekick, plays a major role throughout. We also got a kick out of the Jazz scat lesson in Pleadia.
Here's the official low down:
Andy has teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Tor Hyams to record his fifth studio album, a Halloween-themed audio play titled “The Grand Scream Of Things” newly released September 25th, 2012.
This ambitious project is driven by Andy’s quest to bring a new vista to the landscape of music for the 8 to 12 year old set. and features guest vocals by contemporaries Paula Messner (Candy Band) and RhymeZwell.
The top-notch instrumentalists heard on The Grand Scream Of Things include Greg Ellis (drums and percussion) and Geoff Pearlman (guitar, bass).
Also contributing to the project are San Francisco based Michael Olmos (trumpet), Bobby Strickland (saxophones), and Michael Rinta (trombone), who, collectively, have played with everyone from Santana, The Grateful Dead, Sly & The Family Stone and Todd Rundgren to Etta James, Herbie Hancock and Taj Mahal.
The top-notch instrumentalists heard on The Grand Scream Of Things include Greg Ellis (drums and percussion) and Geoff Pearlman (guitar, bass).
Also contributing to the project are San Francisco based Michael Olmos (trumpet), Bobby Strickland (saxophones), and Michael Rinta (trombone), who, collectively, have played with everyone from Santana, The Grateful Dead, Sly & The Family Stone and Todd Rundgren to Etta James, Herbie Hancock and Taj Mahal.
Want your own copy or more info? Check out Andy's main site here.
We recently got to check out a copy of Ghost Hunters Book One, The Haunted House. The publisher sent us one to review and one for our readers. As a father of 4, author Jason Mark knows what fascinates and what scares young kids without being too over the top. Ghost Hunters is well written and not too scary for elementary kids ready for short chapter books.
We love that the spiders are the good guys and spiders in the bedroom in particular are a great sign and protect humans from ghosts. This story's fresh and unique in that ghosts can morph into woodland fairies, and kids can be brave and save the day. It's a good read any time of year but particularly fun right before Halloween. Check it out. This popular on line book can be uploaded for a quick and entertaining read on the run, or read aloud as a family to younger kids. It's just recently available as a small paper back, just the right size for young hands.
Ghost Hunters: New Children’s Storybook Offers Practical Tips for Young Ghost-Busters Everywhere.
Putting a ghoulish new spin on popular beliefs surrounding the existence of ghosts, Jason Mark’s latest children’s book boasts a compelling story; with plenty of tips for busting any ghosts that may be hiding in the reader’s house.
What you get if you mix two brave children, a pet spider, the eccentric Uncle Goo and a Ghost? A ghoulishly good children’s storybook from writer Jason Mark!
Ghost Hunters: The Haunted House, is a fun and light-hearted children’s book that is poised to take this year’s Halloween spirit by storm. Fusing an engaging story with tips that children can use to rid their house of any hiding haunts, thousands of readers have immersed themselves into the book and into an adventure that they’ll never forget.
Following a mysterious visit by two men posing as Government Agents, Sam and Dylan are convinced a ghost is sharing their house. When their Mom also begins to share their fears, Uncle Goo (the family ghost expert) is called in to help.
Confirming their suspicions, Uncle Goo makes it clear that ghosts are not the spirits of the dead, but in fact entities that will eventually become bad people. However, after explaining that spiders spin their webs to protect people from ghosts, it becomes apparent that Sam’s pet arachnid is the family’s only hope of staying safe.
As the ghost wreaks havoc upon their home, two mysterious ghost hunters are enlisted to help out. Just as hope arrives, the ghost locks the adults in the attic – leaving Sam and Dylan to free their parents, help the ghost and ultimately save the day.
“I wrote the book to dispel the fear that a lot of children attach to ghosts,” says Mark, who owns a successful web design and development firm.
He continues, “It puts the power into readers’ hands, chock-full of tips and strategies that kids can use to rid their house of any ghosts who may be lurking where they least expect it.”
With over twenty thousand downloads since its publication, Ghost Hunters has proven to be immensely popular among children and their parents. In fact, the book has garnered consistent five-star reviews.
“Excellent book for young readers! A must have for a child learning to read! A very engaging, fun, and interesting story to read to your kids, or for them read on their own!” says Erik Stone, who reviewed the book on Amazon.com.
Another reader, Kay, was equally as impressed.
“It is a fun ghost-themed story with a little bit of danger, but not too much! As an adult, I found it was well written and enjoyed reading it. The pictures are great too! I highly recommend it.”
The book also sheds light on the adoption community and issues of mixed race families.
“One of the children is African American and adopted, with the other a Caucasian child that was born naturally into the family. It provides positive role models for children in mixed-race and other non-traditional families,” Mark adds.
In short, children and their parents are in for a dose of horror, a dose of triumph and a huge dose of fun.
Ghost Hunters: The Haunted House, published by Jason Mark, is available in electronic format from Amazon and iBookstore, as well in print from Lulu.
For more information, please visit: http://gravityswitch.com/books
About Jason Mark:
Jason has written and collaborated on a handful of children's books (both for himself and clients). He has also created ePub books, some of which are currently available in Apple's iBookstore.
Always passionate about teaching, Jason was one of the first dozen professors of web design in the country and has taught at Marlboro College and the University of Massachusetts. He writes for the popular Smashing Magazine and Six Revisions blogs, and speaks across New England on web and mobile design and usability.
Twice a day you can see Jason on the bike path between his Northampton office and his Florence home—even in winter.
Click here to watch the video, check out Disney's Halloween line and place your order.
This sweet treat bag is in demand this year. They're sold out all over the place and the last remaining 5 are hiked up to $34.51 on Amazon. ChiIL Out! ChiIL Mama has one for one of our lucky readers for FREE.
Boy Oh Boy--Woody's Fun
The Toy Story series is one of our favs. The movies were fantastic and a fun trip down vintage toy lane for parents. Get your lil' cowboy, Jessie or Buzz Lightyear this colorful bag to compliment any Toy Story themed costume this halloween or win one right here.
It features the faces of all THREE bear cubs on 3 sides of the bag!
We also dig Disney's line of hoodies and of course just about anything Nightmare Before Christmas. Disney has a dark side, too.
Where's Perry? Right there trick or treating your street! We can't get enough of Phineas and Ferb. The show is creative, well written and hilarious. These Disney hoodies are simple and effective costumes that will still be favs long after Halloween. I'm thinkin' about getting one myself if they have an xl! Now to master that platypus purr.
DISNEY STORE CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN WITH SPOOK-TACULAR COSTUMES FOR ALL AGES FROM CINDERELLA, BRAVE, THE AVENGERS, DISNEY FAIRIES AND MORE
This year, Disney Store is putting the ‘treat’ in ‘trick or treat’ this Halloween with a collection of best-selling costumes for every age. The new costume collections are inspired by Disney and Marvel’s most popular 2012 film releases including the Cinderella Diamond Edition on Blu-ray™, Marvel’s The Avengers, Disney∙Pixar’s Brave and the highly anticipated October 23rd release of Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings on Blu-ray ™. All costumes are designed and sold exclusively at Disney Store locations nationwide and at DisneyStore.com, where guests will find a comprehensive assortment of Disney and Marvel costumes with all the storytelling details they love. Parents will appreciate the high-quality costumes, and kids will want to wear them at Halloween and for roleplay fun all year long.
Disney Princess and pirates costumes continue to top the National Retail Federation’s list of favorites each Halloween. “This October, Marvel Super Heroes The Avengers are trending as favorites for boys and we anticipate our new Cinderella-inspired costume collection to be a top seller, as a new generation is introduced to the classic princess through the Blu-ray™Diamond Edition release of the film,” said Molly Adams, executive vice president, product development of Disney Store. “Parents can trust that a Disney Store costume will be made of high-quality materials lasting well beyond Halloween.”
Girls can turn to Disney Store this Halloween to transform into their favorite Disney Princess, Disney heroine, or Disney Fairies character.
· Cinderella sweeps girls off their feet this Halloween with three special costume collections: original Cinderella, Deluxe Wedding Cinderella and Limited Edition Cinderella (at select Disney Store locations and DisneyStore.com). All Disney Princess costumes feature story-telling trim on their skirts, with shimmering glitter accents and intricate details.
· The Hero and Games Merida gown collections from Brave make their debut this year, while two versions of Rapunzel costumes from Tangled are also in the assortment, including Rapunzel’s classic purple dress and her elegant wedding gown.
· Tinker Bell Costume Collection includes special light-up wings and wand, so little fairies can glow in the dark during trick-or-treating.
· Also available are popular favorites including Jessie from Toy Story, classic Minnie Mouse or Alice from Alice in Wonderland costumes.
Boys can save the world dressed as a Marvel Super Hero, in one of four of The Avengers costumes at Disney Store: Captain America, Thor, The Hulk and Iron Man.
With the opening of the new Disney Baby Store and online boutique, more infant and baby styles mean more choices for parents. For cute comfort, a Minnie Mouse or Mickey Mouse Cuddly Bodysuit is an easy choice, while Disney Princess fashions from Cinderella and Snow White to Rapunzel will transform your little princess into an adorable miniature version of the beloved beauties.
Guests can find miniature costumes of Disney Channel’s Jake and the Never Land Pirates characters, Jake and Izzy. The Izzy Costume features all the pirate essentials for your little explorer, including top, pants, boot covers, head scarf with wig and pixie dust pouch with toy gold doubloons, while Jake will have young buccaneers wearing a top, pants, wig and bandana.
For moms wanting to get in the Halloween spirit, the Disney Villains Designer Collection offers wicked fun. Tee shirts, lip gloss, nail polish, and jewelry in favorite evil styles such asSleeping Beauty’s Maleficent and Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations, allow moms to have a villainous good time while looking amazing.
DisneyStore.com has fun costumes for adults that easily allow parents to coordinate with their kids. New for 2012, Marvel’s The Avengers Black Widow costume for women and the Spider-Man costume for men are already top sellers.
To shop the Halloween collection, guests can visit their local Disney Store location or log on to DisneyStore.com and visit the Halloween Shop. To find a Disney Store location, guests can visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, become a fan on www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite shopping destination.
About Disney Store
The Disney Store retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by Disney in North America, Europe, and Japan. Disney Store is the retail merchandising arm of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and its affiliates that extends the Disney brand to merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products, including exclusive product lines that support and promote Disney's key entertainment initiatives and characters. Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale, California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America; more than 40 Disney Store locations in Japan; and more than 100 Disney Store locations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom , plus online stores www.DisneyStore.com,www.disneystore.co.uk, www.disneystore.fr and www.disneystore.de. Each Disney Store location offers a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney, one of the world's largest and most successful entertainment companies. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/press/us/disneystore or follow us at www.facebook.com/DisneyStore and www.twitter.com/DisneyStore.Saturday, August 11, 2012
The Verve Pipe-Wake Up LIVE at The James Hotel VIR Breakfast
The Verve Pipe-Wake Up LIVE at The James Hotel VIR Breakfast Kidzapalooza Pre-Party
Tor Hyams, Co-Producer of Lollapalooza introduces them as MC
ChiIL Mama has been enjoying The Verve Pipe's music for adults and their first CD for kids. Now they have another one in the works and are hoping to release in a few months, later this fall! We'll have exclusive, original video interviews, still shots, and loads more original, live concert clips leading up to their new release. We're even giving away another of their sweet CDs, paired up with 4 other rockin' kindie artists. So check back like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Kindie Land: Laura Doherty-El Train-LIVE at The James Hotel #Kidzapalooza #LIVE video # $75 CD giveaway
Laura Doherty-El Train-LIVE at The James Hotel--Kidzapalooza pre-party VIR (very important rocker) Breakfast Sunday 8/5/12
It was our great pleasure to attend the VIR (very important rocker) Breakfast at The James Hotel for the 3rd year. This 8:30am Sunday, pre-Kidzapalooza bash has become a sweet tradition. VIR Breakfast is a free, intimate showcase with kindie bands from the Kidza lineup, and it always fills fast.
Local Chi-town, kindie musician, Laura Doherty led the lineup at The James and played the Kidza stage two days as well. We'll have loads of her live show footage from Martyrs coming this fall, along with more sweet give aways.
For regular "Kindie Land" news, reviews, and give aways check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.
Between August 10th & September 10th, we'll rock the end of summer and send you singing into the fall and back to school season with 16 free kindie (kids' indie) CDs!!
We've broken them into 4 winners--two will win 5 CDs each and 2 will win 3. You have a month to spread the word and enter often.
Here's our first:
Click the links for our past coverage/CD info. Full reviews on the new ones coming soon.
Enter here for your chance to win all 5 ($75 approx retail value!!) by Great Kindie (kids' indie) Artists!!
**Kidzapalooza Performer, Laura Doherty's CDsKids in the City & Shining Like a Star
*Big Bang Boom-Because I Said So (still unreleased! Coming Sept 18th...be one of the first to hear it & have it.) They rocked the Kidzapalooza Stage in 2011.
*Melissa Green-Sing Loud (new release 7/31)
*Recess Music-Someone Else's Shoes (new release 7/31)
"SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES" - FEATURING GRAMMY WINNERS CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER AND EMMY WINNER JAMIE BROZA - A RECESS MUSIC "BEST FOOT FORWARD" CD
*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up (if you've gone through RSS feed or are scrolling down the blog and don't see it, click on the actual page title and it should pop right up). Entries accepted nationwide. Enter like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often. Winning rocks!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Grammy Nominated Producer, Tor Hyams Launches New Kindicast Blog--ChiIL Mama's Exclusive Interview
Tor and daughter, Sydnie, MC at Kidzapalooza 2010
Tor Hyams is a busy guy. Lollapalooza turns 20 this summer, and he has a brand new project, KindieCast, just over a week old. He's got his fingers in many pies, playing music, producing award winning kindi rock bands, and co-producing Lollapalooza with the infamous Jane's Addiction/ Porno For Pyros front man, Perry Farrell. Oh yeah, and he also has a couple young children of his own, still at home.
We caught up with Tor for an exclusive interview.
Tor: I think it was our best year ever. It seems like we are finally in the zone with our area.ChiIL Mama: We experienced another fun filled year of Kidzapalooza in August. How do you feel things went?
T: The overall vision has not changed. It was always intended to be a place where families could bond with each other through music. I think we are now achieving that goal in spades. However, the physical manifestation has certainly evolved in a huge way. When we started out six years ago, we were pretty bare bones. There were some cool activities, but nothing as forward as "Rock Start Video Karaoke" like we had this year. The stage acts have evolved too. The first year I had to beg, steal and borrow to get acts to play, but now they're coming to us in droves.CM: Has your vision for Kidza changed and evolved over the years?
T: We do have some very special plans, but it's all very top secret right now. However, I will say that the line-up is a must see. We will have some old pals that will play the stage, but the surprises are unprecedented.CM: Next year is the 20th anniversary since the first Lollapalooza, right? Do you have any special anniversary surprises planned that you can talk about yet?
CM: Kidza & Lolla have extended their contracts till at least 2019, right?
T: Yes. Thanks to he Mayor and the glorious people of Chicago, we get to stick around for a while.
CM: We've been at Kidzapalooza since it started. In the past five years it's been fun to watch everyone grow up. Now that your daughter is 10, the upper limit for Kidzapalooza, do you think she'll still want to hang out there in years to come?
T: I do. As you've probably noticed, we have aged up significantly. There is more and more to do for the older kids (10-12) so I think we can keep her interest for a couple of more years before she's more interested in seeing the acts on the main stages. Besides, I kind of insured her presence by making her an assistant stage manager for next year. I think she's most excited about using the walkie talkie.
CM: This year Sydnie really came into her own, helping more with the MC duties, and even introducing Chrissie Hynde. Is she gunning for your job?
T: I'm not sure if she's gunning for my job, but I'm kind of gunning to give it to her someday. I'm not sure what my hosting potential will be when I'm 50 so it's probably good to for her to start taking up the reigns now.
CM: You're involved in a number of projects ranging from producing, to playing keyboards, composing scores, working with the kids' music industry? What's on your plate this year in
T: I'm very excited to produce Recess Monkey. I will be helping them with their next recording in December. Besides that, I am developing a television show for kids and working very hard on a stage musical I wrote (not for kids).
T: I love working with my children. I try to do it as often as my projects allow. For example, I had Sydnie (when she was 3) open the "A World of Happiness" album I wrote and produced. Since then, I have had her appear on several albums I have either written or produced and she always rises to the occasion.CM: We're particularly interested in how parents in the arts include their kids in their careers and how being a parent changes or influences their work. Are your children actively involved with any of your other projects?
I'm not sure she'd want a career like mine (hey, maybe she'll become a doctor!), but it sure is a great feeling to see her face light up when we do work together. In fact, if it weren't for Sydnie, I may never have been involved in children's entertainment at all. It was her birth that inspired "A World of Happiness" to exist in the first place. I wrote the album for her.
Getting all those celebs on it and the deal with Disney was just a blessing that occurred because the album was made for all the right reasons. Kidzapalooza was sired from that album actually. Gary Oldman asked to direct a music video of the Perry Farrell/Deborah Harry song "The Patience Bossa" and that's when I pitched him the idea for Kidzapalooza. Children bring blessing with them to this world. Our job is to know that and accept the gifts with grace and humility.
T: I used to really dislike it. I thought it was the small picture of a big movement. However, ever since I partnered with Bill Childs and Stephanie Mayers and we called our event KindieFest, I've grown accustomed to it. I'm not big into genre labels, but I do think it helps define this new genre and if it gets us all more press and commerce, I'm for it!CM: The word "kindie" is proliferating fast as a tag for kids‚ independent label musicians and a catch all for kids' alt rock. How do you feel about the term itself?
Tor introduces The Verve Pipe
who have made a foray into kindi rock with A Family Album
T: There are so many ways. I no longer buy new cars for one. New metal is a serious problem. I only drive used cars and I suspect I always will. We do, of course, recycle and try to support local businesses and sustainable products. Ultimately, though, my family tries very hard to always have our planet in our consciousness, ie to not just talk about it, but to actively be thinking and doing something to help decrease our overall footprint.CM: Two last questions: How are you personally making the world a greener place?
T: Each year, the festival earns a few million dollars for the Parkways Foundation. That's a major commitment to the green effort in Chicago. Our staff (about 600 total for the Fest) no longer drinks water from plastic bottles as we were all issued metal bottle containers to drink from. Kidzapalooza has contributed through recycled art programs. We're all trying, but it takes more than us. We're just there for a couple of weeks all told. Everyone needs to constantly be doing their part to make a difference.CM: Lollapalooza has gotten bigger every year, but it's also gotten greener every year. Tell me about your involvement with Parkways Foundation and the festival's commitment to reduce plastic bottle waste.
Thanks so much for your time. We're looking forward to many more years of Kidzapalooza.
****
Here at ChiIL Mama, we're all about featuring creative work people undertake with their children. Check out KindiCast's debut with Tor's "special guests" (AKA: children) Sydnie and Lyon.
KindiCast premiers with this description:
Tor and his special guests, Lyon and Sydnie, rock out with us through lots of upbeat, head-bopping fun in this debut episode of the KindieCast podcast.
*Sonicbids Block:
Alexandra and the good batch – DEMAND
Ralph and Ralph – Smiles in the Sky
Sweet Colleens’ – The Monkey Dance
Mr. Mocos – GI Joe Married Barbie
Eddy Delbridge – Watermelon Mouth
Brian Vogan (and his good buddies) – How to Fly
Ralph and Ralph – Smiles in the Sky
Sweet Colleens’ – The Monkey Dance
Mr. Mocos – GI Joe Married Barbie
Eddy Delbridge – Watermelon Mouth
Brian Vogan (and his good buddies) – How to Fly
*Visit: Sonicbids and submit your act – you could be featured on an episode of KindieCast!
*Special thanks to Secret Agent 23 Skidoo for this episode’s theme song, “Gotta Be Me”The whole concept is pretty cool. Subscribe to KindiCast and whenever a podcast is ready, it uploads to your itunes for free. You can also friend them on Facebook or spread the word on 17 other social media sites whose colorful buttons pop at the bottom of the post. Pretty snazzy.
For Lollapalooza and Kidzapalooza updates throughout the year, follow them on twitter and Facebook as well.
For more photo filled events, interviews, and give aways, follow ChiIL Mama through Twitter @ChiILMama and "like" our page on Facebook.
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