WIN 4 Tickets To Suzi Shelton, Winter Fest AND Animal Farm at Beat Kitchen The Next 3 Sundays!

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:

Brooklyn's Favorite kindie star, Suzi Shelton takes the stage with Chicago's own Little Miss Ann this Sunday at noon!

Here at ChiIL Mama, we've been proud press sponsors for Concerts for Kids every season since 2010. Check back with ChiILMama.com weekly, for great free ticket giveaways, entertainment news, reviews, and original photo features. We're your ticket to family fun in Chi, IL and beyond.

Bring your rock tots, little folk, and punk kin out to Chicago's best weekly kindie series. Families can order food and drinks while the littles dance to live bands. Full bar available, with some of the best bloody marys in town. Geared toward birth-6 year olds with parents. Pre-walkers are free!

Enter below for your chance to win tickets to any/all of the next 3 Sunday noon shows, including our multi band Winter Fest! 

Award-winning children's recording artist Suzi Shelton stops by the Beat Kitchen this Sunday as part of her tour! Her fourth album released last year has something for every listener, from powerful upbeat and inspiring, to whimsical and chill.

Suzi's shook up her musical style to some fresh eclectic-pop with a modern edge. Co-produced by two of her band mates, Greg Mayo (Jon Bon Jovi, Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Dan Weiner (The Cher Show, STOMP, America's Got Talent Band), Her new album is all about reminding everyone that they can express themselves joyously.

Concerts for Kids at the Beat Kitchen 
Suzi Shelton with special guest Little Miss Ann!
2100 West Belmont
Chicago, Illinois
(773) 281-4444

Get tickets


Suzi Shelton is a multi-award winning singer/songwriter and family performer based in Brooklyn, NY who has been bringing joy and musical fun to families for over a decade. She has four albums under her belt and a popular show on her YouTube Channel called "Sing with Suzi" featuring weekly videos for young children. Suzi will be returning to Concerts for Kids at The Beat Kitchen on Sunday, January 20th with special guest (and good friend) Little Miss Ann from Chicago! 

Suzi's music is heard on family-friendly radio stations across the country, and her latest album "Hand In Hand"  is filled with upbeat, inspiring and powerful songs about believing in yourself as well as more whimsical songs about ladybugs and raindrops. Her new musical style is "eclectic-pop with a modern edge" and she has already taken home both a NAPPA and a Parents' Choice Award! 


If you have never experienced Suzi's live shows before, they are a perfect match for our family performances as they are high energy, engaging, musically exceptional, and inclusive of all families with a wide variety of backgrounds. We hope to see you on January 20th!

Every Sunday:

Doors at 11:30, music at 12:00. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door.

Enter to WIN a Family 4 Pack of Tickets To Suzy Shelton/Little Miss Ann 1/20/19 at noon ($24 Value)! Enter through midnight this Thursday 1/17.

Suzy Shelton Giveaway for Sunday 1/20/19 at noon

Scroll down and enter any or all of our 3 different ticket giveaways here. Please double check your dates and only enter the shows you're able to attend. Enter below for your shot at tickets to any/all of these upcoming shows. Winners will be announced the Friday before each concert. Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. ChiILMama.com is your ticket to fun in Chi, IL and beyond!

 Enter to WIN a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to Winter Fest 1/27/19 ($40 Value)!

4 Bands, Activities and Fun
Sun Jan 27 2019
11:00 AM (Doors 10:30 AM)
Beat Kitchen
2100 West Belmont
Chicago, IL 60618
$10.00

All Ages

Winter Fest Giveaway For Sunday 1/27/19 at Noon

Enter to WIN a Family 4 Pack of Tickets To Animal Farm 2/3/19 ($24 Value)!

Join Animal Farm as we play another hometown ho-down with Concerts for Kids at Beat Kitchen. We'll be playing many tunes off of our new album, We Are One. 

Listen at https://animalfarmband.bandcamp.com or www.animalfarmband.com

Sun Feb 3 2019

12:00 PM (Doors 11:30 AM)

Beat Kitchen

2100 West Belmont

Chicago, IL 60618

$6.00

All Ages

Animal Farm Giveaway for Sunday 2/3/19 at noon

Disclosure: We've been pleased to partner up with Beat Kitchen since 2010. They have provided complimentary tickets for our giveaways. As always, all opinions are my own.

Win Tickets To All Beat Kitchen's October Concerts for Kids HERE #giveaway #originalphotos

ChiIL Mama's photos--Beat Kitchen Fall Festival Kick Off for Concerts for Kids 2012-2013 Season!
Fall festival was a huge success last Sunday as Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids resumed after a summer hiatus.  We had so much fun rockin' out with all of you.  Did you make it into our photo gallery with our Rock Tots Photo Spot (dress up/instrument petting zoo)?   ChiIL Mama is super stoked to be back again this year as one of two media sponsors.

Win 4 Free Tickets From ChiIL Mama--new winners announced every Friday!!

Never too old to play dress up

ChiIL Mama's Rock Tots Photo Spot (dress up/instrument petting zoo) was all ages fun.  

Sagezilla, Du-Jay, ChiIL Mama & Dug all passed out stickers and told everyone about our rockin' give aways, photo & video filled features and upcoming fam friendly events.

Downstairs, kindie (kids' indie) superstars like Suzi Shelton, kindie queen on the New York scene rocked the stage for four hours!!   (Suzi and her daughter havin' fun and selling merch)

The talented kids of The Young Stracke All Stars were a highlight of the day!!   We'll have loads of live show clips from their set up soon.   My kids were jazzed to see 3 girls in the All Stars they've known since preschool.

Super Stoli and her friends rocked the face painting....and arm painting...and hand painting.

Click the band names below for ChiIL Mama's past coverage including video interviews, live show videos, show shots, CD reviews and more.   

October 7    Pogo with your punk kin to The Boogers (kid appropriate Ramones style punk)

October 14 Sarah Jayne Lane & Gracie Lou Revue

October 21  Little Miss Ann Band   (little folk)

October 28   Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies   (punk kin and rock tots)






Enter here for your shot at winning 4 free tickets.  

Every week we'll be picking a new family 4 pack ticket winner.   Enter right here for any or all October concerts.   


That ought to make your mohawk stand up!


*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (if you've gone through RSS feed or are scrolling down the blog and don't see it, click on the actual page title or "a Rafflecopter giveaway link" and it should pop right up).   Enter like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   Entries accepted through midnight each Thursday.   Winner will be announced on Friday.   Enter with the adult name you'd like on the guest list.   

Thanks to Beat Kitchen for once again providing us with 4 weekly concert tickets for our give aways.

a Rafflecopter giveaway   Sarah Jayne Lane & Gracie Lou Revue Sunday at noon 10/14 

a Rafflecopter giveaway   Little Miss Ann Band Sunday at noon 10/21 


a Rafflecopter giveaway  Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies Halloween Show Sunday at noon 10/28 

Save the dates:

Got punk kin, rock tots, little folk, banger babies?   Beat Kitchen is THE place to be every Sunday at noon.   Shows are a wide variety of genres and admission is just $6 for adults and kids.  Babies under 2 are free.   Shows are all ages but geared toward birth through 10 year olds and their rockin' parents.   Come see some of Chi-Town's best Kindie (kids' indie) musicians out there and even national acts!

Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!  We have loads of original live show footage and photo filled features, band video interviews, give aways, reviews, and events.   Follow us by e-mail in the right side bar, to be the first to know about give aways, new shows and more.   You'll get easy ChiIL Mama updates in your in box and we never spam, share or sell your info.

Kindie Land: ChiIL Mama Sponsors Beat Kitchen's Kindie Series Again for 2012-13

ChiIL Mama's back again as media sponsor for another year of weekly kindie rockin' fun for your little folk, punk kin, and banger babies.   Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids kicks off with a BIG Fall Festival September 30th from 11-3.  Then mark your calendars for sweet day shows every Sunday, where you can drink some of the best bloody marys in town and dance with your littles for a song.        

For the fall festival, we'll be there in person with our infamous Rock Tots Photo Spot and Instrument Petting Zoo!   B.Y.O.C. (cameras that is) for some of the cutest photo/video ops.   You may have seen ChiIL Mama's Rock Tots tent at Do Division and Burger Fest this summer or Beat Kitchen festivals last fall and winter.    Check out our past photo features at the bottom of this post.

For just $8, you can rock out for 4 hours, get crafty, punk your hair, paint your face, and have a ton of fun with your birth through 10 year olds.

Be there!

We'll be bringing you loads of CD give aways, original live show videos and photos, video band interviews, kindie music reviews, and more, year round.




Check out ChiIL Mama's original, video interview with Suzi here.

We're particularly stoked for superstar Suzi Shelton at noon, in from NYC, with Chi-Town's own queen of the Kindie scene, Little Miss Ann.    



ChiIL Mama's original video of Suzi, Miss Ann & their kids Tomboy in a Princess Dress 
LIVE at Beat Kitchen-Chicago

**Click here for LOADS of our past Little Miss Ann coverage including 2 video interviews, live show footage, photos and more.**


We're also excited to hear the Young Stracke Allstars at 1pm.   These talented kids study at Old Town School of Folk Music and include a number of our school friends among their ranks!

See ya Sunday!



*Click here to check out our photo filled footage from Beat Kitchen's Fall Fest 2011-ChiIL Mama's Rock Star Photo Booth

*Click here to check out our photo filled footage from Beat Kitchen's Winter Fest-ChiIL Mama's Rock Tots Photo Spot (dress up & instrument petting zoo)

So check in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We'll be adding loads of brand new footage and features on the fall fun festival musicians all week!!

Kindie Land: Suzi Shelton-Video Interview & Live Tomboy in a Princess Dress

ChiIL Mama's original video interview 
with Suzi & her son, Sebastian 

First off, happy birthday to NY Kindie artist, Suzi Shelton, born March 7th.   My sister was March 4th, my son on the 11th, & my birthday is still coming March 31st, so you're in good company!   ChiIL Mama's birthday gift to Suzi is this sweet, original video interview and rockin' LIVE version of Tomboy in a Princess Dress, shot at Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids in Chicago, with Little Miss Ann and their respective kids playing along, too.   Check 'em out!

ChiIL Mama's original video of Suzi, Miss Ann & their kids Tomboy in a Princess Dress 
LIVE at Beat Kitchen-Chicago

For Suzi's birthday, we also gave prezzies to one of our lucky readers!

This month, we just gave away over $60 in awesome kindie CDs & DVDs.   Congrats again to Melissa P. who won:

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Kindie Collection featuring Suzi Shelton, Bari Koral, & Little Miss Ann!!    

This amazing set of 4 CDs and a DVD, includes 3 of the best women rockin' out for little kids today.   One lucky reader will be sent:

• Anna and the Cupcakes-Bari Koral's brand new CD-just released 2/14/12
  
• Walk With Me-Little Miss Ann's new CD-released 1-15-12
• Suzi Shelton's:  No Ordinary Day, Music for Kids, and DVD Suzi Shelton LIVE at Southpaw!!

*Click here for our ongoing giveaways.   

Later this week we'll be posting our next ChiIL Kindie Collection that will be open through April 15th.   We'll be featuring give aways including books/MP3s and a brand new CD by Caspar Babypants, Laura Viers new CD and The Okee Dokee Brothers!

We'll also be posting our original video interviews with Laura Viers, The Okee Dokee Brothers, and Ellis Paul and a review of all of their CDs plus a new DVD by Gustafer Yellowgold.   So check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often, or better yet, follow us by e-mail or RSS feed (in the right side bar), and/or on Twitter and Facebook, so you don't miss something great.

More exciting news this week--Big congrats to Suzi, whose official music video for Tomboy in a Princess Dress just kicked booty on Wednesday on a Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl match up vs. The Bazillions, gaining 80% of the vote!   Check it out right here.   This is one of our fav Suzi tunes over at ChiIL Mama.   Princesses for the new millennium unite!

Like what you hear?    Check out Suzi Shelton's main site here and follow her on FB and Twitter for show updates, new release info and more.

Happy Free Ticket Tuesday-4 Ticket Give Aways To All March Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids HERE!

ChiIL Mama's super stoked to sponsor one of the most prolific and fun kindie music line ups in the city!   We have free 4 packs of tickets for you to EVERY show, and frequently video tape the concerts and interview the bands to post right here at ChiIL Mama.  Enter at the bottom of this post then spread the word for more chances to win.   Enter like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!

**Also, click this link to enter to win over $60 worth of kindie CDs and DVDs including 3 by Suzi Shelton, & brand new releases by Bari Koral and Little Miss Ann!!  Entries accepted nationwide

Jeanie B! & The Jelly Beans, March 4  
Concerts for Kids regulars return to the stage for a rocking good time
Jeanie B's fourth album, Sugar Buzz, has gotten rave reviews. "A lot to like.""...more mature and intelligent music for young music fans." "Sugar Buzz easily pops to the top of the heap." Combine her new tunes with old favorites like 'Bubble Wrap' and 'Hey Daddio' and we guarantee a great show. 45 minutes of fantastic music. Sunday, March 4th at noon.
 
Beat Kitchen is located at 2100 W. Belmont.

To keep up to date with Concerts for Kids, like and/or follow  ChiIL Mama's Facebook page and/ or Beat Kitchen Kids Facebook

Like and/or Follow us at ChiIL Live Shows if you like free adult music downloads & world wide tour news--especially punk, metal, alt country, & indie.  We have Chi, IL Live Show pit photos, videos, and original band interviews.   We also cover the adult and family friendly Chi-Town Theatre Scene.


ChiIL Mama knows there's life after birth!   Just because you have kids, that doesn't mean you want to hear Barney & The Wiggles 24/7.   


Beat Kitchen-Save the Dates...   
Check out our hot and happening Concerts for Kids! lineup
shows at noon on Sunday
only $6/person

March 4: Jeanie B! and The Jelly Beans
March 11: Super Stolie & The Rockstars (don't forget to spring ahead)
March 18: Human-Tim + Robot-Tim * ** (2 interviews)
March 25: Little Miss Ann Band * ** (2 interviews)
April 15: The Boogers * **
April 22: The Candy Band * ** (2 interviews)
April 29: Mary Macaroni
May 6: Human-Tim + Robot-Tim * ** (2 interviews)
May 20: Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies * ** (2 interviews)

* signifies bands ChiIL Mama has shot live concert footage of

** signifies bands ChiIL Mama has shot video interviews with

Type in Kindie artists' names in our blog side bar to check out new bands and enjoy old favs and/or check out ChiIL Mama's YouTube Channel!


Enter Here For Free Tixs To 4 March Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids

*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (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 are easy.   Winning rocks!  

Anna and the Cupcakes--Bari Koral's New Release Out Now (review) & Big Give Away Featuring Suzi Shelton, Little Miss Ann & Bari Koral

 

Photo Credit: Joyeuse Photography
 


The Bari Koral Family Rock Band Just Released Their Sophomore CD


“Anna And The Cupcakes”
 A Tasty Selection of Songs for Children and Families February 14
. 


ChiIL Mama was excited to hear Bari Koral's 2nd CD, is every bit as engaging as Rock and Roll Garden.   We especially enjoyed the timely Dragon Comes to Dinner, for the Chinese year of the Dragon.   Bari Koral's infectious charm and joy in childhood pleasures comes shining through every note of Anna and the Cupcakes.   It was a joy to hear her kidalicious, upbeat take on The Avett Brothers' Kick Drum Heart.   Love the Avett Brothers?   Check out our original photo pit shots of their set at Summer Camp Music Festival 2011 here. 

Sure, the usual kindie themes are represented here-with Train Song, Rocket Ship and Butterfly.   However, Koral embraces the sweet silliness of childhood through more unique themes too, including songs celebrating shoes and little cupcake thief's with big imaginations.  The album's namesake song follows the misadventures of Anna, a cupcake loving child with a host of hungry imaginary friends and a stack of disappearing treats.  This CD is a sweet treat that will last a bit longer than Anna's cupcakes and won't cause any tummy aches.  

The CD cover is a bit odd, with a cartoon monkey, an Alice in Wonderlandesque Koral sipping tea, and a tree stump full of cupcakes....but don't judge a disc by it's cover.   Preschoolers and early elementary agers are going to adore this one.


This continues ChiIL Mama's weird February of coincidences, as we've now reviewed the latest creative endeavors of both Bari Koral and Barrie Cole, reviewed 2 Houdini plays, interviewed Mark Messing 2 times, and saw 2 different plays he wrote the score for open within 2 days of each other.  

Anna and the Cupcakes

Bari Koral's 10-song collection of indelible melodies that range stylistically from sprightly roots pop-rockers to infectious blues to country-tinged kickers is the follow up to the group’s first full-length CD, Rock and Roll Garden, which became a hit on the family-music scene, won critical acclaim, and became an award winner, including the Nappa Gold and Parent’s Choice silver.
    In the past, ChiIL Mama gave away Rock and Roll Garden to some of our lucky readers, and this year we have FOUR copies of Anna and the Cupcakes to give away right here.   We also have 3 of Little Miss Ann's latest and more Suzi Shelton, too, but we'll start with one of each.  You can earn extra entries by spreading the word, so FB, Tweet and tell your friends.   Then check in with ChiIL Mama and enter like we vote in Chi, IL....early and often.   Entries accepted nationwide!

Enter at the bottom of this post for your chance to win ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Kindie Collection featuring Suzi Shelton, Bari Koral, & Little Miss Ann!!    This amazing set of 4 CDs and a DVD, includes 3 of the best women rockin' out for little kids today.   One lucky reader will be sent:

• Anna and the Cupcakes-Bari Koral's brand new CD-just released 2/14/12
  
• Walk With Me-Little Miss Ann's new CD-released 1-15-12
• Suzi Shelton's:  No Ordinary Day, Music for Kids, and DVD Suzi Shelton LIVE at Southpaw!!

(Check out ChiIL Mama's live show footage from Little Miss Ann's CD release party and our CD info and video interview with the band right here)

Waltzing Matilda-Miss Ann & Suzi Shelton-LIVE

Walk With Me-LIVE

Put Out Your Hand-LIVE

All month we'll be featuring original video interviews, original live show clips, and reviews of all 3 women's work, culminating in our big give away March 15th.   First up, we're featuring Bari Koral's greatly anticipated 2nd CD.   Then we'll have our original video interview with Suzi Shelton and her son and a bunch more of ChiIL Mama's live show clips from Suzi Shelton & Little Miss Ann performing live, together with their children, at Beat Kitchen in Chicago.


More About Anna and the Cupcakes 
The Bari Koral Family Rock Band, the New York-based band who have emerged as one of today’s top children’s musical performers just released their sophomore album, Anna and the Cupcakes.

The band is led by Bari Koral, an acoustic guitarist, and singer/songwriter who has firmly established herself in the rich tradition of children’s music, while uniquely exhibiting a deep emotional and fun-loving connection with her audience thanks to infectious songs, entertaining themes and driving upbeats. 

Koral and the band have hit the road to perform the Anna and the Cupcakes songs, as well as such old favorites from Rock and Roll Garden like “Backpack” and “Hey Ducky.”

Tour Itinerary Is As Follows:
 

Feb 12  Caspary Auditorium at Rockefeller University, New York, NY

                   
Feb  20 The Music Center at Strathmore, North Bethesda,  MD-Discover Strathmore Free Open House:  Duke Ellington (Celebrating American Composers)
                   
Feb  21-22  Long Island Children’s Museum, Garden City, NY
         


March 4  92Y Tribeca, New York, NY
                   
March 10  World Café Live @the Queen, Wilmington, DE

****Bari Koral will also be in the Chicago area at
Wonder USA
250 South Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, IL, 224-330-6400
(date and details TBA)

More dates to be announced.
 


On Anna and the Cupcakes, Koral serves up a tasty selection of songs, including title track about disappearing cupcakes, a scampering gingerbread man, (“Gingerbread Man”), a cocoon turning into a butterfly, (“Butterfly”), a zooming rocket ship (“Rocket Ship”), a speeding train (“Train Song”), and the poppy/happy cover of the folk-rock band the Avett Brothers’ “Kick Drum Heart,” among others.
 
In addition to Koral, the Bari Koral Family Rock Band features support from jazz keyboardist Dred Scott who plays bass, piano and keyboards and also produced the album, guitarist John Bertsche and acclaimed pop and Broadway drummer Eric Halvorson. The album was mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Dan Myers (Brady Rymer, Laurie Berkner). 
 



For More Information about the Bari Koral Family Rock Band Please Visit her main web site.  Or check her out on Facebook. Anna and the Cupcakes is available now on CD Baby and Amazon.com.

Enter Here for your chance to win ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Kindie Collection--$62 value (enter through midnight 3/14)

*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (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 are easy.   Winning rocks!  

Waltzing Matilda-Little Miss Ann & Suzi Shelton (live at Beat Kitchen)

Double click the slide show for full screen & other options

ChiIL Mama shot this original, live, show video at Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids Series in Chicago in November 2011. Waltzing Matilda is a folk song from Australia and appears on Miss Ann's 3rd CD, Walk With Me, slated for release January 15th, 2012.

Enter here through Friday midnight for your chance at 4 free tickets to Miss Ann's CD release party at Beat Kitchen this Sunday at noon!

More and More Awesomeness With CircEsteem, Neighborhood Toy Store Day, and Goodnight Moon the Musical

"This day is just full of more and more awesomeness," said Du-Jay, age 10.   It was a pretty amazing day.   We began with aerial arts and Chinese Pole classes at our favorite circus arts center, CircEsteem.   Then we were off to Building Blocks Toys as the first stop on our whirlwind tour for ASTRA Neighborhood Toy Store Day.

We'll have a photo filled recap up later this weekend.   At Building Blocks, we picked up an amazing swag bag (approx value $50) and said hi to owner, Katherine, Chicago mom to toddler son, Tai and a daughter due in January.   Then we were off to see Chicago Children's Theatre's fantastic current production, Goodnight Moon the Musical.    We'll soon have a full review and fun photos of our up close and personal exploration of the stage, after the show!

Then we were off to Cat and Mouse Toys, our next stop in our Neighborhood Toy Store Day adventures.  Here at ChiIL Mama, we're all about shopping locally when possible and supporting shops in our neighborhoods.   We love starting with our friends on the local level before looking for gifts at the chains or on line.

We'll have an in depth feature on Cat and Mouse and our sweet afternoon playing there.   We hung out with owner, Linda, Chicago mom to tweens who are 9 & 11.   Her store has games and toys for all ages, but it's beyond awesome for older kids!   Cat and Mouse features loads of board games and brain building puzzles.   Du-Jay won a lively round of Spot It and was rewarded with his own copy of the game.   Thank you Cat and Mouse!   Each kid picked up special passports there, and our first sticker (since we cheesed it earlier at Building Blocks).   Three stickers equaled $30 in toy gift certificates at the 3 participating stores.


Next we swung by the Wicker Park location of Building Blocks to pick up our missed sticker and saw Katherine yet again.   She was all over town like us, today.   Sagezilla bought a cute charm bracelet and ice cream cone charm with her own saved money.   Dugan checked out all the Hex Bugs Nanos, which both kids are completely obsessed with, but decided to hold off on purchasing more for their ever expanding collection.


Our final stop of the day was our closest store to home, Logan Square's own Play, at the corner of Logan Boulevard and Milwaukee by the also excellent, New Wave Coffee House.  Play has a spacious and welcoming store with a cozy book corner, loads of learning toys, and funky fun stuff as well.   

We collect band aids in weird shapes, and were happy to see more of those.   Play also stocks super sweet, spiky Mad Paxs, Ugly Dolls and edgy, urban kitch for cool kids of all ages.   We were excited to meet owner, Ann, who has been in the toy industry for 13 years.   The kids were elated to complete their passports and cash them in for $10 gift certificates for Building Blocks, Cat and Mouse, and Play.   Now we have a great excuse to come on back soon for a return visit.   Check in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We'll have big photo filled recaps up soon.

Got littles under 8?   Tomorrow come join us at ChiIL Mama's Sponsored Beat Kitchen's Concerts for Kids.   Excellent, award winning Kindie musician, Suzi Shelton, will be in from New York.   And local fav, Little Miss Ann is joining her on a double bill!   ChiIL Mama will be video taping the show, interviewing Suzi and passing out free ChiIL Mama buttons to our friends.

 

Little Miss Ann-Kindiefest Guest Post

Shine and the Moonbeams stole the show at Kindiefest 2011!! 

R & B. Amazing!

 photo credit for all:   Little Miss Ann 

ChiIL Mama has something extra special for our readers today.   The last time Miss Ann and Suzy Shelton hung out was in NY at the annual Kindiefest, earlier this year.    We have exclusive photos and a guest post about Kindiefest, by Miss Ann herself!

Check out the recap, and then come see both excellent, kindie musicians rock the Beat Kitchen together THIS Sunday at noon.


Kindiefest 2011 
as told by Little Miss Ann
 

Kindie (a shorter, catchy form of kids' independent music or indie) is a term for family music that can cover many genres, but generally means not mainstream, like Barney and The Wiggles.   This is my third year going to the Kindiefest, an informative and rockin’ 3 day fest, for those that are involved in the kindie music industry from all over the country. 

 Tor Hyams, one of the organizers of Kindiefest

Kindiefest takes place in Brooklyn, NY.  The organizers are Tor Hyams (Kidzapalooza co-founder and family stage producer for Austin Kiddie Limits Producer, Stephanie Mayers (Putamayo World Music Promotion and Event Director), Mona Kayhan (Putamayo Kids director), and Bill Childs (Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child kids radio show producer.  

This is my third year attending as a kids music artist.  This year, through collaboration and a new found kindie friendship, I was staying at Brooklyn Kindie musician’s Suzi Shelton house in Park Slope Brooklyn.

 Suzi and Ann in front of Suzi’s in Park Slope Brooklyn.

Friday night, was the reception and a keynote speaker. The vibe to me here was like some sort of high school reunion. Seeing people you haven’t seen since last year or meeting people that you’ve listened to and feel as if you know them. It was also pretty inspiring to look out into the audience and see kindie artists such as Lunch Money, Recess Monkey, Frances England, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Trout Fishing in America, and Johnny Bregar and many many more kindie entertainers.

The key note speaker was Sirius/XM’s Kids Place Live Kenny Curtis, a 20 year veteran of family entertainment. He gave a witty speech about how he started in kid’s music programming. Audience members circled the funny phrases that Kenny slipped into his speech on a bingo sheet.

Saturday: 10-5ish informational panels with very experienced panel members that hit on topics such as PR, Collaboration, TV, Reaching an Audience, and many more. Here is a blurry picture of a very impressive “Building a brand for your band” panel. If you look closely you can see Laurie Berkner. Laurie Berkner went up even more in my book as she talked about the decisions that she has made along the way in her music careers.

Saturday night is the fun night at Kindiefest with a diverse Industry showcase which included Billy Kelly & the Blahblahblahs, The Pop-ups, The Not-its, The Board of Education, Cat and a Mouse, Shine and the Moonbeams, RhymeZwell and Candy Band. This year’s music did not disappoint. The shows ranged from pop to rock to hip hop to folk to punk rock as seen by the incredible Candy Band in their usual punk rock mama fashion! 

I think most attendants would agree with me that this year’s kindie gem though was New York own R&B Shine and the Moonbeams bringing yours truly and Tim of Tim and the space cadets up on stage and into a funky dance frenzy. At an earlier panel, Skiddo of Secret Agent 23 Skiddo was just saying there was a void of Kindie R&B. 

Dave Loftin of Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl from Chattanooga TN

  Gwyneth Owens Butera with daughters from Gooney Bird Kids

Sunday day: Sadly, I had to leave early and was not able to attend. This event is open to the public. Unfortunately, I had to miss my personal favorite Elizabeth Mitchell and You are my Flower. The other bands included Jazzy Oran Etkin, uke-slinging Heidi Swedberg, Aaron Nigel Smith, Tim and the Space Cadets and the tight harmonies of the Verve Pipe. 

 Charlie Hope and sister Laura - Juno nominee and winner of Independent Music Award winner for Best Children’s album. 

ChiIL Mama has given away CDs from Elizabeth Mitchell, Tim and the Space Cadets, Recess Monkey, Candy Band and Verve Pipe!    We also have an exclusive video interview and loads of live show stills and video from both Verve Pipe's Chicago show at SPACE and their press party at Verve Life!   Check out ChiIL Mama's TWO video interviews with Candy Band right here: 

  

ChiIL Mama Interviews Candy Band (punk for kids) 3-13-2011 from ChiIL Mama on Vimeo.

Candy Band at Beat Kitchen 

& Candy Band at Kidzapalooza

Check in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We're posting loads and loads of awesome band interviews and live footage all the time.

Little Miss Ann and the Candyband from Detroit

 

Cat and a bird – 2 violins and a guitar.

Check out ChiIL Mama's print interview with Tor Hyams (click the link), one of the organizers of Kindiefest.    We have a exclusive video interview of Tor and Kindie King, Ralph Covert, of Ralph's World, coming in the near future.

Want to win some great CDs by Top Windy Kindie and Award Winning National Kindie Bands?!   Then check in with ChiIL Mama soon for our GIANT KINDIE HOLIDAZE GIVE AWAY!   We'll have zillions of hot, new releases from Kindie Bands across the nation, for YOU, for FREE!   

 

Sign up to follow ChiIL Mama by e-mail and/or hit the follow button on our ChiIL Mama Facebook Page, so you won't miss out!   Both can easily be done in the sidebar to the right.   You can also check out and follow our YouTube Channel.   We have exclusive interviews with Recess Monkey and Tim and The Space Cadets there, along with loads of live footage from their Kidzapalooza appearance.

 

So ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama where parents AND kids rock and life doesn't end with birth!