My family supports Heifer International and we receive their magazine/catalog World Ark. I noticed in the most recent issue an interview with Dan Zanes where he was talking about his CD, Nueva York, teaching Spanish to kids and his involvement with Heifer International.
He also is giving away a Free song from his Nueva York CD, “Colas” on his website. You can download it and learn more about Heifer International here.
The Fids and Kamily Music Awards will be announced Saturday, November 15, 2008 on the Spare The Rock, Spoil The Child radio show or visit fidsandkamily.com to see the results of this year’s poll!
The Fids and Kamily poll is the first compilation of year-end kids and family music “best of” lists from critics, writers, radio programmers, and others involved in the music industry. Modeled after the Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop Poll, the Fids and Kamily Poll will compile “best of” lists from judges to produce a consensus list of the year’s best kids and family music.
Here’s some release dates for some great kids and family DVDs that will be coming out soon:
The Flintstones: The Complete Series (Release Date: 10/28/2008) All 166 episodes of Fred Flintstone and his prehistoric family are collected in this 24-disc set.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector’s Edition (Release Date: 8/28/2008) Restored as director Tim Burton originally envisioned, this 2-disc collector’s edition includes a digital copy and other features.
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who! (Release Date: 12/9/2008) This $154 million-grossing movie features the voices of Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. The 2-disc set features a digital copy, deleted footage, featurettes, interviews and much more.
The Smurfs and The Magic Flute (Release Date: 10/7/2008) This 1983 Smurfs feature film will be released in conjunction with the Smurf’s 50th anniversary
Flight of the Red Balloon (Release Date: 10/21/2008) A young boy is looked after by a film student when his mother is unable to care for him in this French film that pays homage to Albert Lamorisse’s The Red Balloon
I just received a copy of the Wee Hairy Beasties – Animal Crackers CD from my good friends at Bloodshot Records. The CD does is not released until Oct. 24, but you can pre-order it at The Pokey Pup right now! Upon first listen it’s another great kids music release from Bloodshot (who brought us The Bottle Let Me Down compilation a few years ago).
The Wee Hairy Beasties are a band made up of several artists on the Bloodshot roster. Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers), Kelly Hogan, Sally Timms (Mekons), and Devil In The Woodpile. Animal Crackers is an enhanced CD consisting of 15 songs and 1 video of good time, kid (and parent) friendly back porch music filled with country, blues and swing. Most of the songs are animal and insect themed that kids and parents will love.
Wee Hairty Beasties are playing a CD Release show at Alverno College in Milwaukee on Sunday, Nov. 5 and then playing at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 11. Bloodshot says that the band will be do some more touring as well!! We’ll keep you posted.
Check out the track Wee Hairy Beasties
This just in according to CMJ and MTV
Six years after calling it quits, Luscious Jackson are back with a new album aimed at a young audience. The New York girl group has traded in their grit and cheek for lullabies. Inspired by motherhood—the original motivation behind the band’s split—Jill Cunniff, Gabby Glaser and Kate Schellenbach have laid down 11 tracks for their children’s record.
“We’ve made a lot of music so far, but it’s fun because adults will be able to enjoy this too,” Cunniff told MTV.com. “It’s like Luscious Jackson with a kids’ angle. It’s not goofy kids’ music—it’s dance-y and has Luscious Jackson beats, but the [lyrical] content is pretty silly.”
You bet The Pokey Pup will be carrying it when it comes out!!
Banned Books Week – Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2006, marks BBW’s 25th anniversary (September 23-30).
Here’s a few of the banned and/or challenged books that you might not find in your public and school libraries.
Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey
“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
“Forever” by Judy Blume
Goosebumps sereis by R.L. Stine
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
“James & The Giant Peach” by Roald Dahl
“Light In The Attic” by Shel Silverstein
“Scary Stories” by Alvin Schwartz
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain
CD FEATURES AN EXCLUSIVE ZANES TRACK AND SONGS FROM JERRY GARCIA & DAVID GRISMAN, ELIZABETH MITCHELL, WOODY GUTHRIE, THE ALAN LOMAX COLLECTION, OTHERS
Bright Spaces—the flagship program of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children—creates playrooms in shelters so that children in crisis can play, grow and develop even in times of great stress. There are currently more than 120 Bright Spaces open in homeless shelters throughout the country serving more than 5,000 children every month. To further the work of the Foundation, Bright Horizons Family Solutions will release Bright Spaces 2—Family Music to Benefit Children in Crisis to retailers of music nationwide on September 12. Dan Zanes compiled the CD, which features an exclusive track and liner notes from the GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter.
Zanes says, “All of these artists and songs have been meaningful in one way or another during the decade since my daughter was born. I am excited to have created this CD, because these are some of the songs I play when friends come over—so it’s great to get them out to the wider world! It’s good to know that the proceeds will go to help children in crisis through the work of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children. All children deserve a safe place to play, and those facing crisis and turmoil in their lives need a place to enjoy the magic of simply being a child more than anyone.”
The breadth of the music on the CD reveals the range behind Zanes’ own catalog: sea shanties, Woody Guthrie tunes, rock and roll, pop standards and spirituals. The collection opens with a song from Zanes’ “favorite band of the last 20 years,” the Deighton Family. From a multitude of personal favorites by the Seegers—who recorded many songs for kids—Zanes chose a recording of “Raccoon and Possum” by Mike, Peggy, Barbara and Penny Seeger. From The Alan Lomax Collection, Zanes culls “Jane and Louisa,” credited to “Two Women at Lopinot, Trinidad.” “Give It a Kiss” is by the Wingdale Community Singers, the acclaimed band consisting of David Grubbs, Hannah Marcus, and Rick Moody.
Among other highlights is a version of the Jewish music standard “L’cha Dodi,” Sweet Honey in the Rock’s take on “Little David Play on Your Harp,” a Chicano people’s anthem and “Hopalong Peter,” from the Jerry Garcia and David Grisman album Not for Kids Only, one of Zanes’ biggest inspirations. There is also an exclusive version of Zanes’ song “Jump Up!” which he is accompanied by local friends Astrograss.
Music has long been one of the ways Bright Horizons has raised money for the Foundation. “Children and music go hand-in-hand,” explains David Lissy, CEO of Bright Horizons Family Solutions and board member of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children. “When children hear music, they become happy. As they listen and dance to music, they are acquiring skills that are necessary for their healthy development. We are excited to launch Bright Spaces 2 in partnership with Dan Zanes to benefit children in crisis. Together, through the work of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, young people at risk will be given resources they need to lead fulfilling and enriching lives.”
