(July 27th – 29th) This Weekend’s Events

This weekend is yet another amazing weekend in Chicago for kids music. It kicks off on Friday with Mr. Singer and Marius Mustard at Fantasy Kingdom and then… (take a deep breath and don’t worry if you just can’t do it all) on Saturday and Sunday there is is both the Summer on Southport Children’s Festival and Wicker Park Fest. And as if that wasn’t enough, Joel Frankel is at Taste of Lincoln Ave., Tom Chapin is at Ravinia, Scribble Monster is at the Morton Arboretum and Little Nashville is at Comiskey Park!

Friday, July 27th at 10:30 am Mr. Singer and Marius Mustard at Fantasy Kingdom

Saturday & Sunday, July 28th & 29th. Summer on Southport Children’s Festival.

• Saturday, 10:00 am Lunch Money
• Saturday, 11:00 am Seussical the Musical
• Saturday, 12:00 pm Scribble Monster
• Saturday, 12:30 pm Little Nashville
• Saturday, 2:00 pm Girl Authority
• Saturday, 2:00 pm Justin Roberts & Not Ready for Naptime Players
• Sunday, 11:30 pm School of ROCK
• Sunday, 2:00 pm Ralph’s World

Saturday & Sunday, July 28th & 29th Wicker Park Fest

• Saturday, 1:00 pm Karen Banks-Lubicz with Karen for Kids
• Sunday, 1:00 pm Little Miss Anne Band

Saturday, July 28th, Tom Chapin & Friends at Ravinia

Saturday, July 28th at 2:30 pm Joel Frankel at Taste of Lincoln Avenue

Sunday, July 29th

• 3:00 pm Scribble Monster at the Morton Arboretum
• Little Nashville at Comiskey Park

(July 21st – 22nd) This Weekend’s Events

This weekend is a bit quieter than last weekend was or next weekend will be, but there is still plenty interesting going on. Chicago Sings Concert! at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park looks like a lot of fun and it is actually at a reasonable time for our little ones, so we’re planning on packing a picnic dinner and heading downtown. We are also planning to go to the Sheffield Garden Walk, but unfortunately Joel Frankel’s concert is during naptime.

Saturday

• 11:00 am Dirty Sock Funtime Band at Ravinia
• The Silver Room’s Sound System Block Party in Wicker Park
• 12:30 pm Farmer Jason and the Scorchers
• 1:30 pm Erin Flynn

Saturday & Sunday Sheffield Garden Walk

• noon, Sunday Joel Frankel

Sunday

• 10:00 am Justin Roberts at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. This is a fundraiser for the JCC. Tickets cost $18 and are available at the event. More info.
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Chicago Sings Concert! at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Children’s favorites and music from around the globe. Grant Park Chorus Director Christopher Bell will host the event which will feature guests from the Old Town School of Folk Music including Ella Jenkins, Robbie Fulks and Mariachi Perla de Mexico. Also performing, the Old Town Band with Tony Dale on drums, Gregg Ostrom on guitar, Alton Smith on piano and Jimmy Tomasello on bass as well as the Old Town Singers with Tisa Batchelder, Bill Brickey, Kathy Cowan, Chris Kastle, Elaine Moore, Rita Ruby, Barb Silverman, and Robert Tenges.

Review: Dreamers of Dreams – Erin Flynn

Written by Ann Torralba

The first time I heard Erin Flynn sing was when I went to see a production by Chicago’s own Red Moon Theater. Honestly, I really don’t remember much about the play. All I remember is Erin Flynn coming out on stage strumming her guitar and commanding the audience with her angelic voice. That unique voice coupled with the Co-op band is what makes “Dreamers of Dreams” (2004) worth listening and adding to your collection. The 13 traditional and original songs take you on a musical journey where you travel through ska, jazz, folk, rock and punk. At times, this album truly rocks out making you want to dance and other times it gets soft and sweet. The best thing about this cd is that while it definitely has a consistent sound throughout, all the songs are uniquely different from one another.

The song “Mary Mack” lured my daughter in with its cowbell. Slowly the song builds momentum and ends in a Blondie like frenzy. One favorite of mine was “Butterfly”. One could mistake the lyrics to be written by Simon and Garfunkel with its description of the darkness of winter. Filled with hope, Flynn begs throughout the song for a butterfly (Spring) to come back to her. My favorite song however is “Join in with a song”. With its full chorus of voices, this song belongs in some sort of rock musical like “Hair”.

The title “Dreamers of Dream” is taken originally from a poem from Arthur O’Shaughnessy. You might recognize it from Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Even though this cd was created in Philadelphia not Wonkaland, I think even Willie Wonka would put his stamp of approval on this cd.

(July 29th) Little Nashville at Comiskey Park!

Little Nashville is playing the pre-game at Comiskey Park on Sunday, July 29th. That may very well top the list of cool venues for kids music in Chicago this summer.

(July 14th – 15th) This Weekend’s Events

There is a lot (really a lot) of kid’s music excitement this weekend. I think this must somehow be related to that thing where the busses all come at the same time. The Folks & Roots Festival was one of the best events we went to all of last year, so we’re definitely going again this weekend, hopefully to both days. If my husband will keep an eye on our daughters during their nap, I’m also going to head to Schuba’s to see Little Miss Ann. Lots more is going on though (see the Calendar for more details).

• July 13-15 Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park.
• Saturday, July 14th Ralph’s World at Morton Arboretum
• Saturday, July 14th Justin Roberts at Ravinia
• Saturday & Sunday, July 14th & 15th Folks & Roots Festival with many, many great performers (especially at the kids tent)
• Saturday & Sunday, July 14th & 15th Central Street Family Fest with Joel Frankel
• Saturday & Sunday, July 14th & 15th Rock Around the Block with Little Nashville
• 1:00 pm, Sunday, July 15th Little Miss Ann band at Schubas