2 Tunes 2 Ways
Beth Blenz-Clucas was at Kindiefest in Brooklyn last weekend
For folks who think children’s music begins and ends with the latest TV sensation, “kindie” will be a new concept. No one’s got an accurate count, but my estimate is that there are now literally thousands of unsigned singers and bands making a career out of performing for kids. At last weekend’s Kindiefest (the fourth annual national family music conference in Brooklyn, NY), more than 300 of these artists showed up, networked and learned a few things to bump their careers forward.
Why is this important to the average family? Well, because the artists who come to Kindiefest, sharing their dreams and music, are the ones who will shake your soul during the coming year. It’s just that simple.
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2 Tunes 2 Ways
Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about artists connect with fans. Of course, it all comes down to how much passion and honesty artists put into their music and their performances and how skillfully they convey that to their audience.
Simply put, music must move us, both literally and figuratively. The best songs bring on a visceral response from listeners. And the reaction must be physical. As 4 (and three-quarters)-year-old journalist Elliot so succinctly describes his delight in a song on Laura Veirs’ new family album Tumble Bee, “it shivers me.” It’s this frisson that creates fans. Read more...
2 Tunes 2 Ways
Beth Blenz-Clucas recruited Kindiefest co-founder Bill Childs to guest-post
My daughter is just about to start middle school, which is one of those terrifying sentences to even see in pixels on the screen, much less have be a true statement. She’s doing great — she knows who she is (and who she isn’t), she’s got a good core of friends, and she (so far anyway) keeps communicating with us. And so, most of the time, we’re pretty comfortable with where we think her path will lead.
But I still find myself drawn to songs that are about that challenge of remaining true to yourself and your hopes — and, truth be told, I suppose those songs that still speak to middle-aged me, as I try to figure out what I’m going to be when I grow up.So that led me to, for this week’s entry, Frank Turner and Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. An earnest British punker-turned folk-rock artist and a family-oriented hip-hop artist from the South: not the most obvious connection, right? But stay with me here. First, let’s check out Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s “Gotta Be Me” from his debut record Easy. Read more...
2 Tunes 2 Ways
Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too
The ukulele is enjoying a resurgence lately. And why not? This Hawaiian export is highly portable, cute and it makes a happy sound. Here on the mainland, it’s popular with performers who beckon everyone to try out the ukulele for themselves. Heidi Swedberg, best known for her role as Susan on Seinfeld, burst onto the kindie scene two years ago with her Sukey Jump Band. She received her first ukulele from the Easter bunny as a 5-year-old, while living in Kailua, Hawaii. She never stopped playing and now spends a lot of time encouraging families to make music together, with regular classes and song fests mixed in with concerts.
Heidi will travel to Haiti later this month, bringing her uke and her sunny-smart music to young audiences there. Her voice is comedic and cheerful without being sticky-sweet and the old-timey goodness of her music shines in this performance of “When You Get Old” at Kindiefest last month: Read more...
