April and May Showers Bring…Live Shows with Red Yarn, The Not-Its and Jessa Campbell
After a long frosty February and March, April is bringing the usual rainy days. After a few drippy days in a row, you and the kids are likely going stir crazy. Best solution: Get out of the house and listen to some warm and bright live music. Luckily, the coming weeks are bringing several inexpensive family-friendly shows, featuring local and touring artists:
Sunday, April 14th – Red Yarn and Jessa Campbell
The Not-So-Secret Family Show series at Secret Society Ballroom continues this weekend with a 4 pm double feature. For $8 per walking human (cheaper than a movie!) you and your brood may enjoy tunes from the folk puppetry king of Portland, Red Yarn. Also appearing is a newcomer on the kindie scene: Jessa Campbell. No stranger to children’s entertainment, this former “Dragon Tales” touring star is also a singer in the Talking Heads tribute band LDW. Jessa, mom to a 3 year old son, will release her first album for families, Can You Feel It? this summer (with her band The Saplings). She’ll be giving Portlanders an exclusive preview of several tunes from the album at this show. Tickets are likely to be available at the door, or you can be sure to get in by purchasing them online: https://www.secretsociety.net/event/1831043-not-so-secret-family-show-portland/Can’t make this show? You can bring your wee tots to Jessa’s regular monthly sing-along session at Hoot ‘N Annies in SW Portland; the next one is on May 1st at 10:30 am. A $5 donation (parent/caregiver and child) is suggested: https://www.facebook.com/events/2718556968370087/?event_time_id=2718556978370086
Saturday, April 27th at 12 noon – Garden Home Recreation Center – It’s Día del Niño, and Latin Grammy winning duo 123 Andrés
Returning to town for one special show. As native Spanish speakers, Andrés and Christina incorporate language seamlessly into this bilingual show, which will include high-energy hits like “Salta Salta” and softer melodies from their latest award-winning album La Luna. Billboard magazine called 123 Andrés “A rockstar for little language learners,” and Andrés has become one of the most exciting new voices on the family music scene in the western hemisphere. There are all kinds of artsy things planned for the day: http://www.123andres.com/events/dia-del-nino-celebration-%E2%80%A2-garden-home-rec-center/
Sunday, April 28th at 4 pm – The Not-Its! with special guest Red Yarn at McMenamin’s Mission Theater
The last time this nationally touring, Seattle based rock band came to Portland, it was SRO, and everyone – moms, dads, grandparents, and random adults, were all bopping wildly right along with the kiddos. For the last decade, Seattle-based The Not-Its! have rocked kids and families with their up-tempo albums and high-jumping live concerts that give children their first “rock show” experience. The bandmates, clad in pink tutus and skinny ties, are all parents and seasoned musicians: Sarah Shannon was lead vocalist of lauded ‘90s indie-pop band Velocity Girl (on Seattle’s Sub Pop label), rhythm guitarist Danny Adamson has been a punk rocker; Michael Welke (drums) is a former member of Harvey Danger. Red Yarn (who else?) kicks off this show at the Mission Theater. Reports are that this is the last musical event at the venue, as McMenamins plans to present only movies there in the future. Tickets are $12 advance, $15 at the door. Link: https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/204100-the-not-its
If you must stay at home this month, the next best thing to live performances are kid-appropriate videos. You may want to check out Ants
Ants Ants band ( @antsantsantsband ) on Instagram and Facebook.
Dave, Johnny, Nat and their animated characters have launched an “Ask the Ants” mini video series, and they’re planning a fun Facebook Live event. The Portland based indie rock trio is gearing up (so to speak) for a “Robots” themed EP this summer. Catch the “Ants” before they head off on an east coast tour in late June.And for the smallest kids, Dana’s Music Playground is presenting a new episode of her YouTube series every Saturday morning It brims with silliness and sold early learning concepts. So hit the snooze button and let Miss Dana guide your kids toward a fun weekend.
