Fall Music is Dropping Like Leaves!

With all of the stresses of going back to school in this strange era, it’s nice to know that local children’s media makers have been busy creating sounds to delight and inspire families.

Portland’s DIY, roll-up-your-sleeves crafty sensibility keeps us going. Jared Mees, the dad who co-founded Portland’s beloved retailer Tender Loving Empire,  has been holed up at home with his family over the past 18 months, filling his days with an extended burst of creativity along with his two young daughters. They’ve been writing songs, building fantastical props, and starting a new band called Triple Rainbow, which will release a new album in 2022. This month, Triple Rainbow releases their first single, “Why Can’t Every Day Be Halloween?” Here is a sneak peek to stream and pre-order this funny “not Halloween” tune: https://orcd.co/9j276jb. A handcrafted music video featuring Day-Glo props and Mees’ two rockstar kids will be released in mid-October on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify and from the Brave New People label. For now, follow this family’s crafty adventures on Instagram (@Triplerainbovv).

Family folk star Red Yarn is still offering his livestreamed Ramblin’ with Red Yarn weekly show, performing  a Monday morning show (weather permitting) at Taborspace and  monthly second Friday shows at Sellwood Community House. He recently celebrated the release of a song called “I Hear America Singing.” Latin Grammy winners 123 Andrés perform  on the song, as do h Kymberly Stewart, Little Miss Ann, Aaron Nigel Smith, Dean Jones, Miss Jessie, and Portland’s own Woodlawn Elementary School first graders. 123 Andrés, a band that usually visits our area each year, also has a new bilingual album out called Actívate.

Family reggae star Aaron Nigel Smith was busy all summer offering videography classes to kids and planning new episodes of his Big Up Show. Aaron just released Reggaebility with the Merry Rockers on his local Aya World Productions label. These joyful songs celebrate movement and fun for people of all abilities. Catch Aaron performing the title song on YouTube. Smith also produced the acclaimed summer release featuring 24 Black voices in family music: the 1Tribe Collective’s  All One Tribe.

Kelli Welli has been super busy recording a new album for release next year. In the meantime, she’s been performing around the metro area, and her tongue-twister of an original song, “Turtlurtlurtle”,  just won a John Lennon Songwriting Competition grand prize. Kelli will perform on Fridays at the Sellwood Community House as part of their new weekly kindie concert series ( her dates are Fridays, October 22 and 29 at 10 am). Kelli’s website offers lots of downloadable activity and art ideas.

Speaking of after school, The Story Pirates are launching a fall of Creator Camp After School Edition fun. The flexible camps are offered almost every day, starting October 11th. Kids will be story-sparked and entertained by hilarious musical improv artists who build upon kids’ ideas. The Story Pirates Creator Camp page has more information about how to sign up. And, as always, the story pirates want YOUR kids’ ideas and tales. Parents, teachers and guardians may submit kids’ creations by going here. Each submitted tale will receive a personalized “Story Love” response, for free.

Catch a sampling of songs by these artists  on this NW Kids October playlist. Here’s to a musical fall!