New Music for NW Kids (and their grownups)!
Made in Portland; Red Yarn and Ants Ants Ants
Join the hootenanny at ‘Red Yarn’s Old Barn’ April 28
Portland’s verdant musical landscape sprouts a wealth of family music. Most any day, families may catch a live act performing at a local cafe, and various artists have banded together to create family music series such as those at the Secret Society and other venues. Plus, the Portland Children’s Museum and Multnomah County Libraries often schedule music, giving children the chance to see real musicians making real and original music close up.
One of the driving forces of Portland’s vibrant “kindie” *independent kids’ music) scene is Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson), an Austin-born, Portland-based family folksinger and puppeteer who performs all around the country. He just released his fifth album, Red Yarn’s Old Barn. His big show, with a seven-piece band, will be at Portland’s Aladdin Theater on Saturday, April 28. Tickets are still available: https://www.aladdin-theater.com/event/1650041-red-yarn-portland/
With seven originals, four reinterpreted traditionals, and a honky tonk cover song, Red Yarn’s Old Barn
tells of an epic barn dance where critters of all kinds are welcome. His playful and personal country rock songs paint the Old Barn as an inclusive microcosm of the United States. Furgeson co-produced the album with GRAMMY-winner Dean Jones and renowned engineer Adam Selzer, with studio sessions in Portland, Austin and the Hudson Valley. Furgeson and his wife Jessie Eller-Isaacs are backed by a stellar band featuring multi-instrumentalist Jones, drummer Dan Hunt (Neko Case), fiddler Annalisa Tornfelt (Black Prairie, Rhett Miller), and steel guitarist Paul Brainard (M. Ward, Richmond Fontaine). Special guests include the Decemberists’ Jenny Conlee on accordion, the Okee Dokee Brothers’ Justin Lansing on banjo, and kindie chanteuse Jazzy Ash on vocals. Visit www.redyarnproductions more details, and stream a sample of Red Yarn’s songs at https://soundcloud.com/redyarn/albums.
A musical invasion: Ants Ants Ants
A new band in the family music scene is Ants Ants Ants, created by pair of acclaimed singer-songwriters. Their debut album Why Why Why? arrives on May 18. A preview of this curious, colorful and imaginative multimedia project, including a trailer, is available now.
With stylistic nods to the Beatles, 1970s era Sesame Street, School House Rock, and “The Point” by Harry Nilsson, Why Why Why? celebrates a childlike wonder at the natural world, beginning with the first track, “Morning Song” and continuing with songs about where the moon goes, what the largest mammals on Earth are like, the lilting “Willow Tree” and the soothing “Stars” above. Their music videos are being created by local illustrator Chris Purdin, and their video “Six Pickup Sticks” will be featured at the Northwest Animation Festival in Portland in late May.
Johnny Clay and Dave Gulick, the core songwriters, performers and producers of Ants Ants Ants, been fixtures of Portland’s independent music scene for the past decade. Clay was the lead singer of The Dimes, a nationally touring indie-folk group. Gulick wrote and performed with the Portland indie-pop darling band Derby. Fans old and new may catch Ants Ants Ants for two full-band shows at the Village Ballroom on Sunday, May 20: https://www.brownpapertickets.
~ Beth Blenz-Clucas
