Kids (and their parents) get to shake, rattle and rock at the free outdoor Kidchella summer concerts in Redwood City that kick off on Sunday. High-energy emcee Andy Z, a Redwood City homeboy, will introduce the kindie rock groups and encourage families to dance in the town's courthouse square.
The Hipwaders, a post-mod-rock trio, took the stage on July 13. Alison Faith Levy's Big Time Tot Rock band brought their whimsical interactive show for families on Aug. 10. And, on Sept. 14, Andy Z will perform with his Andyland Band. In addition to live music, there will be an inflatable playland for children.
Redwood City's Public Library and its Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department sponsor the summer series that's now in its second year. A team from both municipal departments came up with the name for the concert series, Kidchella, a play on the popular Coachella rock music festival for adults in Southern California.
"We wanted an event that was just for kids and calling it Kidchella seemed like a natural choice," said Jordana Freeman, community services manager with the Redwood City parks and recreation department.
The Kidchella concerts are geared to kids, toddlers through grade-school age, from all over the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Freeman. "Full-body participation is encouraged," she said in a telephone interview from her Redwood City office. "We want kids to dance but they're not partying like they would at Coachella."
Bay Area-based trio The Hipwaders have had several top-ten songs on XM/SIRIUS radio and have recorded five albums, including a National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA) recording of original Christmas songs. Their 2011 release, The Golden State, recently received a NAPPA Gold Award.
Alison Faith Levy, formerly "Sippy Alison" of the kindie rock band, The Sippy Cups, is a nationally renowned children's musician based in San Francisco. Since releasing her debut solo album for children, World of Wonder, Levy has performed around the Bay Area and brings a rock n' roll energy to acoustic guitar and piano tunes. Each song in her live show encourages children (and adults) to participate in dancing, singing, making animal sounds, pretending, jumping, spinning and wiggling. The Big Time Tot Rock band includes members of well-known Bay Area indie bands The Orange Peels and The Corner Laughers.
Andy Z, winner of Disney Interactive's iParenting Media Award, brings kids on a musical adventure in the make-believe world of Andyland during his band's shows. His music has been heard on NBC's Today Show and his performances have been featured in the Pandora Video Series and on the Pottery Barn Kids Stylehouse website.
Along with Kidchella, other family-friendly, free outdoor musical events in Redwood City this summer include: Music in the Park on Wednesdays, Music on the Square on Fridays, weekend Classical Concerts, and Shakespeare in the Park in August. Full details at RedwoodCityEvents.
Kidchella - Kid's Concert Series
Sunday, July 13, Aug. 10, and Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Courthouse Square
Redwood City Free
Kidchella