FREE KIDS CONCERTS AT MADISON SQUARE PARK ARE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY THIS SUMMER

Mad. Sq. Kids’ 9th Season of Live Children’s Music Performances Begins June 14

Madison Square Park Conservancy is thrilled to present its 9th season of Mad. Sq. Kids, a series of free outdoor performances for children and their families that takes place rain or shine in the Park on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30am, June 14 to August 11.

“Children’s music can be intelligent and entertaining, both educational and enjoyable, for all ages,” said Ashley Vitha, Program Coordinator at the Madison Square Park Conservancy. The Conservancy has invited to the Mad. Sq. Kids stage a roster of authentic “Family Bands” with musical virtuosity, witty lyrics, and energetic tunes, which parents will want to sing along to as much as their children.

The Mad. Sq. Kids 2011 Lineup

June 14 The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
June 16 Robbi K & Friends
June 21 David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band
June 23 Hot Peas ‘N Butter
June 28 Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
June 30 Audra Rox
July 5 Astrograss
July 7 The Deedle Dee Dees
July 12 The Pop Ups
July 14 Bari Koral Family Rock Band
July 19 The Jimmies
July 21 Trout Fishing in America
July 26 Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band
July 28 The Itty Biddies
August 2 Moona Luna
August 4 The Suzi Shelton Band
August 9 Dog on Fleas
August 11 Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo

More artist information below. The Park is located in the heart of the Flatiron District at 23rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. Mad. Sq. Kids is sponsored by New York Life and Ace Hotel.

The 2011 Mad. Sq. Kids Lineup:

June 14 The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
“Find out why kids, parents and critics alike are falling in love with the first real rock band for Kids” (Fox News).

June 16 Robbi K & Friends
Robbi K combines world grooves, childhood favorites, and original compositions to celebrate the diversity of people; both musical and cultural.

June 21 David Weinstone and the Music for Aardvarks Band
“It’s no exaggeration to say that Weinstone has changed the musical geography of New York” (Time Out New York).

June 23 Hot Peas ‘N Butter
Hot Peas ‘N Butter will have youngsters singing as they learn Spanish vocabulary.

June 28 Billy Kelly and the Blah Blah Blahs
“Imagine if Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld wrote lyrics for all-ages music played by an acoustic Weezer” (Out With the Kids).

June 30 Audra Rox
“Audra Rox is a gem. She connects so well with kids of all sizes. Her energy and spirit are infectious, her songs are clever and catchy and a lot of fun to sing along to. Her band is rockin’!” (Marty Beller, They Might Be Giants).

July 5 Astrograss
Astrograss gets kids and their parents dancing together, with a unique blend of bluegrass music and down-home humor.

July 7 The Deedle Deedle Dees
“I even listen to this CD at work because it doesn’t sound like the typical kid music…my toddler loves it as well, he dances and smiles at the start of each song!” (Review on CDbaby).

July 12 The Pop Ups
“Sway like you’re on the beach in Jamaica to the reggae beat on ‘Balloon,’ slow it down with the soothing and simple ‘I’m Tired’ or dance it up to the funky bass line and popping horn section on ‘Pasta.’ [The Pop Ups] will not leave you hanging!” (Washington Post).

July 14 Bari Koral Family Rock Band
“‘Family band’ is not false advertising — Koral’s lyrics are kid-friendly (she croons about cars, waves, airplanes, and farms), while her up-tempo rock songs are a huge hit with parents (think Norah Jones with a smidge of honky-tonk)” (New York Magazine).

July 19 The Jimmies
“Bubbling over with offbeat humor, sophisticated musicianship, smart, entertaining lyrics and impressive visual creativity… a rock-out feast for ears and eyes, whatever your age” (Review on Parents’ Choice).

July 21 Trout Fishing in America
“The Lennon and McCartney of kids’ music” (NPR).

July 26 Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band
Her original songs about loose teeth, lost baseballs and other assorted joys (and challenges) of childhood have earned her national attention as one of the freshest, funniest, and insightful performers for kids (and, of course, their parents.)

July 28 The Itty Biddies
“With their cool clubby roots and easygoing onstage banter, The Biddies’ live show might be the smoothest 45 minutes in kiddie concert history” (Time Out Kids).

August 2 Moona Luna
“Munchkins will love the fun, fast-paced tunes while parents will appreciate the easy, breezy bilingual interaction & the easy-on-the-ears beats” (Miami Munchkins).

August 4 The Suzi Shelton Band
“When kid-centric songwriter Suzi Shelton struts her stuff, the audience doesn’t just listen – it plays along” (New York Post).

August 9 Dog on Fleas
Dog on Fleas is a unique beast with equal parts brains and muscle. They have been performing and recordingintelligent, gutsy music for kids and adults…and revel in diverse sounds and styles of music. You can feel their excitement in every note.

August 11 Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo
“The kids are mesmerized in his presence. Parents, too” (Putumayo Kids co-producer, Mona Kayhan).

About Madison Square Park Conservancy

The Madison Square Park Conservancy is the not-for-profit organization dedicated to keeping historic Madison Square Park a bright, beautiful and lively public park. The Conservancy works in partnership with the City of New York/Parks & Recreation to operate Madison Square Park and is responsible for raising all funds necessary to operate the park, including horticulture, park maintenance, sanitation, security and free cultural programs for park visitors of all ages. madisonsquarepark.org

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