Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Hilltown Family Variety Show (May 22nd, 2007)

Hilltown Family Variety Show
WXOJ LP - 103.3 FM
Northampton, MA
May 22nd, 2007 @ 7pm

Fishing Fry Episode
Playlist

HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW

FAMOUS ARTISTS FROM SPRINGFIELD

Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture ParkThis past weekend we stopped by the Springfield Museum and Persephone got to romp around the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Park. Dr. Seuss grew up in Springfield, and is honored throughout the city with banners and a sculpture park. There were many kids there climbing on the structure, which a sign nearby clearly prohibits. Parents were shouting things like, “Joey, get off Horton.” “Persephone, don’t climb on the Grinch.” “LIAM! Don’t push your brother into Thing Number 2!”

I noticed one of the benches a screaming parent was sitting on had a tribute to Taj Mahal. I later learned that Taj Mahal (born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks) is the official Blues Artist of Massachusetts. Voted on and approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. Taj Mahal grew up in Springfield too, another claim to fame of the city.

JUNE IS NATIONAL KIDS FISHING MONTH

(c) Hilltown Families - Chesterfield 4-Seasons Annual Fishing Derby (2007)Taj Mahal sings about goin’ fishin’ and tells how he’d go fishin’ at Watershops Pond and at the lakes down at Forest Park in Springfield when he was a kid. Dr. Seuss lived a few blocks from Forest Park too, and his grandfather started a brewery near Watershops Pond. Something about that area generated some mighty talented folks.

Chesterfield 4-Seasons Annual Fishing Derby (2007)There are a lot of fine places to go fishing here in the Hilltowns, with plenty of fishing derbys for the kids to participate in. A couple of weeks ago there was a fly fishing clinic for kids, and last week Chesterfield, Ashfield, Hadley and Easthampton had their fishing derbys. This coming weekend there will be another fishing derby at DAR State Park in Goshen, MA. I think I saw this posted on the community bulletin board at the Chesterfield General Store, but don’t hold me to it. — If you live outside the area, find a fishing derby near you by going to www.kids-fishing.org.

Local Resources

NEW MUSIC, FREE MUSIC

Mr. David - Jump in the Jumpy HouseJump in the Jumpy House was our featured new music this week. The album isn’t scheduled to come out until August 2007, however Mr. David is offering two free downloads of the cuts we played. Simply go to his website on myspace.com and download. They’re free downloads for now.

Persephone and I first listed to his song “Jump in the Jumpy House” on his website and LOVED IT! New fave! This song could easily be the theme song for the multitude of kid friendly festivals and fairs that happen during the summer and autumn months! It’s a call to FUN. - And “Hey! It’s Lunchtime” has inspired Persephone to claim that lunchtime is her favorite time too. Last night when I told her it was bathtime she protested and said she’d rather it be lunchtime. Lunchtime is more fun…

Mr. David is giving the first 3,000 fans who sign up for his newsletter a free, signed copy of the “Hey! It’s Lunchtime!” single. It might not be too late, and worth a shot if you’d like to get your hands on some new music.

UPCOMING FAMILY PERFORMANCES

  • The NieldsMay 26th (10am) - Aric Bieganek @ Cup & Top
  • June 10th (11am) - The Nields @ Thornes
  • June 2th (10am) - Mr. Richard @ Cup & Top
  • June 16th (10am) - Ulysses S. Dee from The Deedle Deedle Dees solo @ Cup & Top
  • Uncle RockJune 16th (6pm) -The Deedle Deedle Dees@ Artifacts
  • July 7th (10am) - AudraRox @ Cup & Top
  • July 28th (10am) - Uncle Rock @ Children’s Art Museum

FEATURED ALBUM REVIEWS ON ZOOGLOBBLE:


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Click here to subscribe to the HFVS podcast.HEAR HERE: The Hilltown Family Variety Show can be heard on-air every Tuesday from 7-7:30pm on WXOJ LP, 103.3 FM, Valley Free Radio, out of Northampton, MA.

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    Uncle Rock in Concert - July 28th, 2007

    Hilltown Families & Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child Present …

    UNCLE ROCK!!!

    Join us for an intimate performance with Uncle Rock in the beautiful Hilltown of Shelburne Falls, MA. Make a day exploring Shelburne Falls following this Saturday morning performance. “Unlike some of the classic New England towns that are overrun with tourists in the summer and fall, Shelburne Falls remains a bit of an undiscovered pot of gold at the end of a bridge decked with a rainbow of blossoms.”

    Reserve your tickets for UNCLE ROCK!

    • July 28th, 2007 @ 10 a.m.
    • Children’s Art Museum
    • Shelburne Falls, MA.
    • Tickets are $6.
    • Call to reserve your tickets!
    • 413.296.0096.

    “[Uncle Rock’s CD, Plays Well with Others] is the album you imagine your former-rocker husband would love to make for your own kids–if only you had let him buy that Stratocaster last year instead of replacing the washer and dryer.” - Cool Mom Picks

    Plays Well with Others is an album with some great cuts of kid-friendly roots-rock.” - Zooglobble.com

    (c) Hilltown Families - Uncle Rock
    Persephone met Uncle Rock last year while sailing aboard the Sloop Clearwater on the Hudson River. She’s been smitten ever since! Our well loved copy of Plays Well with Others has been played at pancake breakfasts, a community Halloween dance and on HFVS.

    His real name is Robert Burke Warren. The former globe-trotting bass player (with the Fleshtones), stage actor (as the lead in the London production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story) and Americana songwriter (with Rosanne Cash and for Wanda Jackson) stumbled onto his most satisfying creative endeavor yet as a teacher’s assistant at the rural School Of The New Moon in Mount Tremper, New York, where Uncle Rock was born.

    Warren shares, “It’s my natural bent as a songwriter to go to shadowy areas, and I was happy to be reminded that most kids have an innate interest in things like ghosts, wild animals, villains, misadventure and mystery.” An erstwhile stay-at-home dad, went to work with guitar in hand, and, surrounded by preschoolers, found that requests for the darker stuff were constant.
    (c) Hilltown Families - Uncle Rock
    Much of Uncle Rock’s music rocks, with drums, bass, and instruments ranging from Irish tin whistle to kalimba to a RevereWare pot, while exploring often overlooked subjects that fascinate folks young and old:

    • “Picnic in the Graveyard” explores the largely Mexican/Central American holiday El Dia De Los Muertos (Day Of The Dead) in which families celebrate and break bread with folks who have passed on.
    • “The Gettin’s Big Blues” describes the difficulties of progress with lyrics like, “I’m talkin’ baby talk/Pick me up ‘cause I don’t wanna walk…”
    • “Shoe Bandit” explains a childs confounding loss of a single sneaker.
    • Comments from the Peanut Gallery:

      (c) Hilltown Families - Uncle Rock

    • “Kids just wanna rock with Uncle Rock, whose colorful, engaging tales have made him a hit on the children’s circuit.” - Harp Magazine
    • “Freewheelin’ fun!” -Cookiemag.com
    • “Music that rocks both kids and adults is a brilliant concept and one done extremely well here.” - Kingston Daily Freeman
    • “Roots rocking family fun.” - Chronogram Magazine
    • “The hippest, most parent-friendly, most intelligent kids’ songs ever.” - Woodstock Times
    • “Thankfully adult-friendly tunes sure to become a staple in your household.” - Hudson Valley Parent

    Illustration (c) Sienna Wildfield