FOR FAMILIES

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesdays, June 6 – August 29, 2012
Concert 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Esplanade

Part of our Summer Evenings at the Garden program, Dancin' Sprouts provides FREE musical entertainment for the Garden's youngest visitors!

JUN

8

Buck Howdy

Whether performing a solo campfire-style show or a rollicking full-band hoedown, Buck's twinkly charm and zany sense of humor come shining through. No wonder his performances and releases have garnered rave reviews and honors — including a 2010 Grammy Award, four Grammy nominations, Emmy Awards, and a Notable Children's Recording Award from the American Library Association. Buck has performed numerous times at the White House and at the Grand Ole Opry.

Listen to Buck Howdy

JUN

15

Miss Aimee Leigh

Miss Aimee Leigh has been thrilling audiences with her hilarious, high energy children's songs for over a decade. A talented guitar player with a beautiful voice, she gets the crowd moving with her American folk/roots, jazz, and bluegrass music. Aimee has a huge repertoire of original and traditional children's music that will have the whole family dancing and singing along!

Listen to Miss Aimee Leigh

JUN

22

Mr. Singer & the Sharp Cookies

Chicago’s favorite family band makes super-rockin’, positive music at family-friendly volumes. Their repertoire includes outstanding originals and a trove of classic tunes, bridging genres from swing to rock to samba. Be prepared for memorable sing-a-longs, thumping rhythms, and high-energy call and response!

Listen to Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies

On this evening, Dancin' Sprouts will be held in Burnstein Hall in the Regenstein Center, rain or shine. Please plan accordingly.

JUN

29

Karen Jordan

Karen Jordan, singer/songwriter/guitarist, has performed at libraries, festivals, and special events throughout the Midwest and East Coast. Rhythm of the Seasons is Karen's CD of original songs for kids. Much of her music was inspired by her ten years of teaching Wiggleworms for the Old Town School of Folk Music in the 90s. She has been a featured performer at the The Taste of Chicago’s Family Stage, Kohl Children's Museum, Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Dane County Kid’s Expo. Karen will be joined by jazz/bluegrass mandolinist Colby Maddox and bassist Jim Cox for a performance you won’t want to miss. Bring your dancin’ shoes and let the music begin!

Listen to Karen Jordan

JUL

6

Super Stolie & the Rockstars

Super Stolie and the Rockstars bring BIG energy to their pop-rock show for the whole family! With enough "cool" for even those in the double digits, their interactive performance offers a mix of catchy original songs and popular favorites while encouraging everyone to be silly, sing along, freeze dance, play instruments, pop bubbles, and go on your merry way with a "Rockstar jump" and a "high-ten." The Rockstars have shared their playful set at the Taste of Chicago and Navy Pier as well as bunches of Chicagoland street festivals and park districts.

Listen to Super Stolie & The Rockstars

JUL

13

Scribblemonster

ScribbleMonster can be heard nationally on children’s radio. Their latest release was named one of the Top 5 Kids & Family Albums of the Year by NPR. Their “draw outside the lines” approach to music for the family has earned the band raves ranging from parents to Parenting magazine. Come sing, think, play, dance, and get creative with ScribbleMonster.

Listen to ScribbleMonster

JUL

20

Leonardo

Leonardo is a Parents' Choice Award winning family musician writing and performing original songs and traditional favorites that entertain, educate and empower audiences of all ages and abilities. Along with his surf rockin' Makin Waves Band, he brings a high energy, interactive concert that is a celebration of possibilities. With fun props and a colorful set, his concerts are a pep rally, rock 'n' roll show, and beach party all on one stage. "...Remarkable understanding of a child's world" said School Library Journal of his music, and Grammy.com called his songs "Empowering, thoughtful, original compositions."

Listen to Leonardo

JUL

27

Laura Doherty

Laura Doherty is a nationally touring children's recording artist and award-winning producer with an ear for a catchy melody. She acoustically rocks your kid’s world with her breezy folk-pop tunes for the whole family! Her award-winning CD, Kids in the City (2009), pays tribute to her kinda town...Chicago, and has hit the XM radio airwaves and garnered great reviews in the press. Using the Windy City as her inspiration, Doherty writes about the El train, skyscrapers, the farmers' market, the zoo, and all the wonders of the city, as seen through a child’s eyes.

Listen to Laura Doherty

AUG

3

Macaroni Soup!

Macaroni Soup with Miss Carole! has been entertaining and educating young children and their families for over 20 years. It's fun, participatory music that gets everybody singing and dancing from "Hello!" to "So Long!" Miss Carole's 6 cd's have won 11 national awards, and she travels all over the country encouraging "Active Music for Kids!"

Listen to Macaroni Soup!

AUG

10

Tisa & the Flower Song Ensemble

Tisa has been joyfully singing and dancing for as long as she can remember. She has had the delight of making music with families for over a decade. Every member of the Flower Song Ensemble is a teacher at Chicago's venerable Old Town School of Folk Music. This band is committed to making memorable, body-moving, communal musical experiences. The Flower Song Ensemble creates original, traditional, and soul music that celebrates life, love, and the natural world.

AUG

17

Karen Jordan

Karen Jordan will be returning for another Dancin' Sprouts family concert with jazz/bluegrass mandolinist Don Stiernberg and bassist Jim Cox for a performance you won’t want to miss. Bring your dancin’ shoes and let the music begin!

Listen to Karen Jordan

AUG

24

The Dreamtree Shakers

Poppy folk, folky pop, or indie alt country americana, Jeremy Babcock and The Dreamtree Shakers lay down righteous, jangly tunes — the kind of airy, loping rock-n-roll that America and Neil Young were so good at — a soundtrack of sorts of their live puppetry and movement show, featuring characters and landscapes of the forest.

Listen to The Dreamtree Shakers

AUG

31

Mindy & the Time Outs!

Mindy Hester & The Time Outs!, a Chicago-based kiddie rock band, continue to surprise kids and adults alike with their witty, catchy, and energetic rock parodies. Just think Weird Al for the diaper set. Kids and their adult counterparts will love this high-energy, on-your-feet and often hilarious live performance, with songs from their brand-new award-winning album Juice Box Hero. They’ll get the entire crowd up on their feet doing the tushy twist!

Listen to Mindy & The Time Outs