Secret Agent 23 Skidoo this Sunday! Plus more...

[Bill Childs]

Thanks to everyone who came out for Uncle Rock at NCMC -- it was a
great crowd, and we raised a bunch of money for the Center's
scholarship fund. Some more great shows coming up...

THIS Sunday, February 1 at 1:00pm (doors, 1:30 show): Secret Agent 23
Skidoo at Lyman Hall, First Churches - $7! (a portion of proceeds to
the church's capital campaign) - positive hip hop for kids with a
sound that's all grown up. SA23's show last fall was a highlight of
the year, and this will be a great pre-Super Bowl show for the whole
family. We'll have you home in plenty of time for the game, I
promise.

February 11 (and March 11) - Marcy Gregoire returns to Cup & Top for
after-school shows; 3:00 face painting, 4:00 music.

Saturday, February 21 at 2:00pm: Elizabeth Mitchell at Northampton
Community Music Center - $5! (net proceeds to NCMC's scholarship
fund) Can't tell you how excited I am for this show.
http://youaremyflower.org/home.html if you don't already know about
her.

Saturday, March 28, from 10 am to 4 pm at the JFK Middle School, we're
super excited to be presenting the inaugural River Family Music
Meltdown and Book Bash. And it's all FREE.

We'll have:

• Two stages of music (one more rocking, one mellower)

• Some of the most exciting children's book authors working today

• Story time with River DJs

• Great activities - not just the same old stuff you see at every
kids' event; promise

• Local food

• Wonderful local groups and businesses

On the music side, here's just some of who we've got lined up (all
subject to change, and there's more to come):

• The Nields (full band show!) - local heroes, national following,
great new two-disc record

• Deedle Deedle Dees - from Brooklyn, longtime friends of Northampton
and the show, fantastic historical rock

• School for the Dead - more local heroes doing a rare family show

• Aric Bieganek - You know him from the Northampton Parents Center;
the Gazette calls him the "Jack Black of kids' music," and his shows
are
great fun

• Uncle Rock - Long-time friend of the show, former Fleshtone, rawk.

• Ratboy Jr. - (new addition to the lineup!) - kids' iteration of the
Hudson Valley roots rock band

• Marcy Gregoire - newcomer to our happy valley, quickly becoming a
local favorite

• Dennis Caraher - one of the first guests we ever had, and still a
favorite with a fun new record

• Maria Sangiolo - sunny folk rock

• Laura Cayer - Formerly of the Juice Pops and Pop Rockets, now doing
solo stuff, along with shows with Marcy Gregoire

And for the authors, we've got:

• Timothy Basil Ering - Tim is the illustrator of the award-winning
Tales of Despereaux and the author/illustrator of Frog Belly Rat BoneI
and Necks Out for Adventure! He's the biggest kid you'll ever meet.

• Jane Yolen - Jane really needs no introduction. Jane has been called
the "Hans Christian Andersen of America" by Newsweek and "the Aesop
of
the 20th century" by the New York Times. She has countless books to
her credit - How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, the immortal Owl Moon.

• Jarrett Krosoczka, who's putting together the book side of the
event. Jarrett used to be a goofy kid who liked to draw. Now, he is an
award winning published author/illustrator with many books to his
credit, including the Punk Farm series and, coming this summer, the
graphic novel Lunch Lady.

• Anna Alter - Anna's work is reminiscent of a modern day Bread and
Jam for Frances. Her work is beautiful! She is the illustrator for the
lavishly illustrated chapter book The Purple Ribbon and she is the
author/illustrator for Estelle and Lucy and Francine's Day. Her
upcoming book (which should be here in time for the festival) is
called What Can You Do With an Old Red Shoe? (A Green Activity Book).
It's a craft book on recycling and Anna will work with kids at craft
table.

If you're a business or organization interested in becoming a sponsor
of the inaugural Meltdown, get in touch with me (show AT sparetherock
DOT com) and I'll get you a sponsorship package. We're hoping to get a
ton of folks from the community involved and would love to work with
you to get you involved.