Music News Net

2010 Life is good Festival Announces Line Up

MUSIC NEWS - Life is good® and promoter Superfly Presents today announced the lineup for the 2010 Life is good Festival at Blue Hills. See previous MNN Life is good fest news.  Set to take place September 11 & 12 at Prowse Farm in Canton, MA, a suburb of Boston, the multi-faceted event combines world-class headliners, popular developing bands and several of the top children's artists working today. With a wide range of entertainment options including games, interactive art activities and a nationally-known circus company, this one-of-a-kind festival aims to raise $1 million for kids facing life-threatening challenges through the Life is good Kids Foundation.

The 2010 Life is good Festival at Blue Hills will feature national headlining artists Jason Mraz, Ben Harper & Relentless 7, Guster, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ziggy Marley, Galactic, Ozomatli, and Mavis Staples as well as rising stars Brett Dennen, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Donavon Frankenreiter, OK Go, Dr. Dog, Trombone Shorty and more. Top children's artists The Laurie Berkner Band, Dan Zanes and Friends and They Might Be Giants will join in the fun on the "Good Kids" Stage and will be joined by San Francisco's kids-rock performers The Sippy Cups and a unique "Circus To Go!" performance by Big Apple Circus. The complete talent line-up is listed below. Complete festival information can be found at www.lifeisgood.com

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Wrap Up 2009 With Live Dates

MUSIC NEWS - After a jam-packed 2009, honorary scientists/rockers They Might Be Giants will conclude 2009 with a "big" bang. For one, the band will appear on “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” on December 11 with special guest John Hodgman!  Later this month, they will play two special family shows at the New York Hall Of Science in Queens, NY on December 13, then take their the family show to Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club on December 28, playing one show for kids in the afternoon and one for adults later that night.   TMBG then wraps up their tour with two New Year’s Eve shows; one for kids and one for adults, at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, MA.

LOS LOBOS Joins Up With Mickey Mouse & Friends

MUSIC NEWS - In one of the odder, yet intriguing musical moves, East L.A. Grammy winners Los Lobos have returned with a family album that features 13 classic Disney tunes performed in LL's unique style.  The release mixes the band's brilliant eclectic music backgrounds with old time Disney favorites.  Often a rarity with rockers go pop efforts,  Los Lobos Goes Disney (out now via Walt Disney Records) is an album that should please their existing fans while added new, younger ones!  Though we're not sure if we're ready for a Los Lobos tv show on the Disney Channel ala the Jonas Brothers !

Check it out @ Disney.go.com and LosLobos.org

PETER HIMMELMAN Goes Kid Friendly With "My Trampoline"

     MUSIC NEWS - Peter Himmelman, has released new kid/family album My Trampoline on the new, Minivan Productions label. With songs about a trampoline, an African leopard tortoise named King Ferdinand, a picky eater named Peter, and the scarcity of kids named Steve, Himmelman mixes his offbeat sense of humor with lush pop stylings and irresistible beats to delight everyone in the minivan.

Himmelman, a L.A. based father of four children, writes kid-friendly lyrics that can be hilarious and reflective at the same time. Any kid who has ever pondered the immensity of the universe will love the meditation of “Ten Billion Blades of Grass.” “The idea for the song struck me when staring at our lawn one morning. Each of the blades of grass seemed like a sentient being, with perceptions, however subtle, about the world around them. The thought occurred to me that they get along so well because they're one big family.” “Statistical Factoids” will delight young brainiacs, “Main Dish” gives the nod to both Julia Child and Charley Pride and “Workin’, Playin’ and Dreamin’” offers up a bluesy romp with stories about kids who are making their dreams come true, with a little help from mom and dad. The high-energy collection of tunes concludes with a sweet “Lullabye (with Baseball and Trains).”

Himmelman reports that the songs on My Trampoline were inspired by real life. “We've had a trampoline in our backyard for the last ten years and our kids have had at least as much fun with it as any $30,000 swimming pool,” he said. “I figure anything that simple and that much fun must have a lot of special significance. There’s something very metaphoric in a trampoline as well; you’re always striving to gain altitude ... and even though you may never quite get aloft, there's magic in the trying.”