Music Blog

Music made for kids-- or at least with kids in mind-- hasn't had the best of reputations. Oh, the kids like it fine, it's not them who've done the complaining. Parents, on the other hand, have often been forced to endure the kind of earworms that may actually kill brain cells.

Good news, parents! There is another way. Perhaps inspired to action by those aforementioned negative possibilities and no doubt by the fact that she's a relatively new parent, Laura Veirs seems to have made her new Tumble Bee with both parent and child in mind. Full of alternatingly sweet, fun and comfortably re-listenable folk songs old and new, and boasting guest appearances from Colin Meloy, Jim James, Bela Fleck, Basia Bulat and Karl Blau, it's a welcome arrival to the children's music genre. Even the childless will like it.

Veirs celebrates the release of the record this Sunday afternoon at Mississippi Studios beginning at 3:30, and promises colorful get-ups and crowd participation with bubbles, shakers, clapping and singing. It's all-ages sort of by necessity, in other words, if for no other reason (although a child is not required for you to attend)! She'll be backed by Nate Query and John Moen of The Decemberists, along with Tim Young and Alex Guy. Sounds like a lot of fun, yes? Luckily, we have tickets for you (but not all of you)!

To enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets (1 adult, 1 child) to Sunday's Tumble Bee to-do, simply send an email with your name to opbmusic@opb.org and include "Tumble Bee" in the subject line. Hurry, the deadline is this Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock! We'll choose winners at random and notify by email. Good luck!