Families are an important part of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival and the Hub International Barton Family Fun Zone provides fun and exciting activities for kids of all ages.
It also hosts some of the most engaging children’s talent around. Coming to the 2014 Family Stage are Dan Zanes, Rattle and Strum, and Nylon Zoo – three family inclusive performers who focus on interactive play, storytelling, and dress-up while they weave mature musical sounds with smart youth-centred content. These dynamic acts will get you dancing and playing whether you are age two or 62.
There’s something you should know about Dan Zanes: he is passionate about making homemade family music, and encouraging his friends and neighbors to do the same. He has a mission to introduce his musical friends to his neighborhood friends and show everybody, not just that they can play together, but that they can also feel pretty good while doing so.
Zanes began his musical career during the ’80s as a member of The Del Fuegos, later releasing a solo album before his foray into the field of family entertainment. In 2000, he released the children’s folk-tinged album Rocket Ship Beach, featuring musical friends Sheryl Crow, Suzanne Vega, Donald Saaf, Rankin Don and the Sandy Girls. It became an immediate hit with families all around America.
Zanes has also collaborated and created albums with a host of other impressive and talented friends over the years including Louden Wainwright lll, Roseanne Cash, Aimee Mann, Lou Reed, Deborah Harry, Philip Glass and, most recently, Elizabeth Mitchell on 2013’s Turn Turn Turn.
The Dan Zanes Gusto Hour is a chance for families and people of all ages to gather and sing at the top of their lungs with Grammy Award winning musician Zanes in a loose, communal and festive environment.
Rattle and Strum gets kids of all ages dancing, clapping, singing and playing.
With Heather Johnson (aka ‘Strum’) on guitar, Steve Hazlett (aka ‘Rattle’) on drums, audience on percussion and everybody singing, this highly interactive band leaves nobody out and is known for original music that parents enjoy too.
Formally trained as a music therapist, Strum has been teaching children through music for years. Rattle, who also teaches music to youngsters, has been playing drums since he could hold the sticks.
Together Rattle and Strum are an irresistible combination with an unbeatable recipe for fun.
With a grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Rattle and Strum released their first self-titled album in August 2013 and it quickly received a prestigious Parents’ Choice Gold Award.
Although it is a children’s album, Rattle and Strum spent two weeks charting in the top-30 on Alberta’s public radio station CKUA.
Armed with catchy tunes, grooves, visual props, extra instruments for the audience members and a great sense of fun and silliness, this is a show that will not be forgotten.
Ever been inside the belly of a giant magical salmon or frog? Ever munched on magical eucalyptus leaves that transform you into a real-life dancing koala?
Join Nylon Zoo and enter a fantastical story Zoo-niverse… a place where theatre, costume, dance, music and play allow you to journey to ancient kingdoms, enchanted realms, sparkly unicorn playgrounds, and back again.
This journey of the imagination is a unique celebration of colour, magic and play that will stay with the young and young-at-heart forever.
Nylon Zoo is an art ensemble that specializes in interactive story activities.
The group incorporates giant story-telling inflatable creatures, theatre, costumes, dance, music, stories and play, in presenting fun-filled, magical experiences at community celebrations of all types. Nylon Zoo is led by Alisoun Payne, a Shuswap native who has been a performance artist for 23 years.
Roots & Blues runs Aug. 15 to 17. Tickets are available at www.rootsandblues.ca, or call 250-833-4096. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by and adult.
