Ah, Austin, a city I've called home (or home-away-from-home, or home-away-from-home-away-from-home) for well over twenty years.
Which means that I'm entitled to feelings of "when-the-hey-did-they-build-this-thing?," even if I was just there a couple months ago. Driving from the airport to the Glenn at the Backyard, site of the first Austin Kid's Day, held this past Labor Day weekend, I was constantly amazed at the width of the freeways and the number of power centers I passed. (Of course, this being Austin, many of those power centers are tastefully tucked in behind some trees so they're not nearly so noticeable from the road.)
I take that brief detour (metaphorically) to suggest that Austin, while it might have been able to put together a music festival 20 years ago, it certainly wasn't at the point where it might have supported a long afternoon of quality kids' music.
The Deedle Deedle Dees -- On Tour Endlessly
OK, not endlessly, but it's an honest-to-goodness tour. Those of you in Pennsylvania (sorry, that was today), Kentucky, Texas (including something called FAMILY MUSIC MELTDOWN -- c'mon and join us!), Arkansas, and Virginia, come on out and see The Deedle Deedle Dees. Lots of fun.
The tour, with some notes from Ulysses Dee himself, Lloyd Miller.
Sep 10, 2007 10:00 AM Barnes & Noble Pittsburgh, PA -- The Dees return to the venue Ulysses S. Dee calls "the nicest Barnes & Noble in the country. It feels more like a yarn outlet in Western Massachusetts than a chain store."
Sep 11, 2007 9:00 AM elementary school show Frankfort, KY
Sep 13, 2007 4:00 PM Austin Public Library: Spicewood Springs Branch, Austin, TX
Sep 14, 2007 9:00 AM elementary school shows Austin, TX
Sep 15, 2007 10:30 AM Austin Public Library: Terrazas Branch -- The home library of Joanna Nigrelli, the reigning champion of American library science.
Sep 15, 2007 2:00 PM Austin Public Library: Harmon Branch
Sep 15, 2007 6:00 PM Ruta Maya -- The Dees' first trip to the home of Ulysses S. Dee's original songwriting partner, Greg "El Mato" Helmick.
Sep 16, 2007 3:00 PM Little Rock Zoo Little Rock, AR -- The co-author of "Henry Box Brown" lives in Little Rock, but no longer in the zoo.
Sep 19, 2007 TBA TBA Lexington, KY
Sep 21, 2007 5:30 PM Charlottesville Pavilion Charlottesville, VA -- A benefit for the Virginia Discovery Museum. The show is free for the whole community, but if you can please donate to this awesome family destination.
Sep 22, 2007 11:00 AM Jammin Java Vienna, VA -- First show in the DC area. The Dees are thrilled to be visiting the greater metropolitan area of the third and current home of the nation's capital.
Austin Kid's Day Kicks Off Great Month of Austin Music
I'm at home this week, doing some spring cleaning (yes, it's a summer thing), finishing the last Harry Potter book, and spending some quality time with my family.
Oh, I'm also going to Texas for the first-annual Austin Kid's Day.
Yes, on Sunday, Sept. 2nd, I'll be at the event, which features a fun kids and family music lineup, with Joe McDermott, the Biscuit Brothers, Trout Fishing in America, and headlining the show, Aunty E. There will also be a bouncy castle, which I may or may not be allowed to jump in.
I'll be at the show thanks to Aunty E. (Thanks, Aunty E!) I'm looking forward to hearing her live, along with the rest of the lineup. Look for pictures of, interviews from, and other thoughts about the show next week. (Also, I promise to reduce my prepositions.)
The show will take place at the Glenn at the Backyard. Doors will open at 1 PM on the 2nd, with music starting at 1:30 PM. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for kids, which is a heck of a lot cheaper than Schlitterbahn. (More details at the website.)
If any readers out there are planning on going, drop me a line -- I'd love to say hey.
