Get excited folks, our friends from Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band have a new album! “A Potluck” serves up a musical smorgasbord of tasty lyrical numbers that incorporates styles from “indie pop to vintage rock and roll, ska and world beats”. It’s addictive, it’s electric, it’s energetic… and it’s groooooovy man.
The intro track “morning” proclaims, “When I use my imagination, I’m never quite alone”… which sets an adventurous tone for this mighty fine album. Listeners are then taken on a playful day through a 9 fun tracks, before arriving at the final track, “night”, to enjoy the community Potluck Dinner… Mmmm, banana pudding!
Top tracks on this album are many, with songs like “Lemonade Stand” evoking nostalgic memories for Mums and Dads and “On My Bike” inspiring new weekend adventures for the little ones. “Squirrely The Squirrel” and his potato sack race is especially fun for a giggle, a chuckle.. heck, even a guffaw!
I also dig “Lil’ Red Rooster” for the sheer craziness that it evokes in this household. I dare you to play this one loud during the witching hour. Chances are you’ll also love “Who Stole The Cookies” just as much as I do. I mean, really, it’s a classic song set to a groovin’ rock n roll beat!
For a little taste, you can download the single “Lines and Dots” via iTunes.
The Verdict…. Love it, Buy it, Play it LOUD!
Ammie and Kirra have scored themselves a free MP3.
Would you like to score yourself a free copy of the (digital) single of “Lines and Dots”? We’ve got a couple of MP3 freebies to giveaway. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what you love about Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band and we’ll pick a couple of our favourite comments and email you an MP3. Winners drawn on 27 April, 2012.
This month marks the launch of a brand new online publication called Mindful Parenting Magazine. It’s about kids, parents & everything in between, with articles covering diverse topics such as homeschooling, yoga tips for new mums, cloth nappy advice, a look at natural therapies, and an interesting article on “calming a busy mind”.
Mindful Parenting Magazine is completely free and the first issue is now available online. Advertising opportunities are also offered for small businesses, and article submissions are welcome.
It’s not everyday that I write about technology on {KID} independent, but this week I met the folks from FlashIssue and was impressed by their new concept in newsletter design. So today thought I’d share some info for my fellow bloggers, designers and retailers. You can sign up for a free trial through the FlashIssue website.
Here’s the low down… FlashIssue lets you easily add articles from your blog, other blogs, websites, and even product listings from your online store or Etsy store into a simple newsletter layout.
The interface is drag and drop, and the process shaves tons of time off the manual process of coordinating, linking and designing a mail out. In fact, “cutting through the mess” with a simple solution for sharing your message was the driving force behind the FlashIssue software development.
You can watch a demo in the video above.
If you’d like to try FlashIssue yourself, you can sign up online.
On April 17, independent NY musician Sukey Molloy will release her brand new CD,”I Am Happy”. Sukey’s style is bubbly and fun, with a positive and interactive attitude that encourages participation from little ones and gets kids moving. It’s perfect for families who love a traditional approach to playtime, with a “playschool-esque” appeal.
I listened to I Am Happy a couple of times with a group of under fours over the Easter weekend, and we joined Sukey in the “Put my scarf on my head” game, went for a “Ride on a ferry”, got a giggle out of “My head goes round” and “I’m a baby hippo”, and got mobile with the “Action Chant”.
The thing that I like about Sukey’s style is how it gets kids engaged, listening closely to the lyrics so they can follow along with the actions. This is an album that is best suited to toddlers and pre-school aged kids, and in fact, I’ve passed it on to a kindy teach friend of mine who would like to use it for some morning playtime activities.
I Am Happy is co-produced with Grammy-winner Larry Alexander, who has worked with names such as Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi and David Bowie. Sukey herself is an accomplished performer, racking up a range of awards from NAPPA honours, Preferred Choice, and a Moms’ Choice Gold Award.
You’ll find I Am Happy and Sukey Molloy’s other albums online at her website, or through iTunes.
Need some reading to entertain the kidlets while you catch up on your weekly gossip mags / newspaper / PhD thesis / romance novel / scientific journal? Here’s three awesome children’s magazines that have just hit our mail box, all of them are available for purchase online (or through selected retailers).
BIG Kids Magazine – Treasure Maps
This month marks the 2nd edition of BIG Kids Magazine and the theme is Treasure Maps! I’m loving this issue, there’s a ton of inspirational art including a pull-out art print, colouring pages, and activities to inspire little minds.
Lotta Magazine -The Travel Issue
Filled with great ideas for toys that travel, and all sorts of imaginative ideas for exploring the world without even leaving home; the travel issue has craft ideas such as making your own African village, building a stackable city, creating a paper snow globe, and turning a wooden spoon into a beautiful global girl doll!
ANORAK – The Yummy Issue
The theme for this delicious issue is food! Set sail on an adventure to FOODWORLD, meet Greedy Greg, a picky kind of bloke, laugh until your sides hurt at the madcap adventures of Munky and Horrace, read the story of Sammy the Worm/Gumball, and dance with the stars.
Would you like to score yourself a free copy of the (digital) single of “Lines and Dots”? We’ve got a couple of MP3 freebies to giveaway. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what you love about Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band and we’ll pick a couple of our favourite comments and email you an MP3. Winners drawn on 27 April, 2012.
