Families can bring a picnic blanket and delight in the imaginative and whimsical tunes of award-winning musicians as they perform on the lawn of the Getty Center’s Central Garden. Best of all, Garden Concerts are free!
“Children’s music is much more than the classic standards parents have grown up with,” explains Laurel Kishi, public programs manager at the J. Paul Getty Museum. “These musicians are driven to create innovative approaches to children’s education and entertainment that the whole family can appreciate.”
Kicking off the series on August 2 and 3 is Mister G. Called a "kid-friendly, bilingual rock star" (The Washington Post) with “captivating Latin rhythms and melodies” (Los Angeles Times), Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) is a leading figure in the children’s music world. His fifth album, a literacy-themed CD entitled The Bossy E, was released in June. Mister G performs at theaters, festivals and museums around the U.S. and Latin America, and he was recently named one of the "Best Live Acts for Kids and Families." A former indie rocker, he toured internationally, performing for grown-ups before earning a Masters of Education and becoming a full-time family musician. Mister G’s albums have been included in best-of-the-year lists by People, Parents, and Education.com.
On August 9 and 10, Shine and the Moonbeams will bring their R&B sound to the Getty and introduce the sounds of classic funk, soul, blues, and jazz music to enthusiastic children. Shine and the Moonbeams exploded on to the family music scene in 2011, and includes singer-songwriter Shawana Kemp and guitarist John Heagle, two New York musicians who have performed in varied genres from musical theatre to the circus. They combine their unique perspectives to create a soulful musical extravaganza that captures the sweetness, uncertainty, and simplicity of youth. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2013 to much acclaim. With infectious rhythms, catchy melodies, and positively empowering lyrical themes stemming from Kemp’s experiences as a schoolteacher and mother, their songs encourage kids to celebrate life and get up and dance!
Wrapping up the 2014 series on August 16 and 17 is Alastair Moock. Long one of Boston’s premier folk artists, Moock turned his attention to family music after the birth of his twin daughters in 2006. The Boston Globe calls him “a Tom Waits for your tots” and Time Out New York calls him "a musical descendant of Woody Guthrie who refreshes the classic brand of acoustic folk with a zany sense of humor." Moock’s newest album, Singing Our Way Through: Songs for the World’s Bravest Kids, is nearest and dearest to his heart. The project began when one of Alastair’s daughter’s was diagnosed with leukemia and they started writing songs together in the hospital that reflected their family’s experiences. Moock decided he wanted to record an album for other families traveling similar paths and released Singing Our Way Through in July 2013. Since then, more than 2,000 albums have been distributed to hospitals, cancer organizations and patient’s families around the country. Moock is a Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner, three-time NAPPA Gold Award Winner, and a 2014 Grammy Nominee for Best Children’s Album. Alastair Moock and Friends’ live shows are rowdy, rootsy, singin’ and dancin’ fun for the whole family. Garden Concerts for Kids
Garden Concerts for Kids 2014 Schedule
Mister G
Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, 2014
4–5:30pm
Shine and the Moonbeams
Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10, 2014
4–5:30pm
Alastair Moock
Saturday, August 16, and Sunday, August 17, 2014
4–5:30pm