Way back in 2009 I was pregnant with H. I work for a record label and at the time sat next to our radio department. We had a new single by a popular dance act and they’d put on the single “because we want your baby to like dance music” (so kind!). It worked too – every time that bassline kicked in H would start kicking and moving around. Maybe she was born to dance? (the songs were ‘Raindrops’ by Basement Jaxx and ‘Talk to Me’ by Peaches – not the most video-friendly to show your child though)

While I was on maternity leave the first Baby Loves Disco CD compilation came out which I was sent – and oh yes indeed – it has all the disco classics – and seeing H these days and how she’ll pick up on any music and start dancing, I guess music was always going to be a big part of her life. Baby Loves Disco has grown too; starting in the US and now they’re holding monthly events in London, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. We’ve not been yet but fully intend to; last month Little Bird did a tickets deal so keep an eye out!

Actually, I thought the price for tickets was quite high, but looking at what you get for your kids, this is a pretty good deal –  facepainting, a chill-out zone with play tents, inflatables, instruments and toys, a full spread of healthy snacks and juiceboxes, bubble machines, baskets of scarves and egg shakers, arts and crafts or other quiet activities, balloons, dancefloor games and competitions with giveaways and prizes and most importantly, everything for the little ones is included in the entry price.

The Land of Sometimes have joined forces with the charity Dyslexia Action to release a charity single on December 9th, which will be a version of one of the album tracks from The Land Of Sometimes, ‘Dare Make A Wish’.

Ladbrokes have also announced that ‘Dare to Make A Wish’ is now in the chart battle for the coveted Christmas Number One Spot with odds of 10/1!

Four hundred children also from the Oxford area came together to record the song, alongside the two main youngsters (taking the lead vocals for Elise and Alfie), which will see all proceeds being donated to the Dyslexia Action charity.

Francesca Longrigg, writer and creator of The Land of Sometimes CD from which the single is taken from has said:

“This single is by children for children. In the music industry particularly with the likes of X Factor and Novelty singles competing for the top spot we wanted to remember what the heart of Christmas is all about – the children – and give them a chance to shine and have their special moment.”

The proceeds will go to the charity Dyslexia Action, the biggest dyslexia charity in the UK. We believe in the tremendous power of music in helping to transform learning difficulties, and indeed the Land Of Sometimes very own Isadora, (who plays Elise on the album) felt that her involvement in recording The Land Of Sometimes boosted her confidence and helped her overcome learning difficulties from her dyslexia enormously.

The Land of Sometimes is a musical CD for children; A magical story of two twins who go on a journey to a far away land and along the way meet the most eccentric characters who all have their own song. Fans include Ewan McGregor and Laura Bailey and reviews have appeared in many national papers such as The Daily Telegraph and The Times. All have been enchanted by this wonderfully unique cd.

“Dyslexia Action are so grateful for being the partner charity of the single made by all at the ‘Land of Sometimes’. We are very keen to have enthusiastic fundraisers such as LOS on this team, supporting the charity. It is both such a lovely and unique idea and we are glad to be a part of it. The money raised from this single will be used to help change many lives and help to break down the barriers in education that those living with dyslexia face. On behalf of Dyslexia Action, I’d like to thank all those involved in making this wonderful piece of music and to all those who purchase it and therefore support this very worthy cause”

Buy the single now from iTunes – help get the single a good Christmas Chart placing by buying from this Sunday! Let’s try and get it into the charts!

Last night I made a new discovery via Brooklynvegan – a band Play Date who play the kind of music that doesn’t drive you mad, in fact its proper indie – and aimed at kids!

Do you want to hear some? All you have to do is like their page on Facebook and you get access to five songs; ‘Rad’, ‘Anyone Can Sing’, ‘Imagination’, ‘The Number Song’ and ‘Dance Like A Monster’. It’s all fun guitar pop and catchy enough that children like H will get dancing (and hopefully it’ll start her on the way to realising there’s music outside the mainstream). At times the harmonies remind me of bands like The New Pornographers (least appropriate band t-shirt to wear at a Children’s Centre EVER – note to self), and it’s all good.

There’s some YouTube goodness here –

Play Date are Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonito and his wife Shanti Wintergate who have recorded an album of children’s music  ‘Imagination’, due on October 9 via Fun Fun Records (who I already love as they say they’re putting out Kindie Rock). Fun Fun Records started as Mike felt that there wasn’t a label out there putting Kid Friendly music out – and most of the bands he knew had become parents and wanted to make music that would appeal to their children. As they say “The idea is to keep the DIY PUNK ethics intact while providing quality and educational music for our kids.”

Go and check them out!

There’s also a free Fun Fun Records sampler over here.

Play Date’s page at Fun Fun Records

Play Date’s Facebook page

I received a link to download Play Date’s album, all opinions are my own. I have received more download links to feature other Fun Fun artists, so keep an eye out! 

The Wiggles at Hammersmith Apollo by Rosanna Ashworth-Jones at Silver Ash Photography

I’ve blogged about it elsewhere, but thought I’d do a brief summary here of things I wish I’d known.

• a door open time of 3pm does not mean the auditorium opens at that time. Try to get there half an hour beforehand and you wont be packed into a small area!

• driving is better than going on the train if your naptimes wont work. A cranky toddler at a Wiggles gig does not work. A refreshed toddler ready to jump around for an hour or so does.

• Watch those DVDs yourself, as don’t think you’re getting off scotch-free parent. At least learn the dances, it helps. Your child will have less of a disappointed look towards you when you know how to ‘Do The Monkey’ (and so on)

• Take food for yourself too. You’ll forget and take snacks for your little one then end up stealing their Pom Bears (if you don’t already). Take water too.

• Don’t forget to make a bone for Wags and a flower for Dorothy. If you’re really lucky you may even meet a Wiggle in the process.

• They really don’t have time for photos, but you can stand in line and take a photo of them collecting things which is much nicer.

• You don’t need earplugs if you have to wear them for gigs like I do. Toddler-volumed gigs are the way forward. Bring it on.

• You can take posh cameras into the show. Having said that, the two or three song rule like at regular gigs goes right out of the window. No flash though please!

• If you want to meet a Wiggle, then we found the aisle seats were the best ones, or seats where there’s a gangway. Failing that, they do eventually come out of the building. You can convince your kids that in a few more years they’ll be doing it on their own for the latest teen heartthrob pop star (or band or whatever).

• The merch stands are there to lure you in. If you’re lucky they’ll be cash-only but if you’re unlucky then they’ll take cards. It’s all lovely and bright and colourful and quite expensive too (for some things). There’s also some great bargains at a fantastic price – we love the Eco bags – at £2 that’s a really good price too. Can’t wait to do the weekly shop…

I think that’ll do. Did you see The Wiggles? Do you have any top tips? Let us know!

The Wiggles – 20 years older and three quarters set to retire

Very soon H and I are going to see The Wiggles live. We’re very excited about it as we only really got to know The Wiggles when we visited the in-laws in Australia in 2010 – with the new (but not as new as the New new) yellow Wiggle. However, we got back to the UK to find that The Wiggles Show was on Nick Jr every morning, so with the V+ programmed we got used to the old (proper) Wiggles with the original yellow Wiggle, Greg.

So soon ‘our’ Wiggles became the original Wiggles as it was meant to be. Just to add to the confusion Nick Jr started to show ‘Wiggle And Learn’ which featured new yellow Wiggle, but we were used to Greg.

The Wiggles with new-old-yellow Wiggle

So it was with a bit more excitement from us mums than actually from our kids when we found out there’d been some goings-on with The Wiggles, with original yellow rejoining the group, and new-now-old-yellow Wiggle (are you keeping up here?) no longer a Wiggle – and they were going to do a tour. I’d felt H was too young last year, so snapped up tickets the day they became available, rather excited to see the original line up. (n.b. see the following image, it’s not the original-original line up, as there’s only four of them these days)

Once upon a time there were five Wiggles and they were young but they didn’t have colour coded shirts

I mentioned to a friend how this felt like a final tour, and that I suspected something would be announced, and OH LOOK. Three Wiggles are retiring – so now there’s a New new yellow, a new purple and a new red – which makes me look forward even more to the shows coming up as it’s our first and last chance to see them. H, being almost three probably wont remember a thing.

One thing I do want her to remember if she does hold any memories in later life of it is that she still has her hearing.

Which brings me to my question – how loud is a Wiggles concert? I have to wear earplugs because of my tinnitus, and I’m bringing H up with a healthy attitude (I hope!) to protecting her ears. We own some KidProof ear defenders – am I being over the top to take those with us, or are the volumes at a Wiggles show much lower than your regular gig? (I’d hope so!) Which of course, in turn, may mean I don’t need earplugs either! Bonus!

Please let us know, anyway – I’m hoping it wont be too loud!