Our latest album, I Chew, just got a nice review from an Australian website called Babyology.com. We're pretty sure this means will have to tour Australia and bring our surfboards! Click here to read the review!
We're so excited to kick off Summer with the first Hullabaloo on the Waterfront Concert on May 29th at 6:00 p.m.! The concert is free and everyone is invited. There's free (because it's Sunday) street parking surrounding the park and convenient, paid underground parking right at the park. Bring a picnic and enjoy the fountains, the amazing play structure and the sun setting over San Diego Bay. Activities start at 5:00 p.m. Music Starts at 6:00 p.m. A huge thanks to Soccer Shots, Carmel Valley Pediatric Dentistry, Gymboree and Children's Physician's Medical Group for making it all possible!
I'm happy to report that "I Chew" won a 2016 Parents' Choice Award! Here's what they had to say about the album. . .
I Chew is Hullabaloo's latest offbeat offering. From the title track lament of a polar bear to the appreciation of the sounds of a plastic chicken rattle toy (Shake, Shake, Shake) and from a self-aware spoiled brat (I Can't Let it Go) to a gender neutral salute (I Wear Pink), the songs are fun, clear, witty, uncluttered and expertly performed.
Friends since kindergarten, Steve Denyes and Brenda Kremer make up the duo aka Hullabaloo. Here, Denyes writes, sings, and plays the guitar, ukulele and bass. Kremer sings, plays the cajon and snare drums. Shawn Rohlf accompanies with guitar, mandolin and banjo.
A song about being thankful (Lucky Stars) and a new way to note a butterfly (Worm with Wings) deserve kudos to what Denyes and Kremer can accomplish in under a minute, and Flowers on My Shirt is a tip of the hat to the style of the late great Johnny Cash. If you're among those who "didn't go to bed with a yodel in my head, but there's one in there now," this clever collection is clearly for you.
Tickets are now on sale for the Hullabaloo Family Music Festival on April 30th at the Bernardo Winery. We've got a great lineup including: Kathryn the Grape, Little Catbird and Hullabaloo. Plus free demo classes from Songbirds Music and Blossom Music Together. To top it off, we're going to have a Mom Made Market with items handcrafted by local moms!
For complete information head on over to the Hullabaloo family Music Festival website.
We're proud to announce that I Chew is now available at all our shows! This is our 12th album and our 12th year making music for kids and families. Click here to have a listen and purchase if you like.
We just confirmed that the Hullabaloo on the Waterfront Concert series will return in 2016! The shows will take place the last Sunday of each month from May to September. Can't wait to do it all again!
We've been having a blast making music in one of San Diego's most beautiful parks. Join us for the next Hullabaloo on the Waterfront concert on September 27th. Activities start at 5:30 p.m., music starts at 6:00 p.m. It all takes place at the Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101).
We're back at the beautiful, new Waterfront Park this Sunday for another Hullabaloo on the Waterfront concert. Come early to enjoy the views, the amazing playgrounds and the fountains where you're allowed to splash! Activities by Kid Ventures start at 5:30 p.m., music by Hullabaloo starts at 6:00 p.m.
Bring a blanket and some snacks. There is a concession stand lots of other food options within a short walk. There is metered street parking around the perimeter of the park and a big, underground parking lot you can access from the north side of the park.
A huge thanks to Close5, the Super Dentists, Kid Ventures and San Diego County Parks for making this free concerts series possible!
We're super excited to kick off the Hullabaloo on the Waterfront concert series on May 31st at 6:00 p.m. Hullabaloo will provide the music, Kid Ventures will provide the activities, the Super Dentists will provide the goodie bags. There will be food trucks and unlimited views of a spectacular sunset over the San Diego Bay. It all takes place at the beautiful, new Waterfront Park (1600 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101). And. . . it's all free!!
A big thanks to Close5, the Super Dentists, Kid Ventures and San Diego County Parks for their support!
We're pleased to announce a brand-new concert series in San Diego's brand-new Waterfront Park. We hope you'll join us for five monthly concerts this summer brought to you by Close 5, the Super Dentists and the San Diego County Parks Department. We'll have an evening of music by Hullabaloo, activities provided by Kid Ventures. Mark your calendar! May 31, June 14, July 19, August 30 and September 27. Music starts at 6:00 p.m.
The Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival on April 19th at the Bernardo Winery is sold out. We're already looking for a (slightly) bigger venue for next year!
We've miniaturized the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival this year and brought it back to where it all started -- the beautiful, historic Bernardo Winery! It will still be a one-day celebration of the arts with music, dance, art-activities and storytelling for kids and families. It'll just be smaller!
In fact, we've limited attendance to just 200. Our previous festival were almost ten times that size! We decided to go back to a mini festival to keep it fun and comfortable.
It all takes place on April 19th, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
We were told that "eat more tamales" doesn't count as a New Year's resolution so we've gone a different direction here at Hullabaloo World Headquarters. In 2015 we will:
. . .bring the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival back to the Bernardo Winery.
. . .start a new concert series at the beautiful, new Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego.
. . .play a million libraries, backyard parties and theaters.
. . .record some new songs and set them loose in the world.
. . .remember to smile.
. . .and eat more tamales (See how we snuck that in! It's gonna be a good year.).
For the months of November and December we're donating a one CD to
Toys for Tots for every one that we sell.
Here's the official tally:
489 CDs
(as of 12/21/14)
Singer-musicians Steve Denyes and Brendan Kremer, collectively known as Hullabaloo, shape their new album around a message of inclusion and encouragement, and what is presumably an autobiographical story about two boys: quiet Steve--he barely makes a sound and is diagnosed with an acute case of the "shy kid blues"--and his noisy opposite, Brendan. The pair meet in kindergarten and become "Best Friends Forever (We're a mismatched pair, but that's just it/we're two pieces of a puzzle that just seem to fit)." Brendan coaxes Steve to come out of his shell, they find their calling when they join the fifth grade school band and form their own rock 'n roll duo. Their garage practice sessions don't thrill the neighbors, but "little by little, they started sounding pretty good," Brendan on drums and Steve on guitar. With a school talent show coming up, they need a singer. Or do they? With Brendan's encouragement, Steve finds his voice, Hullabaloo is a talent show hit and the pair's "You Can Do This" mantra shines through.
We've got great news! The Hullabaloo Family Music Festival has joined forces with the Natural Baby Fair and Reproductive Wellness to create one huge event. The Natural Family Fair will take place on September 14th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Hullabaloo Family Music Festival will take place right alongside the Natural Baby Fair. In addition to all the music and activities we have at our festivals, you'll also have access to all the speakers and experts in the fields of natural childbirth and fertility -- all for one admission price. It's going to be a great day. For more information, please visit http://naturalfamilyfair.com
We're super excited to be the headlining musical entertainment at LEGOLAND's 2014 4th of July celebration, Red White and Boom! We'll be doing two sets on the main stage as the sun sets. We'll play right up until the fireworks begin the we'll all ooh and ah together. Can't wait!
We're celebrating the release of our 11th album, Shy Kid Blues with a concert at the North Coast Repertory Theater in Solana Beach on May 31st at 10:30 a.m. We'll sing all the old favorites and a bunch of new songs from Shy Kid Blues. Tickets are $5/person. Kids under one year are free. We highly recommend getting your tickets in advance. Our last few shows at the NC Rep were sold out. To get your tickets, click here!
Our friend Colin Sharpe stopped by a show recently with his camera to capture the scene and ask a few questions after the show!
Hullabaloo-Mini-Documentary-Colin Sharpe from Colin Sharpe on Vimeo.
First Fridays at the Vine in 2014:
Starting this Friday, I’ll be at the Vine Theater/Bernardo Winery on the first Friday of every month at 11:00 a.m. This regular schedule will be much better than the hit-and-miss schedule we’ve had recently. And, the tamales at the farmer's market are fantastic so my resolution will be easy to keep!
More Monthly Concerts in 2014:
In addition to the monthly shows at the Vine, I’ll continue monthly shows at the Encinitas Community Center and the Scripps Mende Well Being Center in UTC. I’m also confirming dates for monthly shows at Art Soup, Kid Ventures (all three locations) and the Kensington Library.
Two Hullabaloo Festivals in 2014:
We’re planning two fabulous Hullabaloo festivals this year on May 31st and September 14th. Both festivals will be a blend of music, art, dance and more. And, we’ve got a few exciting new twists this year that we’ll announce very soon!
A New Album in 2014:
We’re heading back into the studio to record an album called Shy Kid Blues. It’s a mix of music and spoken word that tells one big story. I can’t wait to get this one out to you. I’m already calling it my favorite and it doesn’t even exist yet!
Now that the wild ride of summer has passed and the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival has come and gone, it's time to get back into the studio and make another album! This next one is going to be quite a bit different. It's going to be a combination of songs and spoken word that tell one big story. At the moment, it's tentatively titled, Shy Kid Blues and tells the story of a very shy kid named Steve that meets an outgoing, gregarious kid named Brendan.
Over the course of 11 songs and twelve monologues Steve overcomes his shyness and Brendan learns to play rock'n'roll drums on a wooden box and the two go on to live their rock'n'roll dreams. We start recording very soon and the album will be out in early spring to coincide with the ten year anniversary of Hullabaloo.
The Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival is a one-day celebration of the arts. Join us for a full day of music, art, dance and storytelling -- all for kids and families!! Performances by Hullabaloo, Rhythm Child, Euphoria Brass Band, Kristen Cook, Charles Johnson, Joann Woolley and more!!
The Arts Festival takes place on the Paddock Green at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Tickets are just $7 per person. Kids under one year are free!! For more information visit www.hullabalooartsfest.com
A huge thanks to all of you that came out to the "Baby Kakes" Fundraiser and to those of you that have donated over the past few weeks! I thank you and the "Baby Kakes" family thanks you!!
My favorite moment of the day was when one of our little friends emptied her piggy bank and gave all her money to the family along with a note of love and encouragement. Giving doesn't get any bigger than that!
I'm so excited to announce that we have confirmed a venue for our "Baby Kakes" fundraiser concert. The Pacifica Institute has graciously donated the use of their event space. Here are the details:
A Van for Baby Kakes Concert -- July 20th at 10:30 a.m.
Pacifica Institute
5945 Pacific Center Blvd. Suite 507
Admission: $5 donation
Every penny of your admission will go directly to a local family that needs a bit of financial support right now. One of their kids has some pretty tough medical challenges. Sadly, insurance doesn't cover all the costs and it's made for a tough financial road. Right now, the family is hoping to raise enough money to purchase a van to transport "Baby Kakes", his wheelchair and associated medical equipment.
I'd love to be able to take away the stress and emotional strain for this family but I can't. The one thing I know I can do -- that we all can do -- is help ease their financial situation. I hope that you will join us on July 20th at the Pacifica Institute. We'll sing, dance and stomp our feet and help a great local family at the same time.
It's official! We just booked a show at Fiesta Del Sol in Solana Beach on June 1st. We go on at 9:30 a.m. and kick off the whole festival. In other news, we booked a show at the Del Mar Fair on June 25. Brendan and I cut our teeth as musicians playing at the fair when we were in high school. We're excited to be back playing on the infield stage at 3:00 p.m.
A huge thank you to everybody that came out to the Hullabaloo Family Music Festival!! We had over 1500 friends singing and dancing on the Paddock Green for five hours. We're going to take a day or two to recover and then we'll start planning the Arts Festival that will take place on September 21st!
We are so excited for the Hullabaloo Family Music Festival coming up on April 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. We've got a great day planned for you. Hullabaloo will play two sets of music plus we've got Steve Poltz (yes, that Steve Pltz) lined up to play a set of kids music, the L.A.-based kids music group, Jambo and San Diego legends, Raggle Taggle.
In addition to the music Clif Kid will be on hand with games and healthy snacks, Art Soup has a great art project planned and Gymboree Play & Music has a great activity zone ready for your little ones. SoCal Kids brings back the ever-popular Musical Instrument Petting Zoo where kids can play real instruments. Princess Jillibean will be on hand for face-painting and crazy hairstyles!
We've also lined up 15 of the best locally owned, family-oriented vendors for your shopping and exploring pleasure. If you're hungry we'll have tacos and quesadillas (and beer & wine) by 17 Hands, tasty treats by Roxy, funnel cake, popcorn and a coffee cart.
This year we printed up the coolest Hullabaloo Family Music Festival T-Shirts! We'll have those for sale for just $10 in kid and adult sizes.
Tickets are $7 per person. Kids under 1 year are free. Discounts for families. Click here to get your tickets in advance.
For more information, visit www.hullabalooartsfest.com
So far, I've spent a good portion of the new year behind and in front of a video camera making some new videos. So far the videos have a TV spoof theme. Hope you enjoy them!
We are super excited to announce that the Hullabaloo Family Music Festival (April 13) and the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival (September 21) will be in the beautiful Paddock area of the Del Mar Fairgrounds!! Brendan and I had some of our first "real" gigs as musicians on the Paddock stage during the Del Mar Fair including being the default opening act for Milli Vanilli (how's that for a resume builder!). We're happy to bring it all around and present some good family entertainment in a beautiful setting.
We hope this quiet little video brings you peace, happiness and love this holiday season!
A Huge thanks to Kathy O'Connell for including us in her "Best Kids CDs of 2012" feature in Metro Kids. I really like Kathy's approach. . . a twenty-way tie!!
"In a year with many candidates for "best" CD, I'm declaring this year's high quality as the new normal for kids' music. Each release is unique, both musically and educationally. Consider this alphabetical-by-artist list a 20-way tie for the Best Family CD on 2012."
It really is an honor to be included in a list with so many great albums.
Thanks again, Kathy!!
We're off to texas this week to do two shows at the Austin City Limits Festival! We're on the same bill as Neil Young, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, Steve Earle and a whole bunch more amazing acts. When they list the acts alphabetically we come up just before Iggy Pop! Who would have though that our little kids music band would be on the same concert t-shirt as Iggy Pop?!
One of the fun little things about being invited to a fancy festival like this is that they are giving us the full royal treatment including sending a car for us when we arrive at the airport. I'm hoping to get a photo of our driver standing on the baggage claim area holding a Hullabaloo sign. That's definitely on the list of things I never thought I'd see happen.
Raise a Ruckus
Fall 2012 MusicReview:
Hullabaloo duo Steve Denyes (guitar and vocals) and Brendan Kremer (drums and vocals) are joined by guest musicians on bass, fiddle, piano, ukulele, washboard and more. As always, they raise their own foot-stomping ruckus with humor, infectious energy and an appealing blend of country, folk, funk and rock rhythms. Highlights: "Dad Upside Down" ("S-I-S upside down spells sis/She's standing on her head and her face is turning red/But sis upside down still spells sis/M-O-M upside down spells wow/Be careful not to hurt her, when you invert her/Turn your mom upside down and she'll say wow") and "Say Yes," a multi-syllabic anti-whine-and-wheedle song.
Although some childrens-music performers skate by with inferior skills to “regular” musicians, the genre’s talent pool is also swimming with considerable aptitude from acts that create music that satisfies parents as well as kids.
Then there’s the rare band like Hullabaloo, which will often have some adults forgetting “Rasie a Ruckus” is even aimed at children.
It’s not just that the duo of Steve Denyes and Brendan Kremer (and their guest performers) deftly breeze through the “kid-folk” arrangements on their 10th release, and it’s not just that their clever lyrics don’t condescend to lowest-common-denominator hooks for kids. Rather this music — and even some of the lyrics — pop with mature appeal. For instance, on the rolling country of “Say Yes,” our kid hero tries to impress his wary mother with a top-shelf vocabulary request she can’t refuse as Denyes sings, “This current kerfuffle’s caused us both undue distress/Please accept this mea culpa for my contentiousness/It would cause me great elation if you’d kindly acquiesce.”
Also, the remarkably well-executed Americana of the title track brims with all the eager expectations of a party song for the 18-and-olders — minus references to drinking and courting, of course. And the dreamy ballad “Favorite Day” is arguably an adult song from a child’s perspective as the kid sweetly recollects a perfect day at the beach: “I painted you this picture, I call it ‘My Favorite Day’.”
Refreshingly smart innovation crops up elsewhere, as in the infectious spring of “Dad Upside Down,” which points out the words “sis,” “mom” and “dad” are the same frontward and backward, but upside-down sis “still spells sis,” mom “spells wow” and dad is “just a mess.”
Unfortunately, Hullabaloo sometimes gets mired in songs aimed at very young children — with lines about swinging like a chimpanzee (“Look at You”), biting a sister (“Bit Her”) and green beans (“Green Beans Everywhere”), though the music always flows with top-rate musicianship.
Yet overall, Hullabaloo is like the Pixar of kid-folk bands, treating its all-ages audience with dignity and taking nothing for granted.
Rating: 3.5 stars (out of five)
Mindy Thomas of the Absolutely Mindy Show on Sirius/XM included us in her article in Scholastic Parent & Child this month. Thanks, Mindy!
We are getting pretty excited here at Hullabaloo World Headquarters! Our big Hullabaloo Family Arts is coming right up on September 22nd at Liberty Station. Thanks to our amazing event sponsors, Clif Kids, SoCal Kids San Diego and Hapa Yoga we've been able to plan an amazing day for you.
Heres a quick list of what you'll find at the festival. . . two sets of music by Hullabaloo; local songstress, Patty Hall; recycled folksters, Bucket Ruckus, LA's finest family band, the Hollow Trees; stories by Charles Johnson, Joann Woolley of Sign4Baby, Yoga classes by Hapa Yoga; hands-on art projects by Art Soup; a dress up costume zone by Mon Petite Chateau, dance classes by Dance to EvOLvE, a musical petting zoo, food trucks and a great gathering of family-friendly vendors. All this for just $7/person (kids under one year are free).
For more information visit hullabalooartsfest.com or click on over to Brown Paper Tickets to purchase your tickets in advance.
We just got a really nice review from Parenting Magazine! It says:
If you like Taylor Swift, then Listen to Hullabaloo. You'll find an eclectic mix of country, folk, and blues on Raise a Ruckus, with hook-laden songs that you and your kids will want to sing over and over again.
The good folks at People.com included us in their online feature about kids music and had this to say about Raise a Ruckus:
There are only so many silly songs a parent can take. And for those who have reached their kid-music max, a healthy dose of Hullabaloo's family-friendly tunes are the perfect balance. With the upcoming release of Raise a Ruckus, the two-man band have hit another home run with their cool collection of instant classics featuring all the folk, funk and rock inspirations parents (and kids!) are sure to appreciate.
People Magazine just featured us in their 8 Cool Kids Albums Now! feature. Michelle Tauber says, "Taylor Swift can wait. Start your little ones on this country-pop album brimming with clever wordplay."
I guess it’s kindie-folk summer! Quick. Grab an acoustic guitar and find a campfire ’cause “we’re gonna raise a ruckus tonight!” For their tenth release (whew, that’s a lot of campfires!), the kid-folk duo spares no expense. With guest artists including Grammy winners Buck Howdy (king of kindie country) and Marcy Marxer (queen of kindie-folk), the regal indie party has truly begun. Complete your royal s’more with Steve Denyes’s Johnny Cash–alike vocals, and you’ll be ready to unholster the kid in you and sling this high-energy album for a road trip—or a run through your backyard sprinklers. The music spans the American landscape: The title track hearkens to the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry; “Look At You” takes us to the swamps of New Orleans; and “Favorite Day” is like skipping a stone on a back road in Oklahoma. Most wonderfully, the songs are filled with that dual-level humor that’ll make a kid belly laugh and a parent smirk. So what are you waiting for? Go gather your kindling before it gets dark! Available September 4.
A huge thanks to Patrick O'Shea at WPRB-FM in Princeton, NJ and Grandfather Stark at KDHX-FM in Saint Louis. MO for playing our music this weekend! We really appreciate it!!!
This great review from Common Sense Media just arrived on our cyber doorstep!
Parents need to know that Raise a Ruckus, from acclaimed and beloved children's musiciansHullabaloo, continues to raise the bar on songs for kids that not only encourage lots of movement and giggles, but also include mini-lessons the whole family can appreciate.
Hullabaloo continues their acclaimed storytelling songs with their 10th studio album, RAISE A RUCKUS. The 12 folk-country tracks from this beloved southern California band raise the roof on fun in the sun and rain, silly spelling, and even rocket shoes.
Whether it's swingin' like a chimpanzee or flying to the moon in fancy rocket shoes, Hullabalooknows how to capture the essence of childhood moments and put them to upbeat country beats that kids and parents can dance, giggle, and sing to. "Dad Upside Down" makes spelling silly and "Say Yes" proves the value of a good vocabulary, even for a preschooler. Musical storytelling and funny lyrics make Raise a Ruckus the perfect soundtrack for anytime fun.
The Family Man recommended Raise a Ruckus this week along side some of our favorite kids music artists. It's an honor to be up there with Lunch Money, Elizabeth Mitchell and Melissa Green! Thank you Family Man!! Click here to read the review!
Almost exactly 100 years ago today my musical hero, Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma. Woody wrote hundreds of songs including This Land is Your Land. As a young folk music geek, I studied his recordings hoping that just a little of his pure, honest magic would rub off on me.
I'll be singing a few of Woody's songs at my shows this week to celebrate his centennial and I'll also be a small part of a great tribute concert on Saturday night. One way or another, I hope we'll get a chance to raise or voices together this week and make Woody proud!
A couple more stations played songs from Raise a Ruckus this week! Many thanks to Miss Melissa at KAOS in Olympia, Washington and Jeff at KTOO in Juneau, Alaska.
The first bits of radio airplay are starting to come in for Raise a Ruckus. A huge thanks to A Grandpa Stark of KDHX and Paddy and Eddap of WPRB for playing songs from "Raise a Ruckus" today!
We're working hard behind the scenes to bring you another amazing Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival. Just yesterday we confirmed that the Hollow Trees, our friends from L.A. will come down and share some of their amazing music with us at the festival on September 22nd!!
Last weekend I was the guest DJ on the Hilltown Family Variety Show. I chose a bunch of my favorite American folk songs as my theme and had a great time talking a little bit about them. I just love these old songs. In many ways, they are the foundation for the country and rock'n'roll music that we know today. You can download and listen to a podcast of my little show by clicking here.
Happy Father's Day!! I was lucky to have an amazing dad. Always there with a smile, a joke or words of encouragement. The soccer team coach and the proud surf-dad. Maker of fine breakfasts before school. Stern enough when I was off track. A friend I loved to talk to. He left too soon but I still count myself as lucky.
Here we are goofing around in Australia.
We're making a new video for the song, "Dad Upside Down" from our new album Raise a Ruckus and we're looking for a few stars. We're looking for a family that can play the part of "mom," "dad" and "sis." You can hear the song by clicking on the music player to the right of this post.
If you live in San Diego County, have a somewhat flexible schedule and think being in a Hullabaloo video sounds like fun send me an email and we'll work out the details. There won't be any auditions or anything like that. If there are lots of replies, I'll pick a name out of a hat!
Thanks,
Steve
steve@hullabalooband.com
We are super excited about our new album, Raise a Ruckus! We've been working on it for something like six months now and it is finally finished.
The official release isn't until September 4th, 2012 but we will have copies for sale at our live shows.
If you want to hear what it sounds like, click the music player to the right of this post. We've got four songs from Raise a Ruckus loaded up for you to hear. Enjoy!
You may have noticed we did a little website makeover here at Hullabaloo World Headquarters. We're sad to say goodbye to our polka-spotted old site but we couldn't resist some of the nice, new technology here in the new century!
To the right of this post is a fancy music player. Just click it and we'll sing for you!
The calendar section is now a bit easier to read and our music videos have their own page here on the site.
It's all very fancy! I hope you like it.
--Steve
