![A group of kids gathered at the kids's disco during the Rock the Cradle event at the Children's Theatre Company and the Minneapolis Institute of Art Sunday March, 24, 2013 in Minneapolis, MN. The event was hosted by The Current. ] JERRY HOLT • jerry.holt@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/BGZC3XT47TSZEASBQTAZ54H2OA.jpg?&w=1080)
It's obviously too late for them to take my advice to relocate to the Metrodome. Rock the Cradle organizers did, however, move the date of their oversized, hyperactive and damn wonderful kids music fest by about a month to the second weekend of April (from early March). The 10th annual free event happens again Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and adjoining Children's Theatre. The date change should mean less puffy coats and moon boots for parents to lug around. We'll see if it lowers or raises the bulging attendance of past years.
This year's performance lineup lacks the Big Two of Minnesota kids-music duos, the Okee Dokees and Koo Koo Kanga Roo (though there's a hint the latter may do a surprise "pop-up" set). That means it's a good year for some of the other local family-friendly acts to shine.
First and foremost is Honeydogs frontman Adam Levy's band with his daughters, Bunny Clogs, who just issued their animalistic second album in January, "Whales Can't Whistle." The Bazillions, led by married educators Adam and Kristin Marshall, have enjoyed more than 2 million YouTube views for their "Schoolhouse Rock"-style music videos such as "Preposition." They just issued those clips on a new DVD, " Rockin' Video Connection." Rounding out the lineup is Duke Otherwise from Madison, Wis., and the MacPhail Center for Music House Band, whose school is also hosting the "Sing, Play & Learn" room with early-childhood specialists all day.
Other activities throughout the day include: The popular Kid's Disco in the Children's Theatre, wherein we get to see the 89.3 the Current DJs dance and (at least for one day) refrain from playing Father John Misty; Storytime with the Current DJs, which will be without the usual, "Why does he talk funny?" questions from the audience this year with Mark Wheat out of town; dramatic workshops with the Children's Theater Co., plus several arts-and-crafts projects.
Click here for the full program. Here's the live music schedule:
- 1:15 – 11:45 a.m. Duke Otherwise
- 12 – 12:30 p.m. Bunny Clogs
- 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. The Bazillions
- 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. MacPhail Center for Music House Band
- 2:30 – 3 p.m. Duke Otherwise
- 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. Bunny Clogs
- 4 – 4:30 p.m. The Bazillions
