Kids music makers met in Philadelphia the last weekend of June for Kindiecomm 2014, featuring showcases, workshops and conference trainings in the field. Alphabet Rockers joined Zee Avi, Recess Monkey, Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights, Cathy & Marcy, Jazzy Ash and more onstage for the industry showcase to close the conference. With 100 professional musicians dancing along to their choreography and singing their songs “Dynamite” and “Food Calculator,” hip hop music for kids made an impression and found its home amongst the indie rock, folk and jazz colleagues.

WXPN’s Kathy O’Connell and Robert Drake hosted an incredible weekend of conference and shows for the kids music market. The industry around entertaining families and children is rich with ideas and development, from family festival planning to video production, educational music to healing music, fundraising and kickstarting to writing and relaying the field.

Alphabet Rockers Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepherd attended the conference as featured performers at the industry showcase, alongside a fantastic line-up of diverse musical styles and stories from the sweet sounds of Zee Avi to an incredible new marriage equality song from Cathy & Marcy, to New Orleans jazz grooves from Jazzy Ash (joined by Uncle Devin, Andres 123, Cathy & Marcy and members of Dan Zanes Band), rockin’ moves from Joanie Leeds, Playdate, and Recess Monkey, and much more fun. The show kicked off with Alex & The Kaleidscope band, closed with the Diggity Dudes, and had special moments with Walter Martin, Molly Ledford (of Lunch Money) debuting a new collaboration with Billy Kelly, and an incredible duo of Nick Bayard and his 10 year old son on guitar. It was truly an honor to perform in the beautiful WXPN facility, as well as to perform amongst such an acclaimed line-up!

For the showcase, Alphabet Rockers brought beatboxing to the foreground, with a beat and groove from Tommy that rocked a 1-man-band sound. They brought the 200 musicians in attendance to their feet as they rocked out to the groove and danced head-to-toe with Dynamite and Food Calculator, songs that will be featured in the upcoming web series.

The conference was fantastic, with workshops inspiring the Alphabet Rockers to plan hosting another family festival in 2015, building off the Family Block Party they hosted with Eventbrite in 2013. Collaborations and connections continued to grow with friends from around the country, such as Aaron Nigel Smith in Portland, the Not-It’s in Seattle, Jazzy Ash, Lucky Diaz & Alisha Gaddis from LA, and The Little Rockers in New Jersey. A special moment was shared in seeing Jennifer Gasoi onstage – whom Alphabet Rockers met at Kindiefest in 2012, and celebrated her GRAMMY-win in 2013. Dreams really do come true! Jennifer performed alongside Lucky Diaz and the Jam Band, Dan Zanes, Trout Fishing in America, and Justin Roberts. It was a star-studded affair of all the kids music makers!

Here are some fun pix from the weekend, and videos of our fellow artists. Special Thanks to David C Perry for the photo of Alphabet Rockers with the audience, and Jazzy Ash for the gold-jacket pic!

Videos of artists mentioned: