Kidzapalooza 2011 Lineup Announced

With Lollapalooza celebrating its 20th anniversary in Chicago this year (August 5-7 in Grant Park), Kidzapalooza celebrated in a very special way:

By releasing its performer lineup before the Austin City Limits/Austin Kiddie Limits announcement for a festival that's usually about 2 months after Lolla.

Some of the lineup had been previously leaked, but the big five are:

Keller Williams
Haley Bonar
Ralph's World
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Big Bang Boom

In addition to these bands, the lineup also includes the Q Brothers (there every year performing and doing rap/beatbox workshops with the kids), Peter DiStefano and Tor (there every year), and Northbrook Garage, Kate Diaz, and the Happiness Club, all youth performers. (And here's something to think -- it's a nice feather in a cap for an established musician to be able to say they played Lolla, but can you imagine what it's like for a Chicago-area teenager?)

That's a solid lineup right there once again. Anyway, if you want to see the lineup announced by Kidzapalooza co-founder Tor Hyams' kids, here's a YouTube video for ya. Tor's son looks so much like Tor it's scary. Except for the glasses.

KidVid Tournament 2011 Champion: Keller Williams

Well, it was a close-fought battle that went right down to the final hour, but in the end Keller Williams and his video for "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" beat out Sugar Free Allstars' video for "Cars and Trucks" to be declared KidVid Tournament 2011 champion.

A tip of the cap to SFA, who beat a number of strong videos with their funky cartoon on their way to the championship and nearly pulled off the stunning upset. But it was not to be, as Williams' video took the crown. A video, I might add, which manages to retain viewers' attention with a simple concept -- Williams creates a loop (seemingly live), and a bunch of folks hula hoop their way through the rest of the video. Maybe it retains viewers' attention because of that simple concept.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank once again all my fellow kids' music writers who helped with this year's tournament by hosting various components -- Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl, Out With the Kids, Ages 3 and Up!, Gooney Bird Kids, Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, and Dadnabbit. I think we'll do this again next year.

So, for the last time, here is your KidVid Tournament 2011 champion...

Keller Williams - "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2011 Championship: Keller Williams vs. Sugar Free Allstars

Did it start with the brackets? Or maybe even before then with the list of my favorite videos? No, KidVid Tournament 2011 really started many months if not years ago when the two artists here today first came up with the germ of an idea for a song, then followed that up with an idea for a video.

The KidVid Tournament 2011 Championship features Keller Williams and his video for "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" going up against Sugar Free Allstars and the video for "Cars and Trucks." SFA's been a giant-killer all tournament -- can they come through one more time?

This is the championship matchup when fans can sometimes get a little frenzied, so just a few reminders:
1) This is for fun. There is no money, schwag, or anything except a final congratulatory post and the self-satisfaction that your favorite artist/video won an internet popularity contest. So please balance your attitude accordingly.
2) Please watch both videos -- many of you may know who you're going to vote for, but these are both excellent videos and worth your time.
3) One vote per household please.
4) All votes are due by 9 PM West Coast time tonight (Monday).

Thanks, and have fun!

Keller Williams - "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" [YouTube]

Sugar Free Allstars - "Cars and Trucks" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2011 Semifinal #1 (Keller Williams vs. Debbie and Friends

I hope you've taken the opportunity to watch a lot of great videos and vote for your favorites at a lot of great kids music sites over the past couple weeks -- now the four videos which won their regionals will compete here at Zooglobble to finish determining the KidVid Tournament 2011 champion. The first semi-final matchup features Keller Williams, who won the Pete Seeger Region with his video for "Hula Hoop to Da Loop," going up against Debbie and Friends, the winner of the Woody Guthrie Region with "Cinderella." Two very different videos, indeed, so even if you came here intending to vote for one or the other, I hope you'll take 3 or 4 minutes and check out the competition's song and video. Polls close at 9 PM West Coast time tonight (Thursday). As always, one vote per household, and play nice.

Debbie and Friends - "Cinderella" [YouTube]

Keller Williams - "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" [YouTube]

KidVid Tournament 2011: Round 2 (Keller Williams vs. Recess Monkey)

I know, it's almost the end of the day, but I did want to highlight that the first day of second round voting for KidVid Tournament 2011 starts today with the matchup in the Pete Seeger Regional. It features Keller Williams and his #1 seeded video "Hula Hoop to Da Loop" up against #2 seed Recess Monkey and "Black Hole in My Room." All the action (OK, the videos and the poll) can be found over at Ages 3 and Up! right here.