They Might Be Giants - Saturday, Jam Stage
In their 25 years of creating innovative music, alternative rock legends and Grammy winners They Might Be Giants have broken many music conventions. Their foray into children's music has proven no less eventful. With a unique simultaneous appeal to kids and adults, TMBG has created three albums of children's music: "No!", "Here Come the ABCs" and the latest, "Here Come the 123s." Having unleashed their inner child on several tracks over the past two decades, the duo deploys its usual earnest wackiness on its children's albums with a variety of musical influences, from twisted American folk to '60s rock riffs and '70s soul. TMBG won a Grammy in 2002 for the "Malcolm in the Middle" theme song, "Boss Of Me." They have also written and performed theme songs for "The Oblongs," "Higglytown Heroes," "Resident Life," and ABC's "Nightline Primetime," as well as songs for "The Simpsons," "Home Movies," "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Courage the Cowardly Dog."

www.theymightbegiants.com

Justin Roberts & Not Ready for Naptime Players - Saturday, Jam Stage
Anyone who's ever been to a Justin Roberts' show knows that his music connects with kids in a unique way. Sure, they relate to songs about bullies, dinosaurs and losing teeth. And of course they're attracted to Justin's warm voice, often compared to James Taylor. But in the end, it's Justin's indelible pop hooks that seem to keep kids coming back for more. It's no surprise that this sophisticated approach resonates with parents, too. Just look behind the kiddie mosh pit and you'll find a bunch of adults singing along. Justin's sound has garnered comparisons to artists like Nick Lowe, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello and even Green Day. His fifth kids' album, "Meltdown!," has made him a favorite of the sippy-cup set. His videos are currently in rotation on the preschool cable channel Noggin, the kiddie-singer equivalent of landing the cover of Rolling Stone.

www.justinroberts.org

John McCutcheon - Sunday, Jam Stage
No one remembers when the neighbors started calling the McCutcheons to complain about the loud singing from young John's bedroom. After a shaky, lopsided battle between piano lessons and baseball, he had "found his voice" thanks to a cheap mail-order guitar and a used book of chords. From such inauspicious beginnings, John McCutcheon has emerged as one of the country's most respected and loved folksingers. As an instrumentalist, he is a master of a dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare and beautiful hammer dulcimer. Critics and singers around the globe have hailed his songwriting. His thirty recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including seven Grammy nominations.

www.folkmusic.com

Tom Chapin - Sunday, Jam Stage
Tom Chapin's music spans styles and generations. For more than 30 years, Tom has entertained, amused and enlightened audiences of all ages with life-affirming original songs. Tom has gained widespread critical and popular acclaim for his recordings aimed at four to 11 year-olds and their families. His family albums have been recognized with awards from the American Library Association, Parents' Choice, the New York Music Awards, the National Association of Parenting Publications and Parents magazine. Five of his family recordings have received Grammy nominations for Best Musical Album For Children. Billboard magazine calls Chapin, "the best family artist around."

www.tomchapin.com

Trout Fishing in America - Saturday & Sunday, Jam Stage
Trout Fishing in America is the long-standing musical partnership of Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet. Their infectious mix of folk/pop and family music is tempered by the diverse influences of reggae, Latin, blues, jazz and classical music. TFIA recordings have garnered three National Indie Awards and multiple Parents Choice Gold and American Library Awards, as well as three Grammy nominations. Sharing knowledge and encouraging art has become another musical mission of TFIA. They have developed a variety of song writing workshops for teachers and students that illustrate how art and music come from the fabric of everyday life. Their willingness to make fun of our most annoying and sometimes disgusting habits in one song then touch hearts with tender and passionate images of family life in the next is what makes the connection between TFIA and their audience so real.

www.troutmusic.com

Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove & The Hiccups - Saturday & Sunday, Jam Stage
Award-winning kid-rocker Jim "Mr. Stinky Feet" Cosgrove has delighted audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, including two performances at The White House. Cosgrove is a Kansas City-based singer/composer known among the elementary set as "Mr. Stinky Feet," due to the popularity of his CD award-winning CD, Stinky Feet. His music has earned three national Parents' Choice Recommended Awards, a National Parenting Publications Award, and a Kids Radio Mania Award. His approachable style and ability to immediately connect with children has made him a cool favorite on the concert tour circuit, especially with parents, who appreciate his educational, interactive, and high-energy shows. The former newspaper journalist and corporate publicist has become a hero to some for his courage to leave the security of a traditional career to follow his passion and discover his true purpose in life.

www.mrstinkyfeet.com

Dino O'Dell & the Veloci-Rappers - Saturday, Jam Stage
With an acoustic guitar, a box full of musical instruments and a wealth of stories, Dino O'Dell has been entertaining children in daycares, parking lots, bookstores, churches, living rooms, theaters, and elementary schools for over 10 years. Performances include such hits as "Zar," "Itty Bitty Monsters," "The Peanut Butter Pond," "The Pizza Polka," "Worms - They Really Hit the Spot" and "I Go Bananas for Bananas." It's a celebration of cultures; from Jamaican Reggae to Ska to British Punk to German Polka and Waltz to American Rock 'n' Roll.

www.dinoodell.com

Funky Mama - Saturday & Sunday, Jam Stage
Krista "Funky Mama" Eyler is an energetic, guitar-playin' and sweet-singin' mom who left the TV news business to be with her son full-time at home and write funky songs for children. She was an on-air reporter with KMBC-TV Channel 9 (going by her maiden name, Krista Tatschl) and is currently a part-time preschool music teacher. Funky Mama has performed regularly in theatre productions in and around the Kansas City area for years and also sings professionally with the Dickens Carolers. Funky Mama blends rock n' roll, bluegrass, country gospel, funk, and fun on her high-energy albums.

www.funkymamamusic.com

The Traditional Music Society is an arts organization dedicated to the promotion of educational excellence and community cohesiveness through the study of indigenous music and dance from around the world (West Africa, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean).

Soundz Of Africa - Saturday, Jam Stage & Jiggle Tent
With the Soundz of Africa, exciting rhythms and exhilarating dances transport you to the setting of an African village. Celebrate a baby-naming ceremony, watch a dance honoring a king or queen, listen to music honoring the achievements of a hunter or experience a harvest dance. Hear the thunderous djunjun drum and the powerful djembe drum from Mali and Senegal. Explore the meaning of African music and how it not only conveys history, but also reinforces important moral and social values.

Soundz Of Samba - Sunday, Jiggle Tent
The Soundz of Samba takes you on a musical excursion that will engulf you in the biggest parade in the entire world - Carnival of Rio de Janeiro! Bass drums, bells, shakers, snares, and whistles all recreate the national rhythm and dance of Brazil - Samba. This group truly depicts the color and pageantry of this four-day-long event in which marching bands come from all over Brazil to express their respective themes and to compete for national recognition.

Trio Tropical - Sunday, Jiggle Tent
The Trio Tropical takes you on a trip through the Americas via song. The trio plays a variety of songs, including Mexican lullabies, Venezuelan work songs, festival songs of Bolivia, and romantic songs of Peru. The three musicians present these traditional styles with the help of twenty different instruments, making for a lively journey.

www.traditionalmusicsociety.org

StoneLion Puppet Theatre - Saturday & Sunday, Jiggle Tent
Using multiple styles of puppetry, including marionettes, masks, shadow, mouth, and rod puppets, StoneLion Puppet Theatre brings the magic of world-class puppet shows to you. The shows are fresh, original and educational and have been presented throughout the United States. StoneLion is a Smithsonian Institute touring performer, on the Missouri Arts Council Touring Roster, and a member of UNIMA International and The Puppeteers of America.

www.stonelionpuppets.org

Bongo Barry - Saturday & Sunday, Jiggle Tent
What started with pots and pans in the family kitchen has evolved into a passion for Barry Bernstein, MT-BC.

A registered music therapist, Bernstein is a wealth of knowledge about the healing and motivational power of rhythm. As a music therapist he has developed programs and presented papers on the use of music therapy to treat a number of mental and physical disorders. His clinical experience, as well as his years as a performing artist provide the perfect mix for an informative and entertaining show.

www.healthysounds.com

The Jazz Storytellers - Saturday & Sunday, Jiggle Tent
The Jazz Storytellers expose children to the sights, sounds and instruments that create jazz music. With their blend of skits, interactive activities, storytelling and music, the Jazz Storytellers delight kids from 0 - 100.

The group is comprised of professional jazz musicians Michael Warren (drums), Tyrone Clark (bass), Lisa Henry (vocals), and premier storyteller, Brother John.

Let the Jazz Storytellers move, groove, thrill and delight you.