MEMPHIS ROCK-N-ROMP

December 3rd Recap

2011-12-05T10:30:00.002-06:00

On Saturday, we held our last show of the 2011 season. It's been an amazing year for Rock-n-Romp!

We were back at 409 S. Main, which is one of our favorite indoor spots. This show, like our past holiday shows, was sponsored by Downtown Memphis Commission. (There wasn't a holiday parade to coincide with our show this year, but do check out DMC's Howliday Pet and Kids Parade next Saturday, 12/10. Should be lots of fun!)

The weather was so nice, we totally could have been outside! Some of our rambunctious boys made the most of our "stay on the sidewalk" rule.

The BEST thing about 409 S. Main is that it was once an art gallery, so it was perfect for our first ever Rock-n-Romp Photo Exhibit!

It was REALLY hard for us to narrow down hundreds of amazing photos to just 31 to display, but we were thrilled with how the show turned out! Thanks a bunch to Sophorn McRae for helping us get the show set up. We are thinking about doing another exhibit in the next few weeks, so don't fret if you missed your chance to see it. There are plenty of prints left for sale! Contact us if you're interested.

Our first performer was Keia Johnson, who was the cutest, sweetest, most energetic performer ever. She brought along a really tight band too.

On the third floor we had movies, hula hoops, and sit-n-spins. Chloe has been practicing her moves all season!

Downstairs we also had a craft for the kids and a lovely spread from Central BBQ and Whole Foods. The kids could make cork reindeer or any crazy cork design of their own.

I don't know if it was the lovely weather, the marathon traffic, or the lack of a holiday parade this year, but it was definitely the smallest December show we've ever had! It was kind of nice though. It had a very cozy vibe, and everyone enjoyed having some room to spread out. This guy even managed a nap! (My youngest slept through the entirety of season two!)

Star & Micey was up second and they really got everyone on their feet. Beautiful harmonies and lots of energy. Even board members were seen dancing!

I think it's safe to say that these guys are popular with the ladies. Ladies of all ages!

I love it when our tweens have fun!

And I REALLY love it when local rock stars have babies and bring them to shows!

These two gals were my favorites of the day. Their moms said they had to get ready together and that a LOT of time went into their outfits.

Last up was Vending Machine, with Robby Grant, one of Rock-n-Romp's founding board members at the helm. I love that he turned his sweater into a Christmas Tree.

Heck, the whole band was festive!

I love Vending Machine's special Christmas songs. You can download them for $5 here! They are sure to make you smile. See?

Another great thing about their set was seeing Robby's son, Five, play along for a song or two. He came up to me after the show and said, "How long have we been doing Rock-n-Romp?" And I replied, "Long enough for you to go from running around to sitting in with the band!"

It was such a lovely afternoon. So nice to see plenty of old and new friends. Thanks as always to our sponsors, Whole Foods and Central BBQ, for keeping our bellies happy while we rock. Please support these businesses-- they obviously care about the community. Also thanks again to all our volunteers-- they really keep the shows running smoothly.

And most of all, thanks to YOU guys for coming out. Thanks for a really awesome 2011 season. Can't wait for next year!

See a slideshow of show photos from staff photog Chip Chockley by clicking here.

December 3rd Rock-n-Romp!

2011-11-17T16:38:00.002-06:00

Join us for the last Rock-n-Romp of the year! We are returning to our downtown digs with the cozy family bathrooms :)

We will have our usual free beer, Central BBQ, and snacks from Whole Foods; three awesome bands; and a craft/movie area for the kids. All for a $5 donation per adult! (Children are free. Adults must be accompanied by children.)

AND we are very excited to announce our first ever Rock-n-Romp photo exhibit! Chip Chockley will have the best of the best of his pictures for you to admire and/or purchase! All proceeds will go to Rock-n-Romp!

Remember the St. Jude marathon is the same day, so traffic may be a little backed up. Try heading downtown via Crump to avoid the blocked off streets! There is plenty of on-street parking and nearby lots on South Main.

There is no holiday parade this year, but the Downtown Memphis Commission has plenty for you to do after the show. There will be carolers on the trolleys and lots of pretty lights in Court Square!

Come on out!

November 5th Recap

2011-11-07T16:12:00.000-06:00

The weather was absolutely perfect for last Saturday's Romp-- low 70s and sunny. This was RnR's 3rd time at the Levitt Shell, and we always have a great time there.

Arma Secreta played a show for us back when we still fit in backyards-- the 2007 season. This time around, they rocked even harder. They wowed the crowd with their mathematical precision, awesome changes, and memorable riffs.

Next up was the EPIC performance by the Wuvbirds. This is the new band which includes two RnR board members, Kate and Corey Crowder. This was a feast for the eyes and ears, featuring dance performances by 40 kids, costume changes, and props. This band was loads of fun, and Kate especially deserves a hand for organizing and directing the kids, in addition to her normal role of making sweet music.

This lady was simply stunned at the amount of fun happening onstage:

We also had a cool craft table for the kids to make their own Wuvbirds. Thanks to Melissa Farris for making this happen.

Last up was Rising Star Fife & Drum Band, which impressed us all with the simple instrumentation of a bass drum, snare, and a fife (which is a type of flute).

What a fun show! Thanks to the Shell and to everybody who came out-- you guys never let us down! Also, special thanks to our volunteers, who really make it happen: Mary Cashiola, Elizabeth Cawein, Colleen Couch-Smith, Allen Elliotte, Anna Ellis, Melissa Farris, Fred & Cathy Freres, Monika Haynes, Allison Hennie, Corrine Hutchison, Grace Korzekwa, Jenifer Meeks, Anna Mullins, William Pearson, and Joanna & Talyon Swan. Thanks as always to Central BBQ for their continued support, and to Trolley Stop Market for the delicious pizza.

Check out a slideshow of the photos by RnR photographer Chip Chockley by clicking here. Feel free to add your own pics to the RnR Flickr pool here.

Next up we've got an awesome downtown holiday show on December 3rd, more details to come. See you there!

November 5th Rock-n-Romp at the Shell 2-5pm

2011-10-13T10:17:00.002-05:00

Join us at the Levitt Shell for another amazing afternoon of music and fun! Arma Secreta, Wuvbirds, and the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band will be playing (in that order) and per usual we will have free beer, Central BBQ, and snacks from Whole Foods. We will also have some big ol' pizzas from the Trolley Stop Market! Supplies are limited so please bring a snack to share as well as a blanket or a chair. Little ones may need earplugs. Speaking of little ones, we will have a craft area set up for them to make some super cool bird puppets.

Adults must be accompanied by children. $5 per adult; children are free.

September 24th Recap

2011-09-26T14:09:00.002-05:00

On Saturday we woke up to amazing sunshine and perfect temperatures. Clouds began to gather around 1:00pm and we had a minute of panic, but after a ten minute sprinkling we were back to sunshine and happiness.

Our show was at the Mid-South Maze which I think we can all agree, totally rocks. (My only complaint is that it isn't in Midtown!) While everyone loves the maze itself, it is the jumping pillow that holds the rock-n-rompers attention.

First up were the Vignettes-- a newish band composed of two totally rockin' women.

I loved them and was totally reminded of Sleater-Kinney.

It didn't take them long to win over a hoard of new fans, with this cutie pie clearly sliding into #1 Fan status.

While the Vignettes played, the non-dancing rompers descended upon the Grizzlies inflatables in droves.

A few of us watched in disbelief, and then horror, and then relief as they slowly deflated with a pack of kids inside. No one was hurt, but a handful were shook up. (Another handful was shouting, "Do it again!") Seems there was an issue with overloading the generators. To solve it, the Grizz had to keep one permanently deflated, but the remaining slide still provided hours of fun.

Speaking of generators, YoLo totally saved the day on Saturday. Not only did they give out free yogurt, they helped us power up the stage! Turns out our new, improved set up was a teeny tiny bit too far away from the Maze's power source.

Had it not been for YoLo's generator, I don't think we could have handled having Pezz on stage! Despite the sound issues, they still completely and 100% rocked our faces off.

It was really fun to see our emcee and hardworking board member, Marvin Stockwell, get to show us his rock star side. And check out RnR regular, Graham Burks, on drums!

Pezz clearly had some fans in the crowd too!

Also in case you missed it, all babies are now required to wear awesome hats to Rock-n-Romp.

Speaking of hats, Chip Googe, of Punching Nicholas, put on his solo hat for Saturday's show after the band's lead singer suddenly lost his voice and was unable to play. We really appreciate him stepping up.

Despite the various hiccups that occurred during Saturday's show, I saw plenty of smiles.

A HUGE thank you to our host, the Mid-South Maze, our generous sponsors--Central BBQ, YoLo, Whole Foods, and the Trolley Stop Market, our top notch volunteers, and our fun loving participants for a great afternoon! We hope to see you all at the Levitt Shell on November 5th from 2-5pm. The Wuvbirds, Arma Secreta, and the Rising Star Fife & Drum Band will be performing.

To view all of the pictures by Chip Chockley, our staff photographer, click here. Add yours to our Flickr pool here.

September 24th at the Mid-South Maze, 3-6pm

2011-09-09T09:19:00.003-05:00

Come Rock-n-Romp with us at the Mid-South Maze on September 24th from 3-6pm. We'll have Pezz, Punching Nicholas, and the Vignettes playing. $5 Adults/kids free. Adults MUST be accompanied by children.

As always there will be free beer, Central BBQ and snacks from Whole Foods. PLUS we will have delicious free pizza from the Trolley Stop Market and yogurt compliments of YoLo. (Please be considerate of others when partaking of the free food. We do run out!)

The Mid-South Maze will give the following discounts: Maze admission-$4/adult and $2/kid, 5 and under free. The Jumping Pillow will be $2/person and you can jump all you want. Identify yourself as a Rock-n-Romper when paying and they will give you the appropriate discount.

The Maze takes about an hour, so we ask that you come early or stay late. The Jumping Pillow is adjacent to the bands, so kids can enjoy it during the show. (It is supervised.)

As always bring a blanket or a chair, a snack to share, and earplugs for the little ones. We look forward to seeing you!

For directions, click here.

August 28th Show Recap

2011-08-31T11:16:00.001-05:00

It's funny, due to scheduling stuff, we found out a while back that this show would have to be on a Sunday-- not Saturday, as every other show has been for six seasons. At a RnR board meeting, we all wondered if you guys would show up on a Sunday.

Uh, you did. As in, the biggest turnout we've ever had.

Minglewood Hall turned out to be a fun venue for us-- lots of room, and a really nice stage for the bands. We had Indie Memphis along for this show. In between bands, they showed some of the best short films from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, which the kids really loved.

First up was Side Street Steppers. These guys showcased their old-timey folk/roots music to the delight of many kids who had never heard their style before.

Next up was Dandelion and the Raindrops, which is the product of Music for Aardvarks mastermind Joe Murphy. We don't feature "kid music" very often, but when we do, we like to it be cool enough to appeal to adults too. These guys did just that. Lots of booty shakin'.

Finally, we returned to our rock roots with El Dorado and the Ruckus, who brought the house down. To you folks who left early-- you missed quite a show by those guys.

We also had the kind folks from Grace St. Luke's out to lead the kids in a bunch of cool crafts.

And, we had the cool Yolo truck parked outside, handing out free and delicious yogurt.

Thanks once again to the awesome Central BBQ folks. Your delicious 'cue always makes Rock-n-Romp a good place to be. (And happy birthday to barbecue heiress Charlotte, who celebrated her 6th birthday with us at the RnR!) Also thanks to Whole Foods for keeping us stocked with tasty snacks.

Check out the full slideshow of pics from this show by RnR photographer Chip Chockley by clicking here.

Seeya guys on September 24th at the Midsouth Maze. Should be a fun show-- last year we all had a blast there.

Sunday, August 28th Rock-n-Romp 2-5pm

2011-08-09T09:48:00.003-05:00

It's our first ever Sunday Rock-n-Romp! We'll be nice and cool inside Minglewood Hall. In addition to our usual three bands, free beer & Central BBQ, we will have free YoLo and 75 minutes of the best short films from the Chicago International Children's Film Festival thanks to Indie Memphis. Grace St. Luke's will also be leading a craft station. Awesome right? The cost is still just $5 for adults and children are free. Adults MUST be accompanied by children. Tell your friends!

Rock-n-Romp Camp Recap

2011-07-25T15:29:00.004-05:00

Last week we hosted our first ever Rock-n-Romp Camp at Rhodes College in conjunction with the Mike Curb Institute at Rhodes.

We had 45 children, I mean future rock stars, in grades K-5.

Our instructors were primarily local musicians, and we had a number of junior staffers who are interested in music.

In the mornings, the children attended music classes and in the afternoon they had band practice. The music lessons were given in age groups, but the children self-selected their bands. (Official band photos and bios here.)

Sprinkled throughout the day we had games, demos, performances, crafts, and free play. It was awesome.

By far, the most exciting part of the week was the showcase on Friday night in the Lynx Lair on campus. Each of the eight bands performed a song in front of family and friends.

The Toygers did a mashup of two songs that they changed the words to. They even had a rap in the middle.

The Fantastic Girls performed an original song, aptly called Fantastic Girls.

The Get It Girls were very serious about rocking.

The Skull made sure to take it all in.

Running Wild acted as though they performed every weekend. They were naturals.

The Zombifiers were ridiculously cool.

Most of the Storm Snakes performed shirtless, which was awesome.

The Ghost Hunters were completely stylin.

I think it is pretty safe to say that camp was a total success. We really hope to do it again next year!

Thank you to all of the people who helped make camp a reality! A super special shout out to John Bass of the Mike Curb Institute and our incredible directors Kate Crowder and Warren Oster.

And thank you to Chip Chockley for taking such pretty pictures. See the full set here.

Who We Are

2011-05-27T11:46:00.002-05:00

2011 board members include Stacey Greenberg, Chip Chockley, Marvin Stockwell, Kate & Corey Crowder, Caleb Sweazy, Launa Morris, and Aimee Lewis.

May 21st Recap

2011-05-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

After several days of fretting about rain and making backup indoor plans, Ma Nature busted out with a gorgeous day for a Rock-n-Romp. Fisher Gardens at Rhodes College was a wonderful venue for us-- a big built-in stage, lots of space, lots of shade, lots of grass.

First up was Lila-- an awesome jazz combo fronted by the inimitable Lila Hood on electric violin.

Lila brought along her class of string students to do a couple numbers too, which was fun:

Next up was Billy Worley and the Candy Company, generating a whole lotta rock from just two dudes:

Awesome taste in headgear and facial hair on those guys. Their candy tosses from the stage were really popular.

Last up was The City Champs, who impressed everyone with solid jazzy grooves. These guys are incredible musicians, but they play with all kinds of tasteful restraint.

We had Jamie Harmon and his slick Amurica photo booth, which was a big hit with kids and adults alike. We crammed the whole RnR board into that thing for a pic-- we'll share that on the blog soon.

The good folks from Grace-Saint Luke's School sponsored this show, and set up a cool craft table for the kids, including big murals and face painting. Check out their awesome summer camp options here.

BIG thanks again to the awesome folks at Central BBQ-- the rockers and rompers were a happier group because of their delicious 'cue. Also thanks to Whole Foods, who keeps us supplied with healthy snacks for the kids.

Thanks a bunch to Rhodes for having us, and especially thanks to the Rhodes security guards. I don't have photographic evidence of it, but those guys generously provided fun bathroom runs on golf carts to kids and parents alike. (Speaking of Rhodes, they're also hosting our first annual Rock-n-Romp Camp in July. We've just opened up 5 more spots, so move quickly, rompers! Click the link for the application.)

Can I just take a sec to immodestly toot the RnR horn? All that stuff I described above-- three bands, the photo booth, the barbecue, the healthy snacks, the arts and crafts, and of course the BEER? It's all included in the $5 donation you give when you show up. No extra costs for any of that. A bargain, right? It's all thanks to our awesome sponsors and other folks who contribute to RnR throughout the year, the cool bands who come entertain us, and most of all, YOU folks who show up regularly.

Check out the full slideshow of pics by Rock-n-Romp photographer Chip Chockley by clicking here. And feel free to add your own pics to our Flickr pool here.

We've learned our lesson in the past, and are taking off the hottest months this year. Next show will be August 28th at Minglewood Hall. Seeya then!

May 21st Rock-n-Romp

2011-05-04T12:37:00.003-05:00

Join us on May 21st from 3-6pm for an afternoon of rocking and romping. We'll have The City Champs, Candy Company (with Billie Worley), and Lila Hood.

Please enter the campus through the third gate near the gym parking lot on University. The guard will instruct you to drive around to the parking lot near Burrow and Buckman Hall. From there it is a short walk to Fisher Garden where we'll be set up.

As always we will have Central BBQ, snacks from Whole Foods and beer for the adults. Please bring a blanket, a chair, and a SNACK to SHARE.

Rhodes has plenty of shade and grass for the kids to run around on. Air-conditioned restrooms are available in Buckman Hall.

Grace-St. Luke's & Grace-St. Luke's Parents Day Out will be spearheading a kids' craft, Jamie Harmon is bringing his Amurica photo booth, and the Hooper Troopers will be in attendance with lots of hoops for everyone.

Everything is FREE with the $5 donation requested of adults only. Adults must be accompanied by children.

We look forward to seeing you!

Camp!

2011-04-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you've all heard about this already, but this summer we're holding our first ever Rock-n-Romp camp! Here are a few details: It will be July 18-22 at Rhodes College in Hassell Hall. It will be from 8:30am to 5:30pm M-F, plus there will be a showcase Friday night in the Lynx Lair. The camp is open to boys and girls in K-5. The cost for the week is $200. Kids will be asked to bring a sack lunch, but we will provide snacks.

Spots are filling up fast! Click here for the camper application. (Sorry, you have to print and fill it out by hand, this isn't a fillable .pdf.) Get it in soon, before we're all full!

We also still need a few music instructors and teen camp counselors-- click here for the instructor/counselor application.

April 9th Mud Island Show Recap

2011-04-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

The weather was just perfect for our first show of the 2011 season-- warm, but breezy. The folks at Mud Island celebrated their opening day by hosting hordes of us Rock-n-Rompers. As we found out last year, Mud Island is really a great place to have a RnR-- there's the hill, which is great for cardboard sledding:

There's the "Gulf of Mexico" with fountains:

... and lots of room for everyone to spread out, including ample shade.

Brad Pounders, a fixture on the Memphis music scene for years, was up first. He serenaded on keyboards, and also rocked out on guitar, along with his friend Mike. He also showed a wonderful sense of fashion.

Next up was Kruxe, who wowed the crowd with high energy punk psychedelia. Somehow they managed to sound retro and futuristic at the same time.

The closers were well worth the wait-- Good Luck Dark Star was an interesting mix of power pop, with echoes of Big Star and ELO.

The good folks from Grace-Saint Luke's School sponsored this show, and set up a cool craft table for the kids, where they made their own musical instruments. Check out their awesome summer camp options here.

BIG thanks to the awesome folks at Central BBQ-- we can't thank them enough for making RnR a much better event these past few years. Sorry to the folks who didn't get there in time to get some of their awesome barbecue-- we were a bit overwhelmed by the turnout for this show! (Ditto for the beer drinkers.) Remedy that by going to see them at one of their restaurants on Central and Summer.

Also thanks again to Whole Foods, who keeps us supplied with healthy snacks for the kids.

And most of all, thanks to YOU for coming out. It was our biggest turnout ever, and also the most fun we've ever had.

Check out the full slideshow of pics by Rock-n-Romp photographer Chip Chockley by clicking here. And feel free to add your own pics to our Flickr pool here.

Next show is May 21st at Rhodes College. Seeya then!

April 9th Rock-n-Romp at Mud Island 2-5pm

2011-03-21T10:48:00.001-05:00

We'll be in the grove by the concession stand and fountains on the south end of the Island. Put the kids in their bathing suits, bring your blankets and lawn chairs, a snack to share, and prepare yourselves for a great afternoon of music!

Brad Pounders will play first, followed by Kruxe and then Good Luck Darkstar will bring it home.

Parking on the north end of the Island is free (enter from Harbor Town). Give yourself 15-20 minutes to get to the south end. Feel free to use strollers, wagons, bikes, etc. to facilitate getting the little ones to the show.

If your kids want to play in the fountains, please keep an eye on them. There is no lifeguard on duty. We will have volunteers keeping an eye out, but parents are responsible for their children.

As always we will have free Central BBQ, snacks from Whole Foods, and beer for the adults. We ask that each adult donate $5. Kids are free.

Our new American Apparel t-shirts will be on sale for $15.

Pre-Season Fundraiser at Escape Alley Sundry

2011-03-07T13:25:00.000-06:00

On Saturday we had our pre-season fundraiser at Escape Alley Sundry. Knowing that March can go either way--fake Spring or freezing cold--we were happy to be indoors. However, we had hoped to be able to take advantage of the outdoor areas if the weather was nice. (It wasn't.)

(photo by Stacey Greenberg)

The bad weather didn't stop many of the kids from hula hooping, running around and exploring the alley.

(These two photos by Allen Elliote.)

Inside, we had a really nice set up. Families actually got to get the "club" experience. (With some sit-n-spins thrown in.) We love you, Escape Alley! (They do plenty of family friendly shows year round, so check them out on Facebook!)

Nykkoa Morris, who many of you remember from her stint with the Hot Pink Paperclips, started us off. She played a dozen original songs, two of which were written in French! I think it's pretty clear that she's the most awesome fifteen-year-old in town.

Here's a clip of her singing Viva la Memphis, one of my favorites.

As Nykkoa got everyone warmed up, families continued piling in. We were so thrilled that the weather didn't stop people from coming out.

Central Barbeque is sponsoring us again this season, so we had lots of yummy Q for everyone to enjoy. (They also helped us get a couple of kegs of Ghost River beer for our fans to enjoy.)

We tested out our self-serve idea and it seemed to go over well.

Our second band was the Rind Stars. They were a lot of fun and really impressed everyone with their cool vocal harmonies and tight jams.

It did get a little loud inside, but the bands were really cool about adjusting the volume when necessary. It was also nice to see that some of our youngest fans come prepared to rock!

Our final band was Richard James and the Special Riders. Everybody loved their brand of infectious punk-rockabilly.

It was a really amazing afternoon of music and fun. We were so glad to kickoff the season this way. Thank you to everyone who came out! And an extra big thank you to those who bought t-shirts and/or gave a little extra money. We really appreciate it!

We have plenty of shirts left--including pink ones for our rockin' girls--and a few tank tops for our rockin' moms. Get yours April 9th at Mud Island.

Speaking of our next show, mark your calendars for our entire 2011 season! Please note that times vary and we have one Sunday show!

April 9 at Mud Island 2-5pm

May 21 at Rhodes College (Fisher Gardens) 3-6pm

August 28 (SUNDAY) at Minglewood Hall 2-5pm

September 24 at Bridges 3-6pm

November 5 at Levitt Shell 2-5pm

December 3 at the old Jay Etkin Gallery on S. Main 2-5pm

Posters will be posted here for each show, we will send an email to everyone on our Mail Chimp over there, and we will create events on Facebook. Stay with us!

And for those of you looking for something fun this summer, we'll be putting together the first ever Rock-n-Romp Camp at Rhodes College, July 18-22. It's for kids in K-5. Stay tuned for details!

Photos in this post by official Rock-n-Romp photographer, Chip Chockley, except where indicated. See the full set here. And add yours to our Flickr pool.

March 5th Pre-Season Fundraiser

2011-02-10T09:41:00.002-06:00

We're kicking off this season with a fundraiser. We'll have all of the music, food, beer, and activities you are used to, but we'd like those who can to donate $10 instead of $5 at the door. Kids are still free, and adults must have one (or more) to attend. Hope to see you there!

December 4th Recap

2010-12-06T09:43:00.005-06:00

Wow, did we have fun or what? Saturday turned out to be a lovely sunny day, and we were thrilled to pack 500+ of our favorite people into the old Jay Etkin Gallery.

The kids helped us decorate the windows...

We set up a movie on the Mezzanine...

Had a craft station ready to go...

And we had lots of Central BBQ, snacks from Whole Foods, pizza from the Majestic Grille, and snacks from our guests. Best of all, we had the best trash/recycle system ever, thanks to Madeleine Edwards, who works with Project Green Fork. We still need to work on the reading skills of some of our trash producers, but we're getting there!

For the first time in a long while, we had a DJ on hand. DJ Lady Problems, who you may better know from the I Love Memphis Blog, kept us from having a single second of dead air.

At about 2:15 Gasoline Grace hit the stage. I had never heard them before, and was thrilled to discover that they were awesome!

They even had the toddlers on their feet ready to rock!

Next up, we had the much anticipated Luv Clowns. They were in full costume and character and really, really gave it 100%. It was just fantastic--for both parents and kids. I highly recommend getting a copy of their CD! (They'll be at the Brooks this Thursday at 6pm.)

We ended the day with some Woogie Board action, thanks to Cody Dickinson.

Had I known it was going to be so funky, I would have insisted on turning down the lights and installing a disco ball. We weren't prepared! If there was ever a moment for everyone to shake their things, this was it.

Cody also brought along some washboards for the kids to play with. They loved it!

Thanks to everyone who pitched in and made the show a success! A special thanks to those who stayed behind and helped us clean up 3+ hours of window decorating!

We've had a fantastic season and in true non-profit fashion, we have no profit. We are planning to start the 2011 season in March and expect it to be bigger and better than ever, but first we need some help from you, our loyal Rock-n-Rompers! We'd really rather not have to raise our suggested donation at the door if we can help it, so we're asking 111 of you (or more) to give $11 (or more) to the 2011 season fund. By clicking the PayPal button at the top right of this blog, you could have it done in less than a minute! Then we'll be prepared to move ahead and give you and yours another year of great, family-friendly music. 100% of our funds go directly into our shows.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Photos in this post by official Rock-n-Romp photographer, Chip Chockley. See the full set here. And add yours to our Flickr pool.

December 4th!

2010-12-01T11:49:00.000-06:00

Alright folks, this is our last show of the season and it's going to ROCK! We have Cody Dickinson and his washboard, Gasoline Grace aAND this is the Luv Clowns' CD release show! Not to mention, this is an official pre-event for the Downtown Holiday Parade which will go right by the front door when the music is over. Want more? Kerry Crawford Trisler of I Love Memphis Blog fame will be DJing.

Per usual there will be free BBQ and snacks from Whole Foods and free beer for the adults. We will also have special activities for the kids.

Even though we are inside, please still bring a blanket or a chair, and a snack to share.

ADULTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHILDREN.

2011 T-Shirt Contest

2010-11-10T10:43:00.006-06:00

Each year we like to redo our logo and put it on several hundred t-shirts. In the past we have had the logo done by one of our board members or a board member's family member. For 2011 we thought it would be fun to open it up to our fans and local artists. We are looking for something fun and bold. (Below you can see a few of our past designs.) You can incorporate the words "Rock and Romp" in the design or we can add it in later.

To sweeten the pot we are offering a $200 prize for the winning design. In addition, the designer will get a season pass to Rock-n-Romp, two free tees, and the opportunity to showcase his/her work at one of our shows (if applicable).

We encourage artists, parents, and children to enter! Please send a jpeg image with the artist's name, age, etc. to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com by December 15th. We will choose the winner before Christmas. That means extra money to go shopping!

December 4th Rock-n-Romp

2010-11-09T15:42:00.000-06:00

November 6th Recap

2010-11-07T17:54:00.000-06:00

It was a chilly, but beautiful day at the Metal Museum. The chill didn't seem to keep you guys, our loyal legion, from coming out for a really fun show. The beautiful grounds of the Metal Museum always make for a fun and interesting place to romp.

First up was the indie guitar rock of Perfect Vessels. (I'm doing a bad job describing here-- you could describe 80% of our bands as "indie guitar rock"-- but these guys had a unique and interesting sound.) The Burks brothers and David Bell laid down a really appealing brand of post-psychedelic punk-pop.

Next up was Bake Sale. These ladies brought a fun brand of contemplative garage rock which really went over well with our crowd.

Finally, and I really mean finally, we got Goner Records' Harlan T. Bobo to play his solo stuff at a RnR. You guys might remember him from the awesome Luv Clowns performance a couple years ago, but he finally got around to bringing his critically acclaimed off-center pop to the RnR stage. (Come see us in December for a Luv Clowns encore.) The guy is a genius, and definitely one of Memphis's treasures.

The kids had fun running around the grounds (but NOT climbing on the sculptures), and the big hill across the street was a big hit.

So was our hairstyling station:

Thanks a lot to the Metal Museum for hosting us again. And thanks a ton to our volunteers-- the RnR Board greatly appreciates your help in making the show run smoothly. Thanks as always to our sponsors, Whole Foods and Central BBQ, for providing us with snacks, barbecue, and cups. Please support these two businesses, because they obviously really support us. And thanks to all you loyal RnR'ers-- and all the new faces too-- for coming out to the show.

Check out the full slideshow of pics from this show here. Feel free to add your pics to our Flickr pool here. And if you see a pic of your beautiful child or your rockin' band and would like a print, drop me a line, or check out my photography website here.

Seeya guys at the next show (indoors!) at the old Jay Etkin Gallery space on South Main December 4th , which will be immediately followed by the Downtown Christmas Parade going by the front door! We'll put the lineup up here and on Facebook soon.

Nov. 6th Rock-n-Romp at the Metal Museum 2-5pm

2010-10-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

We've got another awesome show featuring Harlan T. Bobo, The Perfect Vessels, and Bake Sale. As always we'll have free beer, Central BBQ, and snacks from Whole Foods. Adults are asked to donate $5 at the door; kids are free. Please bring a blanket or chair and a snack to share.

Help us keep the kids off of the Museum's various sculptures! Also, if your kids want to slide down the bluff, please accompany them across the (sometimes busy) street. Thanks!

September 25th Recap

2010-09-27T10:09:00.001-05:00

We had PERFECT weather this past Saturday for the Rock-n-Romp at the Mid-South Maze. Such a refreshing change from the last two shows, which have been ridiculously hot. The Maze folks were wonderfully accommodating, and the venue ending up being perfectly suited for our thing.

Lots of our folks tried out the Maze, which was perplexing fun. The kids also spent lots of time on the "jumping pillow"-- which was just about the coolest inflatable we'd ever seen. I got plenty of pics of the kids on the thing, but I wanted to share these two, of RnR board members Caleb Sweazy and Marvin Stockwell:

Hey, like we always say, RnR is for the adults just as much as it is for the kids!

First up was Holly Cole and the Memphis Dawls. This newer incarnation of Holly's music was beautiful.

Next up was Cotton & Coal, which featured RnR's own Caleb Sweazy:

This little lady thought Caleb was a hottie.

Batting cleanup was Devil Train, with their sweet brand of gypsy jam bluegrass. I definitely saw some fingers on fire.

After the show, the RnR Board got together for a group pic on the pillow (our first group shot since the very first show, 4 years ago!) Thanks to the lovely and talented Sophorn McRae for shooting these.

Thanks again to our sponsors, Whole Foods and Central BBQ, for providing us with snacks, barbecue, and cups. Their support continues to provide you folks with an amazing bang for your (five) bucks. And thanks to all you loyal RnR'ers-- and all the new faces too-- for coming out to the show. Check out the full slideshow of pics from this show here. Feel free to add your pics to our Flickr pool here. And if you see a pic of your beautiful child or your rockin' band and would like a print, drop me a line, or check out my photography website here. Seeya guys at the next show, November 6th at the Metal Museum!

September 25th Rock-n-Romp, 3-6pm

2010-09-08T16:37:00.009-05:00

Come Rock-n-Romp with us at the Mid-South Maze on September 25th from 3-6pm. We'll have Devil Train, Cotton & Coal, and the Memphis Dawls playing. $5 Adults/kids free. Adults MUST be accompanied by children.

As always there will be free beer, Central BBQ and snacks from Whole Foods. Yeehaw!

The Mid-South Maze will give the following discounts: Maze admission-$4/adult and $2/kid, 5 and under free. The Jumping Pillow will be $2/person and you can jump all you want. Identify yourself as a Rock-n-Romper when paying and they will give them the appropriate discount.

The Maze takes about an hour, so we ask that you come early or stay late. The Jumping Pillow is adjacent to the bands, so kids can enjoy it during the show. (It is supervised.)

As always bring a blanket or a chair, a snack to share, and earplugs for the little ones. We look forward to seeing you!

For directions, click here.

August 21st Show Recap

2010-08-23T14:08:00.001-05:00

It was another scorcher on Saturday for our show at the Levitt Shell. We still had over 500 folks come out, which was awesome. Thanks for the dedication, Rockers and Rompers! It was amusing to see how much of the crowd congregated around the bits of shade on either side.

The past several shows we've included teen band. The Doorknobs kicked this show off with a bang:

These guys were very talented, and brought a nice contingent of supporters to the show.

Next up was Speakerboxx. Rock-n-Romp was rocked in a way it has never been rocked before.

Speakerboxx's frontman, Corey Sanders, left it all out on the stage. Literally. Dude totally collapsed in the back as soon as he walked off the stage. Dedication. I spent the next several minutes trying to find my face because it had been rocked off by their fierce mix of energetic rap and rock. Corey did this:

And everybody did this:

The next band, the Parkington Sisters from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, were lovely in every way. Their haunting mix of sophisticated folk, enchanting vocal harmonies, and gorgeous strings put a spell over us all.

Even though it was crazy hot, the kids managed to stay cool with all sorts of sprinklers and water slides:

A big thanks to the Levitt Shell for having us again. Also thanks to the Memphis Grizzlies for bringing their big inflatable slide, and to this show's special sponsor, the Memphis Music Foundation. Check the MMF out-- they do great things for music in this city. Thanks again to this season's other sponsors, Whole Foods and Central BBQ. Also thanks again to our wonderful volunteers, who make life bearable for the RnR Board, and who make the shows run that much more smoothly. Pshew, I'm all thanked out.

Oops, no I'm not. Most of all, thanks to YOU folks for coming out. We're always flattered by the support we get. See you guys in September 25th for a cooooooooooler show at the Mid-South Maze!

Check out the full slideshow of pics from this show here. Feel free to add your pics to our Flickr pool here. And if you see a pic of your beautiful child or your rockin' band and would like a print, drop me a line, or check out my photography website here.

August 21st Rock-n-Romp at the Levitt Shell

2010-08-04T16:44:00.003-05:00

A special thanks to all of our sponsors! We'll have sprinklers and a water slide for everyone to cool off, free beer and Central BBQ. Bring a blanket and a snack to share. $5 suggested donation for adults; kids free.

June 19th Recap

2010-06-21T12:10:00.001-05:00

HOT!

The heat was butt-whooping, but it didn't stop everyone from having a rockin' time at this past Saturday's RnR. Thanks to Mud Island for graciously hosting us.

First up was The Junkman, in town for the week from Vermont. He tours the country teaching kids how to build percussion instruments using found items, and then how to play cool rhythms. We were glad to have him in Memphis this week for a camp at the Junkyard Museum, and also at the Rock-n-Romp.

This stuff put our old "banging wall" to shame.

Next up was Al Kapone, with a full band. He was friggin' awesome. The band was tight, and Al brought it, Memphis-style.

He also brought along with him Young AJ and... MUCK STICKY! We got even more than we expected.

After another jam session with the Junkman, Goner Records' Magic Kids brought their brand of quirky magic pop to the stage. These guys play really catchy, interesting stuff.

There were other things which occupied the kids-- like sliding down this huge bluff:

...and cooling off in the big fountain pond. Because of the heat, this was a very popular activity.

Thanks again to our sponsors-- Central BBQ for the deliciously awesome barbecue, and Whole Foods for the fruit and Pirate Booty snacks.

And thanks to all our volunteers this time--Fabianna & Lee, Michele, Alicia, Mary, Katie, Nicole, Ceciley, Joanna & Talyon, and Katie & Bailey. You guys rule, and you improved the quality of life for the RnR Board.

Thanks to everyone for braving the heat, and to everyone who didn't, we forgive you! See you guys August 21st at the Levitt Shell!

See the whole slideshow of Chip Chockley's pics here. And feel free to add your own RnR pics to our Flickr pool here.

June 19th RnR at Mud Island

2010-06-01T11:03:00.003-05:00

We are so excited about our next Rock-n-Romp at Mud Island! We'll be in the grove by the concession stand and fountains on the south end of the Island. Put the kids in their bathing suits, bring your blankets and lawn chairs, a snack to share, and prepare yourselves for a great afternoon of music!

Al Kapone will be playing with his band, The Magic Kids will be bringing the fun, and between sets The Junkman will be leading "Junk Jams" with parents and kids using instruments made from recycled materials.

Central BBQ will be serving free BBQ, parking on the north end of the Island is free (enter from Harbor Town), and we'll have free beer to boot. Adults please donate $5 (or more!); kids are free.

All that we ask is that you keep an eye on your own kids and enjoy the show. We provide a kid-friendly environment, but not baby/kid-sitting. You are responsible for yourself and your kids. Thanks!

Flipside Memphis

2010-05-26T12:04:00.001-05:00

The talented folks from Live from Memphis came to the last Rock-n-Romp and made us this awesome video!

Stay tuned...we'll be announcing the line up for the June 19th show at Mud Island soon!

April 24th Recap

2010-04-26T12:10:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we planned to hold the show outside at the Dixon's lovely South Lawn. However, the weather gods had some serious thunderstorms they needed to work out.

So...we relocated to the lovely Hughes Pavillion, which actually turned out to be the perfect indoor/outdoor venue. The band and food were safely located inside and we had plenty of room to stretch out on the grass and run around ouside once the sun came out for good. Thanks to the 600+ people who didn't let a morning of crazy weather stop them from rockin and rRompin with us!

Central BBQ, who has graciously donated reusable cups in the past, upped the ante this season and brought along FREE BBQ for everyone! (FYI--They do a kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays at the Summer location!) We seriously love Central BBQ!

Mmmm...BBQ

Our first band was The Motions, which was composed of some youngsters from Mississippi. They were really awesome. The teen bands we've booked have been really impressive and The Motions were no exception!

And if you were at the show, you might have noticed this fella. Brad Phelan from Live from Memphis was on hand filming a Flipside Memphis video featuring Rock-n-Romp! Sweet.

Whole Foods, our other rockin' sponsor, also sent along some goodies. Meredith and her friend were especially fond of the crackin' duckies.

Next up was Glorie, an all instrumental band composed of some of Memphis' finest musicians. Pictured here is Jonathan Kirkscey, who we usually see on the cello, but not surprisingly he can also rock the vibraphone! (Not pictured was Jeff Hulett, who has now played just about every season of Rock-n-Romp in four or five different bands!)

The Dixon's staff put together several crafts for the kids, all of which were a big hit. I saw lots of handmade magnets and flowers floating through the crowd.

Last but definitely not least, we had Hope Clayburn and the Soul Scrimmage. They were really fun!

People could help but dance!

It was an absolutely fantastic afternoon. Thanks to everyone who helped us pull off another great afternoon! Mark your calendars for June 19th at Mud Island!

See the whole slideshow of Chip Chockley's pics here. And feel free to add your own pics to the Flickr Rock-n-Romp pool here.

Come on over to the Dixon!

2010-04-24T12:35:00.002-05:00

We're setting up inside the Hughes Pavillion. There's plenty of outdoor space adjacent to it for romping once the rain clears. Bring your blankets and chairs and a snack to share!

Rain or Shine!

2010-04-22T13:21:00.001-05:00

This Saturday's weather forecast doesn't look so hot. (Right now, at least. Things could change.) Don't let that stop you from coming out for our show, though-- we have a nice indoor backup space at the Dixon in case it's really rainy. This show has a really cool lineup, so don't let Mother Nature discourage you from catching it!

Also, to answer a question we've gotten lately-- yes, you must have a kid with you to attend. (It doesn't necessarily have to be your kid, though-- grab your neighbor's kids and come on down!) It's been our rule from day one, and it's one of the main things that allows us to describe our events as "live music in a kid-friendly environment." No offense to anyone, but there are plenty of places to see great live music in Memphis without kids. Kids are what makes our thing special.

Seeya Saturday!

April 24th Rock-n-Romp at the Dixon

2010-03-23T09:12:00.001-05:00

Bring a blanket or chair, and a snack to share. Entry into the Dixon will be free, ditto on parking, but we do ask that each adult make a donation of $5 to help support future shows. We'll have free beer, free Central BBQ, and free treats from Whole Foods as well. We'll also have new t-shirts for sale ($10) with our awesome new robot logo!

For more info on the bands, click the links below the poster.

Glorie
Hope Clayburn
The Motions

Survey Time!

2010-01-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

Please take a few moments to fill out our opinion survey!
Click here!

January 16th Recap

2010-01-18T21:14:00.005-06:00

I think it's pretty safe to say that our second indoor show ever was a smashing success. How nice to have rain in the forecast and not have to worry about it! The staff at the Center for Southern Folklore was really nice and they went out of their way to make sure we felt right at home. With a bar, huge bathrooms, all the tables and chairs we could dream of, and an actual mop and trash guy, we felt absolutely spoiled!

We had no trouble keeping our rompy vibe despite being inside.

Our special guests, the Slomski Brothers, got things started with their modern vaudeville routine. I loved the suits, the fact that their mic stand had cup holders, and the cool sound of that crazy drum. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of these guys in the future.

Next up, we had the Kindergarten Circus, who came from Murfreesboro to play. They were all in their late teens, and this was one of their first live shows. They were awesome and really rocked it.

Once the Circus ended, the Slomski Brothers did another short set. Gustafer Yellowgold was up next and before we could even try and get all the kids settled in front of the stage, we noticed they were all already settled there waiting for Gustafer to get started. It was both awesome and freaky. I think Gustafer's visual aids drew them in.

Morgan Taylor, the man behind Gustafer, did a great job engaging the kids, who were absolutely riveted for his entire 45 minute set.

It was such a treat to have Morgan, his awesome wife, Rachel, and their adorable son, Harvey, in attendance. How awesome is it that a young family gets to make a living making good music? And go on tour?

The Yazoo Shakes closed out the Romp with their high energy performance. I loved seeing three women in one band, playing horns and strings. They were super fun.

And check this out--the kids stuck their heads under the quilt curtain in order to get a better look at the drummer!

When all the music stopped and the 500+ people who came to rock said goodbye, the hardworking, all volunteer staff of Memphis Rock-n-Romp stayed another 45 minutes to clean up. We asked people to recycle their Central BBQ cups, which they did a great job of, but we unexpectedly had a lot of bottles and cans too, which ended up in the trash. Check out our commitment to recycling! Sadly, this isn't an uncommon scene after the show--us digging through the trash. Hopefully next year we can devise a better system.

A final thank you to everyone who made this show so incredible! We could not have done it without the enthusiastic support of the Center City Commission and the generous donations from Central BBQ, The Hunt Phelan, Whole Foods, Bluefin, and The Rendezvous. And an extra special thank you to all of our volunteers!

Allen Elliotte was our substitute photographer and is responsible for all of the lovely photos you see here. View the whole set here. Add yours to our Rock-n-Romp Memphis Flickr pool.

We have a really exciting 2010 season coming up, so stay tuned for details. Our first show will be April 24th at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. Mark your calendars!

Countdown to show time!

2010-01-14T20:52:00.003-06:00

We hope that you are as excited about Saturday's show as we are! Check out the great article on Gustafer Yellowgold in today's GoMemphis: Musician's sketches lead to goldmine of fun. Gustafer goes on at 3pm. The Kindergarten Circus, the toast of Murfreesboro, will start the show and Memphis's own Yazoo Shakes will close us down at 4pm.

Admission is a $5 suggested donation for adults; kids are free.

Bring a blanket or chair and a snack to share.

We'll have ear plugs!

Beer is free for adults.

Discounted parking is available at the 100 Peabody Place Garage for $1. (The Center for Southern Folklore will validate parking passes.)

Also, the The Majestic Grille, which is just a few doors down from the show, has created a special kids' menu just for us, so stop by for dinner!

Kids have a choice of the following, plus drink, for $5.50:

Grilled Cheese & Fries
Pasta with Butter & Parsley or Red Sauce
PB&J (grilled with strawberry jelly) & Fries
Plain Cheese Pizza (standard Flatbread size)
Majestic Kid's Burger & Fries

Also, starting at 5pm, they have a 'pre-theatre menu' which is a delicious three course fixe prix meal for $24.95. The regular menu is also available.

Next show January 16th!

2009-12-14T15:44:00.003-06:00

Don't forget that our next show is January 16th from 2-5pm at the Center for Southern Folklore featuring:

Gustafer Yellowgold all the way from Brooklyn!

Memphis's own Yazoo Shakes

and The Kindergarten Circus, the toast of Murfreesboro!

December 5th Recap

2009-12-07T11:34:00.000-06:00

Our first try at having an indoor winter show was a rousing success! I guess you people DO need something to do when it's cold out.

This show was at a very cool space on South Main, the old Jay Etkin gallery space. Three levels of family-friendly pandemonium!

First up was Whose Army? I am actually not saying that as if I am uncertain of their name. I know their name, and they have a question mark at the end. Reminds me of this bad cover band I was in in high school, called "Just Once?" Except that Whose Army? freaking rocked. Worlds above the crap I was playing at their age...

Next up was the southern power-pop goodness of The Bulletproof Vests . These guys had a vaguely Weezer-ish vibe on some songs, with some Squeeze and Old 97s thrown in at times. Great musicianship, and excellent songwriting.

Finally, the long-awaited RnR debut of Snowglobe, one of Memphis's finest. Most of you Memphians know this band well, so no description is necessary. Let's just say they're awesome.

We had our usual kid activities, like the sit-n-spins:

And cork-reindeer Christmas tree ornaments:

After the show, everyone walked out the door to watch the Downtown Christmas Parade, which was fun. It was definitely one of our best shows yet. This young lady gave it the thumbs up:

Thanks again to the Center City Commission for helping us put this one on. Also thanks to our cool food sponsors for this show-- Majestic Grille, Kooky Canuck, and Bluefin. (To all of you slow folks who didn't get any of the free food from these folks at the show-- wake up and move faster next time!) And thanks as always to Central BBQ for the beer cups.

See the rest of my pics here. And add your own RnR pics to our Flickr pool here.

We're continuing with our new indoor winter series on January 16th, featuring an awesome national act called Gustafer Yellowgold. (These guys have opened for Wilco and Polyphonic Spree. Kid-centric without being dorky.) Check them out and see you then. Happy Holidays everybody!

Dec. 5th Show!

2009-11-20T10:29:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the Center City Commission for hooking us up with a great indoor spot right on the parade route. Park at Central Station, check out the special holiday edition of the Memphis Farmer's Market, then join us for an afternoon of awesome music! The parade will come by just as we're finishing up. $5 adults/kids free.

November 7th Recap

2009-11-10T13:45:00.000-06:00

If we had bribed Mother Nature for specific weather conditions for this past Saturday's Rock-n-Romp, it wouldn't have been as perfect as what we had. We again imposed upon the nice folks at the National Ornamental Metal Museum, which has become one of our favorite spots to rock.

First up was Sector Zero. They woke everyone up with some raucous rocking.

Chick rock band extraordinaire The Hot Pink Paper Clips brought a nice following with them. They continued our string of having a talented-teen band play a set at Romps. These girls were clearly talented. Much better than the crap that I used to play when I was that age...

Next up we had MouseRocket, featuring past board member, Robby Grant, and current board member, Alicja Trout. Our own Kate Crowder even joined in for a song. And it was cool to see Jonathan Kirkscey on the cello.

Isn't Robby Grant a badass?

In addition to the general running around and milk slurping, the kids kept themselves very busy hoola hooping, sit-n-spinning, dancing, and drawing with chalk. However, I think it was quite clear that the kids who convinced their parents to let them slide down the mounds out front had the best time listening to the music.

Our special guests, The Beale Street Flippers, came on for a brief, mind blowing interlude. I know at least a handful of kids who are going to take their gymnastics lessons more seriously now.

Our main problem on Saturday was trying to squeeze in too much awesome-ness. Star and Micey didn't start til almost 5pm and we had some hungry and tired kids who needed to get home. However, those who got to stay were sure glad they did.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made the RnR a blast. We hope to see you all on December 5th downtown on Main Street. More details coming soon!
See the rest of my pics here, and add your pics to our pool here.

November 7th at the Metal Museum

2009-10-20T17:17:00.004-05:00

The show is from 2-5pm, not 3-6pm as previously promoted! Daylight savings is ending so we adjusted the time.

The museum is offering a special deal just for RNR families! Purchase a family membership for the price of an individual membership! November 7th only!

Bring a blanket or chair and a healthy snack to share!

Also please help us keep the grounds clean! We will be recycling when possible so look for specially marked bins.

And don't forget to thank our other sponsors, Yuletide Office Supply!

August 29th Recap

2009-08-31T12:05:00.005-05:00

On Saturday we had near perfect weather, which was just the beginning of another near perfect Rock-n-Romp.

Friday afternoon we found out that 3 out of 4 of the Hot Pink Paperclips had fallen ill with the flu. Not sure what to do, I called my husband's boss. He had told me about his son's band, the Theoretical Monkeys, a few weeks prior. I decided to see if we might be able to book them last minute. The stars aligned and at 3:15pm, the most ~~darling~~ rockin group of high-school boys you've ever seen hit the stage.

And guess what? They were really talented! And confident! And did I mention ~~darling~~ rockin? I think it is safe to say that everyone was very impressed with the Theoretical Monkeys.

A special shout out to Charlie Trenthem for loaning us his sound equipment! We got a little spoiled at the Shell, so he definitely helped us achieve a much higher level of sound quality.

It didn't take long for the kids to make themselves at home. The Kerrs' playset was bustling, and there was a group of kids-in-the-know who spent a good deal of time in the front yard on the zip line, and even at the kindly neighbor's house on the trampoline. (At one point my five-year-old tracked me down and said he needed "his grown up" to come next door with him.)

Our second band, The Bare Wires, came all the way from San Francisco. They totally had the rock star look (and sound). I was especially impressed with the female drummer. (My husband was excited to buy a vinyl record of theirs and have everyone sign it.) They were a huge hit.

As the music continued, our balloon man showed up and dazzled the kids with his creations. (I was the recipient of a panda corsage.) I don't think the parents liked getting dragged into the balloon line, but it did offer a break from our ever growing beer line! (Don't worry, we'll have two taps at the next show.)

Last up we had the Apostles from Oxford. They were just as rockin' as everyone else. Their high energy performance was a great end to a great show.

You can see the rest of Chip Chockley's pictures here. And please add yours to our Flickr pool.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday! And thanks to our sponsors Yuletide Office Supply and Bilingual Tots!

We hope to see you all at our next show, November 7th, at the Metal Museum!

RnR August 29th!

2009-08-20T10:33:00.001-05:00

To get details on the location you will need to join our facebook page or mailchimp list. Direct questions to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

Update!

2009-08-05T14:05:00.004-05:00

Invites for the August 29th show (with the location) will be going out in the next week. We have some really great music lined up. The Bare Wires are coming all the way from San Francisco! And we have The Apostle T.K. from Oxford, MS. Finally, as a special treat, the Hot Pink Paper Clips, of Delta Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp fame, will start the show.

But wait! There's more! We have three more Rock-n-Romps in the works for you. Get out your calendars and mark these dates/locations (Note the time change for the winter shows.):

Ornamental Metal Museum
374 Metal Museum Drive
November 7th
3-6pm

The old Jay Etkin Gallery Space
409 S. Main Street
December 5th
2-5pm

The Center for Southern Folklore
119 S Main St # 106
January 16
2-5pm

July 11 Recap

2009-07-12T21:45:00.004-05:00

I think it would be an understatement to say that the pre-show media blitz paid off. We filled the Shell up with families hailing from Midtown, downtown, Germantown, and even Nashville. In addition to rocking and romping, there was hoola hooping, splashing, juice box gorging, and lots of sweating! What we did not have was a drop of rain, which was just fine with me considering there had been threats of thunderstorms all day.

Robby Grant started the show with his solo version of Vending Machine. His son, Five, came on as promised and helped him out with a few songs. This totally blew the kids away--well, at least my kids who already consider Five to be the bee's knees.

Everyone was having a great time, except for maybe the people trapped in our mile long beer line!

Don't worry, the most awesome Corey Crowder went in search of a second tap. And little Bailey here helped the sun-dazed adults pump the beer as fast as possible.

The music barely started before the invasion of the Ice Cream Man. He had a line rivaling that of the Yeungling! Actually, by the end we had TWO Ice Cream Men profiting off of our large crowd. From what I hear, once was licensed to be in the park, and one was not. Yes, dueling Ice Cream Men!

Next up. was Scandaliz Vandalistz. They were a HUGE hit with the audience, both young and old.

Their shout out to fellow White Station students/alums elicited may whoops from the crowd.

One young songwriter in particular told her mom that she was inspired to start writing about "real stuff" after seeing them play!

The Vandalistz now hold the record for most CDs sold at a Rock-n-Romp.

Our final act was the Kenny Brown Band. They got everyone dancing and grooving.

All in all it was a near perfect show. Thanks so much for everyone who came out! And a special thanks to the Memphis Music Foundation, the Levitt Shell support staff, and the Rock-n-Romp board members who worked their asses off to make the show extra super awesome.

See the rest of Chip's pictures here and please add your own to our Flickr Pool.

Our next show is August 29th. You will need to join our mail list if you want to come! (See the mail chimp over there to the left. <---)

Rain or Shine

2009-07-11T13:29:00.001-05:00

Looks like we might get a few sprinkles, but Chip has consulted the radar and says the thunderstorms won't ruin the Rock-n-Romp. So come enjoy the show--rain or shine--at the Shell 4-7pm.

Sneak Peek

2009-07-08T22:12:00.001-05:00

Here's Robby Grant and his son, Five, on yesterday's Live at 9, promoting Saturday's Rock-n-Romp!

Saturday's Schedule

2009-07-08T11:21:00.002-05:00

Looking forward to seeing everyone this Saturday! Here's the band order for those of you planning strategic nap times!

4pm
Robby Grant (look for Five Grant on drums!)

5pm
Scandalistz Vandalistz

6pm
Kenny Brown Band

See you July 11th at the Shell!

2009-07-01T10:10:00.001-05:00

We'll have sprinklers, baby pools, tents, beer, and water to keep you cool! Bring a blanket/chair and a snack to share. Please remember to stop by the registration table and make your $5 donation! Adults must be accompanied by children. Thanks to the Memphis Music Foundation for partnering with us on this one! And thanks to the Shell for hosting!

July 11th Line-Up

2009-06-16T11:51:00.004-05:00

The next Rock-n-Romp is just a few weeks away! Here's who you can look forward to seeing on July 11th from 4-7. (Note the time change due to the heat!):

The amazing Robby Grant (doing Electric Solo-Vending Machine):

Those crazy kids from Scandaliz Vandalistz:

And theKenny Brown Band, all the way from Mississippi!

Hope to see you there! Add your name to the mailchimp over there for your official invite.

Also if you have a pop up tent we can use at the show, please email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com and let us know!

June 6th Recap

2009-06-07T22:09:00.006-05:00

Another beautiful day...another great Rock-n-Romp.

The Goodnight Loving came all the way from Wisconisn to Rock-n-Romp. (Before the show they hung out and played frisbee!) What a treat!

Lauren Rae Holterman, of the Rozelle Artists Guild, organized a couple of temporary mural projects for the kids. Paint + Kids = Super Happy Fun Times. A Junkyard volunteer brought some tees for the kids to wear so they didn't get (too much) paint on their clothes.

Other romping was in full swing.

Next up, Evil Wizard Eyes put the ROCK in Rock-n-Romp.

Some rompers accompanied them on our Junkyard Amadinda.

Next, Jeffrey James and the Haul came out to rock the yard. (This was their second Rock-n-Romp performance. The first was at our one and only rained out show that got moved indoors, so they were loving the near perfect weather.)

(Not sure how Chip managed to get a picture of Jeff Hulett NOT smiling--he's the smilingest guy in town!)

Meanwhile, Lauren Rae Holetrman and Derrick Dent of HolterDent Caricatures set up a caricature station, which was a hit for both parents and kids.

Then much to our delight, The Goodnight Loving came back for a second set (and to model their new RnR tees!).

Thanks again to the Junkyard for letting use their amazing yard; Lauren, Derrick and the other Rozelle volunteers for entertaining the kids; and everyone who showed up to support local music!

See you at the next show, July 11th!

Most of these pictures were taken by our very own Chip Chockley. You can see the rest of his pictures, some of mine, and add your own, in the Memphis Rock-n-Romp Flickr pool.

June 6th Line-up

2009-05-18T11:46:00.003-05:00

Watch your email for the official invite with location!

3pm Evil Wizard Eyes (Memphis)

4pm The Goodnight Loving (Milwaukee, WI)

5pm Jeffrey James and the Haul (Memphis)

David Brookings Video

2009-04-30T00:30:00.002-05:00

Ok I am no Craig Brewer, but I did my best to capture some of Saturday's magic. Here's a peek at David Brookings' song about his daughter, McKinley.

Season 4 Dates

2009-04-28T10:51:00.002-05:00

This is just a reminder about our upcoming shows. Please note that we have changed the July date from the 18th to 11th. It looks like this show will be at the Shell! Woot! We will probably start a little later due to the heat. If you have a festival type tent, please let us know. We want to keep the bands and the babies as cool as possible.

Also we are still looking for Sit & Spins, so let us know if you have one to donate or have one (or more) you can bring.

We'll be announcing the June 6th bands and the location soon!

Mark Your Calendar!

June 6
July 11
August 29
November 7
December 12

April 25th Recap

2009-04-26T23:59:00.000-05:00

In January when we started planning the 2009 season, we were vacillating between having the first show the weekend of the 18th and the 25th. We definitely chose the right weekend. What a beautiful day we had!

And what an awesome yard! It was hard to believe we were in Midtown, but we were. Thanks so much to the Cowles for opening up their backyard to nearly 500 Rock-n-Rompers! Erin & Bernard went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect for the show. Best of all, they never stopped smiling! So the next time you see these two be sure and tell them how much they rock.

I also want to thank Holly for making us this beautiful table cloth!

And Caleb Sweazy for making us this "Junkyard Amadinda" to replace our battered Banging Wall.

The "Sit-n-Spin Farm" didn't quite turn out like I had planned. Our Rock-n-Romper who owns six of them came down with pneumonia and couldn't attend. We only had four and as you can see, the kids had other uses for them! Maybe we can get it going at the next show. (Bring yours in June! Or let me know if you have one to donate and I'll pick it up!)

Alright, now for the music. First up, we had David Brookings. He provided a lovely start to the show with his smooth vocals. (I took a video of him singing a song about his daughter, but am having technical difficulties!)

By the time David was done playing we had quite a showing!

King Louie and Loose Diamonds played next. We were a little short on shade Saturday, so we really appreciated these guys braving the rays for us!

The last band was Unstoppable Juggernaut. It took them a little while to get set up and we ran out of beer, so I'm afraid about half of our crowd missed out on what was one of the best parts of the day.

Apparently kids love math rock. It was really fun to watch them spontaneously start shaking their booties and flailing their arms about once the music got going. It was unlike anything they'd ever heard before!

The highlight of the day for me was when these three little girls took the mic and sang a song they wrote about Rock-n-Romp. My stupid camera was out of memory space so I couldn't get a video, which breaks my heart, because this was an incredible moment. These girls made all of the hard work and long hours that go into Rock-n-Romp totally worth it. Thanks, girls!

(I hope they're signed up for the Delta Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp!)

Stay tuned for details on our next show, which is going to be June 6th! (I apologize to all of the people who joined the list right before the show and got very short emails with the address--you'll get a real invite next time, I promise!)

If you took photos, please add them to our Flickr pool!

Time to Rock-n-Romp!

2009-04-05T22:57:00.000-05:00

Add your name to the mail chimp and we will let you know the location!

April 25th Line Up

2009-03-02T13:35:00.002-06:00

The lovely and talented Alicja Trout, one of RnR's newest board members, has finalized the line up for the April 25th show. Her method for this year is going to be to have one out of town band, one local band, and a local solo act. So you can all look forward to an incredible season of great local music as well as the thrill of hearing new bands!

For April 25th we have:

David Brookings
Unstoppable Juggernaut

and...

King Louie and Loose Diamonds (with Jack O, Harlan T. Bobo, and Adam W)!

Be sure and sign up through the Mail Chimp over there if you want to receive an email with the location of the show (as well as other news from RnR)!

Save the Date

2009-02-15T17:38:00.004-06:00

The 2009 schedule has arrived! Due in part to your feedback, we have scheduled six shows for this year, two of which will be held indoors. All outdoor shows will be from 3-6pm. (The indoor shows will probably be a bit shorter.)

More details on the first show to come...

Mark your calendars!

April 25
June 6
July 11
August 29
November 7
December 12

YouTubey

2009-02-09T17:38:00.000-06:00

So my Google Alerts are a little slow...but I just came across a video from our last RnR. It's Harlan T. Bobo and the Luv Clowns singing "We're here for the kids."

Obviously, the sun setting kind of killed the visual, but the audio is fun. (Thanks to Gregg...er, I mean Taterhead...for uploading it!)

Auction for Anna

2009-01-25T23:42:00.001-06:00

Goner Records owner (and Rock-n-Romp DJ) Zac Ives' little girl, Anna, has been undergoing treatment for cancer during the past two years. She's been through quite a lot, but she's been a trooper and unimaginably strong, charming everyone who has met her with unwavering cheer. Anna has been through her second surgery and is undergoing radiation treatment, which will mean the whole family will be staying 8 weeks in Boston.

Goner Records is auctioning off items to help offset their expenses. Please take a moment and check it out here. There are some great items! The auction ends Monday, Feb 2 at 8pm. (You can also make a donation rather than bid on an item if you prefer.)

And don't forget the Anna Ives Vs Cancer Benefit Concert Thursday, January 29 at the Hi Tone with Harlan T Bobo, John Paul Keith & 145s, and Jack Oblivian & The Tearjerkers. Short Sets, rotating all night!

Looking for a T-shirt?

2009-01-14T20:36:00.004-06:00

We have 18 shirts left from last season that we'd like to sell. Wendy has volunteered to deliver them to anyone in the I-40 loop. If you would like yours mailed, just add an extra dollar for postage. Each shirt is $10 and they are made from 100% organic cotton. We have green and blue, but with so few left, you may not be able to get your first choice.

The following sizes are available:

2T
4T
Youth XS
Adult L
Adult XL

If you would like one (or more) please paypal us or send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com for other (non-paypal) arrangements. Paypal users please specify your size in the comments and give us your address.

Survey Results

2008-12-02T12:53:00.005-06:00

Thanks to everyone who filled out our survey! You can view the results by clicking here. (The password is "Rock.")

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the results here, or via email: memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

The RnR board will be meeting in January to discuss the 2009 season. We will carefully consider all of your input! Thanks again!

A Few Things...

2008-11-12T18:20:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Just want to point out a few things that are new here. First off, you can now add yourself to our mailing list by filling in the Mail Chimp box to your left. (If you are already on the list, you can also update your profile. We highly recommend this since we don't have full names for a lot of our peeps.)

Second, we created an Opinion Survey and would love it if you'd take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Click here to take survey! We'll share the results once they are in!

Finally, we added a donate button up there on the top left for those of you who would like to help us ensure that the 2009 season is as rockin' as ever. Unfortunately we are not a 501(c)3, so you can't get a tax break, but you can rest assured that 100% of your donation will go towards putting on future shows. We've been operating on a shoestring budget for three years, and we're proud of what we've done, but it would be nice to not be sweating before every show wondering if we're going to cover our costs! It's also important to us to keep Rock-n-Romp affordable to everyone, so we want to avoid raising the "$5 suggested donation" in the future. Every little bit helps, so please make a donation!

Thanks in advance for your support of Rock-n-Romp!

November 1st Recap-o-rama

2008-11-03T14:44:00.004-06:00

Saturday was our last show of the 2008 season and if I do say so myself, it was badass. It was the first time that we skipped sign-ins and just had people read a disclaimer, so I can't tell you how many people were actually at the Metal Museum, but it definitely looked like our largest crowd ever.

The Metal Museum was a really awesome venue and I want to thank the Ferrymans for hosting us. It was great having the Mississippi as a backdrop and the kids loved having so much space to run around in...and sculptures to climb on!

First up, we had the Nellie Olesons. They came dressed to the nines and had the best face paint I have ever seen. They played old-time country music mixed with some 70s and 80s covers and were very rockin. Two of the Nellies are former teachers and one is also a parent/RnR regular. I thought they did a really nice of job of trying to involve the kids.

The Barbaras always put on a good show and Saturday was no exception. They definitely got the kids' and parents' attention. Bennett Foster, who was singing lead, was super high energy and I think the kids could really relate to him!

The True Sons of Thunder were a little more hardcore than the Nellies and the Barbaras, so we had to break out the earplugs. They came to rock, and rock they did.

There was at least one romper, however, who wasn't deterred by the volume.

Harlan T. Bobo and the Luv Clowns definitely stole the show.

We've probably never had an act geared so much towards the kids, and I think they really enjoyed it. (However, there was definitely a "I'm too cool for clowns and puppets" contingency!) To me, the best part about the Luv Clowns was that it was fun for the adults too. (Although I'm sure there were some parents who wanted to see plain ol' Harlan.) I especially liked the way they ended the show with Bob Dylan's "Everybody must get stoned" but with the lyrics "Everybody must have kids."

As an organizer of RnR I couldn't help feeling awfully proud of what we've accomplished.

Three years ago, eight parents banded together to produce a kid-friendly outdoor concert series for rockin' parents who didn't get a chance to see live music very often. We relied on the musicians to play for free, people to open up their houses and yards, and for guests to spread the word.

We've had 15 shows at 12 different locations and had 34 bands/DJs play to hundreds of Memphis families. The price has always been a very reasonable $5 per adult and since our second season we have been able to pay all of the bands as well as provide our hosts with a $50 restaurant gift card.

Thanks to everyone who has helped make Memphis Rock-n-Romp such a smashing success! We'll be sending out a survey soon to get your feedback and ideas for 2009!

To see more pictures from the show(s), visit our Flickr Pool. If you took pictures, please add them!)

Saturday's Line Up:

2008-10-30T17:02:00.002-05:00

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Metal Museum!

Here's the line-up:

2:15 pm: Nellie Olsens
3:15 pm: The Barbaras
4:15 pm: True Sons of Thunder
5:15 pm: The Luv Clowns featuring Harlan T. Bobo

Don't forget to bring a blanket/chair and snacks to share. We'll provide the beer, sidewalk chalk, and awesome music. Costumes welcome.

Adults $5 donation; kids free.

Rock-n-Romp at your own risk!

November 1st Line-Up

2008-10-09T11:03:00.003-05:00

Our final show of the season is fast approaching and we are SO excited!

We've got a great line-up:

The Nellie Olesons
True Sons of Thunder
Harlan T. Bobo
The Barbaras

Because we have four bands this time and it is our last show, we will be rocking and romping from 2-6pm.

And if having four awesome bands wasn't exciting enough, we will be holding the show on the grounds of the National Ornamental Metal Museum!

So mark your calendars for November 1st and stay tuned for more details.

To add your name to our official invite list, send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

Sept. 27th Recap

2008-09-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

I'm still a bit stunned by how perfectly the show went on Saturday. We had incredible weather, the best backyard in town, three amazing bands, and a huge turnout of rockin' parents and rompin' kids.

Two Way Radio, eight members strong, kicked off the show:

Garrison Starr who drove all the way from Nashville just for us played second. (These photos were taken prior to 30 kids rushing the stage to "help" her play a few songs!)

The Bluff City Backsliders finished the show. Mike Graber, who you probably know from Facebook, came up from Oxford to play.

We really appreciate everyone who made Saturday such a wonderful day. If you took pictures, please add them to our Flickr pool.

Mark your calendars for the last show of the season, November 1st! Bands and location to be announced soon.

September 27th Show

2008-08-29T11:09:00.001-05:00

Email invitations (no more Evites!) with show location going out soon! To get on the list email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com

Rock-N-Romp Recap

2008-06-29T21:44:00.004-05:00

We totally lucked out with the weather and had an awesome show on Saturday! Thanks to the Phillips for offering up their amazing yard; Chasing Squirrels, Dan Montgomery, and Ultra Cats for the rockin' tunes; and to everyone (big & small) who came out to support Memphis music.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming shows: September 27th and November 1st! As always, to get on our evite list, email us at memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

Rocking On Outside

2008-06-28T13:08:00.004-05:00

The rain seems to be disappearing as it gets to us, so today's Rock n Romp will held outside after all, at original location on your evite. A couple of raindrops can't stop us! Seeya there.

Rain Plan

2008-06-28T10:03:00.002-05:00

We aren't too happy about today's forecast, and are busy coming up with a plan. We will let you know by 1:00pm whether we'll be romping outside as scheduled or at our backup location, the Hi-Tone.

Stay tuned!

New Tees

2008-06-24T13:00:00.003-05:00

Don't forget to bring a little extra cash to the show this Saturday if you wanna get your hands on one of our new rockin' tees! Adult & kid sizes available. 100% of the proceeds go to producing future Rock-n-Romps and paying our awesome musicians.

June 28th Show

2008-06-10T16:25:00.007-05:00

We've confirmed the following bands for our June 28th show!

Chasing Squirrels
Dan Montgomery
The Ultra Cats

The show will be from 3-6pm at a house near the U of M. Evites will be going out in the next few days. To get on the list, send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

Date Change!

2008-05-07T13:38:00.001-05:00

Sorry to do this to you, but we've had to change the June 7th Rock-n-Romp to June 28th. Please mark your calendars accordingly!

Remaining 2008 Dates:

June 28

September 27

November 1

April 12th Recap

2008-04-14T00:23:00.000-05:00

Saturday we kicked off our third season of at the Tidwells' house. They just happened to have the most perfect amphitheater-like yard ever. We lucked out with warm weather for most of the day and had a massive crowd of 200+ people.

The Flying Monkeys, The Harmony Brothers, and Dragoon were all awesome in their own way. The Flying Monkeys appeared to be having so much fun, I thought we might have to drag them from the stage! (I mean that in a nice way!)

Jeff Hulett, of The Harmony Brothers, has played two other Rock-n-Romps with two different bands, both of which got rained on. He was very excited to finally have the full-on sunny day experience of Rock-n-Romp.

Those of you who left a little early really missed out on the fun that was Dragoon! The lead singer, an elementary school teacher by day, really got the kids going!

Speaking of, why did people start leaving around 5:00pm? Was it getting too cold? Was it time for dinner? Was Dragoon too loud? Let us know! We pushed our start time back an hour to accommodate the nappers, but we don't want to lose people just when things are getting lively!

Here are some photos from staff photographer Chip Chockley:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

April 12th Show!

2008-03-19T10:41:00.000-05:00

Evites with show location going out soon! To get on the list email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com

Awesome poster art by Flannery Harper

2008 News

2008-03-06T21:26:00.001-06:00

Hello fellow Rock-n-Rompers,

Just wanted to let you know that the 2008 season is fast approaching! We are currently looking for hosts in the Midtown area with decent-sized, child-friendly yards.

Hosting is easy and FUN! The Rock-n-Romp board will handle all of the set-up and clean-up, prepare your neighbors by distributing fliers, contact the local police department to let them know what's going on, and rent a Port-a-Potty if necessary.

The host family will receive a gift certificate for dinner at a Midtown restaurant, each member of the host family will receive a free Rock-n-Romp t-shirt of their choosing, and everyone will think you totally rock!

Shows are scheduled for the following dates:
(The new show time will be from 3-6pm to accommodate the nappers!)

April 12

June 28

September 27

November 1

In case of rain, shows will be relocated to the Hi-Tone.

Please let us know right away if you are interested in hosting...or if your band wants to play...or if there is a band that you really want to see play at RnR. (And while we're at it, let us know if you are interested in joining the board for the 2009 season!)

Thanks!
The Rock-n-Romp Board

Fun Holiday Tunes

2007-12-20T09:09:00.000-06:00

Vending Machine, headed by Rock-n-Romp's very own Robby Grant, has four original holiday tunes available for downloading on the Vending Machine blog.

Robby created the tunes with his family and friends and they ROCK. I especially love Wot is Nog w/Shelby Bryant. The tunes will only be up through December, so check them out now!

Oct 27th Recap

2007-10-28T22:53:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know there was a lot going on Saturday, but I have to say that if you missed the Rock-n-Romp, you should be SAD.

Oh
My
God
It was AWESOME!

The kids were all dressed up and busy rocking out, painting Junkyard boxes, tattooing themselves, and having a wild time as usual. The parents were enjoying some much needed sunshine, cold beer, and incredible music. The Butlers' had the yard all Halloweened up, and Colin kept everyone entertained with his multiple costumes.

Rae Ray was up first and immediately drew the kids in with a tale of underwater love between a shark and an octopus. (I won't ruin the ending for you!)

The next thing I knew, a pint-sized Dorothy was on stage playing backup kazoo. And best of all, the parents who had realized we didn't have any ear plugs to pass out, collectively made a sign of relief. The volume was just perfect.

Next up was the oh so smooth and easy on the eyes, Arma Secreta.

I had never had a chance to hear them play live and was once again amazed by Robby's ability to book kick ass bands again and again. They were a little louder than Rae Ray but still very "oops I forgot my earplugs" friendly.

And now for the really good part...which definitely required ear plugs and/or desensitized ear drums!!

When I first imagined Rock-n-Romp, The Subteens were on stage doing their rendition of the Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop. Everyone said it would never happen, but on Saturday it did.

With one exception.

I always figured my two monkeys would be up front rocking out, but instead, one was feverish and passed out next to me while the other was being joyfully rolled around the yard in a cardboard box by the skinniest Spider-man I ever saw.

But you know what? It was still freaking too good to be true. Those dudes can rock!!

Look at Mark!

Terrance and Bubba started the season off with The River City Tanlines, ended it with the Subteens, and said they'd happily play again with whatever band they have going at the time. I can hardly wait for next season!

Speaking of, email us or comment here and let us know what bands you want to hear, where you want to hear them, and at what time! We're thinking of going 3-6pm next year and we're kicking around some ideas to take Rock-n-Romp to the next level. So, let us hear from you!

Thanks to everyone for making the second season of Rock-n-Romp even more rockin-n-rompin than the first!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Oct 27th

2007-10-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

Cover art by Max Dixon. Design by Kelli Smith.

October 27th Line-Up

2007-10-01T09:07:00.000-05:00

We will wrap up the second season of Rock-n-Romp on Saturday, October 27th from 2-5pm at the Butlers'. Dress the kids in their Halloween costumes, pack a healthy snack to share, and come enjoy an afternoon of amazing music.

The line-up includes:

Arma Secreta
Rae-Ray

and...

The Subteens!!!

Evites will be going out shortly. If you are not already on the guest list, please send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

September Recap

2007-09-12T22:28:00.000-05:00

Wow, we TOTALLY lucked out on the weather Saturday. After rain all day Thursday and Friday and a dismal forecast, I thought for sure we'd be romping at the Strings & Things! Instead we had several hours of sunshine and light in which to take over the Murphys' lovely backyard.

However, once I stopped worrying about the weather, I started worrying about our attendance. At 2:00pm we only had a spattering of regulars setting up their blankets and filling their beer cups. Everyone else stayed calm, and by 3:00pm we had our usual mob of music lovers. (Is 2:00pm too close to nap time? Should we start at 3:00pm?)

The Junkyard gang came with lots of materials for making instruments and, best of all, paint! The kids loved it and kept quite busy.

(Look for the Junkyard gang at Cooper Young this weekend. They are having the kids build a city out of boxes!)

Caleb Sweazy, a recent Memphis transplant and Rock-n-Romp poster dad, took the "stage" first. All those late nappers missed out!

The Arch Rivals were up next and confessed that this was the largest audience they'd ever played for!

(I found them totally charming until Quinn called me "Mam" later in the afternoon!!!)

Last but not least, we had Those Darlins from Murfreesboro. They are an old time country band specializing in Carter family songs. They are also the women responsible for bringing The Southern Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp to Memphis. It was really awesome to see them, especially now that they are all living in the same house and coordinating their outfits!

Beautiful weather, awesome music, activities for the kids, free beer...what more could anyone ask for? Kool-aid pickles? Well, we had those too.

Stayed tuned for the October line up!

See more RnR pictures here.

See you September 8th!

2007-08-23T09:26:00.001-05:00

Poster art by Flannery Harper, age 11

September 8th Line Up

2007-08-14T14:09:00.000-05:00

This just in!

The September 8th Rock-n-Romp line up has been confirmed! Get out your dancing shoes and your ear plugs! (Actually, this may be the first ever Rock-n-Romp that doesn’t require ear plugs!)

Come hear local dad, Caleb Sweazy, Murfreesboro’s Those Darlins, and local band The Arch Rivals.

Evites will be going out the week of August 27th. If you are not already on the guestlist, please email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com and we will add you!

July 21st Recap

2007-07-22T08:12:00.000-05:00

The third Rock n Romp of the second season was by far our biggest turnout yet! Good thing we had the obscenely large backyard of the Kerrs for this show-- thanks so much to our gracious hosts Terry and Elaine. (This was also RnR's first excursion out of Midtown-- that wasn't so bad, was it?)

The weather was uncharacteristically great for July-- low humidity and a light breeze. We had a water play area, the good ol' banging wall, homemade tattoos, and Lisa from Junkyard Memphis doing crafty cool stuff with the kids.

Pezz kicked off the show, rocking in ways that RnR has never been rocked.

Ill Ease, straight off the road from Chicago, re-defined the concept of crowd involvement:

And finally, Papa Top's West Coast Turnaround both rocked and romped it:

Here's a slideshow of pics from the show:

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

Thanks to all three bands, and thanks to everyone who came out. Seeya in September!

July 21st Line-up

2007-07-04T00:31:00.001-05:00

To be added to the guestlist send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

Kidzapalooza

2007-06-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

The second annual Kidzapalooza is in Chicago August 3, 4, and 5. Someone please go and tell us all about it!

The Line Up
Paul Green School of Rock All Stars
Perry Farrell and Peter DiStefano
G Love
The Hipwaders
The Sippy Cups
Peter Himmelman
The Candy Band
Wee Hairy Beasties
The Q Brothers
The Blisters
Rock For Kids Jam Band
Alvin Ailey Dance Camp
John Yost's Rhythm Revolution
..and some more main stage very special guests!!!

Activities
Paul Green's School of Rock workshops
Dance workshops with the Brickheadz and Chicago School of Dance
Hip Hop Workshop with the Q Brothers and the Inferno Mobile Recording Studio
Remo Drum Circle with facilitator John Yost
Rock & Roll Hairdooz
Small Paul Screen Printing
Photoshootz
Gibson G-Pod
Gibson Little Baldwins
Playstation Gaming
Arts at Play
...and much more!

June 9th Recap

2007-06-12T09:50:00.000-05:00

Despite some rain on Thursday (or was it Friday?), we ended up with beautiful weather for the second Rock-n-Romp of the season. The show was hosted by Wendy Sumner and Kalki Winter, who you may or may not know from the Midtown Artist Market. They graciously opened up their gorgeous backyard to about 150 parents and kids.

As if great weather and a great yard weren't enough, we had two incredible bands and an awesome DJ.

The Warble was first up and they really got the show off to a great start. They were unlike any band I've ever heard--totally original. They were responsible for the whimsical Rock-n-Romp poster design and were just as creative with their lyrics.

The kids were quite taken with them. The boy on the right cracked me up. He had a perplexed look on his face, but every few seconds, he'd bend his knees and dance along with the music.

When not listening to the music, the kids kept busy with the usual tattoo offerings, bubbles, and the ever popular banging wall.

It seemed like we had a wave of folks come around 3:15pm (due to naptime maybe?), which was great, but they all missed out on the magic that was The Warble!

Next up was Giant Bear, "the world’s only five-piece Orchestral Funkabilly band," who just got national distribution for their latest CD. After one song, I could see why. They were absolutely top notch.

Jeff White, who plays guitar & banjo, and does vocals, had his son nearby to accompany him on the "bubble guitar."

The kids (and parents) really responded to Giant Bear, and I was happy to see some real live dancing going on.

What can I say...Rock-n-Romp just keeps getting better and better. Stay tuned for details on our July 21st show, which is guaranteed to be our biggest show yet!

For more pictures, check out our Flickr set.

To get on the RnR guestlist or send feedback, please email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

June 9th Show

2007-05-08T13:31:00.000-05:00

To get on the guestlist, please email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

April 28th Recap

2007-04-30T22:49:00.001-05:00

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

The second season of Memphis Rock-n-Romp got off to a great start thanks to Vending Machine. (Fronted by Rock-n-Romp co-founder, Robby Grant).

Kelly Anderson, who is bringing the Southern Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp to Memphis this Summer, was on hand to sign up girls ages 10-18.

Kate Crowder, our April Rock-n-Romp host, is not only the lead singer of Two Way Radio, but a teacher and kid craft genius. She set up a station for all the rompers to make safari shakers to play along with the bands.

As always the banging wall was set up for rompers to bang at will.

Rompers could also be seen driving through the yard on one of many toy cars. (Oliver Crowder, our youngest host, wins the RnR Sharing Award for so freely giving of his toys.)

Plenty of tattoos were also available to keep the kids happy.

There were lots of new faces.

DJ Colin Butler rocked the yard for awhile with his eclectic mix of music and then the River City Tanlines took the stage. Having never had the chance to see them live, I was thrilled.

I was happy to see that some people took our "bring earplugs" advice seriously. However, some people found the hard rock to be quite soothing. When the music was over, there was plenty of time for the kids to play rock star while the parents chatted and finished off the keg of Abita.

Hope to see you at our next show June 9th featuring The Warble and Giant Bear!

April 28th Show

2007-04-10T14:06:00.000-05:00

Schedule:
DJ Colin Butler - (2-5pm when bands aren't playing)
Vending Machine - 230pm
River City Tanlines - 4pm

To get on the guest list, email memhisrocknromp@gmail.com. You will be sent an evite with the address for the show.

Southern Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp coming to Memphis!

2007-03-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

Kelley Anderson, the founder of the Southern Girls Rock-n-Roll camp in Murfreesboro, is holding one in Memphis this summer. If you want to volunteer or know any young girls interested in music, please contact her or visit the Southern Girls Rock-n-Roll Camp website to download volunteer forms. (Men and women are encouraged to volunteer!)

To give you a quick overview: SGRRC offers girls age 10-17 instruction in guitar, drums, bass, keys, vocals, and electronic music as well as workshops in DIY arts & crafts, zine making, photography and songwriting. The camp is being held at the Gibson Guitar Factory in downtown Memphis and the dates are June 18 - 23. The coolest part about camp is that the girls get to form a band, rehearse each day with a volunteer band "manager" and then at the end of the week perform a song. The final showcase is going to be on the roof of the Gibson Guitar Factory in true Beatles fashion. More info on the camp is available at www.sgrrc.org.

Contact:
Kelley Anderson (sgrrc05@gmail.com)
Founder, SGRRC
(615) 849-8140
www.sgrrc.org

Line up for April 28th

2007-02-22T13:48:00.000-06:00

This just in...the line up for the first Rock-n-Romp show on April 28th!

DJ Colin Butler
The River City Tanlines
Vending Machine

To get on the guestlist, please send an email to memphisrocknromp@gmail.com. Evites with the location will be going out the first week of April.

2007 Season

2007-01-31T19:06:00.000-06:00

The Rock-n-Romp crew is hard at work planning five shows for this year. We are currently looking for hosts and bands who are interested in playing. Please contact us at memphisrocknromp@gmail.com if you are interested.

In the meantime, go ahead and mark your calendar for the following dates!

April 28
June 9
July 21
September 8
October 27

October 28th Recap

2006-10-30T22:06:00.000-06:00

Despite the rain aaaaaaaaaaaaallll day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, it was sunny and on the warm side of cool Saturday. Over 150 people (big and small) gathered in the Trenthem's lush backyard to enjoy an afternoon of music, crafts, conversation, healthy snacks, and beer on tap. The kids came out full force in their costumes and took over the haunted playhouse, painted gourds and pumpkins, climbed trees, and did their best to destroy the new, improved banging wall.

The Wallendas put the rock in the romp...

Dr. Dave Evans, joined on stage by his very talented three-year-old grandson, gave the under ten set their first taste of old time blues.

Zack, the ducky half of Unknown Pleasures DJs, spun some fun tunes between bands...

And before we knew it, it was last call. Chess Club closed the show with a Pop Noir bang.

We can hardly wait for next Spring to start romping again. We hope to have more shows and more bands next year. Please let us know if you are in a band and want to play, if you have a big yard and want to host, what bands you'd like to see, and what kind of beer you like! Leave a comment here, or email us at memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

For more pictures, visit our Flickr page.

And for a special treat, check out a You Tube video of Rock-n-Romp founder, Debbie Lee, at the DC Halloween show.

Looks like good weather...

2006-10-25T22:04:00.000-05:00

October 28th Show

2006-10-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

The October 28th show is the last one this year. If you haven't made it to one of our super-fun shows, this is your last chance!

Let the kids dress up, bring a *healthy* snack to share, and enjoy some great music!

Here's the line up:

The Wallendas - 2:15pm
Dr. David Evans - 3:15pm (solo)
Chess Club - 4:15pm

Unknown Pleasures DJs - all the quiet parts in between.

Evites/emails will be going out the week of October 9th. To add your name to the list email memphisrocknromp@gmail.com.

September 23 Recap

2006-09-24T22:50:00.001-05:00

Planning outdoor events is stressful, especially in a place like Memphis where you never know what the weather will do. With the foreboding weather and the uncertainty of whether it would last, we found ourselves in almost the same exact position we were in on June 17th. But this time, we had a plan.

After staring out the window, checking the radar, and stressing for almost 36 hours, we decided 15 minutes prior to the start time to move the show indoors. We were incredibly lucky that our beloved board member and Sept 23 hostess, Wendy Trenthem, not only knows, but is related to, people in high places. Her dad, who happens to be part owner of the Strings & Things building, graciously offered to let us hold the show in the atrium should the weather turn bad. (Even though we rocked and romped for a bit despite the rain on June 17th, this time we really wanted to be able to do a full blown show regardless of the weather.)

Up until the very last second, I was arguing for holding the show outdoors. I just refused to accept the fact that the rain was coming. Wendy and her husband had spent months cleaning up their backyard (they even built a deck!) and I could just picture it full of sundrenched kids armed with slide whistles. I couldn't let go of the dream.

Chip, who had been studying the radar all morning, finally said to me, "The radar doesn't lie. It isn't magic; It's science." I was really disappointed that it was raining on my parade two times in a row, but my disappointment quickly dissipated once I walked into Strings & Things. It was big and airy, clean, free, covered, and all ours for the day. Moments after we started rearranging tables, rain started pounding on the roof. It was exactly 2:00pm.

By 2:30pm, we had everything cleared out and baby-proofed. Families started trickling in, and Jeffrey James and the Haul took the stage. The kids started gravitating to the instruments...and the tattoos...and all of the other fun stuff we had around.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Before we knew it, there were 45 families in attendance, and kids were happily running all over the place. Unfortunately we couldn't serve beer at S&T, but it didn't seem to affect the mood at all thanks to Two Way Radio (Formerly known as Walkie Talkie and briefly as Side Walk Talk.) They had hula hoops...fancy instruments...and even a llama! (Their CD is titled "Residential Llama)

By the time Cory Branan was set to go on, the kids were amped up beyond belief. I saw him sweating a bit and he told one of the RnR organizers that he "hadn't been this nervous since David Letterman." (Or something like that.) But clearly the kids quickly accepted Cory as one of their own, and banded around him for the duration.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect (except for the weather!) day. We were all thrilled.

Mark your calendars for October 28th. It will be our last show of the season. We hope to have the bands finalized this week. Stay tuned for more details.

Come to Strings & Things!

2006-09-23T13:44:00.000-05:00

We waited until the very last minute because we really really wanted to rock-n-romp outside, but we have decided to move indoors. Please join us!