Hop into some hip music

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

As a community organizer with a love for ensuring children have the tools they need to express themselves through art and music, Crystal Meneses was thrilled at the birth of her daughter Alberta. But she soon found the music scene geared toward little kids left her underwhelmed.

“When Alberta reached her first year I was ready to start going out and doing fun stuff with her,” Crystal said. “But all the kids' music I was hearing was so boring for adults.”

Then she heard about a movement called “Kindie,” a mash-up of the words “kid” and “independent,” which emphasizes making music kids and adults can enjoy together, and an idea was born.

“So much that we get invited to do as parents of young kids is boring,” Crystal said. “I wanted to create a fun concert scene that could be enjoyable for everyone.”

The Oregon Children's Music Festival, happening on Saturday, Aug. 21, will include performances, workshops and even a free ice cream social, all on or near the festival stage at the 51st Street Beach access in Lincoln City and open to everyone.

“It’s an extravaganza for the community to celebrate our youth,” Crystal said. “You don’t have to be a mom or dad or even an uncle or aunt, just come and enjoy the music.”

The festival begins at noon with an Intergenerational ukulele workshop.

“It’s for all ages and all levels,” Crystal said. “We’ll learn a song all together. People who have never played before but have one, bring it and I’ll help you tune it and show you a few basic chords so you can play along.”

For people that have considered buying a ukulele but have hesitated, Crystal recommends taking the plunge.

“It's such a sweet instrument,” she said. “I love the sound of it and how you can basically take it anywhere since it's so light and small compared to so many other instruments. Plus, with only four strings, it’s pretty easy to learn to play.”

At 1 pm, the Community Ice Cream Party will help inaugurate a new "Ice Cream and Waves" mural that is part of a citywide project with local artists working with kids to create six new murals by the end of September.

“We’ll serve ice cream until we run out,” Crystal said. “It was donated by Tillamook Creamery, so it’s the good stuff.”

During the ice cream party, music will be provided by Boka Marimba, then at 3 pm, DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid featuring Adam McCollom will hit the stage.

“DJ Anjali is going to be doing a Bollywood-style dance workshop and dance lessons,” Crystal said. “She really creates a festival atmosphere.”

Finally, at 5 pm, the Legacy Band will play kid-friendly hip hop, funk and jazz tunes until kids of all ages are ready for bed (or until 9 o’clock).

This will be the second of the Lincoln City-based children’s music festivals, which Crystal started before she moved to the coast.

“In Portland the festival did really well which is why I was so excited to start one here,” she said. “The beach is a much better place for it, and people can come that are locals or visitors.”

The overarching theme, as the name implies, is children, but Crystal emphasises that it's as much for their benefit as their enjoyment. A raffle for a “family set” of six ukuleles will help raise funds to support kids’ music programs on the Central Oregon Coast.

“It’s just a great way to expose kids to all kinds of music while adults have a good time too,” Crystal said. “Again, this is for the whole community; there will be different music from different genres but all upbeat. Bring a chair or blanket, the music will be able to be heard from the beach.”

For more information, go to www.oregonchildrensmusicfestival.com.