Listen Up! 4 Local Kindie Musicians to Check Out Now

We’re so lucky. Ridiculously talented musicians walk among us every day in Portland and many of them actively play for our kiddos. We took time to check out these cool cats and are happy to report that they rocked our world. Behold a few more acts to see, hear and embrace.

Chuck Cheesman
The recent Portland transplant and mega-Americana talent is here doing fab things with banjo, guitar and ukelele. His rockin’-soulful-folksy tunes make us wanna get up and dance. Plus you can enjoy him at home via his very own Pandora station. Rad!
10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Café au Play (5633 SE Division St., 503-894-8506)
10 a.m. Fridays at Treehouse Children’s Boutique (3954 N Williams St., 503-928-5987)

Miss Saramag
Miss Saramag may just be our newest up-and-coming kindie superstar. She gets everybody moving with songs, dancing and even sign language while she plays her keyboard or piano or whatever her hands feel like playing. Her songs are playful and sweet (like a preschool teacher for the universe) and meant to inspire – not bad for mid morning on a weekday.

10 a.m. Wednesdays at Treehouse Children’s Boutique (3954 N Williams St., 503-928-5987)
10 a.m. Fridays at Rain City Coffee (2035 NE 41st Ave., 503-282-2529)

Lori Henriques
Lori is gooey chocolate brownies on a crisp fall day. Her songs, words and arrangements are a combo of jazzy and classical perfection with sweet, silly and even wistful lyrics. She writes about all kinds of topics including Dinosaurs, stars, the delights of learning, and counting by twos, threes, fours and fives (each its own ditty).  She’s played piano classically all her life, including earning a grad degree in piano performance and in 2013 won an ASCAP award for kiddo music excellence. Now a mama to two (read: inspiration abounds for her songwriting savvy), find her stuff on iTunes and Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live. Though none are currently listed, feel free to friend her on Facebook to find out where she will be performing next.

Pointed Man Band
With the best tag line around, “Kids music for the grown and still growing,” this band never fails to make us smile. Their debut CD, “Swordfish Tango,” is out now, and their live performances keep toes tappin’ with their Latin sounding beats. Horns, guitars, strings and uber-creative lyrics – we just love these unique cats and their full band orchestration. One reviewer referred to them as Shel Silverstein meets Tom Waits. How kindie can you get?  Visit their Facebook page to see where they will be performing next.

Who’s your favorite Portland-based kindie rocker? Let us know in the Comments below!

— Liz Overson

Photos courtesy of Chuck Cheesman, Lori Enriques and Miss Saramag via Facebook, and Kevin Drake