Fresh Freat Beat Band - Season 2 Premieres Next Week

FreshBeatBand_circus.jpgAs previously reported, Nick, Jr. greenlighted Season 2 of their show The Fresh Beat Band. And now their "hijinks and high-energy music" (which, y'know, is not a bad description of the show) will be featured in four new Season 2 episodes premiering Monday, Aug. 30 - Thursday, Sept. 2, at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT. And while future episodes promise that the band will "learn and play new styles of music, including Jazz, Conga, Bluegrass and Motown," for now fans will have to be satisfied with these 4 shows. The Fresh Beat Band - "You Got It" [Posted with permission of Viacom] PR descriptions of the 4 premiere episodes after the jump. Note: one sentence in each description may be less than totally truthful.

Video: "The Little Blue Doggy" - Michelle Campagne

For those of you who think family music's become edgier over time, the following kids' song, written a half-century ago by Canadian songwriter Lionel Daunais features: 1) a locked-up kid-dog, 2) humans in cages, 3) dustmites who eat the title character, and, perhaps worst of all, 4) pipe smoking. In spite of all this, The Secret Mountain has put together The Little Blue Doggy, a book lovingly illustrated by Marie Lafrance including a CD with songs by Daunais performed by Canadian musician Michelle Campagne and her family. You can get an idea of what you're in for by watching the video below. (Warning: includes pipe smoking.) The Little Blue Doggy is out in October. Michelle Campagne and Family - "The Little Blue Doggy" [Vimeo]

The Little Blue Doggy from The Secret Mountain on Vimeo.

(Yay for HTML5!)

Live Video: "Sojourner Truth" - Deedle Deedle Dees / Dean Jones

I know, I already mentioned the Elizabeth Mitchell / Frances England release concert for the release of Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti. But the Boston-area show last weekend, featuring The Deedle Deedle Dees (and a bunch of other folks), featured another collaboration -- the aforementioned Dees along with Many Hands creator/producer Dean Jones on trombone for their unrecorded (though couple years-old) tune "Sojourner Truth." Good stuff. The Deedle Deedle Dees with Dean Jones - "Sojourner Truth" [YouTube] Following the jump, another tune from the show, a raved-up (relatively) version of a track from the Dees' latest album, plus their contribution to Many Hands

Please Release Me: August 2010 Edition

Updating last month's list of upcoming releases once more... Matt Clark: Funnier Little Fella (Aug. 28) Secret Agent 23 Skidoo: Underground Playground (Aug. 31) Meredith LeVande: What Are the Odds? (Aug. 31) Bill Harley: The Best Candy in the Whole World (Sept. 14) "Doc" Dauer and others: The Body Rocks! (Sept. 14) Oran Etkin: Wake Up Clarinet (Sept. 14) The Squeegees: Meet the Squeegees (Sept. 21, Target exclusive) The Boogers: Title TBA (fall) Jeremy Zmuda: Title TBA (fall) Laurie Berkner: Let’s Hear it for The Laurie Berkner Band! DVD (Sept. 28) Elizabeth Mitchell: Sunny Day (Oct. 5) Jim Cosgrove: Swimming in Noodles (Oct. 5) Maria Muldaur: Barnyard Dance: Jug Band Music for Kids (Oct. 12) Flannery Brothers: The New Explorers Club (Oct. 19) Keller Williams: Kids (Oct. 26) Caspar Babypants: This Is Fun! (Nov. 2) Buckwheat Zydeco: Buckwheat Zydeco's Bayou Boogie (Nov. 2) Frances England: Mind of My Own (Nov. 9) Jamie Broza: I Want a Dog (Nov. 23) David Weinstone: Title TBA (November) Didi Pop: Didi Pop Goes to Hawaii (Dec. 1) Meredith LeVande: Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith LeVande (DVD, Dec. 1) Gustafer Yellowgold: Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock (Feb. 22, 2011) Others working on albums with potential 2010 releases? Lunch Money (Original Friend), Ella Jenkins, Big Don

Video: "Preposition" - The Bazillions

Their last video, for "Tommy Got in Trouble," had the advantage of being for a great song. It was a good video for Twin Cities band The Bazillions, but their new one (at least to YouTube) is even better. "Preposition" is a decent song, but this video is Schoolhouse Rock-worthy. The Bazillions - "Preposition" [YouTube]

Live Video: Elizabeth Mitchell / Frances England

I mentioned before the slew of release concerts being put on to celebrate the release of Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti. Three concerts down, three more to go. If they're at all like the one in Mill Valley, California, featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and Frances England, they're special affairs. At the show, they both played their tracks from the compilation, which are among my favorites on the record. For Frances' contribution, her original "That's What Friends Are For," Mitchell and husband Dan Littleton helped out. The song's called, "That's What Friends Are For" -- how could they not? Frances England w/ Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton - "That's What Friends Are For" [YouTube] After the jump, Mitchell's contribution, featuring a nice violin solo from Mitchell/Littleton (and Jon Langford) compatriot Jean Cook...