April 10th Episode: From the Archives

Click here to view the embedded video.

Saturday from 9-10am
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM
Valley Free Radio | Northampton, MA

listen NOW | listen on WXOJ | archived podcasts | request a song | subscribe to free podcast | archived shows | contests | myspace | facebook | twitter

PLAYLIST

• Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – “I Gotta Be Me” [Easy]
• Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – “Hot Lava” [Easy]
• Mister G – “Pizza For Breakfast” [Pizza For Breakfast]
• Mister G – “Pony with a Problem” [Pizza For Breakfast]
• Imagination Movers – “Springtime!” [Eight Feet]
• Peter Himmelman – “My Green Kite” [My Green Kite]
• The Sippy Cups – “Springtime Fantastic” [Electric Storyland]
• Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck – “Come On Out” [Special Kind of Day]
• Elizabeth Mitchell – “Winter’s Come & Gone” [You Are My Little Bird]
• Dan Zanes – “Hey Little Red Bird” [House Party]
• Milkshake – “Bluebird” [Bottle of Sunshine]
• Mr. Ray – “When the Spring Comes” [Family Ride]
• Ben Rudnick & Friends – “Coming of Spring (Instrumental)” [Grace's Bell]

ON-AIR ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Check out Secret Agent 23 Skidoo on Sunday at the Iron Horse with opening act, Mister G in Northampton.
• Find out how to win a copy of Mister G’s CD, Pizza For Breakfast!
• PSA: Cummington Family Center Silent Auction
• PSA: Cartoon-a-Palooza, a fundraiser for the Forbes Library Children’s Department
• Vernal Pool Video
• Vernal Pool Post

Tags: Hilltown Family Variety Show, Music Collective, Podcast, Programmer's Notes

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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
Mélange of Music Episode

08/15/09 PLAYLIST

This week's episode is a mélange of music with many colorful new songs, including "Farmer's Market" by Laura Doherty, the very place this beautiful bouquet of flowers were found in Florence, MA this week! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

Saturday from 9-10am
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA

listen LIVE via streaming audio | request a song | subscribe to free podcast
archived shows | contests | myspace | facebook

• Peter Himmelman – “Endless Green” [My Trampoline ]Music
• Swing Caravan – “Blue Skies” [Get it Fresh ]
• Squirrel Nut Zippers – “Pallin’ with Al” [Putumayo Presents: Swing Around the World ]
• Butterflyfish – “Lemonade” [Ladybug ]Music
• Laura Doherty – “Firefly” [Kids in the City ]Music
• The Sippy Cups – “One Day Soon” [The Time Machine ]Music
• Artichoke – “Quail” [26 Animals]Music
• Joe West – “Anita Pita” [If The World Was Upside Down]Music
• Station Id: Steve Weeks [www.steveweeksmusic.com]
• Taj Mahal – “Brown Girl in the Ring” [Shake Sugaree]
• Laura Doherty – “Farmer’s Market” [Kids in the City]Music
• Spiral Up Kids – “Friends” [Spiral Up Kids]Music
• Billy Jonas – “Hollow Bamboo” [Happy Accident]Music
• Justin Roberts – “Henrietta’s Hair” [Pop Fly]
• Maria Sangiolo – “Hairbrush Blues” [Under the Mystic Sea]
• Station Id: The Harmonica Pocket [www.harmonicapocket.com]
• Robbie Schaefer – “Sally, Can I Walk You Home?” [Songs For Kids Like Us]
• Billy Jonas – “Some Houses” [What Kind of Cat Are You?]
• The Hipwaders – “Educated Kid” [Educated Kid]
• Ben Rudnick & Friends – “A Frog Named Sam” [A Frog Named Sam]Music
• They Might Be Giants – “Hot Dog!” [Here Come the 123s]

Tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show on Saturdays from 9-10am on Valley Free Radio (VFR), 103.3FM (Northampton, MA), or listen via streaming audio at www.ValleyFreeRadio.org.

Every Saturday VFR offers four hours of commercial-free, quality family program from 6-10am, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7am-9am. It’s better than Saturday morning cartoons! Turn off the T.V. and turn on local community radio!

Tags: commercial-free-radio, Community Radio, Family Music, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Kid Music, Programmer's Notes, Saturday Morning, vfr

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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
Jay Mankita @ Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Guest DJ Episode

Jay Mankita: "...one of the half dozen best songwriters today!" - Pete Seeger

Saturday from 9-10am
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA

08/01/09 PLAYLIST

listen LIVE via streaming audio | request a song | subscribe to free podcast
archived shows | contests | myspace | facebook

• Kheswa – “Beautiful Day” – [Putumayo Kids Presents: Picnic Playground] Music
• Pascal Parisot – “Mes Parents Sont Bio” – [Putumayo Kids Presents: Picnic Playground] Music
• Jay Mankita – “Eat Like A Rainbow” – [Putumayo Kids Presents: Picnic Playground] Music
• Pete Seeger – “Arrange and Rearrange” – [Pete Seeger at 89]
• Johnsmith – “I Will Fly” – [Traveler]
• The Neilds – “Shoes: Farewell My Pants” – [All Together Singing In The Kitchen]
• Jay Mankita – “The Cliche Song” [Recorded live at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival]
• Swing Caravan – Swing music [Recorded live at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival]
• Jay Mankita -”Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (new verses) – [Recorded at Electric Wilburland]
• Peter Siegel – Two traditional tunes arranged and performed by
• Laurie McClain – “Acony Bell” – [The Child Behind My Eyes]
• Jay Mankita – “The Day the Library Went Wild” [The Day the Library Went Wild]
• Billy Jonas – “Zach’s Walk” – [Get Real]
• Asylum Street Spankers – “Everybody Loves My Baby” – [Mommy Says No!]
• Charlie Byrd and Laurendo Almeida – “La Cumparsita” – [Tango]

Visit Jay Mankita on-line at www.jaymankita.com

Visit Falcon Ridge Folk Festival at www.falconridgefolk.com

Tags: Childrens, Collectives, Community Radio, Family Music, Hilltown Families, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Music Collective, Programmer's Notes, Programmer's Notes, Radio Program, valley-free-radio, vfr

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Click here to view the embedded video.

WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA

07/04/09 PLAYLIST

listen LIVE via streaming audio | request a song | subscribe to free podcast
archived shows | contests | myspace | facebook

• Kool & The Gang – “Celebration” [Celebration]
• Charity and the JAMband – “Cake” [Rock Your Socks Off]
• Suzi Shelton – “So Long Chocolate Cake” [Simply Suzi]
• Justin Roberts – “It’s Your Birthday” [Meltdown!]
• Betsy McCall’s Surprise Birthday Party – “Happy Birthday”
• The Candy Band – “It’s Your Birthday” [Calling All Kids]
• Betsy McCall’s Surprise Birthday Party – “Surprise Birthday Party”
• The Candy Band – “Simon Says” [Calling All Kids]
• Brady Rymer – “Happy Birthday Around the World” [Every Day is a Birthday]
• Station Id: Steve Weeks [www.steveweeksmusic.com]
• Charity and the JAMband – “Happy Birthday Baby” [Rock Your Socks Off]
• Butterflyfish – “Lemonade” [Ladybug]Music
• The Jimmies – “Somebody’s Birthday” [Make Your Own Someday]
• The Uninvited Loud Precision Band – “The Uninvited Parade” [Blue Moo]
• Laurie Berkner – “Five Days Old” [Rocketship Run]
• Lisa Loeb – “H.A.P.P.Y.” [Camp Lisa]
• Recess Monkey – “Birthday Bite” [Tabby Road]
• The Hipwaders – “Birthday Ruckus” [Goodie Bag]
• Ambrosia Parsley – “Everybody Came” [For the Kids Too]
• “Birthday is Over” [Ditties for Kiddies]
• Ralph’s World – “Happy Not My Birthday” [The Rhyming Circus]
• The Panderers – “Come On” [Hotshot's Boy]
• Betsy McCall’s Surprise Birthday Party – “After the Party”

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Tags: Collectives, Family Music, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Kid Music, Music Collective, Programmer's Notes, vfr

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Special Family Performance
with the Pioneer Valley Symphony featuring
2009 Grammy Storyteller BILL HARLEY
and Peter and the Wolf

Greenfield High School Auditorium in Greenfield, MA
On Saturday, March 28th, 2009 @ 7pm

The Hilltown Family Variety Show is pleased to offer four free tickets to see the Pioneer Valley Symphony (PVS) featuring Grammy winning storyteller, Bill Harley and Peter and the Wolf in Greenfield, MA at the Greenfield High School Auditorium on Saturday, March 28th, at 7 pm, courtesy of PVS. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, 03/25/09 @ 7pm (EST).  For more information and to enter to win check  out HilltownFamilies.org.

Tags: Bill Harley, Hilltown Families, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Pioneer Valley Symphony, Programmer's Notes

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Top Tunes for 2008

Justin Roberts: Pop Fly – Top Ranked Winner of the Fids & Kamily Awards

For the second year in a row I was honored to be asked to be a judge of the Fids and Kamily Music Poll (read about last years winners) … and I have to tell you, with all the great kids & family music that came out this year, it was no easy task!

What is the Fids and Kamily Music Poll?

The Fids and Kamily Poll is the first compilation of year-end kids and family music “best of” lists from critics, writers, radio programmers, and others involved in the music industry. The poll was launched in 2006 and was inspired by the Village Voice’s long-running “Pazz and Jop” music poll.

Top 10 Albums of 2008

In the third year of the Fids and Kamily Music Poll, Justin Roberts’ Pop Fly was voted the best kids and family album of the year. Pop Fly topped a list of outstanding releases in a year that included kids and family albums from mainstream/adult artists such as They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies, as well as albums from new and upcoming kids and family artists such as Frances England and Recess Monkey.  Roberts’ previous album Meltdown won the inaugural poll in 2006.

The Top 10 albums of 2008 are (in order):

1. Justin Roberts – Pop Fly (read more)
2. Frances England – Family Tree (read more)
3. They Might Be Giants – Here Come the 123s (read more)
4. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Easy (check out their video)
5. The Terrible Twos – Jerzy the Giant (read more)
6. Barenaked Ladies – Snacktime (read more)
7. Recess Monkey – Tabby Road (remember when)
8. Medeski, Martin & Wood – Let’s Go Everywhere (read more)
9. ScribbleMonster – Songs With No Character (our number one pick!)
10. Danielle Sansone – Two Flowers

Honorable Mentions (unranked next ten):

• Laurie Berkner – Rocketship Run
• Bill Harley – Yes To Running! (read more)
• Randy Kaplan – Loquat Rooftop (read more)
• Lisa Loeb – Camp Lisa
• Gunnar Madsen – I’m Growing
• Okee Dokee Brothers – Kids With Beards
• Ellis Paul – The Dragonfly Races (read our interview)
• Ralph’s World – The Rhyming Circus
• Brady Rymer – Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could (read more)
• Dan Zanes – Nueva York

A Few More

And if you’re looking for a list of the top 30 family albums released over the past year, consider these (unranked) wonderful releases too (we did!).

• Rebecca Frezza & Big Truck – Special Kind of Day (read more)
• Suzi Shelton – No Ordinary Day (read more)
• The Nields – Rock All Day: Rock All Night (read more)
• Mr. Saxaphone – Songs From the Treehouse (read more)
• Hot Peas ‘n Butter – The Pod Squad
• The Jellydots -  Changing Skies (read more)
• Various Artists – Blue Moo
• Harmonica Pocket – Ladybug One (read more)
  
• The BummKinn Band - Rockin’ the YeeHaw (read more)
  
• The Hollow Trees – Welcome to Nelsonville (read more)
  

Plus one more:

• Imagination Movers – Juice Box Heroes

The full results of the poll, including essays on the top 10 albums and a listing of other nominated albums, are available at the Fids and Kamily website (http://fidsandkamily.com).

---

The list of judges for this years poll was great.  Check out all the great folks and visit their sites to learn more about what they’re up to:  2008 Fids and Kamily Poll Judges

Jeff Bogle (Writer, Out With the Kids);

Gwyneth Butera (Programmer, Gooney Bird Kids);

Bill Childs (Programmer, Spare the Rock Spoil the Child; writer, Parenting/MN Parent/Valley Kids, etc);

Phil Corless (Writer, A Family Runs Through It);

Amy Davis (Writer, The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What To Think);

Jeff Giles (Editor-in-Chief, Popdose.com);

Liz Gumbinner (Co-Founder and Editor,  Cool Mom Picks);

Tor Hyams (Co-Founder, Kidzapalooza);

Gregory Keer (Writer, Family Man Online);

Tammy LaGorce (Music Writer,The  New York Times, Amazon.com, and other outlets);

Jeremiah and Jennifer McNichols (Co-Founders and Editors, ZRecs Network and  Z Recommends);

Belinda Miller & Hova Najarian (Producers/Hosts, Greasy Kid Stuff);

Kathy O’Connell (Host, Kids Corner, WXPN, Philadelphia);

Robbie Schaefer (Music Director, Sirius/XM Kids Place Live);

Stefan Shepherd (Writer, Zooglobble);

Mindy Thomas (Program Director, Sirius/XM Kids Place Live);

Bryan Townsend (Owner, The Pokey Pup);

Amy Trulock (Hip Young Parent);

(Warren Truitt (Children’s Music Guide, About.com; Writer and Reviewer, Kids Music That Rocks);

Amberly Warnke (Programmer, Ages 3 And Up!);

Sienna Wildfield (Editor/Writer, HilltownFamilies.org, Producer/Host, Hilltown Family Variety Show).

Tags: Collectives, Fids and Kamily Awards, Hilltown Families, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Music Collective, Programmer's Notes

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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW

Halloween 2008 Episode
with Sienna & Persephone

WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
Saturday mornings from 9-10am

10/25/08 PLAYLIST

request a song | subscribe to free podcast
archived shows | contests | myspace | facebook

• The Candy Band – “Monsters” [Calling All Kids]
• “Theme from the Munsters” [Halloween Party for Kids]
• Recess Monkey – “Green Monster” [Tabby Road]
• “Theme from Halloween” [Halloween Party for Kids]
• Steve Weeks – “4 Little Girls” [Alphabet Songs Vol. I]
• Station Id: Princess Katie & Racer Steve [www.princessracer.com]
• Baze and His Silly Friends – “Scare Me, Scare You” Music
• The Citizens of Halloween – “This is Halloween” [Nightmare Before Christmas]
• Ralph Covert – “Harrys’ Haunted Halloween Circus” [At the Bottom of the Sea]
• “The Adams Family Theme”
• Station Id: Steve Weeks [www.steveweeksmusic.com]
• STORY: Bill Harley – “Alicia & The Little Monster” [More Favorite Songs and a New Story]
• Recess Monkey – “Under My Bed” [Tabby Road]
• Barenaked Ladies – “What a Wild Tune” [Snacktime]
• Recess Monkey – “Wolfman” [Tabby Road]
• Uncle Rock – “Picnic in the Graveyard” [Plays Well With Others]
• Bow Wow Wow – “I Want Candy” [The Best of Bow Wow Wow]
• Station Id: The Harmonica Pocket [www.harmonicapocket.com]
• The Hobo Nickels – “The Cottleville Crickey Bridge” [Cooper County] Release

Click here to check out last years Halloween Episode on HFVS (10/30/07)

Tags: Halloween, Hilltown Families, Hilltown Family Variety Show, Programmer's Notes

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