David Weinstone Hosts 'All I Want' CD Release Party At Highline 4/30

Multi-faceted children's musician David Weinstone, whose music videos are seen daily on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. channel, is ready to party with fans and The Music For Aardvarks Band in celebration of the release of the 16th Music for Aardvarks album, All I Want! Aardvarkian festivities will start at 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 30 at Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St., NYC. Music for Aardvarks fans can expect a high energy afternoon, as the band performs such MFA favorites as "Taxi," "Girl Power," "Move Your Feet," "Race Ya to the Corner," and "Grumpy," in addition to an array of new songs from All I Want!. In honor of the occasion, David Weinstone will give a free copy of All I Want! to every family attending this concert.

Says David Weinstone, "Our shows are highly interactive, and we love it when kids bring their instruments -- ukes, guitars, shakers, whatever. We always invite kids up on stage with us to sing a song or just shake something, and we always take requests! To help get kids (and their caregivers) up and moving, we incorporate 4 or 5 dance contests into every performance. As a special treat for our CD release party, we'll have a bunch of great, surprise guest musicians joining us onstage. It's going to be amazing. Our band is super friendly, and after the show we'll sit right down to spend time with kids and parents, pose for photos with families, sign CDs, and let the kids try out our instruments. The theme of our new CD, All I Want!, is that what kids need most is quality time with caring adults. We hope the way we interact with kids at our shows reflects this."

David Weinstone is a phenomenon. A Berklee College of Music-trained ex-punk rocker, Weinstone literally changed the face of children's music by introducing songs pertinent to lives of contemporary children - songs that weren't about eensy weensy spiders, but about taxis, subways, bagels, and playdates, reflecting and celebrating the lives of children growing up in urban environments, while addressing themes universal to children everywhere. Music for Aardvarks and Other Mammals began in 1997 as an "alternative" music class for young children and their caregivers. Demand was strong not only for the classes, but also for recordings of Weinstone's original songs, so he began to produce albums, which sold like wildfire. He eventually formed The Music for Aardvarks Band, started performing live shows, and, ultimately, came to the attention of Nick Jr. David Weinstone's music videos are now a steady presence on the Nick Jr. channel, and Music for Aardvarks classes are offered in locations throughout the U.S. and as far away as England.

Through the years, such notables as Jon Stewart, Philip Glass, John Leguizamo, Helen Hunt, and members of Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys, and Phish, among many others, have brought their children to Music for Aardvarks classes. Says John Leguizamo, "It's great to be a kid growing up in New York City and David's music shows us why. I love listening to it as much as my kids do." Notes eminent contemporary composer Philip Glass, "Music for Aardvarks is a favorite around our house. These are great songs for growing up and staying young, with delightful music and hilarious lyrics." Actress Helen Hunt enthuses, "My daughter loves these songs and they've helped her love New York." Page McConnell, keyboard player and co-song writer for Phish, explains simply, "It's real music - the songs are so good!"

David Weinstone lives with his family in Brooklyn.

WHAT: David Weinstone & The Music for Aardvarks Band
WHERE: Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St., NYC
WHEN: Saturday, April 30. 12:00 noon.
TICKETS: $12 in advance. $15 day of show. $40 Family 4-Pack. Phone 212.414.5994. www.highlineballroom.com.