Do you miss the days of going to outdoor concerts with a group of friends, listening and dancing to your favorite songs, enjoying a couple of beers or cocktails, without having to worry about getting and paying for a babysitter?
The Rock and Roll Playhouse allows parents to continue the concert-going experience with kids in tow, playing the music of iconic performers in a family-friendly atmosphere.
"The Rock and Roll Playhouse is the largest national kid-friendly live concert series having performed to hundreds of thousands of kids and their families. It has hosted over 1,000 shows in more than 35 leading live music venues across the United States, filling the void for shared musical experiences between parents and children across the country."
This past Sunday, The Rock and Roll Playhouse threw The Purple Party, playing the music of Prince. It was a free event in Gallagher Way. When gates opened at 10am a herd of parents with strollers entered the park, laid out their blankets, and let their kids (many dressed theme-appropriately in purple) run around with each other as they awaited the 11:30am performance.
As the kids were pre-occupied with the bubbles and beach balls families were sharing, parent friend groups visited the bar and caught up with each other.
The first song of the setlist was Let's Go Crazy. When the first chorus hit, the fountains turned on, delightfully surprising some of the kids who were standing over them at the time. And then things sure got crazy - the gleeful screams, the laughter, the water splashing in every direction. I imagined a similar scene in a sudden downpour at Lollapalooza. Parent and grandparents sang and danced their hearts out.
The band cleverly initiated a game of Freeze Dance to Kiss, brought out a giant parachute for Purple Rain, and a limbo stick for Rasberry Beret.
The party was complete.
If you missed it, fear not. The Rock and Roll Playhouse will be holding a couple more free concerts at Gallagher Way, on August 28th playing Women Who Rock for Kids, and on September 25th playing the Music of Motown.
In the meantime, you can also catch them at Thalia Hall on August 7th playing the music of The Grateful Dead (you can purchase tickets here.)
Continue to be on the lookout as The Rock and Roll Playhouse comes to Chicago year-round and is always a good time for all ages.
