Venue Change: Kindie! Hit the Indie Rock For Kids Fest Saturday

Update: The festival has been moved to Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave., Park Slope.

"While we are sad to not hold this event at the Urban Meadow, we are
thrilled Southpaw can accomodate our kindie posse," said Melissa Caruso-Scott. 

When Melissa Caruso-Scott started her career in music she didn't know ten years down the road she'd be in the kids music world.

But here she is.

Caruso-Scott has lived in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill since 2001, and now that she has two kids, she says, it's the perfect time for her to enter the world of kid's music.

She calls it "kindie" music, which is, you guessed it, "kid" plus "indie."

"I honestly never noticed kids music before having kids," said Caruso-Scott, the former owner of the now shuttered avant-garde and experimental LES club Tonic. "But because music was such a big part of my life for so long, i'm really choosy about what kind of music I expose my son to."

Caruso-Scott's new venture, Tonic Kids, sends out a newsletter and starting Saturday, presents concerts and festivals. The first annual features four bands, as well as drum lessons, face painting, food, games and much more, the fest is being held at the Urban Meadow at President and Van Brunt streets from 12 - 4:30 p.m.

Hitting the stage is Smithsonian Folkways Recordings artist Elizabeth Mitchell, local mom and music class instructor The New Raspberry Bandits and Jon Samson.

So what makes a kindie band good?

Caruso-Scott says it's all about strong musicians and witty lyrics. She doesn't like songs that are "patronizing."

I like songs that are "not about teaching kids a lesson in every song," she said.

The move from working in music for adults, to working in music for kids, was actually not a hard one, said Caruso-Scott.

"I have completely embraced it," she said. "A lot of musicians from Tonic now have children, and we've entered this world together."

And she is committed to building community in the new world.

"The Tonic people were really a family to me, it was a community place," she said. "I strive to create the same environment here."

The Super Sonic Kindie Music Fest is Saturday, Sept. 24 from noon - 4:30 p.m. at the Urban Meadow, President and Van Brunt streets. $12 adults, $8 kids in advance/ $15 adults, $10 kids at the door. Best for kids up to 8-years-old.