TNM Presents… KIDFEST

A collaborative event by the Chico School of Rock (CSOR) and the Butte Folk Music Society (BFMS). KidFest will include music from young people, and some older people to inspire the younger.

KidFest Includes:

• Continuous music from students of the Chico School of Rock, and special guests, on the stage in the plaza (now with 75 quite accomplished youth performers.
• Some “cool folk” headlines acts
• Information about Play Folk! instrument adoption and rescue program (collecting donations of instruments for use by kids who have no access to instruments or money to buy them)
• Play Folk! instrument petting zoo, perhaps with contributions from music stores and local pawn shops – so kids can actually pick up and play a variety of musical instruments
• An on-stage “instruments of the world” demo (organized by BFMS) in which several well-known local musicians have brief performance on more “exotic” and unfamiliar instruments such as accordion, banjo, penny whistle, hammered dulcimer).
• The involvement of local youth and music oriented organizations, such as MENC, Chico Performances, and Wild Oak.

The mission is to provide a venue for local youth to share their talent with the community and to share the event with local youth oriented organizations. BFMS and CSOR can bring the community together through music and inter-generational activities.  The new mission of the BFMS is to work with youth to develop their access to musical instruments, jamming and performance opportunities, and exposure to music teachers in the area, and provide opportunities for mentoring from local musicians.