On the first Saturday of December, WTMD’s popular “Saturday Morning Tunes” concert series moves to the historic Senator Theatre for a family-friendly, indoor music festival, presented by Live Baltimore.
“Saturday Morning Tunes at the Senator Theatre” will feature performances by celebrated area bands Lard Dog & the Band of Shy and the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, a holiday-themed photo booth, inflatable instruments for little ones to play along with the bands, videos on the big screen, arts and crafts, coffee, bicycle rides and more. Baltimore children’s book author Kevin O’Malley will be on hand sketching animals and other creatures by request.
“Being a parent of young kids can be isolating and tedious at times,” wrote Sam Sessa, WTMD’s Baltimore music coordinator, in an email. “Saturday Morning Tunes is meant to be something parents and kids can both enjoy together.”
The affair is a bulked-up version of the regular Saturday events in the ongoing series of the same name, normally held at WTMD studios and broadcast live on the radio. The program was developed originally to highlight growth in the genre of children’s music in the last decade.
Sessa says the shift has been noticeable when glancing back at was available for children in past decades.
“When we were kids in the ‘80s and ‘90s, ‘kids’ music’ was patronizing at best and sometimes downright obnoxious (remember Barney?)” he wrote. “These days there are so many great bands for children and parents, and we want to help turn people onto them.”
The move to the Senator Theatre is a one-time thing for now, done to fit more attendees and give more space for them to dance and play. Scheduling for the regular series at the station will continue monthly, Sessa said.
“Saturday Morning Tunes” will take place at the Senator Theatre, located at 5904 York Road. Doors open at 9 a.m., with music running from 9:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Tickets and more information can be found online.
