The Kids Are Alright: Austin Kiddie Limits Preview

Big Don, typically known as MC Overlord (or Don Robinson), offers up kid friendly funk, rap, and hip hop at 2:30 p.m. An enthralling interpretation of “Humpty Dumpty” could well be included in the set while the “Alphabet Song” should take care of any educational needs during the day. Students from Austin’s Anthropos school display their talent at 3:15 p.m.; Anthropos kicked off its tenth year of music education with a celebration last week.

Finally, at 3:30 p.m., Paul Green’s School of Rock All-Stars will attempt to (further) inspire your precious little one to be the next rock ‘n’ roll star. Green started the “school” in 1998 and the organization was the subject of a documentary, appropriately titled Rock School, in 2005. And of course, there’s that other flick starring Jack Black from 2003 which was quite possibly inspired by Green’s educational program.

Jambo and Uncle Rock return for encore performances to kick-start Day Two. At 1:30 p.m., Buck Howdy And BB’s country ditties take over; the duo has been invited to play at The White House, not once, not twice, but three times in the past. mr. Ray (or Ray Anderson) takes the stage at 2:30 p.m. with melodious tunes that often incorporate assistance from the kids, especially during the chorus’, and he’ll be encouraging adults to join the sing-a-longs as well, no doubt. Anderson got involved in the kid-rock genre in the mid '90s when his wife convinced him to perform in a pre-school classroom and the rest, as they say, is history. His résumé includes tours with the likes of Meat Loaf!

A “Special Guest” and The Jimmies complete the rest of the Austin Kiddie Limits line-up on Saturday. The Jimmies’ set at 3:30 p.m. will likely include everyday tales about waking up to tousled hair (“Bedhead”), fashion choices (“What’s On Your Shirt”), and early angst (“Cool To Be Uncool”) wrapped up in powerpop melodies.

Big Don, Buck Howdy And BB, mr. Ray, The Jimmies, and Paul Green’s School of Rock All-Stars are also on the bill for Day Three. Sets at Austin Kiddie Limits are usually anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes long. Nicole Atkins, besides doing a full set on the AMD stage at 12:30 p.m. with The Sea on Sunday, will lend her gorgeous voice to the sands of Zilker Park to entertain the kiddos at 3:15 p.m. All in all, the kids will be alright.

“Artists and schedule subject to change without notice.” (As per Austin City Limits Music Festival’s Schedule Grids.)