I would be remiss if I didn’t speak about the future music fans of the world during my A to Z journey through the Music-Fan Connection.

moe.down kids jump for joy!

Silly parents, festies are for kids, too!

The child-friendly options at music festivals increase each year, it seems. From Kidzapalooza at parent-fest Lollapalooza to Kidz Jam at Bonnaroo, the live music scene has been primed for the sippy cup set. From family camping sections, games and crafts to performances for the pipsqueaks, festivals are welcoming the littlest generation of music lovers with open arms.

My theory? There’s a perfect storm going on right now. Generation Xers, the group that refuses to grow up or give up their pop culture, have coaxed little Gen Ys and Gen Zs from the womb. These Y and Z kids are being raised with the proverbial silver spoons in mouths…or should we say sleek silvery iPods with tot-sized earbuds? Mom X and Dad X are psyched to introduce Junior Y and Li’l Z to ‘good’ music, and with so much music just a finger-tip touch away, it’s hard to resist spoiling them.

So when summer rolls around, it’s a no-brainer to make festival-going a family affair. Many festivals allow kids under a certain age in for free. Forgot sunscreen or earplugs? No worries, some festies even provide such staples so kids rock safely and comfortably all day long.

moe.down, the 3-day music and camping festival hosted by the band moe. in upstate New York, has had a Kid’s Tent for almost as many years as the festival itself has been around (2013 marks the 14th straight year of the festival). Originally started by one of the band member’s wives in an effort to keep her kids busy, the moe.down Kids’ Tent has morphed into a professionally run, absolutely fun option for families.

Just Joe performs as the kids form a rockin’ conga line

Just Joe performs as the kids form a rockin’ conga line

Over the last several years, the Kids’ Tent staff announces an annual ‘theme’ based on one of moe.’s songs – from New York City to Captain America to Mexico- in advance, so kids can bring costumes  and participate in the themed activities throughout the weekend. The yearly Talent Show keeps kids coming back year after year, and the Kids’ Parade has become the stuff of legend, as the children wind their way up onto the main stage to join moe. during their afternoon set.

Kids preparing to sing “Mexico” with moe. on stage

 Kids preparing to sing “Mexico” with moe. on stage

Kids are natural rockers, and they’re here to stay. Well, until they grow up and give you attitude, but I suppose that’s very rock and roll as well. One last sign of the times: I took my daughter and her friend, at nine years old, on a road trip to the grungy Grog Shop bar in Cleveland to see their favorite kiddie band du jour, Ralph’s World, perform a daytime set. The staff lovingly had placed this sign above the bar, on top of the usual nightly beer menu:

Sign of the times. Kinda says it all, doesn’t it?