Rock The Twin Cities: Guide to Local Kids Bands & Family Friendly Entertainment

The Twin Cities is lucky to have some really great Minnesota kids bands. My oldest will always be able to claim that she saw the Okee Dokee Brothers play in a friend’s basement. While, ODB is not so local anymore, the Twin Cities metro does not lack family-friendly entertainment. The following is a list of the bands you’ll see at family-friendly events, a short description of their music and where you can find their music to add to your own collection.

Some of these links are affiliate links which does not raise the price for you but helps FFTC to earn a small commission. 

Upcoming Kid-Friendly Concerts

More Family-Friendly Concerts:

For more family-friendly, but not necessarily kid-central music, check out our GIANT annual list of Summer Concerts here.

Recently Anne culled out the summer series that are geared specifically toward children and shares those shows here: Twin Cities Free Summer Concerts & Entertainment for Kids

 

An Alphabetical List of Minnesota Kids Bands

THE BAZILLIONS

At the top of my family list, The Bazillions remind us of Schoolhouse Rock. Although this is totally kids music, I have them on some of my grownup Spotify lists. As teachers, the band started by creating classroom music and expanded from there. Now you will often find them on the park and library circuits in the summer. If you love The Bazillions, their grown up band is the Humbugs.

Booking: Book the Bazillions for your party, event or venue.

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BOB THE BEACHCOMBER

Bob the Beachcomber plays covers of classic rock, beach party music. If you like the Beach Boys, you’ll enjoy sharing Bob the Beachcomber with your kids or grandkids.

Booking: Hire Bob for your next beach party.

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JOLLY POPS

Reminiscent of the kids music of They Might Be Giants, the Jolly Pops are fronted by MacPhail instructor, Billy Hartong and has a rotating crew of rock moms and pops, their daughters, and some puppets. This multi-dimensional band plays a variety of kid-friendly styles.

KID POWER WITH RACHAEL

A long-time staple of the park entertainment circuit, Kid Power with Rachael is an interactive educational show with animals, puppets, juggling and a kindness theme.

Booking: Request a Quote Here.

KIDSDANCE

Kidsdance are DJs — not a band — but will be in the same concerts series as many of the bands on this list. Perfect for getting you kids dancing with familiar music.

Booking: Book a Kidsdance DJ.

KOO KOO KANGA ROO

Your kids may know Koo Koo from GoNoodle. While many other musicians on this list have adult bands, Koo Koo performs both kids and adult shows under the same name. When in town, you are as likely to see them playing a 21+ show at the Turf Club as a kids show. A downside to this is that I find some of their music videos a little too mature for smaller kids. However, with that parental caution, this is your go to kids band if you like original hip hop. You can fine their latest single, Ope on all your favorite streaming platforms.

Booking: Contact Koo Koo to book a show.

NIGEL EGG – SILLY GRANDAD

A veteran musician of folk, blues and Americana songs, Nigel Egg started creating kids music for his grandkids at the request of his daughter-in-law. He now has three toe-tapping albums available on Spotify as Silly Grandad. Find him on our Spotify list at the bottom of this page or purchase the music through bandcamp.

Learn more: Silly Grandad music here.

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OKEE DOKEE BROTHERS

We’re going to keep claiming these guys because we love them and they still perform in the Twin Cities a few times a year. The Okee Dokee Brothers just have an ability to write music that appeal to kids and adults. They evoke emotion and make social statements without ever feeling false or preachy. ODD’s newest album, Little Old You releases November 7, 2025. You can get a sneak peak at the album’s first single, Nature’s Music, on Spotify anytime.

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PAPA SIAMA AND AUNTIE DALLAS

You can read Gianna’s full review of the new album by Papa Siama and Auntie Dallas. Regulars around town from Midtown Global Market to the library circuit, this duo incorporates melodies and rhythms from the Democratic Republic of Congo with accessible English lyrics that kids love to dance to.

Booking: Contact for bookings

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ROE FAMILY SINGERS

While the Roe Family Singers are not technically kids music, as parents themselves, their music is family friendly. They often play family and kids events. The Roe’s describe themselves as a “Good-Time, Old-Time Hill Billy” band. As grown ups, you can see them every Monday night at 331 Club in NE Minneapolis.

Booking: Contact Roe Family Singers.

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THE SPLATTER SISTERS

The Splatter Sisters have been around since 1990. Their trademark look is coordinating 80s-style bib overalls, while their music has an Andrews Sisters swing-style.

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TEDDY BEAR BAND

The Twin Cities’ granddads of kids rock, the Teddy Bear Band‘s original fans are starting to bring their own kids to shows. TBB plays kids standards — the one’s we sang in the car and around the campfire as kids. These musicians pride themselves in bringing real instruments and real music to the stage while being developmentally appropriate for their audience. In the grown up world, most of the band is also Rich and the Resistors.

Booking: Book the Teddy Bear Band.

TODD’N’TINA

Todd’n’Tina is a Minnesota-based, family-friendly music duo. Constantly creating new content, you can follow Todd’n’Tina on Spotify and find them on YouTube. For live shows, you’ll find Todd’n’Tina at parks and farmer’s markets around the Twin Cities throughout the summer months. Todd’nTina’s latest video Chicken Pot Pie was released September 5, 2025.

Learn More: Toddntina.com

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TRICIA AND THE TOONIES

Tricia and the Toonies play fast-paced, high energy kids music in this puppet-show music program. The Toonies perform a family show, an environmental show and a 50s music show.

Booking: Contact Tricia to Book a Show.

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WENDY’S WIGGLE JIGGLE AND JAM

Wendy Baldinger is a music specialist and storyteller who has developed a music curriculum for teaching preschoolers basic concepts. She performs her music and stories around the Twin Cities. Wendy’s CDs are out of print, but you can purchase her curriculum through her website and her music will soon be available through Spotify.

Booking: Book Wendy for your event here.

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WILL HALE AND THE TADPOLES

If you like laid-back, bluesy jam bands, you’ll love this band. I wouldn’t call every song on these albums a kids song, but there is nothing objectionable either.  This could be good car music for family road-trips since it is not saccharin sweet, but still has music kids would learn on repetition. Like most bluesy jam bands, this band has been prolific over the years, and there are quite a few albums to choose from.

Booking: Learn more about private parties here.

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Where to Find Minnesota Kids Bands

Quite a few of these bands are on Spotify, so if you have an account, feel free to follow or copy your favorites from my playlist. Most of these groups also offer music for sale on Amazon and often through their own websites.

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Not Active, but Not Forgotten:

THE BIG EPIC SHOW

Miss Cherice and company started The Big Epic Show as a live, family-friendly variety show. The live show incorporates several hip hop and pop covers; but Big Epic’s first album, Make it Epic is a collection of original songs with the same energy and humor we’ve come to expect from the live show. If you are a fan of P!nk, you’ll enjoy sharing The Big Epic with your kids. The Big Epic Show hasn’t played out since 2023, but you can still find their music on YouTube or buy albums through Amazon.

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BUNNY CLOGS

The Bunny Clogs was started by Honeydogs frontman, Adam Levy, while he was doing the stay-at-home dad gig. His girls are bigger now, but you can still find their music on Spotify. If you like 90s indie rock music, the Bunny Clogs could be your family music.

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We have done a few reviews of family-friendly bands outside the Twin Cities:

While not, Minnesota kids bands, these musicians have traveled through the Twin Cities.

• Laurie Berkner: Music Review
• The Rock n Roll Playhouse at First Avenue