WTMD’s kid-friendly concert series returns

By Rebecca Kirkman on September 20, 2019

WTMD’s kid-friendly concert series is back for its third season and bigger than ever.

The Towson University radio station kicks off its Saturday Morning Tunes series, which runs from September through June, at Power Plant Live on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

The movie soundtrack-themed show will feature songs from “The Lion King” performed by Baltimore funk and hip hop band Black Root Underground and songs from “Aladdin” performed by Matt Hutchison and Kristen Toedtman, who has sung on the soundtracks to “Frozen,” “Minions,” “Despicable Me,” and more.

“We are providing an opportunity for WTMD listeners with small children to come out to a station event and expose their children to not only cool music, but also public radio,” says Scott Mullins, WTMD general manager and program director. “Our hope is that those kids will grow up with an appreciation for what public radio brings to a community and how it can enrich the cultural life of a city.”

The goal is to turn “lame” kids’ music on its head with concerts parents can enjoy with their children. The events are interactive, with performers encouraging participation through dancing and sing-alongs. Tickets include organic snacks for kids from Eddie’s of Roland Park, coffee provided by Garrison Forest School and bike rides from Race Pace Bicycles.

The idea for Saturday Morning Tunes came during a baby story time at the Towson Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library in 2016. 

“A bunch of the moms there told me how much they enjoy listening to WTMD, and all the fun times they had going to WTMD shows—before they had kids,” recalls WTMD Baltimore music coordinator Sam Sessa, who was attending the event with his then-1-year-old child. “So I ‘Why not do a concert series for people like us?’”

Realizing its existing concert schedule may not be ideal for young kids, the station tested the public’s interest with a one-off event on a Saturday morning in May 2016 at WTMD.

“The response was overwhelming,” Sessa says. “It sold out, and convinced us to launch Saturday Morning Tunes as a monthly series in January 2017.”

Since then, the demand has continued to grow. The final concert of its 2018 – 2019 season, a Phish tribute for kids in June, attracted 1,200 people to Power Plant Live.

This season, the series will grow beyond Baltimore with a Grateful Dead tribute concert featuring Ed Hough's Dead Collective at Maryland Hall in Annapolis on Nov. 2, and plans to bring a concert to Washington, D.C. in early 2020.

“Parents are so excited to share their love of music with their young children and try to pass along the appreciation of live performance,” Mullins says. “Parents have expressed their gratitude for us putting on a family oriented event that doesn't require them to endure traditional ‘kids’ music,’ but music that they love as well.”

2019 schedule & Tickets

Saturday Morning Tunes Concert Schedule

Sept. 21 – Movie soundtrack show feat. songs from “Aladdin” & “The Lion King” at Power Plant Live

Oct. 26 – Baby Beats album release show at WTMD 

Nov. 2 – Grateful Dead Tribute Concert for Kids at Maryland Hall

Nov. 16 – Beatles Family Festival with Yellow Dubmarine (location TBD)

Dec. 14 – Mini Holiday Spectacular at Towson University West Village Commons

Get tickets and more information at WTMD.org.