Kidzapalooza gets a kidz sibling

We've already put down our marker for music-loving families: Kidzapalooza might be the best time you have with the kiddies this summer. It was that way for my family last year, anyway, and we got a head start on the 2009 fun by checking out Ralph Covert of Ralph's World fame as he played an adult set with his Bad Examples last weekend at Retro on Roscoe. We missed his daytime kids' set, but plenty of tykes were on hand to hear him belt out "Not Dead Yet" and other pop anthems that night.

Yes, Ralph's a busy man this month—not only will he be playing Kidzapalooza proper Saturday (4pm) and Sunday (1:30pm), he'll also be playing the Kidzapalooza Very Important Rocker show in the second-floor Great Room of The James Hotel (55 E Ontario St) Sunday morning. The event has been dubbed "Kidzapalooza Unplugged" by organizers—you know, in case the regular Kidza performances are too crazy-loud and wild for you. Performances kick off at 9am with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Joshua James, the Happiness Club and Ralph's World, who we hear might play a song from his new musical The Hundred Dresses, which will debut late next month at the Royal George Theatre. The concert's free, but you will need to R.S.V.P. to Kidza@dkcnews.com.

Meanwhile, Time Out Chicago Kids editor Judy Sutton-Taylor and I will be blogging all weekend from Kidzapalooza in Grant Park, giving you the scoop on some sweet secret shows and reviewing the performances. Check out our complete Kidza coverage—along with our exhaustive reports from the adult Lolla stages and after-parties--starting tomorrow. Meanwhile, sample MP3s of Kidzapalooza acts here.