Grammy-Nominated Musician to Perform at Brainerd Public Library – Brainerd Dispatch
BRAINERD — For Ralph Covert, making music can be child’s play.
The Grammy-nominated musician will bring his free, high-energy, family-friendly concert series to branches of the Kitchigami Regional Library System, including Brainerd Public Library.
“At its heart, it’s children’s music that parents can love as much as children do,” Covert said of his “Ralph’s World” tour of the library system, which begins June 21 in Bemidji. “I hope this can help create a mindset of positive engagement with the world.”
His live acoustic show is about a “mega-fun musical planet where kids rock, rock, rock and dance, dance, dance for their own and their parents’ enjoyment,” according to the tour promoters.
“It’s a perfect fit for our area,” said Carol Christensen of the Kitchigami Regional Library System. “We would like to present a variety of lectures on music, arts, arts education and authors, lectures on books and different things related to literature.”
“Ralph’s World” is the creation of Covert, an indie rocker, songwriter, playwright and author of children’s books who has adopted the same “energetic, super melodic feel he developed for his touring pop-rock band on children’s music. according to its website.
“So much children’s music tends to be a little silly for kids,” Covert said. “And coming from a rock ‘n’ roll, indie rock background, that didn’t appeal to me.”
His albums include those containing songs by him that have been turned into children’s books, and he will also highlight the important connection between music and reading at these library concerts.
“We were really starting to try to ramp up our summer reading programs across the region…especially because some of our branches couldn’t afford to put one on,” Christensen said.
Covert said, “When I do my library shows, it’s about singing and laughing and dancing and being silly, and just having tons of energy and tons of fun. It’s about engaging everyone. And, just for me, libraries are some of the most magical places in the world.
Covert’s McCartneyesque style (both musically and his sense of charm) has earned him “hundreds of thousands of 3-foot-and-under fans and their parents,” according to his online biography.
“What got me excited was, ‘How can I make music better so it appeals to kids and adults?'” Covert said. “I thought kids loved the Beatles, so they know good music…not compromising on the chemistry that makes great music to begin with.”
Covert engages his young fans with activity songs, story songs, dance songs “and a healthy dose of pure silliness,” according to the Chicago-based musician who has four children.
“When you have a presentation that appeals to children, we have found that not only does it spark interest in the library system, but it also teaches them the necessary skills that will hopefully provide them with support as they begin to read and become interested in books,” Christensen said. .
Covert added, “The music you listen to and the books you read help create the inner landscape by which these children grow to understand the world, so that’s one of the reasons why in my lyrics I try always find ways to both have positive messages, but not to water them down either. »
This free legacy program is funded in part or in whole with vote money from the people of Minnesota, who have dedicated funds to preserve Minnesota’s artistic and cultural heritage.
“We use our state funding to promote the arts, arts, culture and history, especially of Minnesota,” Christensen said.
Ralph’s World Library Tour Dates
- June 21st: 10:30 a.m. at Bemidji Public Library, 1 p.m. at Blackduck Community Library, 4 p.m. at Cass Lake Community Library
- June 22: 10 a.m. at the Walker Public Library, 1 p.m. at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes
- June 23: 10 a.m. at Brainerd Public Library, 1 p.m. at Crosslake Area Library
- June 24: 1 p.m. at Margaret Welch Memorial Library in Longville, 4:30 p.m. at Cass County Fairgrounds in Pine River
- June 25: 10 a.m. at the Park Rapids Area Library
FRANK LEE can be reached at 218-855-5863 or
frank.lee@brainerddispatch.com
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