Ever heard kid-friendly jam band music?
That’s the niche Cleveland’s Big Ship is carving out for themselves.
Oh, they don’t actually unspool half hour jams. The audience doesn’t have that kind of attention span. But their tunes — both originals and arrangements of Mother Goose rhymes — have that sunny, laidback, it’s-all-good vibe that should put you in mind of a particularly groovy weekend at Nelson Ledges.
It’s no surprise when you find out who Big Ship’s two key members are. Michael Rotman played percussion with long-running Cleveland jamsters Oroboros in the ’90s before moving on to develop his own songwriting and vocals. And David “Dreadlock Dave” McDougald led Waterband, a fixture on the local jam-band scene for 13 years until he pulled the plug early this year.
Since then, he’s been working with Rotman further develop the Big Ship project, which they started back in late 2010. Now they’re now releasing a CD “for kids of all ages.”
In addition to Rotman and McDougald, Gary Naherny, Josh Laird, and Carlos Jones contributed to it as special guests. Its infectious rhythms will have the whole family dancing. You can sample them here.
Then pack up the kids and head down to the family-friendly CD release show at Nighttown, featuring an afternoon brunch and show.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 18 and under.