Andy Z is a local legend. He’s the man behind several children’s albums and the creator of my favorite kids’ Halloween album/rock opera, The Grand Scream of Things. Andy Z performs all over the Bay Area and when my kids were younger, we’d frequently go to the well-attended (and free) Mommy & Me events at Westgate Shopping Center and Santana Row. My kids are both in school now but they still sing Andy Z’s songs at home!
Are you new to Andy Z? Here are a few of our favorite songs for this time of year:
Punkin’ Patch
A punk-lite version of his song, “Pumpkin Patch,” makes me nostalgic for the times we listened to this song on repeat at home, and my kids would hop, skip, and “mosh” along to the lyrics.
Scarecrow
An example of why it’s good to try to catch Andy Z live. He does a great job of incorporating his young audience into his shows, with lots of movement and participation while he performs.
How We Roll
A trio called The Baking Fools— their names are Easy B, T-spoon, and Mary Poppin Fresh (!)— raps a pumpkin bread recipe. It gets me every time!
I like Andy Z’s music because his songs are actually quite listenable, unlike most kids music out there, and his live shows are a lot of fun. If you have young kids and live in the Bay Area, try to catch him in person! You can see Andy Z’s full performance schedule here.
