Nonprofit aims to bring more children’s entertainment to Walla Walla | Local

In the next few years, Walla Walla could be home to a new music festival complete with multiple venues, upbeat tunes by bands from across the U.S. and … googly eyes?

Two local children’s entertainers — Eric Herman and Aaron Canwell — have teamed up to bring more “kindie” music experiences to the Walla Walla Valley. 

“Kindie” stands for independent kids’ music, which “melds the sensibility of the singer-songwriter with themes aimed at kids under 12 years of age,” according to kindiecomm.org. 

Herman is president and Canwell is secretary of Walla Walla Kindie Music Festival, a nonprofit created by Canwell in recent years with the goal of growing the music scene for kids in Walla Walla. Together they work with Vice President Tyson Kaup and Outreach Coordinator Sara Pinkerton.

The two said the audience and resources are abundant in Walla Walla, and once the word is out, a well-established kindie music festival could be just around the corner. 

Herman, a professional googly-eye wearer, is known for his humorous performances geared toward elementary schoolers while Canwell’s songs are meant for the younger end of that age group. Both put on an interactive, high-energy show with original songs for kids of all ages — and the young at heart.

Currently, Herman and Canwell take turns presenting monthly kindie concerts in the Walla Walla Valley at various locations. 

Herman will give a free concert at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, 77 Wainwright Drive. Canwell will play a concert in January that has yet to be formally scheduled.

Canwell, who spent 10 years in Portland performing kindie concerts in the duo Micah and Me, said that with the scenery and multiple venues available, Walla Walla has the potential to be a great destination for a festival.

When he moved to Walla Walla from Portland 10 years ago, Canwell wasn’t sure if he would be able to start another Micah and Me band, but after running into fellow Portland transplant Warren Waller, the band came back to life. They have performed shows at Pioneer Park that have drawn around 70 children.

“My dream is to actually have a one-day or weekend festival where we bring in kids’ musicians from the U.S. and the world,” Canwell said. “Maybe it’s at Cordiner Hall, maybe it’s at lots of places like the classic music festival.”

Right now, the nonprofit is in its nascent stages, building a following and raising awareness so that growth can happen. Tranche Estate and the Fort Walla Walla Amphitheater would make good venues for kindie concerts, the two said.

Canwell hopes in the next year to organize a festival that combines multiple concerts, bands and venues in the area. Ideally, he’d like it to become an annual event with some individual concerts spread throughout the year.

Each artist currently has music available through streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

“Our number one on Spotify is a cover of ‘Baby Shark,’” Canwell said. “It gets like 12,000 streams a month … ‘Dump Truck’ is next.”

Herman’s original “Elephant Song” was a game changer for his career, he said. It was featured by YouTube and has 55 million views on the platform. More recently, “Googly Eyes” has been a big hit.

“I give away googly eyes at the show, and people have started coming to the show with googly eyes on their shirt,” Herman said. “One little girl had a shirt that had one of the scenes from the song.”

Herman’s songs cater to older elementary-aged kids, he said, because the younger crowd will still appreciate it, but it doesn’t work the other way around.

“When I have 7, 8, 9-year-olds, now they’re getting the jokes,” he said. “It’s a different level of engagement.”

Herman travels the country performing at schools, libraries and parks. He was recently in New Jersey on a school tour. 

He also records albums and music videos, performs with other bands and is on the board at The Little Theatre of Walla Walla.

“We have a lot of different things going on, but this is one thing we’re hoping to get a little more under way,” Herman said. “People are happy to come and see the show; they like the opportunity, but people just need to know … it’s a free thing I can bring my kids to.”

Concerts and more

Kindie concerts will be held at 3:30 p.m. on the following dates at the Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, 77 Wainwright Drive:

Sunday, Dec. 21 — Eric Herman and the Invisible BandSaturday, Jan. 10 — Micah and Me Dance PartySunday, Feb. 22 — Eric Herman and the Invisible BandSunday, March 1 — Micah and Me Dance Party

For more information about Micah and Me, visit micahandmerocks.com. 

For more information about Eric Herman, visit erichermanmusic.com. 

For more information about Walla Walla Kindie Music Festival, visit wallawallakindiemusicfestival.org.