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SF Bay Area kindie rocker Andy Z

Andy Z Live

Cutting through the cacophony of echoing voices and footsteps at the Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo, Bay Area Kindie Rocker Andy Z walks onto the small 6x6 raised stage and dons his twelve string guitar. Wearing his official uniform of tie-dyed shirt, shorts, and a backwards baseball cap, Andy Z begins the show with his very familiar song, Welcome To Andyland. Ba-ba-bah, rings out from the PA system, and the sea of children and parents surrounding Andy’s raised island in the mall begin bopping their heads and clapping their hands to the rhythm.

Who is Andy Z?

If you are unaware of who Andy Z is, he is one of the most heavily booked and requested children’s musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. For the past 10 years, Andy Z has entertained, engaged, and energized children and parents from San Francisco to San Jose and every place in between. Whether his stage is at a children’s library, a preschool, a mall, or outside under the sun, Andy Z’s highly contagious personality and amusing giggle grips all those who watch and listen.

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In the Beginning

Andy Z starting performing children’s music at various farmers’ markets around the Bay Area. Like all good musicians, Andy took notice of who was digging his sound, and adjusted his sets accordingly, “I begin mixing children’s songs into my sets during local farmers’ market shows. It was the kids who would stop their folks to watch me, so I thought I’d start playing specific songs for them.” The seeds were planted, and the rest is kindie rock history. Andy Z now performs over 300 children’s shows year, and has four children’s albums to his credit. 

Andy Z's Music

Andy Z’s music can be described as an artful blend between classic children’s music in the style of Raffi, to straight up rock and roll beats that are more in line with today’s contemporary kindie rock music scene. Andy’s music is at a level that is accessible to young children, but can also be enjoyed by adults of all ages too. 

Andy Z's 5th Album

Busy as ever, Andy Z will be releasing a Halloween adventure themed album on October 1, 2011. A bit of a departure, his fifth studio release will be geared toward "tweeners" (8-12 years old). Fans will be happy to know that this album will still have all of the engaging qualities that has made Andy such a hit with the 3-8 year old set.

See Andy Z Live!

If you have young children, Andy Z's live performances are a must see. With his 12 string guitar and puppet friends Como C. Llama and Cecil the Dragon, Andy Z will get your children jumping and jiving to his music. From Down By the Bay to Sticky-Sticky Bubble Gum to Andy's very own Scarecrow, Andy will put a smile on you and your child's faces and joy in your hearts.

If you would like to see Andy Z perform live please visit www.AndyZ.com to see his performance schedule. 

, San Mateo Music Education Examiner

Michael Quadro is an educator, musician, and freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Part educator and part rockstar, Michael spends most of his days traveling around the Bay Area teaching early childhood music development to preschool kids and the parents that love them. On the...

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