Reinventing the Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle

I’ve always loved going to concerts. In college, I became a music reviewer so I could get free tickets to all the shows and hang out with the bands. When Mr. P and I were dating, we regularly hit The Duck Room and Scottrade Center to see our favorite performers.

But when the Little Ps made their debuts, our pseudo rock star lifestyle gave its final curtain call. For instance, I’m dying to see The Black Keys at The Pageant on Thursday, but I feel 3-year-olds probably don’t belong in a sweaty, booze-infused dance pit in front of the stage.

Mr. P and I still want to hold on to a small part of our past life and, at the same time, show our little ones a performer doesn’t have to be dressed like a cartoon character to put on a good show (though Lady Gaga might disagree). So I went on a hunt to find an ideal concert experience – one that features great bands and meets three main qualifications:

1. It has to be affordable, or better yet, free. I don’t want to drop the money for tickets and have the 3-year-old begging to leave after an hour.
2. It has to be outside so the Little Ps can run around and dance without completely annoying the people around us.
3. It has to be easy to get in and out of, so if our toddler competes against the lead singer in the wailing department or if fellow concertgoers get inebriated and start throwing their underwear at the bassist, we can make an easy getaway.

Here’s what’s on our list for the summer.

Whitaker Music Festival, Now through August 4, Missouri Botanical Garden – There’s no better excuse to grab the kids and pack a picnic than the Whitaker Music Festival. Every Wednesday night, the garden air is filled with great sounds from St Louis favorites like Javier Mendoza and the Dogtown Allstars. The shows start at 7:30, but get there early so the kids can run, jump and play at The Children’s Garden at no cost to mom and dad.

Jungle Boogie Friday Night Concert Series, now through Sept. 3, Saint Louis Zoo – Friday night means a night on the town. Now instead of heading to a smoky club and getting your feet stuck to a beer-marinated floor, you can catch your favorite local performers, such as Gumbohead and Boogie Chyld, at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Heritage & Freedom Fest, July 2 to 4, Ozzie Smith Sports Complex, O’Fallon, Mo. – Whether you’re a country fan or lover of '90s alt-pop, O’Fallon’s annual Fourth of July festival features performances for you. Darryl Worley and Chuck Wicks perform on the 3rd while Five For Fighting, Eve 6 and Toad the Wet Sprocket entertain the crowds on the 4th.

Fair St. Louis, July 3 and 4, Saint Louis Arch Grounds – Now celebrating its 30th anniversary of entertainment, Fair St. Louis not only spotlights concerts from John Legend and the B-52s, but also the K-Town Kids Zone, riverboat races, the return of the air show and, of course, some of the best fireworks ever to grace the St. Louis skyline.

Live on the Levee, July 9 to 24, Saint Louis Arch Grounds – On Friday and Saturday nights in July, music fans will flock to the Arch grounds for performances by artists like Common, Clint Black and Against Me! Best of all, there’s plenty of dance space for little ones to shake their groove thing.

LouFest Music Festival, Aug. 28 and 29, Central Field, Forest Park – OK, this festival breaks Rule #1, but with amazing acts like She & Him, Jeff Tweedy, The Bottle Rockets and Carolina Chocolate Drops, it’s just too good to pass up. Tickets are $38 for one day or $64 for a two-day pass. Best of all, kids under age 10 are free, and the festival features a Kids Village packed with educational events and kid-friendly eats. In the meantime, check out Carolina Chocolate Drops’ version of “Hit ‘Em Up Style” performed at KDHX last September. Addictive!

Big Muddy Blues Festival, Sept. 4 and 5, Laclede’s Landing – A Labor Day tradition, Big Muddy is the perfect close to summer. Although acts have yet to be announced, the event always features wonderful local, regional and national acts.

In addition to checking out these festivals, don’t forget to look for outdoor concerts in your own neck of the woods. Communities throughout the metro area feature large-scale events, such as the Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville this weekend or ValleyPalooza in Valley Park on Sept. 18, while numerous parks play host to concerts on weekend evenings.

Let me know – are there any other music festivals we should put on our calendar this summer?

By Nicole Plegge, Lifestyle Blogger for SmartParenting