The world of indie kid’s music continues to provide families with a high-quality and, frankly, totally awesome way to share age-appropriate music with your kids both on record and live in concert. We’re talking real music made with real passion by real people who are also really talented musicians – not the saccharine sweetness of cartoon music or manufactured pop from some kiddie TV show.

Fun fact: Some of the best 21st century bands for 21st century families are actual families themselves, here are some of our favorite dads who rock out with their kids (and/or significant others) on their albums and on stages across the country.


Play the Spotify mix above and then meet some of the raddest dads in music!

ChibiKodama

John Cullimore of Chibi Kodama

The leader of this true family band of Tennessee has 5 daughters and they are all (ok, not the baby yet) involved in the making of the music under the moniker Chibi Kodama, and for performing it live on stage. If you dig crunchy guitars and wicked hooks a la Weezer, you’re going to love this awesome dad, his kids and their songs.

Skidoo and Saki

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Saki is been a guest MC on Skidoo’s albums from the beginning of his reign of the king of kid-hop and now that the SoCal by way of Asheville, NC rapper finds himself the dad of a tween/teen girl, his incredible hip hop is getting ‘older’ and more introspect at times (see: “Time Machine” from The Perfect Quirk).

Danny, Tom and Michael of The Not-Its

It’s not uncommon for the offspring of the Seattle post-punk-pop-rock quintet The Not-Its to play a part in the band’s live concerts. While the boys may not make too many apperances on record, they are the inspiration behind some of the best indie post-punk music made for families today. Also, The Not-Its continue to be the best live all-ages band on earth.

Lucky and Alisha

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

The namesake of this sunny, bilingual SoCal, Latin Grammy Winning band just became a dad for the second time and his wife is his hilarious, bubbly wing-woman on stage and off. With a newborn in the backseat at this road warrior family band criss-cross the country, expect even more remarkable songs perfect for ears of all ages.

Key Wilde and Mr Clarke

Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke

Key’s son Liam has grown up in and into the family business and now plays violin and sings when this quirky Brit-punk-Southern-folk band play live, as they did in Philly recently at Jeff Bogle’s Kidchella summer music series.

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Todd McHatton

If you’ve listened to Kids Place Live on Sirius XM (channel 78!) at any point over the past few years you’ve probably heard McHatton’s youngest child, the spunky girl named Hazel who is still trying to convince her friend Marvy that he’s a monster NOT a bunny but unless you’ve caught one of his rare live concerts you probably don’t know that McHatton’s oldest is a super puppeteer who dazzles the kiddos in the front row with several Jim Henson-quality puppets.

Mista Cookie Jar and kids

Mista Cookie Jar

This dude, this funky fella from L.A. might be the coolest guy you’ll ever meet. As a kindie superstar he incorporates both of his stepkids into his amazing band, the Chocolate Chips, and my kids have grown up alongside his from 3000 miles away which adds even more awesomeness to the musical equation.

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There are probably many more dads who rock out with their kids in the recording studio and on stages across the country but this is one heck of a great place to start discovering new all-ages music made by real and really cool dads. For more, subscribe to the OWTK Kids Music Monthly Podcast and tune into Sirius XM Kids Place Live on Channel 78 to hear these cats and a whole lot more.

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