Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child

16/01/2025

We’re thrilled that our big siblings at KUTX are catching up to us on Parker Woodland matters.

We’re halfway through Love Austin Music Month, so let’s check-in.

13/01/2025

After I think 16 (17?) years of The River's Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash (two of them virtual), this year the event will not go forward. I’ve had so much fun working with Monte and Mark and Jarrett and Gina and Sean and, more recently, Stefan and Kaliis and Crista and so many more.

The first year, I remember someone coming up to me at JFK and saying that every year they looked forward to this event. And it really did feel like a tradition from the start. Generations of kids, amazing authors and illustrators and musicians and circus art performers and vendors and educators and booksellers.

This isn’t necessarily the end of the Meltdown. Here’s hoping we end up rocking the Valley again. Until then: We love you.

03/01/2025

Mega Ran's first family record was one of our favorites in years. His new one's gonna rule too. You can help bring it to life:

Mega Ran is working on his follow up to his critically acclaimed "Buddy's Magic Toy Box" album. Help us take it to the stars!

23/12/2024

KUTX 98.9 is on holiday shuffle right now so the big show didn’t air there. But worry not! You can stream it right now! Happy holidays, everyone!

Like the vast majority of radio programmers receive most music we play for free, and I get into most shows I organize, and some other shows, for free.

14/12/2024

This weekend marks (roughly?) our 1,000th show.

We love you.

18/11/2024

What a treat to talk with the legendary Sandra Boynton! We'll air it soon. The new album, Cows and Holly, is out now.

12/11/2024

I met Ella Jenkins before even starting the show. She happened to attend my sister’s church in Chicago and was delighted to meet your radio pal Ella (then a baby). Jenkins was kind and brilliant and dedicated to justice, and treated children as humans worthy of care and respect and thoughtful music. Her memory will be a blessing.

Performing and recording, she transformed what was seen as a marginal genre in the music industry into a celebration of shared humanity.

06/11/2024

Already did this coming weekend's show, but might just reuse this playlist for the next weekend.

05/11/2024

RIP, Quincy Jones. Never saw this before:

04/11/2024

Yooooooo what’s up Salem, Oregon? Welcome KMUZ to the Spare the Rock family, airing Saturday mornings at 8!

25/10/2024

Support the place where your radio pal Firefly is working! Great stuff here.

23/10/2024

Hear brand new Play Date on this weekend’s show! Sunday at 6 on KUTX 98.9.

23/10/2024

Oh, we’re back.

We’re back!! Bringing back the Hip Hop elements for all ages. Learn some breaking moves with and be ready to cypher with the Scholar Emcee. Followed by a writing workshop you can try your skills on the mic. Live interactive graffiti writing with . Hip Hop is for the community so come out and support the OG’s in the Austin scene and teach the kids some culture. in partnership with and . Saturday, Nov. 9th 10-12. $10 adults, $5 kids 2 and up.

13/10/2024

On tonight’s show (6:00 on KUTX 98.9), Laurie Berkner Band will stop by and sing some songs and talk about her brand-new Halloween special, available to stream now! We’ll also have more Halloween fun with new music from Stories of Teeth and Rocking Puppies, plus we’ll listen to songs from Valerie June, REM, Lucy Kalantari (fresh from her triumphant ACL set), and more!

1 hour! An educational, musical adventure for preschoolers & beyond!See me live! laurieberkner.com/concertsCheck out my Halloween album: https://laurieberkne...

10/10/2024

This weekend (roughly) marks 1,000 episodes of our little radio show. Started in that dusty studio in Florence—and we’re still airing on Valley Free Radio now!—and never would’ve expected to still be plugging away 19 years later.

How about we aim for 2,000 next?

04/10/2024

It is Bandcamp Friday.

Our little label has raised over $200,000 for the Haitian People’s Support Project, It Gets Better, Girls Inc., and the Woody Guthrie Foundation; I’m sending another $10K out today if I can find our stamps.

Also the albums are excellent. You should, perhaps, buy them:

Spare the Rock Records, formed in 2010, has released four impressively successful benefit albums . The label, founded by Bill Childs (producer and host of long-running family radio show Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child) has donated over $250,000 in proceeds to the affiliated non-profits.

28/09/2024

Austin Kiddie Limits has a stacked lineup this year out at Zilker. KUTX 98.9 has my pick up now, and it’s Lucy Kalantari, though honestly if you asked me ten times, you’d get ten different answers.

Listen to all of our ACL Fest picks for 2024

27/09/2024

Let’s goooooooo

Join us for the fall season kickoff of Rock the Park THIS FRIDAY! Meet us at Mueller Lake Park amphitheater for our free, family-friendly concert! Music starts at 6:30pm with Rosie Flores, followed by San Gabriel Music! Get there early to snag the best spot on the lawn. ✌️ Full details at www.kutx.org/rockthepark, but here’s some good info ⬇️

FOOD: There are food trucks and restaurants around the park, and you’re welcome to bring a picnic dinner. BYO water and non-alcoholic beverages.

OK TO BRING: Coolers, picnic blankets, and stadium cushions. Fur babies are more than welcome — on leashes. 🐶

NOT OK: Chairs, glass containers and alcohol are not permitted (but Odell Brewing Co & Owl's Brew will have complimentary beverages for those 21+ with proper ID!) 🍺

PARKING: Hourly parking is available in the nearby garage and metered spaces are also available around the park.

Presented by Dell Children's Medical Center, part of Ascension Seton ✨

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child ⚡️ Mueller Austin