Guitarist and songwriter Peter DiStefano has been a mainstay at Kidzapalooza ever since the festival-within-a-festival was introduced at Lollapalooza’s first weekend in Chicago’s Grant Park back in 2005. Although he’s best known as the guitarist for Perry Farrell’s other alternative rock band in the ’90s (post Jane’s Addiction), his work in the band Venice Underground and for the several solo albu...ms he’s released since 2002 (the most recent being this year’s Digital Alchemy), he’s equally at home performing in front of Lollapalooza’s littlest rockers (and their parents, too). Whether he’s jamming with Farrell and other friends onstage or teaching kids the finer points of the rock star craft at Kidzapalooza workshops, DiStefano is not to be missed.
Grammy® nominated producer Tor Hyams has over 20 years of experience in the music and film industries, from writing and performing his own material to producing world-class recording artists, live music festivals for children, short films and digital programming, and composing dozens of scores for both film and television.
Tor wrote and produced an award-winning, star-studded children's CD called "A World of Happiness," which he licensed to Disney's Buena Vista Records. It featured performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson, Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes, Debbie Harry, Gary Oldman, Perry Farrell, and many others. He also produced a music video for that release called The Patience Bossa, directed by Gary Oldman. It featured an unprecedented duet by rock icons Perry Farrell and Deborah Harry.
With Farrell, Hyams then conceived and developed Kidzapalooza as a family festival nested within the Lollapalooza Festival, produced by C3 Presents. Kidzapalooza, now in its sixth successful year with Hyams as Producer and Emcee, has been contracted through 2015. Ancillary properties already include Kidzapalooza Radio on Sirius/XM and a new compilation album. Continuing his live music work with C3, Hyams now produces The "Kiddie Limits" stage for Austin City Limits and a number of other regional festivals.
As a music producer, Hyams' star has been rising, with albums for Joan Osborne, Vivian Campbell, Edwin McCain, Broadway Star Rachel York, Jewish rappers Chutzpah, and the late Lou Rawls already under his belt. He has continued to work with Lisa Loeb, Perry Farrell, Edwin McCain and more.
"Tor Hyams, the Richard Branson of Kid's music" - Zooglobble
"Tor Hyams' inspired writing for kids merits grown-up buzz" - Amazon
"...the positive, kid-celebrating messages and sunny spirit of Hyams' family albums can't be beat." - Los Angeles Times
