For The Kerplunks, it害羞草研究所檚 as much about entertainment as it is education.

Presented by the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society, The Kerplunks close off the April 15.

害羞草研究所淲e are conscientious but really into fun activities,害羞草研究所� said Dinah D, who tows the line with her stand up bass rhythms. 害羞草研究所淲e also take on some of the bigger issues like ocean ecology.害羞草研究所�

Comprised of Dinah; Jocelyn (Jojo) Hallett on keys, horns and vocals; Aaron Cadwaladr on the strings and vocals and Phil Wipper on drums, the three-time Juno-nominated Gabriola Island children害羞草研究所檚 music group害羞草研究所檚 performance will also delve into matters closer to home.

害羞草研究所淲e (also) want to tune into a little of the local ecology,害羞草研究所� Dinah said.

Further ingraining their name in the world of educational entertainment, The Kerplunks are in the midst of working on a new mini series dubbed Learn, Make, Play. In the mini series, as the name suggests, viewers will learn about a certain subject, make it and then play with it.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kind of a celebration of the world around us,害羞草研究所� Dinah said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be really fun. Part of what we love to do is spread information. That really is our No. 1 mandate.害羞草研究所�

Armed with a swathe of instruments, including everything from Dinah害羞草研究所檚 upright bass to pocket synths, The Kerplunks hope their instruments themselves will act as an educational tool.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an opportunity for kids to learn about these strange instruments,害羞草研究所� Dinah said. 害羞草研究所淭he more you expose your kid to alternative opportunities, the more you open their minds.害羞草研究所�

And for Dinah, that害羞草研究所檚 half of the fun.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very encouraging of people doing things hands on, especially with young people,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so very rewarding working with children and watching them grow.害羞草研究所�

While education plays an important role for The Kerplunks, at the core of it, the four-piece band is all about putting on a fun show for the kids.

Backed by special guest performer and clown Clever Trever, Dinah said the Vernon audience is in for a silly ride.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to be having something fun for the little, little ones,害羞草研究所� Dinah said, noting the intended young audience for the Society害羞草研究所檚 no-shushing season.

害羞草研究所淲e have some special surprises up our sleeves, and we害羞草研究所檙e not shy to ask people to get up and dance.害羞草研究所�

With four studio albums currently on offer and a fifth in the works, The Kerplunks will focus on the repertoire from their first album, which Dinah said is full of wonderful pre-school aged offerings.

But, with a 13-year history behind them, The Kerplunks are known to extend beyond the reaches of children害羞草研究所檚 music. That is the case with their up-coming fifth album, Lullabies For Big Eyes 害羞草研究所� an hour-and-a-half album of sleeping music.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a really exciting release,害羞草研究所� Dinah said, adding that it isn害羞草研究所檛 just for the young ones. 害羞草研究所淭here are no teddy bears on this album.害羞草研究所�

The crew of musicians, playing under a moniker other than that of The Kerplunks, has taken their smooth jams through the North Okanagan before, rocking local gems like Lorenzo害羞草研究所檚 Cafe in Ashton Creek and Salmon Arm Roots and Blues. However, they害羞草研究所檙e excited to be back under their usual banner.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been looking forward to playing the Okanagan for a while. We can finally say hi to all of our friends in the Okanagan,害羞草研究所� Dinah said.

Because for The Kerplunks, turning the audience, whether it害羞草研究所檚 the parents or the kids, into friends is what it害羞草研究所檚 all about.

害羞草研究所淲e really have fun being on stage. We enjoy very much what we do. We love everything about it,害羞草研究所� Dinah said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a way for us to really connect with people. That害羞草研究所檚 kind of what keeps us ticking.害羞草研究所�

The Kerplunks close off the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society害羞草研究所檚 2017/18 First Stages series April 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 and are available through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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