Justin Roberts
Sunday, Mar. 3 | 3 PM
Soka Performing Arts Center
Black Box Theatre
at Soka University of America
Justin Roberts
Five-time GRAMMY®
Nominee Justin Roberts is one of the founders of the modern family music scene. For 25 years, Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives, helping kids navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up, while inspiring parents to remember their own childhoods. His songs are the kind of get-stuck-inyour-head pop nuggets that draw comparisons to Elvis Costello, Fountains of Wayne, and Paul Simon rather than simple nursery rhymes, prompting USA Today to call him “hands-down the best songwriter in the genre.” Along with his band, The Not Ready for Naptime Players, Justin has travelled the globe, from Hong Kong to New York, and Miami to Seattle
His latest album, Space Cadet, is a return to his power pop all-ages sound. Heavily inspired by his life as a new dad, the feel-good album offers themes of inclusion and acceptance that wind through emotionally intelligent songs. Roberts creates a welcoming space for children to celebrate their uniqueness and dance it all
out. Alongside his epic fivepiece rock band, The Not Ready for Naptime Players, Justin is joined by jazz horns, 80s synthesizers, soaring strings, harp, and plenty of hand clapping.
The birth of Roberts’ son Eli in 2018 inspired Wild Life, his GRAMMY® nominated album of lullabies. With Space Cadet, Justin returns to the huge rock energy of his GRAMMY® nominated albums, Jungle Gym and Recess. While still using his imagination and childhood memories, Roberts now weaves in firsthand parenting experience. Kitchen dance parties, fascinating fire trucks, and playground life have inspired these joyous and passionatenew songs.
Roberts began his musical career in the 1990s, performing in the Minneapolis-based indierock band Pimentos for Gus. He decided to “moonlight” as a Montessori preschool teacher, and it wasn’t long before Justin started writing and singing songs for a new generation of
fans: his students. The kids immediately responded and inspired Justin to record some of his new songs with college pal Liam Davis.
In 1997, Justin released his first album for families, Great Big Sun, and the critics took note. Justin’s music was soon being compared to everyone from Elvis Costello and Fountains of Wayne to Paul Simon, ELO and Nick Lowe. So, Justin hit the road full time to do what he loves most: playing music for appreciative crowds. Kiddie mosh pits broke out, word spread and shows started selling out.
Justin has performed in front of millions of people on The Today Show, he’s been featured on Nick Jr. TV, and his song “Get Me Some Glasses” was on a World Series broadcast. He’s received five GRAMMY® nominations, for Jungle Gym in 2010, Recess in 2013, Lemonade in 2017, Wild Life in 2020, and Space Cadet in 2023.
New Victory Theater, DC’s National Geographic Live, LA’s Getty Museum, Seattle’s Moore Theater, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Chicago’s Ravinia.
Appearances include performances at NYC’s
In addition to his recordings, Roberts is also the author of two acclaimed picture books: The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade (illustrated by Christian Robinson) and The Great Henry Hopen- dower (illustrated by Deborah Hocking), both published by Penguin Random House. Two more picture books are on the way, including I’ll Be Your Polar Bear (illustrated by Chuck Groenink) due in October 2022.
Liam (electric guitar, vocals, producer), whose name was almost Thor, is ticklish just above the knees. He likes baseball and old-fashioned stuff like ice cream parlors and manners. One time in 5th grade, he split his plaid trousers in gym class and had to walk home at lunch to put on different pants. But then a few weeks later he hit a softball over the right-field fence and won a cheeseburger. Liam started
Gerald DowdGerald (drums/vocals) was born and raised in the Boston area, moved to Chicago in the latter part of the 20th century, and has lived there ever since. He’s been a cardcarrying NRFN Player since 2006. In addition to traveling the world with Justin and the gang, he has also played and toured extensively with Robbie Fulks, Frisbie, Nora O’Connor and many others over the years. Through it all, his wife and kids have remained surprisingly patient. Gerald’s other interests include movies, travel, and in why that person is driving in the passing lane
playing guitar at age 11 and his fingertips hurt real bad, but he loves playing music for you.
Liam Davis is one of the founding members of the chicago power pop band Frisbie. He is also a worldclass record producer, recent credits include albums by Sonic 45, Anne Heaton, and Mysteries of Life. In addition, Liam writes music for tv, film, corporate, gaming and more.
without actually passing anyone. And though it may seem at odds with his chosen profession, Gerald particularly enjoys sitting for long periods of time without making any noise. At all.
Gerald Dowd has been described as “the hardest working drummer in Chicago” (Richard Milne, WXRT), playing on over 100 albums, and averaging 150 live dates a year around the world. More recently, he’s also been making solo albums of original material including his most recent release, Father’s Day.
Twinkle Time
Twinkle, is the Multi Award-winning Bilingual Children’s music phenomenon, presenting her bilingual pop/rock/hip-hop family concert Twinkle Time to audiences nationwide!
SUNDAY, APR. 7, 2024, 3 PM
BLACK BOX THEATRE
SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Our mission is to Engage, Educate, and Elevate the Human Spirit
Soka Performing Arts Center strives to elevate humanity through transcendent experiences. Come experience our exquisite acoustics. Come to expand your understanding and appreciation of music. Come to forge community and emotional connections through the shared experience of live music.
Soka Performing Arts Center is located on the beautiful hilltop campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo. Our facility includes the 1,032seat Concert Hall featuring world-class acoustics designed by master acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, designer of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, among many others. We also have an intimate 350-seat Black Box Theatre that allows for multiple seating configurations including club seating with bistro tables.
More than 750 performances have taken place since the center’s dedication on May 27, 2011. The 2023-24 season marks our twelfth season presenting first-class programming in our world-class concert hall. We are continuing to expand our programming and outreach with the addition of a Children’s Concert Series, Blues Festival, and the only Great Pianists Series on the West Coast. From classical and jazz to world and contemporary music, the Soka Performing Arts Center has become a prized space for artists and audiences alike.
We are proud to be the home of the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Our Sundays @ Soka Series with Pacific Symphony continues to be one of our most popular series year after year. Our presentations with other Orange County arts organizations have enabled us to reach further into our community to offer arts education and programming. Our partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County includes our PSOC Series, which brings superlative artists to our stage. We also partner with PSOC for our Outreach Program, bringing over 7,000 school children to Soka Performing Arts Center to experience live performances with outstanding musicians.
With its world-class acoustics and first-class performances, Soka Performing Arts Center is quickly becoming one of the cultural jewels of Orange County.
