Happy Wednesday. Add a little spice to your day with musings from Jai.

Do you know VANESSA TRIEN AND THE JUMPING MONKEYS? My daughter, and I, I, have to admit LOVE this Indie kids folk-rock band.

I can't remember when we first heard Vanessa, but we've been groupies every since. We see them as often as we can and we even had Vanessa play at my daughter's 4th Birthday. Yes, I was dancing with the kids, tambourine in hand, and if you saw her in Bedford, yes, again, that was me on stage with the band singing "High Five." I told you, we love them. 

They are called the Jumping Monkeys for a reason — kids and adults alike are caught concert after concert jumping out of their seats and dancing in the aisles…as I already admitted. I find the music catchy and contagious: With just one listen, you'll be  hooked. We listen to  'Carnival Day' daily in my household, in the car.... and I can't wait  to hear "Bubble Ride" — Vanessa says its the Jumping Monkeys' best music to date. I got a tiny insiders listen — most of the songs and instrumentation are folk-roots music-based, but many of the tracks have rock-funk edges that give the music a kick that will get the kids, and you, up and dancing. The CD exudes the fun and spontaneous energy the band gives off when performing live.

The band will be pre-releasing their anticipated third CD, “Bubble Ride,” with a special family concert at the Regattabar in Harvard Square, Cambridge, on Sunday, July 22 at 4:30 p.m. An added plus? It's air conditioned! The Charles Hotel at One Bennett Street in Cambridge. 

The Bubble Ride concert is part of the Regattabar’s Kids Summer Music Series. The show will include a raffle with prizes, free giveaways, and other surprises.

After the show, families can top off the night by enjoying a home-style dinner at Henrietta’s Table, which offers kid-friendly meals and provides them with a free chocolate-themed dessert. Tickets to Bubble Ride are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. To purchase tickets, please visit:

http://www.getshowtix.com/regattabar/moreinfo.cgi?id=2655

Vanessa and band will be performing other shows this summer. For a full listing of events, and to purchase the CD’s, please visit www.vanessatrien.com. It will also be available through iTunes. Fans who “like” the band on Facebook can enter  a raffle to win CD’s.  Also, visit their youtube channel, www.youtube.com/vanessatrien, for concert footage.

I can't promise I'll be up on stage this time, but I'll be there dancing in the aisles for sure...Hope to see you!