Now in its second year, WordPlay Connects’ Tunes & Tales Family Concert Series will take place on three summer Sunday afternoons on the porch of WordPlay bookstore in Wardensville. Tunes & Tales is made possible through a grant from the Hardy County Community Foundation’s Hardy County Community Impact Fund.
Each event is free and features live music by Tony M. (Martirano), a full-time children’s music entertainer from Martinsburg, West Virginia. Tony integrates music, literature, and storytelling into a lively, hands-on experience for kids of all ages. He brings plenty of instruments to share, so music lovers can join in the fun and play along. WordPlay Connects, the nonprofit arm of WordPlay, provides free books, related to the theme of each concert, for kids to take home with them.
Tunes & Tales kicks off on Sunday, June 22 with the theme of “Get Ready to Play.” This hands-on concert is all about sound, providing a fun blend of science, music, movement, and stories. The next concert – “Plant Some Seeds” – on Sunday, July 13 is a celebration of Tony M’s latest album, “Tiny Seeds.” Attendees will be the first to hear his newest songs and the stories that inspired them. Tunes & Tales concludes on Sunday, August 17 with the theme of “Get in the Groove,” guaranteed to put a song in kids’ hearts along with plenty of positive vibes as a new school year is about to begin.
As a special treat, staff from The River House will be on hand on August 17 with free Art-for-All activities. Concerts begin at 2:00PM and are free and open to the public; no registration or tickets are required. WordPlay is located in Wardensville at 50 West Main Street, also home to Drifters Cafe.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer Tunes & Tales again this summer, thanks to the Hardy County Community Foundation’s support,” states Marlene England, director of WordPlay Connects and co-owner of WordPlay with her husband Tom. “The kids will love Tony – he’s a fantastic musician and so much fun – plus they’ll get to choose a free book or two to enjoy this summer and beyond.” WordPlay Connects launched in 2022 to provide free books to young people in the five-county region of West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands, broadening kids’ access to authors, illustrators, and new ways of seeing the world.
To date, the nonprofit has distributed more than 13,300 free books through school visits and community programs. “We’re so very grateful to the individuals, businesses, and organizations whose financial support enables us to continue the work we’re doing,” England says. For more information about WordPlay Connects and the Tunes & Tales family concert series, visit wordplayconnects.org or email info@wordplayconnects.org
