Candy Lee and The Backyard Bugs, Shaky Bugs to play kid

There’s a major kid party in the works in Fayetteville this weekend.

Local children’s act Candy Lee and the Backyard Bugs, along with Jules Talyor’s kid-friendly band Shaky Bugs will perform together at a kid friendly event set for p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6 at Prairie Street Live.

Candy Lee has been a fixture on the Fayetteville music scene for over a decade, playing solo music as well as in her band, Melody Pond. Recently, after having children herself began making some music geared toward kids, and her new act with the Backyard Bugs was born.

Jules Taylor’s band Shaky Bugs has been performing kid-friendly tunes for years, and the two bug bands will together for the first time this weekend.

In addition to the music, there will be a bounce house, a squirt gun fight, food, and other festivities.

Tickets to the show are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. There’s a bit more information on Facebook.

We reached out to Candy to learn more about this weekend’s show, and she was nice enough to answer some questions for us.

You’ve recently begun making music for kids. Tell us a bit about how that came about, and how that’s going.

I’ve always wanted to write kids’ music. Now that I have two kids, I just started writing for them. The first song that I wrote for the album, Backyard Bugs, “Lightning Bug,” was inspired by going out and watching the fireflies with my first son when he was little. Then I figured why not write a whole album about bugs? I’m also writing songs about emotions, preschool song topics, etc. I started a YouTube page under the name, “Candy Songs” and I’ve been making music videos for these songs. It’s still in the early stages, but I would love to get the word out and have it take off! http://YouTube.com/@CandySongsOfficial

Tell us a bit about the Backyard Bugs. Who’s playing with you these days?

The players have shifted a few times. Garrett Jones has played bass and Joe Credit has played mandolin with me consistently, but I have other players that join when they’re available and kind of trade out. Adams Collins played banjo on the Backyard Bugs album, and Kelly Mulhollan has played banjo for a few shows with us. Michael Schembre plays fiddle, and Sarah Busch has filled in on fiddle, but she also plays the flute and accordion, and she’s a great fit, so she might be playing more shows with us too. We all dress up in bug costumes and it’s always a fun time with whomever we have playing along.

Will y’all be in costume for the show on Sunday?

We will! Whenever we play as the Backyard Bugs, we’ll always be in costume. Even in the heat. It’s just too fun. Shout out to my sister, Shannon Landry, who made the costumes.

You are playing with Jules’ kid-friendly band, Shaky Bugs, correct? Have y’all performed together before?

We are! We’re so excited to share the stage with her. She’s been playing kids’ music longer than we have and her energy is fantastic. This will be our first time playing together, but hopefully, not the last!

Anything else you want to tell folks about the show on Sunday?

It’s going to be a lot of fun. In addition to fun, interactive kids’ music, Prairie Street has organized a bouncy house, and squirt-gun fight, and has some kid-friendly food and beverages that will be available for purchase. Show entry is $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and bug spray… but don’t spray the friendly bugs performing on stage!

The latest from the Flyer, straight to your inbox.