<\/p>\n
SPRINGFIELD \u2014 YouTube phenomenon Blippi is jumping out of his videos to the live stage to star in \u201cBlippi: Join the Band Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with his best buddy, Meekah, and a host of other friends, Blippi is taking his tour to Springfield Symphony Hall<\/a> on Friday at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Blippi is a live action, educational children\u2019s show for kids ages 2 to 6 years old, which debuted a decade ago on YouTube. Through singing, dancing, and exploring, Blippi helps children understand the world around them by going on all kinds of learning adventures, from snowy hills to wildlife parks. He has taught millions of kids how to count, colors, letters, and much more. <\/p>\n \u201cKids and families will experience Blippi and Meekah like they have grown to love, trust and respect. They are still your fun, curious, excited duo who are leading the charge. But what is new and fun and that kids haven\u2019t seen before is that in this new stage show Blippi is building a band to learn about, teach and have fun with music… to learn about the drums, guitar, bass and keyboards and the elements of songs and notes and counting,\u201d said Josh Blackburn, senior producer at Round Room Live Productions and producer of \u201cBlippi: Join the Band Tour,\u201d in an interview with The Republican.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about the joy in music. Blippi is learning about music and growing his knowledge, and he is just curious about how music comes together. So, through the process of the show, we learn about different genres and then we get to remix all the genres and different songs at the end of the show. Kids are going to be dancing and singing the whole time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we have you dancing in the aisles from the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, then we\u2019ve had a great day,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The show features 18 songs to sing and dance along to including \u201ceveryone\u2019s favorite song,\u201d according to Blackburn, \u201cThe Excavator Song,\u201d as well as \u201cBlippi Wiggle,\u201d \u201cTik Tok Rock,\u201d \u201cCount Monster,\u201d \u201cCuriosity Shake,\u201d \u201cDino Dance,\u201d and songs by Meekah such as \u201cFeeling Happy\u201d and \u201cGet the Wiggles Out.\u201d<\/p>\n Blackburn explained that what makes Blippi so popular is that he \u201cconnects with kids in a very special way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlippi meets kids where they are at. He doesn\u2019t talk down to kids or preach or lecture to them. He\u2019s on their level learning and exploring and showing curiosity on their level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Blippi was conceived by Stevin John in 2014. The inspiration behind creating the YouTube videos was his 2-year-old nephew who, at the time, was watching a YouTube video about tractors. John knew he could do better and set out to do so. Among the many sites he has visited and explored through his videos have been playgrounds, aquariums, farms, zoos, baseball clubs, and factories. He sold the Blippi brand to Moonbug Entertainment in 2020 and the role is now performed by several actors.<\/p>\n Tickets, priced at $47.99, $59.64, $71.29 and $76.39, are available online at symphonyhallspringfield.com.<\/a><\/p>\n A special ticket is also available for the \u201cBlippi Photo Experience\u201d where, with your camera, you can take your child\u2019s photo with the YouTube sensation onstage after the show. Participants will also receive a tour lanyard with a special pass to commemorate the day.<\/p>\n