Radio’s biggest hits will be performed by some of Canada’s best young singers next month in Red Deer.
K-tel’s Mini Pop Kids will perform two shows at the Memorial Centre in Red Deer on Jan. 4 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Jamie Hodgins, Mini Pop Kids producer, manager and creative director, said Red Deerians should expect “more than just a concert.
“We’re trying to make it a … memorable experience for our audience,” said Hodgins. “It’s all about having fun.”
Parents can expect to hear a few throwback songs at the show, he added.
Two local dance studios, Dance Magic and Dancer’s Edge, will perform at the shows alongside the Mini Pop Kids.
“In every market we go to, we always reach out to a couple different dance schools to dance directly behind the Mini Pop Kids. That way, you get a local feel, so it’s not just my performers on stage,” Hodgins said.
K-tel created Mini Pop Kids in the 1980s. The brand was then rebooted in the early 2000s.
Hodgins said Mini Pop Kids used to just produce albums and do TV performances, but has transitioned into a touring act over the past few years.
“We started (touring) in 2015-2016 and we sold about 5,000 tickets. The next year, we sold about 9,000. The year after that, we sold about 23,000, and now we’re expecting to sell up to 40,000 tickets this year.
“There’s always a hunger for kid-friendly entertainment and there’s no one that does it as well as us,” he said. “We always get the best of the best as far as vocalists and dancers go.”
The oldest member of the Mini Pop Kids is 13 years old.
“I get to work with the future pop stars of Canada,” he said. “These are stepping stones for their careers. Mini Pop Kids offers a platform for them to harness their skills, their craft and tour Canada.”
The past few months have been busy for the performers.
“We just wrapped our album … and then we went right into filming our national TV commercial … and we just shot three music videos,” Hodgins said.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.minipopkids.com.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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