The Rappin’ Cowboy, Chris Sand, to perform from children’s album, “Magic Beans”

North Valley Music School celebrates Mother’s Day weekend with Missoula musician Chris Sand performing from his album, “Magic Beans: 16 Songs for Sprouting Children and Other Human Beans!” May 11.

Released in 2023, “Magic Beans,” is Sand’s first album of children’s music. As with his other records, Sand, known as the Rappin’ Cowboy, “continues intertwining rap music, comedy and rural poetics to tell stories, build connections, and get folks — young and old alike — thinking in fresh, interconnected ways,” according to his bio rappincowboy.com.  

The album is accompanied by the “Magic Beans Songbook,” an illustrated 36-page lyric and coloring book featuring the songs, plus one by his daughter.

Sand, who also has a country-rock band, The Beloved Vagabonds, grew up on a small farm in Western Montana and left the state after high school “to explore bigger pastures and write a thousand songs.” In 2010, he was the subject of the feature-length award-winning documentary, “Roll Out, Cowboy,” which crystallized his life at the time as a songster, jester, social activist and long-haul trucker. He tours throughout the U.S. and Canada performing a unique blend of original folk, punk, rap, and cowboy music.

Two performances will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Whitefish Community Library and from 1 to 2 p.m. at Flathead County Library in Columbia Falls on Saturday. Reservations are not required. Books and stickers will be given to the first 20 children to arrive at each library location. 

The performances are possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Humanities Montana.

For more information visit northvalleymusicschool.org.