Local gig to say thanks for support

Anika Moa is giving back after the success of her Pledge Me campaign and (left) with her children Soren, and twin boys Taane and Barry.

Anika Moa is putting on a show for her youngest fans in Rotorua tomorrow, as she tours with her latest album, Songs for Bubbas 2.

The mother of three is giving back to all those who supported her in producing Songs for Bubbas 2, with just a gold coin donation (and a tot) required to take in the action.

The intimate show is expected to draw a crowd of nappy-clad fans along with their parents and that's exactly what she wants.

Moa expects children will be "dancing and screaming and crying, all at the same time", in her first tour for children.

Despite this being her second children's album, she has only done "about three or four kids shows".

However, she has presented her music to her most critical audience many, many times.

"I have kids myself, so they're my actual, real audience, and they judge me quite harshly," she said.

She has planned each concert to take place outside times when young fans might be a little on the cranky side. As a result, the In Between Nap Times Tour fixtures take place at exactly that - outside of the hours little ones lie down for a nap. Moa will not be so lucky, conducting two shows a day, all around New Zealand from Levin to Westport.

Providing insight in to the creation of the album, she tells of the major source of inspiration: "My muses and focus group is my own children and Songs for Bubbas 2 is joyfully jammed with 12 songs which have them dancing with delight and which have earned their personal stamp of approval," she says.

The album takes young listeners on an imaginative journey, from escaping wild animals, to being popped in a witch's stew. Along the way, they meet a naughty martial arts-obsessed rat and a loveable rogue of a Taniwha. The album helps teach te reo with a cover of classic Maori song A Haka Ma and a rendition of E Te Ariki to send the little one off to sleep.

The shows will also have tea towels and baby onesies available to buy, designed by Hayley Bowis, as well as both Moa's albums.

With its production funded by a Pledge Me campaign, Songs for Bubbas 2 follows on the runaway success of Moa's first Bubbas album.

Anika Moa In Between Nap Times National Tour:

* What: Anika Moa Songs for Bubbas 2

* Where: Rainbow Springs

* When: Wednesday April 27 at 10.30am

* Entry: Gold coin and a baby