New Single
The Children Have Something to Say is a nod to the children having a good idea how to treat the world and the people who live in it. Share your stuff. Remember to play and have more fun!
Booking schools, libraries & festivals across NJ, NY & PA
A Real Rock Band
for Kids
Michael & the Rockness Monsters bring trombone, sax, drums and guitar, moving from tender ballads to boogie-down jams to soulful anthems that tackle the big topics kids actually think about. The band has played Lincoln Center and Lollapalooza, and brings that same energy to your school, library lawn or festival stage.
- Heard on SiriusXM Kids Place Live
- Audiences of 25 to 999+
- We handle it all
Big Thoughts for Little Humans
Loss. Money. Why people are mean. The questions kids ask at bedtime that grown-ups dodge, answered with horns, harmonies, and a whole lot of heart.
Share. Say sorry. Look out for each other. Everything that matters, you learned before you could tie your shoes. This album remembers.
Album #8 with producer Dean Jones. After 120+ songs together, they don't make records so much as finish each other's sentences.
Lincoln Center★Lollapalooza★Wolf Trap★SiriusXM Kids Place Live★Symphony Space★SummerStage NYC★Levitt Pavilion★Madison Square Park★New York Public Library★Paste Studios★
★★★★★★★★★★
Who books the Monsters
One band, a lot of stages
From a preschool gym to a festival lawn, the show scales to the room and the crowd.
Festivals
The family-stage band behind shows at Lincoln Center, Lollapalooza, Wolf Trap and SummerStage NYC.
Festivals & concerts
Schools
A 45-minute assembly that gets the whole school on its feet, with Rock, SEL, Cultural Instrument and Custom shows.
School assemblies
Libraries
Summer reading kickoffs and lawn concerts for mixed ages, from toddlers on laps to big brothers and sisters.
Library concerts
Camps & Events
Camp concerts, town celebrations, museum days and fundraisers. Even the 18-year-old counselors end up dancing.
Camp concertsWhy organizers book us again
The show kids talk about at pickup
100% live
A real band, not a backing track
Kids act like animals, grow like trees, disappear into their imaginations, and get creative with the performance. They leave grinning, giggling, and totally wiggled out by real music and movement. Michael's Blue Man Group background brings a similar spectacle to every show, built for kids in a live rock setting.
- Sing-alongs, big movement and comedy from the first song
- Works for a cozy preschool room or a packed auditorium
Everybody in
Every kid is part of the show
Nobody sits still for long. Kids sing back, dance, clap along and get pulled into the jokes, and the grown-ups usually end up joining in too. At Maplewood Memorial Library, one caregiver called it the best library show she had ever seen.
- Sing-alongs, big movement and comedy from the first song
- Works for a cozy preschool room or a packed auditorium
Songs with something to say
The band tackles serious topics but stays really silly, getting kids to act like pirates one minute and think about kindness the next. Songs cover social-emotional learning, conflict resolution and anti-bullying, all wrapped in singable hooks and big laughs.
- Social-emotional learning built into the fun
- A brand-new album, Big Thoughts for Little Humans
We bring it
Easy to book, easy to host
Pick your date and room, and the band shows up and makes it all happen. Posters, paperwork, background checks, insurance documentation, all handled before you have to ask.
- Promotional show posters
- Background checks and insurance documentation
- All logistics handled so you just fill the room
2007when Michael started the music program that grew into the Rockness Monsters
250K+people the band has performed for
1,000+shows across the country
100%happiness guarantee
Pick your lineup
Sized to your stage
Same songs, same energy. Choose the lineup that fits your room and your crowd.
Michael Solo
The Original Monster
- 45+ minutes, customizable
- One performer, one guitar, a lot of energy
- Holds a very large group on his own
Michael performs solo with the same humor, heart and power as the full band.
Book Michael soloMichael & the Monsters
2-3 performers
- 45+ minutes, customizable
- The same songs in a smaller package
- A good fit for mid-sized rooms and school events
All the sing-alongs and movement of the big show, with a lineup that fits a cozier space.
Book Michael & the Monsters
The Big Show
The Full Band
3-6 performers · audiences of 25-999+
- 45+ minutes, customizable
- Trombone, sax, drums, guitar and vocals
- Made for assemblies, festivals and big lawns
Show themesRockSELCultural InstrumentCustomizable
From the people who booked us
See it for yourself
News From The Monsterverse
New Album
Loss. Money. Why people are mean. The questions kids ask at bedtime that grown-ups dodge, answered with horns, harmonies, and a whole lot of heart in our new album, Big Thoughts for Little Humans.
Kids Place Live
The Children Have Something to Say, Higher, and Let's Go! are spinning on SiriusXM Kids Place Live (Channel 134). Tune in and keep requesting your favorites!
About
The Band, Founded by Michael Napolitano of Rockness Music
The band grew out of Rockness Music, a program Michael created in 2007. It blossomed when Michael worked at Blue School as assistant to the music director of Blue Man Group. As part of Rockness Music, the Monsters have served hundreds of schools and entertained thousands of children.
Big Thoughts for Little Humans is featured on SiriusXM Kids Place Live and praised for soulful melodies and moving messages about real life for little kids and their parents.
Public shows
Catch the band live
Catch the band in full force, or Michael flying solo. Same energy, different adventure.
How booking works
Three steps to showtime
Tell us about it
Send the booking form or give us a call. Your date, audience size and venue are all we need to get started.
We match the lineup
We confirm availability, recommend the full band, a trio or Michael solo for your space, and send over the details.
Showtime
Posters go up ahead of time, your paperwork is already handled, and you just fill the room.
Booking FAQ
Quick answers
How long is a show?
Shows run 45 minutes or longer, depending on your needs.
What ages is it for?
All ages, from babies to 12-year-olds. Summer camps love it too, and 18-year-old counselors end up dancing along.
How big an audience can you play for?
From 10 kids to 1,000+. The band has played Lollapalooza and NYC SummerStage.
Do you bring your own sound?
The band can bring its own system depending on the venue. Larger auditoriums and outdoor stages typically provide amplification.
Where do you perform?
Festivals, community events, schools and libraries across the US. Based in NJ, NYC, Westchester, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, and traveling from Chicago to California and overseas. Tell us about your event.
Can the show match a theme?
Yes. Choose Rock, SEL, Cultural Instruments, anti-bullying (elementary), or custom.