about the show:         view performance clips

Ryan Buckle & Friends is the best new kids' show in D.C.!  Since launching in 2010 at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the show has wowed curious kids with great music and amazing science at major festivals and museums throughout the D.C. metro area.

The show stars Ryan Buckle, who performs songs from our debut CD, Swamp Stomp Boogie.  The music highlights discoveries kids can make at the zoo, inspiring them to ask questions like: Ever wonder how birds can fly? What shadows are? Where crocodiles live? 

Ryan also performs awesome experiments to inspire and amaze kids, and often invites friends on stage to help him!   Audiences of all ages ooh and aah at the floating smoke rings, gigantic bubbles, circle of electricity, alka seltzer rocket, bubble shower and more. 

The combination of music with science is magic: "Swamp Stomp hits all the basic criteria for good kids' music: It's well-produced, and the songwriting is fun and quirky." (USA Today)

Swamp Stomp Boogie was recorded and produced in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producers and musicians and Wammie Award-winning rock star Shane Hines.  Each of the songs was built around curriculum developed by Curiosity Zone, an award-winning hands-on science center for young kids located just outside of D.C. in Ashburn, VA.

about ryan buckle:

The role of Ryan Buckle is currently played in the D.C. area by Danny Schwartz, a Bethesda native. Growing up inspired by local area children's music artists like Barry Louis Polisar, Rory, and George Oakley, he seems to have been destined for his role as Ryan Buckle. He began his musical studies at the age of five, and earned a degree in audio production with a minor in music through his studies at Berklee, Florida State University and Ohio University.  He has appeared in the role of Ryan Buckle since 2009.  His passion for music & kids also took him to Tanzania in September 2011, where he performed with the non-profit organization OneVoice for children's audiences.

In addition to starring as Ryan Buckle and playing with various local bands, Daniel is also an accomplished audio engineer.  He has been named "Best Live Sound Engineer" in the DC area for the past four consecutive years by the Washington Area Music Association, working for such venues as The National Press Club, NBC News Channel, Jammin' Java, Iota, The Barns at Wolf Trap, Strathmore, and The Fillmore.  In November of 2011, Daniel became Production Manager and Local Talent Buyer for The Hamilton restaurant and music venue in downtown DC.  

To book a show:

concerts / birthday parties & class visits / school assemblies