Modern-day songwriters that appeal to both children and adults are about as common as Peter, Paul and Mary cover bands.

Taking on the task of songwriting and pulling it off effectively is even more unusual, which would make the chance to see such a band almost unique.

One such band breaking the normal molds of songwriting by composing charismatic songs for children and adults is the power-folk duo Trout Fishing in America, who will visit Shryock Auditorium at 3 p.m. Sunday.

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We play tunes that can appeal to anybody, guitarist Ezra Idlet said. We’re not locked into playing cover tunes or tunes for any select audience.

Trout Fishing in America has been writing and performing witty, funny and honest folk songs for more than 21 years, which might explain why the band has such a huge fan base.

So when the duo plays its all-ages concert Sunday, one can expect an audience rich in diversity.

Trout Fishing bassist Keith Grimwood said it is the wide range of ages the band caters to that makes playing its music worthwhile.

Basically, it’s the same music straight across, but having a variety of audiences allows us to have a variety of experiences which keeps it fresh, he said.

Idlet went so far as to compare the music of Trout Fishing, which has released three children’s albums and four albums for adults, to a cartoon popular with both adults and children.

If you look at the old Rocky and Bullwinkle’ cartoon, the older people will get it on one level and the younger people will get it on another, he said. What we hope for are all-ages shows.

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Idlet said some people do not understand that writing music that appeals to children is not an easy process.

I think there is a prejudice against people who write children’s’ songs, he said. Good kids’ music still requires as much detail to song and production values as anything. It’s a little different, but I think it’s highly legitimate.

Along with blending ages, Trout Fishing focuses on a blend of musical approaches when crafting its poppy songs of spry humor and whimsical sentiments. Songs from the band’s 1996 album Reel Life range from the grown-up More Than Love and Thinking About You to the youthful Sleepytime Cartoon and Dixie Chicken.

If you play serious music all the time, you become boring. And if you play funny music all the time, you lose substance, Grimwood said. So we mix it up.

Playing all-ages shows landed Trout Fishing a chance to perform at the White House for the Easter Egg Roll in March.

The band also played at the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. There it was among Offbeat magazine’s Most Consistently Praised Sets along with top musical artists such as Joan Osbourne, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and Wynton Marsalis.

The aforementioned artists may be good company to be in for bands looking to break into commercial success. But Idlet said the drive of Trout Fishing’s folk music artistry grows from more naturally inspirational seeds.

We’re not market-driven. We’re driven from the heart and from experiences from years of playing. We’re not a concept band, he said. We’ve been playing together for 21 years, and 21 years is a long time to play with anyone.

FACTOID:Tickets for the Trout Fishing in America show are $12.50 and $8.50 for children 15 and under. For more information, call 453-ARTS (2787).