There’s nothing better than going to a live musical performance and out of nowhere, watching as the crowd gathers together to form a human train.
A line of people all rhythmically moving to the beat of the same song while impersonating a large moving caravan doesn’t happen at every concert – that is unless Dan Zanes is on stage.
Because if Zanes is playing his classic children’s tune, Catch that Train, you better believe there will be children and adults dancing around some make-believe tracks.
Don’t believe us? That’s okay, because you can see for yourself this Saturday at Concord High School. Zanes will perform with his band of local friends at his annual concert to benefit the Friendly Kitchen. It’s the 15th year that Zanes has returned to his hometown to entertain both children and adults with his unique brand of American music designed for kids that won him a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children in 2007.
“Dan is very fond of this show,” said Hope Butterworth, Zanes’s mom and a former president of the Friendly Kitchen. “He looks forward to it.”
And don’t be alarmed if you see quite a bit of dancing in the aisles, as well.
“It’s perfect for kids,” Butterworth said. “It’s a great place for them to dance around.”
The first year actually consisted of three separate concerts in the New England area with Zanes’s first band, the Del Fuegos, and brought in quite a bit of money. From there it grew into an annual thing, but has been held just in Concord.
“I just hope a lot of people come and have a good time,” Butterworth said.
The local friends band is made up of some really talented musicians from the Concord area. Some return year after year to help out, while new ones are recruited to make for the best show possible. Actually make that the best two shows possible, since it will be a doubleheader on Saturday.
“After that first year, Dan said he’d come up and donate his time,” Butterworth said. “This year we have a fairly big brass section.”
Zanes and his hodgepodge band will meet on Friday for a practice session and then gather for the real thing on Saturday for shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“It’s just amazing how they all meet and just practice a little bit and then they’re on stage,” Butterworth said.
It’s one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Friendly Kitchen, and it’s still only $10 per person for the one-hour show, unless you’re a little baby.
“We keep it at $10 because it’s affordable to everybody,” Butterworth said. “But a babe in arms are free.”
And with 460 tickets available for each show, a double feature sell out could mean great things for the Friendly Kitchen.
“This one and the road race are our two biggest fundraisers,” Butterworth said. “But this one is more fun.”
Tickets are available at the Friendly Kitchen’s website, thefriendlykitchen.org or at Gibson’s Bookstore and Pitchfork Records. You can also buy them at the door and if you want to go to both shows, that’s just fine as well.
“We’ve had plenty of people come to the morning show and then come back for the afternoon one,” Butterworth said. “We always want to see the place packed.”
