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This year marks the 10th anniversary of Festival Five Records, the home of Dan Zanes and Friends and their 21st-century handmade all-ages family music. Zanes began exploring family music after the birth of his daughter in 1994 and soon after decided to abandon a pop music career, which had included four albums with Boston’s Del Fuegos, to form Festival Five Records, his decidedly independent label, and pursue family music full time. His first release Rocket Ship Beach was an immediate hit with families around America and ten years later the Grammy award-winning artist is known widely as the leading man of the family music genre. Among the several Parents Choice Award-winning, bestselling albums for kids and kid sympathizers are the acclaimed House Party, Night Time!, ¡Nueva York!, and Catch That Train!, which won the 2007 Grammy for “Best Musical Album for Children.” Music videos for Zanes’ songs have aired on The Noggin Network, Sesame Street and The Disney Channel’s “Playhouse Disney.” This Fall Dan Zanes and Friends will release Little Nut Tree, their first family album in five years. As the official follow up album to the 2007 Grammy ™ winner Catch That Train, the new album is a return to the age-desegregated mixed musical bag approach that has earned Zanes his place at the forefront of the family music genre.
"Dan Zanes is enriching the field with his dance-party, hootenanny for the 21st century..."
la times
"True children's music, but executed with such sweet (and un-gooey!) humor, casual multiculturalism and shambling groove that you can call it your own."
the new york times
"Wry, rootsy, real American folk music – songs that twist a little plangency into the sweetness of a melody, songs that feel like life."
rolling stone magazine
"His albums are hip enough for Debbie Harry and Lou Reed to make cameos but accessible enough for the under—ten set to sing along...this is good 'ol fashioned pop music for all ages."
esquire
"The former lead singer of the Del Fuegos has charged to the rescue of beleaguered parents everywhere..."
the washington post