Families Dance Around the Common to Ben Rudnick and Friends

Fabio Arcuri took his son, Jonathon, to see Ben Rudnick ad Friends play their unique brand of kid-friendly folk music.

It's Jonathan's favorite band, and Fabip has taken him to see Rudnick play at least eight times. From Winchester to Boston and anywhere that's within driving distance, Arcuri and his seven-year-old son, have seen the band.

"We're regulars," Fabio Arcuri said. "We're longtime fans. We have his CD's and have seen them play a number of times. They're real good with school-aged kids. And we like dancing. It's one of those groups that the kids love dancing to."

"We came and saw them last year and they're young and fun," said Winchester resident Brian Leonard, who was watching the performance with his wife and two kids. "It's something you can definitely dance to."

Last Wednesday the venue was the Common, as Ben Rudnick and Friends wrapped up a successful summer concert series. Rudnick and his group were scheduled to play earlier in the summer, but both times it had to be postponed. However, they have played in Winchester on a number of occasions, most recently being Town Day and the very beginning of the season.

 "We love playing here," Rudnick said. "The energy from the families that keep coming back is real good and it makes the shows really fun."

"The last show we were at the people were great," said mandolin player John Zeuos talking about the band's performance at Town Day. "Everyone's always really into the music."

The show had a number of local children and parents dancing around the Common as Rudnick played a number of folk tunes.

"I love these concerts," said Lorraine Bates of the Winchester Recreation Department, one of the organizations that's in charge of putting these shows on. "It has a small-town atmosphere. People bring their blankets and have picnics; it's really great for the families."

Rudnick will be performing next at the Regent Theater in Arlington for their 10^th anniversary concert on Oct 24.

As for Jonathan and his father, they patiently waited for Ben Rudnick and friends play their two favorite songs – Macaroni and Cheese and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. In hearing those two tunes, Both Arcuris jumped off the blanket and started dancing in the Common, right along with everyone else who was in attendance.