Christmas For Regular Folk, Courtesy of DZ

Dan Zanes carries the mantel of the gentleman folksinger as well as title of king of kindie music. His revised holiday collection, CHRISTMAS IN CONCORD, straddles that chasm.

Last year, Zanes originally released a five-song digital EP, recalled from his New England childhood. The project has expanded by two new songs, collaborations with Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. The due wrote "Counting the Days (Until Christmas)" during a drive back from New Hampshire to New York, based on a discussion of their fathers' military experiences.

Tracks include the traditional "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Joy to the World," and "Silent Night." There are no mind-bending guitar solos (listen for mandolins) and you will need to really listen to hear any drumming. CHRISTMAS IN CONCORD is folk with a capital F, which fits the genre, the spirit, and the mood of the season.

Running a lean 18 minutes, the EP is a pleasant sidebar to both of Zanes' career tentpoles (discounting his Del Fuegos tenure). Dan Zanes and Friends celebrate the (re)-release CHRISTMAS IN CONCORD with their second annual "Holiday Sing-A-Long" at City Winery in Manhattan on Saturday, December 8 at 11 am.

 Here is the video for "Rise Up Shepherd, And Follow":



CHRISTMAS IN CONCORD is available on Zanes' website and iTunes.