Dan Zanes, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Mention the words "children's singer", and most people shudder with the sort of disgust more usually reserved for serial killers and rapists. But these are people who haven't heard of Dan Zanes. Yes, he does have wacky, sticky-uppy hair, and his band dress themselves in violent primary colours, but if you'd seen the opener of his performance, "Hello, Hello," played on ukulele, banjo, guitar and double bass, you'd change your mind about family entertainment.

Born in New England - now based in New York - Zanes, the former lead singer of the Del Fuegos, wrote and released his first family album in 1994 and has since recorded a further eight. Along the way, he's picked up a Grammy nomination, sold out Carnegie Hall and recorded with, among others, Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Loudon Wainwright and Nick Cave.

Describing himself as a "band leader" who serves to bring together interested musicians and artists, Zanes' oeuvre is based on traditional folk songs, original material and "social music", as sung round the campfire, via the Appalachian mountains, a Jewish wedding, a Brazilian sea-shanty, an African lullaby and a Celtic ballad. The songs are familiar, charming and insanely joyful. This is genuinely music that people of all ages can enjoy.

The matinée performance on Saturday was woefully undersold (seemingly only the die-hard fans could face the 11am start), but all the more magical for its intimacy. Zanes captivated the audience with songs that truly lifted the spirits. Toddlers gravitated from parent's laps to the aisles and the area in front of the stage. And the dancing had to be seen to be believed - by both parents and babies. Such was the love in the room that, at one point, my daughter left her muslin on the stage, the toddler equivalent of throwing your knickers at Tom Jones.

Here was no place for cynicism: this was about how music can simply be a beautiful thing. How can you not love a man who tries to inculcate in his tiny audience a sense of pacifism with the anti-war anthem "Down by The Riverside", then follows it with "Old McDonald", punched-up and delivered as a rap by a 20-stone Brooklyner, Rankin' Don, aka Father Goose, and follows that with a traditional waltz, accompanied by a guy on a saw.

Seriously, Dan Zanes. It was worth having kids for.