LYNN — Folk singer and comedian Don White will be performing a concert on Oct. 18 in Swampscott to raise funds for Lynn’s Kids in Community (KIC) summer day camp program.
White is a Lynn native who weaves in humorous storytelling with his songs, often incorporating history and personal anecdotes of the city in his performances. With his songwriting, he uses lyrics that are appropriate for children but also appeal to adults.
“I like to reach wide audiences. I think I can be funny to everybody,” White said.
He added, “If you want to keep people engaged, it’s important to use humor. Everybody is engaged by storytelling if it’s done well. If you can get people laughing with storytelling, people often get inspired by it.”
A main goal of the KIC camp is to provide literacy support to students so they won’t risk losing their reading skills over the summer. It also involves enriching local art in children’s lives through music, theater, visual art, and more. Joining the program requires a $35 registration fee for four weeks of daytime supervision.
Audrey Jiménez, Summer Program Director at KIC, said parents who attended White’s fundraising concert last year were very enthusiastic about how the event supported the community.
“It’s always a good time, and it really supports the summer program. It really brings everyone together to connect with a figure that shares our love of Lynn,” Jimenez said.
Despite a busy touring schedule, White has made an effort to return to his roots in Lynn on Saturday.
“I’ve been out and about quite a bit lately, so it’s a big deal for me to play in my neighborhood,” White said.
During the concert, White’s son Lawren will also be joining him onstage to perform original songs.
“He rocks,” White said.
The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn in Swampscott. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at uucgl.org/donwhite.
