MERIDIAN - Some good music, a little popcorn and soda, and a comfortable blanket provided the perfect combination for a night out at the gazebo in Meridian.

More than a dozen children and a handful of adults gathered for the weekly Wednesday night performance, this week featuring Tom Sieling of Newfield. Sieling's performance was sponsored by the Lang Memorial Library.

“I saw his performance a while ago at the Tomato Festival,” Libbie Messina, director of the library, said. “I thought it would be nice for the kids and something for the entire community to enjoy.”

Sieling, who has spent more than 30 years in the music business, got his start like many, playing at bars and clubs. However, for the past 20 years he has tried to focus more in on the children in the audience.

Throughout the summer, Sieling has been traveling across New York and into New England, camping as he goes, bringing his unique brand of entertainment to numerous communities.

#&I think I have 91 shows this summer,8 Sieling said. This is 78, I think. I really enjoy it, I like camping out and seeing people enjoy the music.

But Sieling's music isn't the average brand of children's fare.

Sieling tries to incorporate numerous lessons on a variety of subjects from bugs to wildlife to the importance of reading, while still trying to make things a whole lot of fun.His songs feature titles like " Want to be a Bug,“ "Let's Talk About Bugs" and "R-E-A-D" a take on "YMCA,” Seiling had his audience up and dancing and interacting the whole night.

"It is awesome,"8 Bethany Prell, 11, said. "It is a lot of fun and gives you a chance to get up and dance around and have a lot of fun."

Sieling said that he found his niche in the world of music by taking inspiration from his own background and life and he hopes that it is a message that can be conveyed to children of all ages.

"I try to encourage the kids to learn," Sieling said. "I'm a country kid, I grew up in Rose, so it fits in well with what I"m doing. I hope I can teach the kids a little about nature and wildlife and what we have all around us. I hope kids will think about music and taking up an instrument seriously too and reading, but I also hope they have a lot of fun too."

The various levels of Sieling's performance are what captured Messina's attention and made her want to bring him to Meridian.

"He is very humorous," Messina said. "But he also teaches a lot too, so I thought it would be a perfect performance for the whole family."

From little ones to grandparents Sieling's performance drew an enthusiastic crowd.

"I like to see the kids participate," Sieling said."I try to get everybody up and moving and singing along and enjoying themselves."

And for many of the children in the audience the combination of Sieling's humorous songs and interactive show made for the perfect way to spend a summer night.

"I love it," Alli Walker, 10, said. "I like getting up and doing all the dances and everything and the silly songs. It is a lot of fun."