Acton-based band Makes U Wanna drew a full house at Dirigible Brewing in Littleton Saturday afternoon, December 6. Except for the cars lining the otherwise empty office park lot, you wouldn’t guess a rock and roll concert was underway inside, just beyond the hand-painted Dirigible sign.
Makes U Wanna performed on Saturday to celebrate band member Gaby King Morse, who is moving on to other ventures. True to their name, the band inspired dancing throughout the gig. They powered through a wide range of danceable music, from “Uptown Funk” to “Dancing Queen” to “Time Warp” (from “Rocky Horror Picture Show”). The singers, especially Gaby and Wendy Parker, harmonized well, and the instruments and back up vocals did their part to create a lively show.
Acton resident and keyboardist Piña Madera was a Spanish teacher at Parker Charter School when she and her husband Michael, an organizational psychologist, founded the band seven years ago. Piña is now the program and volunteer manager at Acton Boxborough Community Compass (formerly United Way). Piña plays keyboard; Michael, guitar. Another Acton resident, Gaby King Morse, when not singing, runs a nonprofit called The Center for Women and Enterprise that supports women entrepreneurs from across New England to grow and thrive. Another three musicians round out the band: Wendy Parker from Rhode Island (vocals and keys), David Keevil from Wayland (bass and vocals), and John Bigay from Concord (drums and vocals).
“We survived COVID,” Piña said. “We sang in our car, with lines going in, and outdoor headsets. At one point Gaby was singing in our outdoor shower.”
“The shower was not on?” the author asks.
“No, the shower was not on,” she clarified.
Piña said Gaby was with the band from the beginning. “She brings this vibe of openness and warmth. She’s a lovely stage presence. We are very sad that we are losing her. But she’s got to do other creative things, and she promises she’ll come dance.”
“It’s been the most amazing seven years. And I am excited about trying out other things,” Gaby said during a break. She said the group has often played at the Dirigible. “This is my favorite. All the people I love can come, and it’s not very far [seven minutes from parts of Acton], and it’s free, and then we get free beer, and I think the beer is amazing, and we have a great sound guy, so I know it’s kind of hard because there’s lots of metal and stuff [in the brewery] but I think he does a really nice job because it’s hard to sound-balance here. I just feel like this is our living room.”
Acton resident Scott Nicol said, “It’s great to see people dancing and enjoying the atmosphere.”
Acton couple Liz Johnson and Titus Kao were listening to Makes U Wanna for the first time. He was photographing the event. They had met Piña and Michael long ago when their children played soccer together. Liz is on the Board at Community Compass and works with Piña there.
For Gaby, her first post-Makes U Wanna adventure? This week, she auditioned for Open Door Theater’s 2026 production of “Honk!”, the story of the ugly duckling. She says she would “love to have a feather in my cap,” meaning take on a paltry poultry role, move sets, or help out wherever she’s needed. “I’m excited to be, like, a duck, or a chicken. Who knows what will happen?”
Franny Osman is the Editor-in-Chief of the Acton Exchange. She got to know the Makes U Wanna band members when they produced a neighborhood musical and a children’s version of Macbeth together years ago. We include the link to those plays in case it inspires readers to contribute to the very slowly evolving “Festival of Neighborhood Plays” on ActonTV. Full disclosure: The Makes U Wanna founders are the author’s next door neighbors.
Editor’s note: Might you write about the adventures of your Acton neighbors?
