STUDENTS at St James' Primary at Muswellbrook paused their schoolwork on Thursday to watch parent and The Voice star Dan Eade perform a concert.
Corrections officer Mr Eade - whose son Jax is in year one at the school - sang for the first time in public on The Voice blind auditions, which aired on television on August 10.
Principal Aaron Moon said Mr Eade was prepared to do a surprise lunchtime concert at the school on August 11, but the region went into lockdown on August 5. Instead, they moved the show online.
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"The kids loved it," Mr Moon said.
"He mixed in a few of the songs he likes and a few of the requests, Shotgun from George Ezra and Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Footloose.
"The kids were up and around and dancing.
"It was such a positive - especially for me after watching the 11am press conference - it was such a really fun-filled joyous community occasion.
"He was that popular today and the kids loved it that we've actually got him in again next week.
"Apart from The Voice this was his first concert, so we feel blessed that we were able to support him and have him join us."
Mr Eade said he'd always sang but never told anybody about it.
He's now hoping to do more gigs.
"I think this is the start of something that has been coming for a while now, that I haven't had the time or guts to get up and do," Mr Eade said.
Mr Moon said he felt emotional seeing how much joy Mr Eade spread on a difficult day.
"The aim is to forget about normal life and home learning and just to give them a break."
The show complemented the school's other uplifting initiatives, including online discos.
