Commuters entering a light rail car don’t usually expect to be met with a live performance, complete with bagpipes and percussion. But on the “Train Tracks,” the light rail becomes “the most innovative outlet for live music you’ve seen in a very long time,” according to thetraintracks.org.

Light-rail riders can listen to live music through a program called Train Tracks, which began in February and debuts a local artist weekly at the Central Avenue station in Phoenix, according to the Web site.

METRO light rail co-sponsors the Train Tracks program, which was first created and managed by nonprofit organization Local First Arizona and Phoenix community members.

METRO spokeswoman Hillary Foose said she’s glad to see people embracing the light rail and getting creative in their interaction with it.

“Once a week there is a live acoustic performance on light rail and there is also a competition component,” she said. “We are really happy to see people enjoying light rail as leisure.”

Glendale resident Mick Fowler, 57, member of the band Ramfoozle, played on the light rail on Aug. 20 and noticed a positive reaction from light-rail riders.

“It was nuts,” Fowler said. “We had a pretty good hootin’ and hollerin’ crowd and the acoustics are better in there than you’d think.”

He added that the performance was mostly just for fun.

“[People] have gotten lazy as far as entertainment, and we just turn on the TV,” he said. “I think we should be out in the street entertaining each other.”

The program operates under all of METRO’s regular safety regulations, and other artists who want to perform on the light rail should be careful, Foose said.

“Our agency is responsible for running trains ... so that is where our concentration is,” she said. “We do have to caution people with our safety concerns, like being in the middle of the aisle.”

Some student riders are embracing the idea of live music while they commute.

Business communications senior Travis Brewer said having live entertainment is fun and it’s also a good business model for emerging bands.

“It is a good idea, pretty innovative and a good way to get your name and music out there,” Brewer said. “I usually just listen to my iPod or talk to my classmates [when I’m on the light rail].”

Sociology and education senior Josh Spence said he supports the idea of live light rail music, but expressed concern that it might interrupt the usual commuting routine for light-rail riders.

“I usually use light rail to catch up from the weekend or talk to classmates. [Live music] wouldn’t be bad, but I probably wouldn’t get into it,” Spence said.

Reach the reporter at tnowen@asu.edu.