Time to check this week’s accordion events calendar…

• “Blast from the Bayou” Cajun/Zydeco Festival (Thu-Sun in Preston, CT)
  I don’t normally think of Connecticut as a zydeco hotspot, but this weekend’s Cajun/Zydeco festival in Strawberry Park brings Louisiana’s best to the Nutmeg State. Featuring Geno Delafose, Steve Riley, Chris Ardoin, Corey Ledet, the Pine Leaf Boys, the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, and many more.
• Syracuse Polish Festival (Fri-Sun in Syracuse, NY)
  The 53rd Syracuse Polish Festival raises money for the Polish Scholarship Fund and features a slew of polka bands, including Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push, Stephanie and her Honky Band, and Fritz’s Polka Band.
• Accordion Free-For-All (Tue in Austin, TX)
  The Central Texas Accordion Association holds their annual Free-for-All, a nonstop accordion-fueled variety show.

Is there an accordion concert, festival or hootenanny in your area? Let us know!

• Registration Open for Camp AccordionLand 2007
  You can now register online for Camp AccordionLand, which takes place August 10-12 in Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA. Check the site for full class descriptions and instructor bios.
• Accordion player casts a spell in Music in Time
  Rave review of Guy Klucevsek’s performance at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC last night. Klucevsek “demonstrated the almost mystical power of his instrument, the accordion.”

Happy Accordion Awareness Month, everyone!

It’s time to haul those big accordions out of the closet, dust ’em off, and give ’em a squeeze. And for the non-players out there, support your local accordionist! Check out our calendar for accordion-related events near you!

The accordion blog scene keeps growing! The latest addition is the Cajun Squeezebox Blog. Written by a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, it focuses on Cajun accordion news and events, as well as occasional tablatures (notes and lyrics) so you can play along at home. Last week, they featured the “The Convict Waltz” (or “La Valse de Quatre-Vingt Dix-Neuf Ans”) which was popularized by the late Cajun accordion legend, Iry LeJeune.