This week, Washington, D.C. becomes the accordion capital of the world as the 60th annual Coupe Mondiale (World Cup) competition rolls into town. It’s like the World Series and Super Bowl rolled (or squeezed) into one as the best accordionists from around the globe compete in the world’s most prestigious accordion championships.

Sponsored by the Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA), the Coupe Mondiale hasn’t been held in the United States since 1981 (Kansas City), so this is a rare chance to see such an incredible collection of accordion talent.

• Coupe Mondiale Competition
  The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat… you can catch the actual competition proceedings all week long at the Holiday Inn in Alexandria. There are categories for junior accordionists, as well.
• Kennedy Center Concerts
  The Coupe Mondiale isn’t all about competition, though. All week long, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage will host free concerts with renowned international accordion ensembles like Akkordeonorchester Hof and Accordeonova. There’s also a champions concert featuring the Coupe’s first-place winners on Saturday evening.
• Coupe Mondiale Grand Finale Concert
  What better way to end the week than with the first-ever performance of the World Accordion Orchestra? The orchestra consists of 150 accordion players from around the world, many of whom are CIA officers or delegates.

If 150 accordionists isn’t enough for you, there may be even more at Friday’s “Massed Accordion Band” performance on the steps of the Capitol building. All accordionists within shouting distance are invited to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime performance of John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” (Aren’t you glad they didn’t choose “Lady of Spain”?)

If you’re attending any of the Coupe Mondiale events this week, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line and we’ll post a recap early next week.

No summer slowdown on the accordion calendar. What’s going on this week?

• Camp Accordionland (Sat-Sun in Berkeley, CA)
  It’s a weekend full of workshops, jam sessions, ensemble playing, and general merriment with 50 other accordion lovers at beautiful Tilden Park in Berkeley. We went last year and had a blast.
• Mamou Playboys School of Music (Tuesday in Lafayette, LA)
  Louisiana Folk Roots presents a one-of-a-kind learning experience: four weeks of accordion, fiddle and guitar lessons led by Steve Riley and his band, the Mamou Playboys. On the final week, every participant gets a chance to play with the full band!
• Accordions By The Sea Festival (Fri-Sun in Victoria, BC, Canada)
  Head north of the border as the Victoria Accordion Club hosts its first-ever accordion festival, with performances by Mario Pedone, S-Bahn, Bertram Levy, and many more.

And if you’re a San Francisco Giants fan, check out Italian Heritage Night this Tuesday night at AT&T Park. SF’s own Bella Ciao will be performing the (American) national anthem. Oh, and you might see Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, too.

Have an accordion event for our calendar? Tell us about it!

What’s on the accordion calendar this week?

• International Polka Association Festival (Thu-Sun in Independence, OH)
  The 39th annual International Polka Association (IPA) Polka Festival brings together polka fans and bands from across the nation. Forget Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr.; come see Henry “Hank” Guzevich and Dennis Polisky inducted into the Highlights Polka Music Hall of Fame on Saturday.
• Lost Bayou Ramblers (Fri-Sat in Austin, TX)
  Hot on the heels of the release of their new CD, Live: a la Blue Moon, the Lost Bayou Ramblers head over to Texas for a pair of shows this week.
• Fritz’s Polka Band (Saturday in Saratoga Springs, NY)
  For over 10 years, German liqueur maker Jägermeister has been sponsoring hard rockers like Slayer and GWAR. But did you know they also sponsor a polka band? Fritz’s Polka Band, from Verona, NY, proudly carry the banner for the second most sought after sponsorship in polka (after Mrs. T’s Pierogies, of course).

Know of a squeezebox gathering in your area? Tell us about it!

It’s another busy week on the accordion calendar. Let’s see what’s on tap:

• Accordion Master Class and Concert Series (Fri-Sun in New York, NY)
  The American Accordionists Association presents a series of master classes and concerts led by the incomparable Dr. William Schimmel. He promises “a weekend romp of questionable, useless and far-fetched information.”
• 42nd Annual Pillar Polkabration (Fri-Sun in Uncasville, CT)
  Organized by Dick Pillar, the longest-running polka festival in the country brings the biggest names in polka (Blazoncyzk, Gomulka, Forman, etc.) to Mohegan Sun for a weekend of nonstop polka music.
• Very Be Careful (Friday in Santa Monica, CA)
  Los Angeles vallenato kings Very Be Careful return home to California after a brief trip to Europe.

In addition, there are plenty of artists squeezin’ their way across North America, including Buckwheat Zydeco in the Southwest, Jason Webley in the Midwest, and Weird Al in… Medicine Hat? Yep, and Saskatoon, too!

Remember, if you have an accordion event for our calendar, just let us know!

Let’s see what’s on the accordion calendar this week:

• Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships (Mon-Sat in Kimberley, BC, Canada)
  A week-long festival full of concerts and competitions, right in the heart of beautiful British Columbia. Guest artists include Sammy Thomas, the Al Meixner Trio, and many more.
• Pistolera (Wednesday in San Francisco, CA)
  Indie rock meets Mexican folk music in Pistolera, a NYC quartet led by Sandra Lilia Velasquez and the driving accordion melodies of Maria Elena.
• Motordude Zydeco (Thursday in Palo Alto, CA)
  The Palo Alto Brown Bag concert series kicks off with a lunchtime zydeco dance party. I’ll be there (probably wearing this shirt), so stop by, say ‘hi’, and I’ll give you some Let’s Polka stickers.

There’s plenty more, too — including Brave Combo on tour and the return of the Conjunto Accordion Jam in San Jose. If you have an accordion event (concert, festival, etc.) to add to our calendar, let us know!

That’s right — we’ve finally given in to the peer pressure and created a Let’s Polka profile over on MySpace. So if MySpace is your thing, add us as a friend and let the world know that you’ve sided with truth, justice, and the accordion way. If you’re a squeezebox-totin’ band or artist, adding us as a friend means that we’ll keep an extra-close eye on your gigs when we’re updating our accordion calendar (hint: free promotion!).

What’s on the accordion calendar this week?

• Main Squeeze Accordion Festival (Saturday in New York, NY)
  This year’s festival at Riverside Park promises an eclectic lineup that includes the Ivan Milev Band, Dr. William Schimmel, Raul Jaurena and Octavio Brunetti, and, of course, the lovely and talented ladies of the Main Squeeze Accordion Orchestra. There will also be an accordion flea market and an accordion kids corner with activities designed to encourage youngsters to start squeezing.
• Angelina Carberry and Martin Quinn (Saturday in Coatesville, PA)
  Irish traditional duo (and husband and wife), Martin Quinn and Angelina Carberry, play button accordion and tenor banjo. Before the show, they’ll lead workshops in their respective instruments.
• Klezmer Meets Jazz (Sunday in Stanford, CA)
  Finally… an event in our neighborhood! The Stanford Jazz Festival presents a unique show pairing klezmer band the Gonifs and jazz ensemble Left Turn No Signal, hosted by comic/juggler Sara Felder.

Have an accordion event in your area to share? Let us know!

Summer is officially here and the accordion calendar is heating up…

• Polka Fireworks Festival (Fri-Tue in Champion, PA)
  More than 25 of the nation’s top polka bands will be at Seven Springs Resort this week for six days of nonstop polka fireworks. The festival includes after hours jam sessions, as well as polka music and dance lessons.
• Sunny Sauceda Accordion Clinic (Saturday in Lubbock, TX)
  Hohner and Tarpley Music are sponsoring a series of accordion clinics led by two-time Grammy winner Sunny Sauceda (formerly of Grupo Vida). I’m guessing he could teach you a thing or two.
• Tex-Mex Polka Dance Party (Saturday in Austin, TX)
  Is it just me or does the Austin Moose Lodge #1735 have the best parties ever? I mean, what other Moose Lodge has a membership dance (open to the public!) with Brave Combo and Los Idolos del Barrio? I still don’t know what a Moose is, but I don’t care. Sign me up!

Is there something squeeze-worthy going on in your neighborhood? Let us know and we’ll get it on the calendar.

From Vegas to Virginia, this week is all about festivals — accordion festivals, polka festivals, Cajun festivals — you name it, we’ve got it on the calendar. Here are some highlights:

• Las Vegas International Accordion Convention (Mon-Thu in Las Vegas, NV)
  For four days, Vegas becomes the accordion capital of the world as hundreds of accordionists participate in master classes and workshops (“Left Hand Latin Rhythms”, anyone?) and enjoy concerts by headliners Tony Lovello, Art Van Damme, Walter Ostanek, and more.
• Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration (Thu-Sun in Leavenworth, WA)
  Is Vegas too glitzy for you? Head north to the Bavarian village in Leavenworth for their 16th annual accordion festival. There’ll be competitions, workshops, concerts, and even an accordion parade down Leavenworth’s main drag on Saturday afternoon.
• Polish Fest (Fri-Sun in Milwaukee, WI)
  The biggest names in polka, including three of last year’s Grammy nominees (Jimmy Sturr, Eddie Blazonczyk, and Lenny Gomulka), take the stage at the 26th annual Milwaukee Polka Fest.
• Long Beach Bayou Festival (Fri-Sun in Long Beach, CA)
  Bourbon Street moves west this weekend, with performances by C.J. Chenier, Geno Delafose, nine-year-old Guyland Leday, and many more.

And there’s more, including the Polka Spree by the Sea in New Jersey, Bayou Boogaloo in Virginia, and Ironworld Polkafest in Minnesota.

If there’s an accordion festival in your neighborhood and it’s not on our calendar, let us know!