Despite our best efforts to stay on top of all accordion-related festivals, one occasionally slips in under the radar. Fortunately, the Lincoln Journal Star has an excellent recap of last weekend’s Wilber Czech Festival in tiny Wilber, Nebraska (“Czech Capital of the USA”).

The 46th annual festival drew close to 45,000 people (to a town of only 1,700) for a weekend of Czech food (mmm… kolaches), polka music and dancing, and an accordion jamboree. Check out the accompanying audio slideshow to hear Charlie Keller, president of the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, talk about the culture of the Wilber Czech Festival.

Nebraska Czech Queen Shandra Korbelik, 18, plays the accordion

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!

Sounds like last weekend’s Pulaski Polka Days, where “polka rhythm filled the air and infiltrated people’s bones,” was a rousing success. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s recap, there was a lively turnout — young and old alike — for the 29th edition of one of the nation’s biggest polka festivals:

“If you think polka music is uncool or only for the elderly, talk to Eric Niziolek, 25, and his buddies, who have been coming to the event from their homes near Wausau every year for about the last five years. ‘Good music, good people, girls and beer,’ said Niziolek when asked what kept him coming back.”

I also found a Flickr photoset that captures the festival parade, as well as some of the bands, including the shot below — appropriately titled “Only in Wisconsin.”

Pulaski Polka Days 2007, uploaded by The Dana Files

This may be the busiest week ever on our accordion calendar, with over 60 events from coast to coast. Some highlights:

• Pulaski Polka Days (Thu-Sun in Pulaski, WI)
  One of the biggest polka festivals of the year, Pulaski Polka Days draws thousands of visitors from across the country for four days of nonstop polka music and dancing to the biggest names in polka. Performers include Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones, Polka Family, Dynabrass, and more.
• They Might Be Giants (Wednesday in New York, NY)
  TMBG kicks off a 60-city tour in support of their new album, The Else (review coming soon!), with a show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. I can’t even keep track of how many times I’ve seen them anymore.
• Baguette Quartette (Thursday in Palo Alto, CA)
  Once again, Anna and I will be spending our lunch hour at the Palo Alto Brown Bag Concert series — this time with ham and cheese baguettes for a show by Odile Lavault’s Baguette Quartette. Come say ‘hi’ and grab some Let’s Polka stickers from us.

And that’s not all… there’s Glenn Hartman’s Klezmer Playboys in Berkeley, Ladies Day Concerts at the Accordion Connection in New Hampshire, and plenty of artists on tour, including Terrance Simien, Julz A, and Marie-Josée Houle.

As usual, 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!

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!

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. I found this video of 15-year-old Gary Blair Jr. performing Monti’s Czardas at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention last week. The accordion is in Gary’s blood — his father is a former UK accordion champion and his grandfather ran the Jimmy Blair Accordion School in Glasgow, Scotland. As you can see from the video, Gary Jr. isn’t half bad himself…

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.