Accordion fest starts today

WALLACE - Talent from Kootenai and Shoshone counties will join performers from Washington, Montana, California and Canada as the entertainment lineup for the second annual Historic Wallace Accordion Festival to be held today through Sunday

A concert featuring international award-winning Canadian accordionist Michael Bridge will open the festival at 7 tonight at the Wallace Elks Lodge. The concert will also feature Tango Volcado - a Spokane ensemble of accordion, bass, piano and violin - and an opening act by the Portatos, a youth accordion band.

Events on Saturday begin at 9 a.m. with an Accordion Celebration Parade through the downtown. The parade will be followed by workshops by music professionals, and polka lessons at 2 p.m. by Coeur d'Alene dance instructor Sheryl Bentz-Sipe of Dance Tales Studio.

The city gazebo will feature free music throughout the day, starting at 10:30 a.m. Performers will include Silver Valley accordionist April Muhs; Bob Russ of Helena, Mont.; the Spokane duo of Joan Morse on accordion and Philip Brown on fiddle, and singers/guitarists Chuck Carlson of Cataldo and Gail Scott of Kellogg. Taking the gazebo stage at 5:30 p.m. will be Johnny Vukonich, a "one-man all-inclusive band" from Cashmere, Wash., followed at 7 p.m. by comedic punk rock accordionist Duckmandu, aka Aaron Seeman of Oakland, Calif.

The street party will also include a food court featuring Idaho Accordion Potatoes, brat with sauerkraut, and Mexican food, plus microbrews from Wallace's two breweries. The festival wraps up Sunday morning with a farewell breakfast at the Elks Lodge.

Information: 753-7151