Rock the squeeze box
<p>Canadian accordion talent Michael Bridge performs in the Gazebo during the 2012 Historic Wallace Accordion Festival. It's set to take place again Aug. 9-11.</p>
The winner of the 33rd annual Calgary Stampede Talent Search earlier this month is one of the headliners for the third annual Historic Wallace Accordion Festival taking place Aug. 9-11.
The accordionist who beat out 250 other young Alberta, Canada musicians to win the 33rd annual Calgary Stampede Talent Search earlier this month will be one of the headliners for the 3rd annual Historic Wallace Accordion Festival Aug. 9-11.
Michael Bridge, who beat 250 other young musicians at the Canadian talent search event, will be wearing several hats at the Wallace festival. Not only will he be a star performer for the Saturday night concert and dance, but he will be a judge for Wallace's first youth competition and help lead the Saturday morning Celebration Parade. He will also be traveling back in time as he performs the "pit" music for the silent film "The Kid," starring Charlie Chaplin and then-child star Jackie Coogan; the classic film will be shown Saturday afternoon in the historic Sixth Street Theater.
This is the second year for the 21-year-old Calgary native to headline the Wallace festival. His mother, Lynn Bridge, will also be participating, teaching three sessions of line and folk dancing.
The Wallace Festival opens Friday, Aug. 9, with afternoon jammin' in the gazebo and an evening concert starring the King of Accordion Rock 'n Roll Bruce Gassman of New Jersey, who wowed the crowds at Wallace's first accordion festival two years ago. Opening the Friday night concert will be 24-year-old Spokane accordionist Sammy Thomas who last fall became the first American in 25 years to win the "senior variety" category at the prestigious Trophee Mondial worldwide competition.
A new feature for the festival is the youth competition for beginner and intermediate accordionists. There is no entry fee and the first, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes.
Those interested in signing up to enter the contest or to play in the gazebo may call 699-7554. For schedule, prices and other details of the festival, visit www.wallaceaccordionfestival.com or call the sponsoring organization, the Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce at 753-7151.