Accordion festival will attract out-of-state players

Staff report

BESSEMER, Pa.

The seventh annual National Button Accordion Festival will take place Friday through Sunday at the Bessemer Croatian Club on East Poland Ave., Pa. Route 317, between New Castle and Youngstown.

Button accordion and piano accordion players come from 18 states and Canada for the event.

In addition to waltzes and polkas, informal jamming also takes place under tents on the outdoor decks of the club.

Food prepared in the Club kitchen is available and served all day in the dining room.

One of the unusual features of the festival is that no formal bands are hired. The music for listening and dancing is provided by the accordion players attending the festival. The NBAF website, nationalbuttonaccordionfestival.com, has a list of players planning to attend. Maps, motels and other festival information also is on the website.

Accordion players sign up for 30 to 45 minute segments in the ballroom, with local professional sidemen accompanying them. This traditional format is used on Friday evening and all day Saturday.

A Memorial Day remembrance program will begin at noon Sunday followed by a concert. At 3 p.m., the traditional format will be in effect for the remainder of the day until the Grand Jam at 9 p.m. ends the festival.

Free polka lessons with dance instructor Lynda McPhail will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the ballroom.

There will be a sales table for festival T-shirts, CDs by performing artists, and an accordion swap/shop table. For information, call 724-588-3786.