6th annual Accordion Festival-The BIG Squeeze

 Themed “Squeeze Some Spice Into Your Life” the 6th annual Accordion Festival aka The Big Squeeze on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa will bring together zesty music, hot and spicy foods and tasty seasonal brews.

Accordion based bands and soloists playing a variety of music genres will highlight the Big Squeeze component, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , and show off the diversity of the squeezebox.

Featured bands on the main stage include Doug Legacy and the Zydeco Party Band at 2:45 p.m. with hot and spicy zydeco, Cajun, blues and "Chuck Berry style"rock 'n roll. Legacy aka Doug Lacy, the accordionist for the band who also plays keyboard, steel drums and does vocals, is one of the founding members of the band and has spent a lifetime writing and making music. He has performed with top names such as the Neville Brothers, Oingo Boingo, Rod Stewart, Todd Rundgren and Sir Paul McCartney. He’s also an accordionist pirate at Disneyland.

Returning for the second year to the Big Squeeze is Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone featuring The Brotherhood Horns and L.A. Accordion Diva “Gee “Rabe on accordion at 12:45 p.m. They are an eight piece New Orleans style funk and rhythm and blues band which includes a four piece horn section known as The Brotherhood Horns with players from Ray Charles, Brian Setzer, Elton John and many others.

Opening bands include the Celtic group, The Ploughboys, the house band at the Scottish Pub Tam O'Shanter Inn in Los Angeles, at 11:30 a.m. and the Fred Mlakar Band at 10:30 a.m. performing traditional Oktoberfest songs as well as Slovenian American tunes.

Free zydeco dance lessons will be offered at 12:20 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. by Ted Sherrod.

On another stage from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. solo accordionists will offer a cultural mix of music including Balkan Folk Music by Dromia, Italian and Piazzolla selections by Lou Fanucchi, Hungarian and other international melodies by Peter Geburth. Jim Gilman’s Oktoberfest band will bring in traditional German and Polka favorites.

The public can bring their accordions to take part in free lessons for beginners and intermediate players at 11:30 a.m. by “Gee Rabe” as well as free appraisals from noon to 3 p.m. and an open jam at 3:30 p.m. Free accordion storage will be available.

While soaking in the hot entertainment, beer connoisseurs can take in the Samuel Adams Octoberfest Experience which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offers tastings of its seasonal brews and other specialty beers. For the Beer Experience there is a $25 ticket available in advance and offers a $19 savings through Sept. 26 . This includes a free admission and preferred parking to the Big Squeeze with all of the entertainment and the OC Market Place, along with FOUR 12 oz. beers, a bratwurst and giant pretzel. Tickets are available at www.Eventbrite.com under Samuel Adams Octoberfest Experience & The Big Squeeze.

At the event, the cost for the Beer Experience is $35 and does include admission and preferred parking) .

Non beer tasting attendees can attend the Festival and the OC Market Place for $2 or free admission for children 12 and under.

Gourmet food trucks will be serving up special spicy and Oktoberfest menu items in addition to their regular bill of fare.
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Admission to the Accordion Festival includes access to the Orange County Market Place which features hundreds of swap meet vendors as well as the Orange County Antique and Vintage Market, both of which run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Market Place is located at the OC Fair & Event Center at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.