Celebrate the Accordion Revolution

You can never have too many accordions in the same place at the same time, Especially in St. John’s! Following on the wildly successful Guinness World-Record-Breaking accordion ensemble at the 29th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, we were proud to present “Outside the Box” a celebration of the accordion. It’s happened at the Geo Centre on May 27th -- an entire evening of music, displays, workshops, dancing, and a silent auction, all focused on Newfoundland’s beloved instrument.

The event featured Newfoundland’s accordion glitterati -- Art Stoyles, Bob Rutherford, Vince Collins, Stan Pickett, Dave Penny, Daniel Payne, Graham Wells, Alan Ricketts, Fergus Brown O’Byrne, and Aaron Collis in informal workshops, where they both played and talk about accordions. There was a jam-session and feature performances by Frank Maher and the Maheder’s Bahers, and Ray Walsh and Family. Throughout the evening the audience talked with the musicians and visited the displays. O’Brien’s Music Store was there with an accordion diagnostic clinic and an “Inside the Box” exhibit. There’ll was a silent auction with rare and priceless items to bid on, and a memorabilia display and slide-show of the Accordion Revolution. Audience members could even try their hand at playing. The evening closed with Newfoundland dancing led by Jane Rutherford.