With the argument of whether or not accordions are cool raging for decades, it is time to put the debate to bed, says Maggie Martin, an accordion player with the Mad Maggies of Montreal and co-producer of the 4th annual Deep Squeeze Accordion Festival.

“They have always been cool and always have been present in music around the world,” she said.

Martin blames the debate on the emergence of electric guitars in the 1950s and 1960s.

“Accordions had ruled the day before that,” she said. “There was this moment there when they became not cool. But that was just a teeny moment and that quickly disappeared because we started having an interest in Cajun music in the early 70s. It was just a small window, but we keep fighting that.”

Martin encourages everyone to just forget if accordions are cool or not.

“The fact is they are hugely versatile, they are a people’s instrument, they are in every style of music you can imagine. African, Chinese. The accordion is everywhere.”

So does that put the matter to rest? Maybe not.

Martin’s counterpart, Paul Rogers, who is co-producing the festival, once disliked the instrument altogether.

“I was never a big fan of it,” Rogers said. “It is only recently where I actually enjoy the sound of it. For me, it is just a really hard instrument to learn how to play. To coordinate the left hand buttons. I am a piano player, so right hand is not a problem, but putting it all together?”

Years ago, Rogers and fellow accordion players from the states traveled to Lithuania to participate in a music competition. It was there he learned just how terrible he was at the time, he said.

“We heard some of these eastern European people playing button boxes and they were amazing. It was embarrassing. It was a contest and we came in fourth place out of two contestants.”

The locals were playing Vivaldi concertos, while the visiting Americans were covering “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly and “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, Rogers said.

“I was in a church and a had my foot up on top of a prayer thing. I didn’t know what it was. I was just ripping.”

The judges did not approve, Rogers said.

“We were the only band that made the front page. It said, ‘Those Crazy Americans,’” he joked. “I decided it was time to start learning how to actually play the damned thing.”

Nowadays, Rogers is a proficient player, and even uses the buttons opposite the keyboard, he said.

“Before, I just had a block on that side. It was my block accordion. I could play louder and it was lighter. I could put it in an overhead on a plane.”

Most accordions have about 120 buttons, although some include as many as 144 and others as few as 36, Rogers said.

Fundraiser

The festival features five bands, three soloists, 15 shows, raffles and dancing.

“This year we have a great line-up featuring Murl Saunders, the Mad Maggies, Those Darn Accordions, Tangoheart, the Alternators, and many more,” Rogers said. “We will also be raffling off four accordions this year.

Proceeds from the multi-day event will help KPTZ raise funds for their move out to Fort Worden and benefit the Community Wellness Project that is bringing healthy food to the local schools, Rogers said.

“We have raised over $5,000 for different charities since we started back in 2016.”

Both venues are free to attend, but donations will be collected for the cause.

“We hope people will be generous,” Rogers said. “I would like to keep doing this. The only way is if people are generous when we pass the hat.”

Martin said the festival will be a great place to dance and have a good time.

“There is a dance space at the Pourhouse and Finnriver. Between the tango bands, my band and Paul’s band, this is where you come to shake your booty. Wear your dancing shoes.”

Finnriver is an all-ages venue, while Pourhouse is 21 and over, Martin said.

With that in mind, Finnriver will be an excellent place for families to go together, she said.

Port Townsend is the perfect place for such a quirky festival, Rogers said.

“When the ukulele thing showed up, I said, ‘That’s it. We are starting an accordion fest.’ I mean what’s next, a harmonica festival?”

The diverse lineup of musical genres will offer something that should cater to everyone’s taste, Rogers said.

“Its all over the map. Those Darn Accordions is essentially a rock band, or an amped up polkas and very humorous. Mad Maggies is more of a dance band. She has a full horn section.”

The event certainly won’t be boring, Martin said.

“You can pick and choose rather than the festival having one feel. Come have dancing shoes and sing along and dance around. I think we all need to have a little joy right now. We just need to let go. It will all be right there after the weekend. Let’s have a little joy and abandon for a few days.”