PORT TOWNSEND — The inaugural Port Townsend Deep Squeeze Accordion Festival will bring international musicians to the local stage for three days starting tonight to raise money for the Port Townsend Food Bank.
The festival will begin with performances from 4 to 10 tonight at the Pourhouse, 2231 Washington St.
It will continue from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, also at the Pourhouse.
The festival will conclude with performances slated from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Pope Marine Plaza, located to the southeast of the intersection at Madison and Water streets.
Admission to the all-ages performance is free all three days, although attendees are encouraged to bring canned items to contribute or to make a cash donation at the event.
The festival is the brainchild of Port Hadlock resident Paul Rogers and his musical colleague, Maggie Martin of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, according to a news release.
Performing for years
“Maggie and I both play with bands that have been performing at the Cotati Accordion Festival in California for years, and we have always wanted to present a festival of our own,” said Rogers, who fronts squeezebox rock band Those Darn Accordions.
His band will perform at the PT Deep Squeeze, as will Martin’s band, Mad Maggies, and other touring and local accordionists, according to the release.
The festival’s eclectic program will cover a wide range of musical genres over Labor Day Weekend.
In addition to Those Darn Accordions and The Mad Maggies, each of which will perform all three days of the festival, the lineup will feature Jamie Maschler, The Alternators, Bertram Levy’s Tangoheart Quartet, Vickie Townsend and Seattle-based Duo Finelli.
Port Townsend ‘perfect’
“Maggie and I both agreed that Port Townsend is the perfect place for an accordion festival,” Rogers said.
“The people here are so supportive of events that provide great entertainment and help out worthy organizations such as the Port Townsend Food Bank.”
In addition to donations, money will be raised by way of a silent auction.
Contributed items
“We have many local businesses that have contributed items for a silent auction — and we are still looking for more,” Rogers said.
Items include a gourmet tamale lunch for six, a tasting tour for 10 at Finnriver Cidery, four hours of studio time at Tool Shed Recording and a gift basket from Sunrise Coffee.
For more information, call 360-531-0276.
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Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@ peninsuladailynews.com.
