The 5^th Annual

Cajun Squeezebox Shootout Accordion Championship

Saturday, February 13, 2010          HIGH NOON

Strand Theatre         432 N. Main Street        Jennings, Louisiana

For the past 18 years, Jennings, Louisiana has been the proud home of Cajun Country’s Mardi Gras “Kick Off” event: The Jennings Mardi Gras Parade and Festival.  Each year, the parade and the Main Street after-party street dance has grown tremendously and the event is now recognized as a Mardi Gras season highlight.

In 2006 the Cajun Squeezebox Shootout Accordion Championship was born.  The fifth annual Shootout is scheduled for Saturday, February 13th at the Historic Strand Theatre on Main Street in Jennings.  Cajun diatonic accordion players will meet to shoot it out at High Noon.  Doors to the Strand open at 11 a.m. and the competition begins at noon.  Admission is $5 general admission, those 12 and under get in free.

The Shootout is a family event designed to expand and promote Cajun music and culture.  The contest is open to diatonic nine-and-ten-button Cajun accordion players of all ages.  A panel of five judges from the Cajun Music industry will evaluate each player.  Judging is based on overall Cajun Music skill; command of accordion voicing; traditional song playing and style; hammering accuracy; knowledge of modern modes; and finally, on performance and presence.

There is no entry fee for the contest, but accordionists must register in order to compete.  A registration form and details are available on the Shootout site: jeffdavis.org .    Competition features three divisions.  The Youth Division includes players age 13 and under, on or before Feb. 13, 2010.  The Junior Division includes players age 14 – 20, on or before Feb.13, 2010.  The last division is the Adult Division including players age 21 and older, on or before Feb.13, 2010.  The deadline to register to compete is Thursday, February 11 at 3 p.m.

The prizes include recognition as the 2010 Cajun Accordion Champion, as well as trophies and a $500 Grand Prize in each division.  $100 second prizes and $50 third prizes will also be awarded.  To register for competition or learn more about the Shootout go to the website:

www.jeffdavis.org or call (337) 821-5532 or email polly@cityofjennings.com.

Proudly sponsored by the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission, the City of Jennings and the Jennings Festival Association.

Technorati Tags: accordian, accordion, Cajun, contest, music, shootout, squeezebox, squeezebox shootout

I don’t necessarily want it to be very similar to a guitar, I enjoyed the few lessons that I had but it wasn’t very exciting for me.
I like mandolins because they are unique, and small, and I’m pretty petite. (That’s why guitars were really frustrating for me.)

I think they sound beautiful, too. I’ve also considered the accordion, because those are also unique and can be very beautiful as well.

If the mandolin "speaks" to you, then you should definitely try one out. They’re great fun! They are tuned like a violin though, not like a guitar: E-A-D-G high to low; 8 strings where two and two are tuned in unison.

Like most other instruments, you can get a basic feel for it and learn the basic chord structures etc. fairly quick. But it does take lots of practice to master … again just like any other instrument.

Regarding your trouble with guitars. This may be due to you having the wrong kind of guitar, or a guitar not properly set up (adjusted) for your type of playing.

Take a guitar with a large box, long scale, heavy strings, wide and fat neck and high action, and you’re looking at an instrument that is hard to get a grip on (literally). Shorter scale, narrower and slimmer neck, lower action (strings closer to the fingerboard), lighter strings and a smaller box – and you have an instrument that is far more easy to play.

The scale is the length of the vibrating part of the strings, by the way – it’s the distance between the nut and the saddle. When the scale is shorter, the distance between the frets are shorter too. So yes, a mandolin (properly set up), should definitely be easier to handle (narrow neck, very short scale).

Oh, and yes, the accordion can be way cool too! Our keyboard player uses one from time to time in one of our bands.

Best of luck with your playing!

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This song sounds similar to the Godfather Waltz, so if you want to stay original, don’t play them back-to-back.

Andre Rieu does a great cover of this with people singing and dancing along. YouTube it.

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He is almost 9 years old (June 1st is his birthday, if you want to send him a present, he accepts cash, mice, and beef brisket if mailed with dry ice). He is all gray and is good friends with the neighbors cat Stalin. He enjoys porno, cheetos, high stakes gambling and is a general nuisance to my livlihood…but I love him.

In an effort to make him a well-rounded feline, about 4 years I bought him a guitar and he started taking lessons, which he took really well to and shortly after was performing in some local blues joints in the neighborhood to help support his drinking habit.

Here is the dilemma. In recent weeks, he has told me he is quitting guitar and wants to take up the accordion. The accordion???!!! WTF Elwood?? I mean, can I take this seriously? A cat can not play the accordion, right?? He keeps telling me it is to celebrate his Russian heritage, and to learn the instrument that his ancestors grew up on during harsh winters laying in rooms that were being heated by coal burning stoves, but I honestly think he is on drugs and has lost his mind.

Should I let Elwood play the accordion, or should I force him to stick with guitar?

Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate any advice!

Elwood finally discovered guitar strings are made of cat gut, eh?

And, I don’t mean to offend Elwood….but isn’t a Russian instrument a concertina, not an accordion?

Lawrence Welk played an accordion, I think. Well, if you live in an area with a large Polish population, he could be raking in the bucks. Dress him up in that furry hat and vest and give him long whiskers…oh wait, he’s already furry and has whiskers.

If you are wondering if he is on drugs….check out these folks. Perhaps this could give Elwood some inspiration. The tune I have selected for Elwood’s consideration is the theme from (a cool cat named) ‘Shaft.’ Fewer callouses on the paw pads, I would think.I

I have noted Elwood’s birthday in my Blackberry, and will be sure to down at least half a bottle of Stolie in his honor.

Dosvidanya!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE&feature=related

The perfect gift for the parents of a newborn baby girl, this 8-Piece Photo Gift Set lets parents keep treasured photos forever. The set includes (3) 2.5″ x 4″ frames for each of the first three months, an accordion frame for (2) 4″ x 6″ photos, 2 photo albums with 40 pages, and a 16-page memory book. The set comes in a photo storage box with a lid. Each item is decorated in shades of pink and yellow. Weight: 4 lbs, 3 oz.

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