INCONCERT
What: Victoria International Accordion Festival
When: Thursday through Sunday
When: Mostly downtown venues
Tickets: $25/$20 at the door or Tempo Trend Music, 410 Burnside Rd. East (250-384-2111)
The Victoria International Accordion Festival launches tonight with a concert showcasing some of sa国际传媒鈥檚 top fiddlers and accordionists.
The gala opening concert, starting at 7:30 p.m. at First Metropolitan United Church, features fiddlers Daniel Lapp and Pierre Schryer. Also on the bill are accordionists Adrian Dolan and Michael Bridge, Irish button accordionist Dermot Byrne and New Brunswick accordion duo Jesse Mea and Roland Bourgeois.
鈥淚t will be highly energetic Celtic music,鈥� said festival organizer Jelena Milojevic, adding the event celebrates sa国际传媒鈥檚 150th birthday.
鈥淒aniel Lapp, in this city he鈥檚 a聽superstar. Everyone knows him. He鈥檚 a real entertainer and he鈥檒l聽bring the people up to their feet.鈥�
Milojevic is an internationally recognized accordionist in her own right, having won the Troph茅e Mondial de L鈥橝ccord茅on. She鈥檒l perform for a Saturday night concert of classical, jazz and folk music at the University of Victoria鈥檚 School of Music. The show, starting at 7:30 p.m., also features Toronto鈥檚 Double-Double Duo and winners of the Victoria International Accordion Competition.
The Double-Double Duo 鈥� clarinetist Kornel Wolak and accordionist Bridge 鈥� are comedians as well as musicians.
鈥淭heir virtuosity and technique are just impeccable. They鈥檙e the full package. They鈥檒l leave the audience out of breath,鈥� Milojevic said.
On Friday night, a dinner and dance at Norway House features the Roma Swing Ensemble, Bijoux de Bayou and Bridge.
There will also be three free concerts at Centennial Square today and Friday, and at Beacon Hill Park on Sunday. For full details and ticket information, see bcaccordion.ca.
The Victoria International Accordion Festival is produced by the sa国际传媒 Accordion Society.