VIENNA — The Maine Squeeze Accordion Ensemble in concert will begin at 7 pm. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Vienna Union Hall, .

The Maine Squeeze includes five accordionists and one percussionist playing eclectic ethnic music from around the world. Members Alina Blakesley (from Boothbay Harbor), Nancy Hoffman and Janine Blatt (from Peaks Island), Peter Blackstone, Sally Trice and Barbara Truex (from greater Portland), bring their music to summer fairs, parades and concerts throughout Maine.

Polkas, waltzes, Zydeco, jazz and folk standards and original tunes are just the tip of the iceberg for the Squeezers. The concert at the Vienna Union Hall will provide the perfect setting to include some songs that are best suited to a listening audience as an addition the foot-tapping festival fare.

The band has performed at Lincoln Art Festival, the Common Ground Fair, Yarmouth Clam Festival, Rockland Lobster Festival, Wooden Boat Show, Fryeburg Fair, Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, Downeast Country Dance Festival and many other venues.

Tickets cost $8. For more information call 293-2674 or email viennaunionhall@gmail.com.

Musical biographies

Advertisement

Blakesley was born in England to Polish Immigrants she honors her roots through Polish songs and dances. She enjoys ballroom dancing and competes every year at the Easternsport dance championships in Boston.

Nancy Hoffman is a singer, accordionist, pianist and musical director. Spending part of the year on Peaks Island, Hoffman is a member of two ethnic musical groups: The Casco Bay Tummlers, www.cascobaytummlers.com a klezmer band, and The Maine Squeeze.

Blatt made her accordion debut in 1996 with Squeeze, Please! a homegrown Peaks Island group, and has been playing ever since.

Blackstone, is an avid composer of original music on accordion and guitar. He first studied the accordion in 4th grade. He has played in a Zydeco band, an African band, and the Poor Valley Salvation Society, an old time gospel band. He also plays steel drum with the Blueberry Pancakes.

Trice started playing accordion as a child. She was drawn to the instrument then and still finds it fun to play. She also teaches accordion and is working with students of all ages. She has been playing with the Maine Squeeze for 10 years.

Truex lives in Windham and splits her time between playing, composing, teaching, theatrical sound design and community radio. Her primary instruments are mountain dulcimer (acoustic and electric), ukuleles and guitar, but her second love is tapping away for accordions. She is also hosts a weekly global music program on WMPG in Portland www.wmpg.org, composes for radio drama with award-winning FinalRune Productions


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.