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May 26, 2008

Accordion festival under way in Bessemer

By Matt Snyder

The National Button Accordion Festival has moved to nearby Bessemer — all the way from its original home of Fontana, Calif.

The festival, which is really for any kind of accordion under the sun, is a three-day polka jam-fest taking place at the Bessemer Croatian Club, 601 E. Poland Ave. It began Friday night and continues from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Just put your name on the board, said organizer Ron Pivovar, and they’ll fit a time in for you to play accordion.

“The idea is to play dance music,” Pivovar said. “So we provide some backup musicians.”

The focus is on music played by festival-goers instead of paid bands, Pivovar said. That’s what the festival’s predecessor, the Fontana Button Box Jamboree, traditionally had been about since its inception in California.

“It’s probably the only festival in the country like it,” Pivovar said, adding people are pouring in from at least 16 states. He’s gotten calls from attendees as far afield as Alaska.

The real key is getting the word out locally, he said, noting the festival was moved to Yukon, Okla., last year.

He said the site was great, but lacked local interest. The hope is that by basing the festival in the heart of western Pennsylvania polka country, it will grow stronger roots, Pivovar said.

The Pittsburgh and Cleveland areas are rich with European immigrants.

“Of course, those immigrants brought their accordions with them when they came to America,” he said. “And even 80 or 100 years after those major immigrations, accordion music with an ethnic flair is still popular.”

Pivovar said some local favorites — such as Mike Caggiano and Johnny “Six-Pack” Preisner from New Castle and Fred Ziwich from Cleveland — are planning to attend.

Players will also be rolling in from Texas and Alaska, he added.

Joe Smiell — a conservatory-trained musician who picked up the accordion later in life — will travel from California.

Food, beverages, excellent indoor and outdoor dance floors and ethnic music ranging from Czech, Polish, Stovenian, German, Austrian, Swiss and Italian will be featured at the festival, according to planners.

Admission is $10, but those 13 and under are admitted free.

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