This week we celebrate Accordion Awareness Month. The month-long celebration was created to promote one of the most versatile of instruments. We’ll hear players and music from the world over, including the band Phonix from Denmark, Pekka Pentikainen & Antii Soininen from Finland and Manka Le Phallang from South Africa. North American players Steve Riley, Jody Kruskal, The Subdudes, and The Red Clay Ramblers hold down the home front. Put aside your misconceptions and join us … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Jimmy Shand / “The Cumberland Reel” / The Accordion World of the Legendary Jimmy Shand MBE
               / REL Records
Richard Thompson / “Don’t Sit On My Jimmy Shands” / Rumor And Sigh / Capitol
Phonix / “Fantegutten” / Folk 2005 Music from Denmark / MXP
Jody Kruskal / “Arnold the Armadillo” / Concertina Valentine / Self-produced

Pekka Pentikainen & Antti Soininen / “Mustan Aukon Tango” / Mr. Malaska / iMu
The Red Clay Ramblers / “I Crept into the Crypt” / Live / Self-produced
Sharon Shannon / “Dance of the Honeybees” / Each Little Thing / Green Linnet
The Subdudes / “Love O’ Love” / Primitive Streak / High Street
Jimmy Shand / “Set of Reels” / The Accordion World of the Legendary Jimmy Shand MBE / REL Records

Paul Simon / “The Boy in the Bubble” / Graceland / Warner Brothers
Manka Le Phallang / “Moea O Foke” / Homeland / Rounder
Albert Chevalier / “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale” / Zydeco-The Early Years (1961-62) / Arhoolie
Bruce Springsteen / “Wild Billy”s Circus Story” / The Wild, The Innocent And the E Street Shuffle / Columbia

Rant Maggie Rant / “On the Wings of a Skorie” / Latitude / Self-produced
Steve Riley / “The Marc Savoy Medley” / Cajun Accordion Kings and the Queen / Valcour
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways