Cotati Accordion Pageant bounces again from pandemic

As Forth Price-based Ginny Mac squeezed out a bluesy tune on her accordion Saturday afternoon, Religion Davis stood within the crowd of the Cotati Accordion Pageant, recalling how she as soon as hated the reedy, organ-like sound of the instrument.

Davis, who lives within the coastal mountains west of Willits in Mendocino County, defined the primary time she attended the pageant was a number of years in the past when she was nonetheless married and her partner was simply studying to play the instrument.

“I needed to take heed to him follow,” she mentioned, including that she took him to the occasion “pondering possibly he’ll get some thought of the way to play it.”

She immediately grew to become a fan.

On Saturday, the primary day of the pageant that continues Sunday, Davis was one in all 1000’s in attendance, having fun with an eclectic array of accordion music kinds, together with klezmer, zydeco, polka, Mexican conjunto, blues and rock.

With shut a number of 1000’s anticipated to attend the weekend occasion, the venerable pageant — 31 years working — seems to have vigorously rebounded from a pandemic-era lull, mentioned pageant producer Scott Goree.

“It was straightforward to get high quality performers as a result of all people was desirous to get again on stage,” Goree mentioned.

The in-person pageant was canceled in the course of the first 12 months of the pandemic in 2020, although a digital gathering was held. It got here again the next 12 months with fewer folks attending and 50% fewer distributors, Goree mentioned.

He mentioned final 12 months’s pageant “stored it alive” and set the stage for a good larger comeback this 12 months.

“All these issues we took a success on final 12 months got here again to regular, possibly even higher,” Goree mentioned.

On Saturday, a whole bunch of individuals took shelter from the solar underneath the shade of the big sycamore and oak bushes at La Plaza Park in downtown Cotati. Giant tents had been arrange for dancing, musician jam classes and a bunch of distributors promoting garments, hats, handmade baskets, jewellery and art work.

Meals vehicles served up a big selection of delicacies, together with Mexican, Greek, Chinese language, Indian and Caribbean, together with the standard burgers and corn canines. Wine and beer distributors offered refreshments to endure Saturday’s mid-90s temperatures in Cotati.

Accordion musician Alex Meixner, this 12 months’s honorary director of the pageant, commented on the “cool climate” in Cotati, including that latest reveals in Texas noticed temperatures 16 levels hotter.

Later, Meixner broke right into a rendition of AC/DC’s rock anthem “Thunderstruck” earlier than enjoying a conventional polka tune. Goree mentioned the pageant lineup even provided accordion punk rock music.

For Ginny Mac, the 37-year-old accordion musician from Fort Price, the in-person, well-attended occasion Saturday was a welcome return to normalcy. Mac mentioned she’s been enjoying the accordion since she was seven years outdated and performed Cotati pageant in 2010.

Mac’s music blended a wide range of kinds, together with nation and western swing, people, conventional jazz, with some parts of World music. She additionally performs the piano, however the accordion is her favourite instrument.

“The factor I like concerning the accordion is it’s up in opposition to my physique. It looks like one other appendage,” she mentioned. “My coronary heart beats with it.”

The pageant continues Sunday. Tickets are $23 for adults on the gate; $21 for seniors. Children 15 and underneath are free when accompanied by a paying grownup.

You may nonetheless get online advanced tickets at $17 for seniors and $19 for adults.

Info: e mail data@cotatifest.com or name (707) 664-0444.

You may attain Employees Author Martin Espinoza at (707) 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @pressreno.