– Photos by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

The streets of Somerville rang out in harmonious fashion as The Nave Gallery and the Somerville Arts Council presented the 2nd Somerville Squeezebox Slam on Saturday, June 15.

It was a celebration of accordions, button boxes and other free standing reed instruments. Accordionists of all skill levels and musical genres strolled around the neighborhoods of Somerville, sharing their melodious sounds and then met at Seven Hills Park, Davis Square, for a concert of some of New England’s finest squeezebox players.

The concert featured performances by a select group of highly accomplished musicians, including Sandy Theodorou, Ralph Tufo, Marié Abe Sextet, Cory Pesaturo, and Grand Fatilla.

The concert was hosted by Somerville’s own incomparable Lady Kielbasia, a self described “Accordion-Playing Drag Lunch Lady.”

If you weren’t there for it, there is always next year. So dust off that old squeezebox and get ready to join in the fun next time around. You will be glad you did.