Café Accordion Orchestra
Dan Newton's Cafe Accordion Orchestra brings their berets and bongos back to the Cedar for their annual January concert. The Twin Cities-based quintet kicks off their 16th year with an evening full of French flair, Latin grooves, and cool swing. This year's show will feature favorite selections from the band's 7 recordings, plus new material, and a few surprises!
CAO is led by Dan "Daddy Squeeze" Newton on accordion and vocals. His playing has been described as "quietly dazzling", and "subtle, sweet, mellow and hip". Dan founded the quintet in 1994, and two other original members, Eric Mohring and Joe Steinger, are still with the group. Eric is an astonishingly versatile mandolin and fiddle player, and sings in French, Spanish, Greek, and English. Joe is the most deft, understated drummer in the region. He excels on hand percussion as well as trap kit. Bassist Erik Lillestol joined CAO in 1999. His strong sense of groove has made him an in-demand guy for both upright and electric bass. In the past year Erik has started taking on some of the vocal duties as well. CAO will be joined by guitarist Robert Bell for this year's concert. Robert is a fixture in the local swing scene, performing with the Twin Cities Hot Club, and the South Side Aces. His passion for the guitar and diversity of style make Robert a great addition to the CAO sound.
CAO has been delighting audiences and dancers at venues such as New York at the Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing series, The International Akkordeon Festival in Vienna, Austria, The Minnesota State Fair, as well as festivals, theaters and dance halls across the United States. Their annual date at the Cedar is one of the few concert performances they offer in the Twin Cities. But don't worry, if their blend of Musette waltzes, Gypsy swing, Cumbias, Rhumbas and Cha-chas makes you want to move your feet, there will be a bit of room for dancing in the wings!
Tickets are on sale now from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.
$15 advance
$18 day of show
CAO is led by DAN “Daddy Squeeze” NEWTON on accordion and vocals, with ERIC MOHRING on mandolin, violin and vocals, ERIK LILLESTOL on bass and vocals, ROBERT BELL on guitar and vocals and JOE STEINGER on percussion. They have appeared in New York ...
“Berets and Bongos” describes the Café Accordion experience. A loungy, eclectic mix, full of French flare, Latin heat and Bohemian attitude. The heart of the Café Accordion repertoire is the romantic, gypsy-influenced valse-musette. The group complements the...
