Big Squeeze semi-finalists named
Los Texmaniacs also featured
in May 11 show at Austin's MACC

They're teenagers today, but the four semi-finalists chosen to compete in Texas Folklife's second annual Big Squeeze accordion contest could be tomorrow's accordion stars. Come check them out as they show their squeezebox stuff in a free performance at 1:30 p.m. May 11 at the Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St., Austin. Contestants will each perform two songs, backed by Austin band Cerronato. And stick around for Los Texmaniacs, who will perform a free concert afterward.

The semi-finalists are: Craig Zuniga of Seguin; Heriberto Rodriguez of Edcouch; Anthony Ortiz Jr. of Austin; and John Ramirez of Houston. All four are in the 18-and-under age category. Brian Gallegos of Devine also has been invited to perform. Though there weren't enough strong candidates for the 19-to-25 age category, we wanted to give this impressive 22-year-old a chance to showcase his talents and compete in the finals.

Each contestant is receiving free accommodations from Embassy Suites Austin – Downtown/Town Lake. Finalists also will receive accommodations in Houston for the finals, provided by Texas Folklife and Holiday Inn & Suites Med Center. They will compete for the grand prize of $500, a day of recording time from the historic Sugar Hill Recording Studios (Texas' oldest recording facility), and another trip to use the studio time, a package valued at more than $2,500. Participants also will be filmed for a documentary by Texas director Hector Galán; the finalists will perform before thousands of accordion fans at our 19th annual Accordion Kings concert.

Los Texmaniacs – Max Baca on bajo sexto, Speedy Villanueva on bass and David Farias on accordion – jumped at the chance to perform for this event because they wholeheartedly support its goal: to encourage younger players to keep squeezin’ and help them pursue their musical dreams.

The Big Squeeze is funded in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Meadows Foundation, the Cogburn Family Foundation, the Still Water Foundation and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that "a great nation deserves great art." Support is also being provided by SugarHill Recording Studios, Gabbanelli Accordions, Hohner Inc., Embassy Suites Austin -- Downtown/Town Lake, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Medical Center, Raven Grill, Sign Effects, Copy Sense, McCarthy Print, Los Texmaniacs, Cerronato and the Mexican American Cultural Center. The Recording Academy’s Texas Chapter has officially endorsed the contest.

Step Rideau

Announcing '08's Accordion Kings

Texas Folklife's 19th annual Accordion Kings & Queens concert will feature Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws and La Tropa F as co-headliners, plus openers the Knights of Dixie Orchestra. As always, the show is free and open to the public. It starts at 7 p.m. June 7 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston's Hermann Park. And this year, there will be no rain. We hope! For more information, contact us or Miller Outdoor Theatre.