Sometimes a band's name says it all — for instance, the Café Accordion Orchestra. What you think you'll get, you'll get. When you hear the band, you're instantly transported to another place.

Local accordionist Dan "Daddy Squeeze" Newton has been playing around the Midwest for decades, and for nearly 22 years, he has led the Café Accordion Orchestra. Since their first album, there have been a few personnel changes, but you always know you'll get exposed to many musical cultures when you hear a performance.

Dan and the band have just released their tenth album — the appropriately titled CAO 10 — and are celebrating its release with a show on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., at the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant in Minneapolis. Ahead of the show, the Café Accordion Orchestra set up shop in the Radio Heartland studio, where they played a swing tune, a bossa nova tune and a cumbia, and they chatted about CAO 10.

Songs Performed

"Game Show"
"Je cherche après Titine"
"La Zenaida"

Personnel

Dan Newton - accordion
Eric Mohring - violin, mandolin, lead vocals
Robert Bell - guitar
Erik Lillestol - bass
Joe Steinger - drums & percussion
Elizabeth Rowan - guiro

Hosted and produced by Mike Pengra
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Photos by Nate Ryan

Resources

Dan Newton's Café Accordion Orchestra - official site

Gallery

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