On this very first edition of the program, young and old accordion players alike are represented. The very first musician to grace the stage at the Accordion Festival was Fergus Falls’ very own Bo Jay Anderson, the youngest accordion player that evening. Following Anderson’s set was a group headed by Pioneer 90.1’s very own Polka Ron Shereck.
Two polka and old-time programs on Pioneer 90.1 radio will join forces this Saturday (12/7) to ring in the Christmas season at Northland Community & Technical College.
Ron and Elsie Shereck, hosts of the Saturday Morning Barndance, welcome the Cathy Erickson Band to their live broadcast and Christmas party, held at the Gunderson Commons at Northland’s Thief River Falls campus, Saturday, December 7 from 8AM to noon.
Erickson is the host of “Cathy’s Variety Show,” Monday nights on 90.1 FM, the college’s listener-supported public radio station.
Dancers at 2012 Saturday Morning Barndance Christmas Party
This is the fifth year that the Barndance Christmas Party has been broadcast from the commons area. Prior to 2009, it was a smaller event, with a live band playing to a few audience members gathered in Northland’s Broadcasting department.
Station manager Mark Johnson said that the December tradition attracts one of the largest audiences of the year for Pioneer 90.1. He said in-person attendance usually averages around 200 people. Many more listen online, over the air, and watch a live video feed at the station’s website, www.radionorthland.org.
This year’s Christmas party will also be the official launch of the Pioneer Polkacast, a new online radio station that streams Minnesota-made polka and old-time music continuously at www.radionorthland.org/polkacast.
The music featured on the 24-7 PolkaCast stream is from the collections of the Sherecks and Erickson. “They have hundreds of CDs by Minnesota musicians that they have collected over the years. We’re very fortunate that they wanted to share this music with us, “ Johnson said.
The station plans to replay the Saturday Morning Barndance and Cathy’s Variety Show later in the week on the Polkacast.
Saturday’s Christmas Party is open to the public. A freewill donation will be accepted at the door to help Pioneer 90.1 continue its Old Time and Polka programming.
You’re invited to Cathy Erickson’s Accordion Festival, Thursday June 20, 6-10:30PM, at the Eagles Club in Thief River Falls. The evening will feature nine squeezebox musicians from northwest Minnesota, playing for your listening and dancing pleasure.
Performers include:
Chuck Gust – East Grand Forks
Ron Shereck – Tabor
Gene Blumberg – Dorset
Pat Kembitsky – Bemidji
Bo Jay Anderson – Fergus Falls
Gloria Ness – Viking
Dick Miller – Goodridge
Joe Gust – Badger
Cathy Erickson – Middle River
You heard them on the radio, now come and see them in person!
This event is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Enjoy this replay of the Cathy Erickson Show, live from Northland Community & Technical College. Originally broadcast April 25, 2011. Made Possible by the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. (Video will start after commercial)