Hell's Bellows

Saturday, Nov. 22
8 pm
Blue Heron
Tickets: $10/$12

Accordion Quartet brings spice to stage

Though much maligned in American public opinion, the accordion is a multi-faceted and versatile instrument that can passionately convey all genres of music. Seattle-based Hell's Bellows accordion quartet, founded in 2006, is committed to exploring the sonorities of multiple accordions. According to their MySpace page, they are a ‘fearsome set of musicians bringing the gospel of accordion chaos from Seattle, WA to the world at large.’

From dextrous finger wigglings and pokings and industrious toe tappings to flagrant foot stompings and sporadic grinning, the four members of Hell's Bellows share both a love for the instrument and curiosity to push its sonic boundaries. Musical styles range from contemporary classical to gypsy and Eastern European and often includes four part harmony vocal. They compose or transcribe all of the pieces in their repertoire.

Each member boasts a strong background in performance and brings their own unique voice to the group. Scott Adams composes original music and has performed with Monktail Collective for nearly a decade; Amy Denio is a Seattle musical luminary and has toured the world with her accordion and other instruments, playing more than 1000 concerts in the last 10 years; Marchette DuBois has composed and performed music for countless local theater productions; Eli Kaufman is a multi-instrumentalist and has toured nationally as a member of the band Goatgirl.

Collectively, the quartet has played for 47 years, and in concert touched nearly 700 buttons and keys from Bumbershoot to Carnegie Hall and beyond. Don’t miss the first Vashon appearance of Hells Bellows!