qathet Accordion Fest

05/11/2026

Thanks to Sacha Fassaert at Enclave Studio in Gibsons, you can watch our entire qathet Accordion Fest Opening Night Concert!

What an amazing weekend of music, community connection, and accordion nerdery. See you next year!

The full qathet Accordion Fest 2026 Opening Night Concert. Co-directed by Karina Inkster and Walter Martella. Performing artists:Guillermo AnadFaye BendrupsM...

05/09/2026

The 5th annual qathet Accordion Fest was a huge success! Thank you to our audience members, volunteers, musicians, and the qathet Academy of Music & Arts team for making this wild and wonderful weekend possible.

We welcomed audience members from across the qathet region, as well as visitors from Vancouver Island, Alberta, Protection Island, and even Ontario.

✔️ 3 concerts
✔️ 3 workshops
✔️ 3 days of accordionic antics
✔️ 11 performing artists
✔️ 11 different instruments
✔️ 1 pop-up accordion store
✔️ Countless magical musical moments

Already looking forward to Accordion Fest 2027!

05/05/2026

The 5th annual qathet Accordion Fest was incredible! Record attendance at our Opening Night Concert, fantastic klezmer and tango workshops, a concert by TangoMundo, folks trying out accordions for the first time at Accordion 101, an open mic session with accordionists of all levels sharing music, Accordion Cabaret (sold out as usual), an accordion parade and song circle at Willingdon Beach, and multiple performances by the 15-piece Victoria Accordion Club Band. Phew!

Huge thanks to Faye Bendrups, Guillermo Anad, Anthony Schulz, Budge Schachte, Boyd Norman, Stephen Nikleva, Terry Tamboa, Ronen Segall, and Walter Martella for the honour of performing alongside you.

I'm already excited for next year!

05/01/2026

Getting ready for the official qathet Accordion Fest 2026 Opening Night Concert! Tonight at 7:30pm the qathet Academy of Music & Arts. Tickets will be available at the door, or get yours ASAP online at www.showpass.com/accordionmain

See you tonight!

04/24/2026

Thank you to Tanya Hill at The Peak for this wonderful article on the qathet Accordion Fest 2026!

Read it here: https://r.pebmac.ca/https://www.prpeak.com/local-news/fifth-annual-qathet-accordion-fest-hits-stage-in-may-12185593

(Work-around link because Facebook doesn't allow news sharing in Canada.)

Our Accordion Cabaret on May 2 is sold out, but we have a higher capacity for our Opening Night Concert. Get your tickets ASAP at www.showpass.com/accordionmain

See you at opening night! 🎶

04/23/2026

Thought you might like to see behind-the-scenes footage of our qathet Accordion Fest "promo" video. It's mostly just me cackling away behind the camera while Walter attempts to maintain a shred of dignity 😆

If you haven't yet seen the final masterpiece, here it is: https://www.facebook.com/reel/974116385054014

Accordion Fest 2026 starts on May 1st! We have no marketing budget, but we do have unrestricted access to accordions...

04/21/2026

The qathet Accordion Fest 2026 Cabaret event on May 2nd is officially SOLD OUT! Tickets are selling equally quickly for our Opening Night Main Concert on Friday, May 1, but that show has a higher seating capacity. Get your tickets ASAP at www.showpass.com/accordionmain

10 performing artists from qathet, Vancouver, Cowichan Valley, Australia, and Argentina. 10 different instruments. Countless music genres, including klezmer, tango, and classical. A show *not* to be missed!

The worlds first customer centric ticketing and discovery engine for events, activities, and things to do. The opposite of everything you hate about buying tickets.

04/16/2026

As a small festival supported by a not-for-profit organization, the Accordion Fest’s marketing budget is exactly $0. So… this is what we made.

Accordion Cabaret (May 2) is already 80% sold out! Opening Night Concert (May 1) tickets are going just as quickly, but with more seats available. Get your tickets ASAP at www.accordionfest.com.

Come for the music. Stay in case you need emergency accordion-based problem solving.

04/13/2026

Just a normal morning for Walter as he gets ready for the Accordion Fest, counting down to opening night on May 1.

See the accordion’s full range at qathet Accordion Fest 2026. Come for the music, and stay for the innovation!

Featuring 10 artists from qathet, Vancouver, Australia, Buenos Aires, and Vancouver Island, performing tango, classical, jazz, klezmer, and more.

Tickets are selling fast. Get yours at www.accordionfest.com

04/09/2026

Get ready for an afternoon of tango at the qathet Accordion Fest 2026 on Saturday, May 2!

🪗 2:15 - 3:15pm: Tango Workshop (by donation)
Discover the musical language of tango: its phrasing, articulation, accents, dynamic contrasts, and rhythmic patterns. Led by Dr. Guillermo Anad: composer, arranger, violist, internationally recognized specialist in the music of Astor Piazzolla, and Academico Correspondiente for the Buenos Aires National Academy of Tango. All instruments welcome!

🪗 3:30 - 4:15pm: TangoMundo – Piazzolla Unleashed (by donation)
Experience the music of Piazzolla brought to life by an exceptional trio: Guillermo Anad (viola), Faye Bendrups (piano & voice), and Anthony Schulz (accordion). A program of both iconic and rarely performed works.

Learn more and get our full 3-day schedule: www.accordionfest.com

See you there!
- Co-directors Walter and Karina, in partnership with the qathet Academy of Music & Arts