Accordions take the stage for Saturday show

Amused grins from the audience just go with the territory when you're a member of the Yuma Accordion Band.

Folks are accustomed to seeing one or two squeeze boxes on stage — but a dozen?

“People get a little nervous when they see that many accordions!” quipped Coreen Bergholm, the band's founder. “Most people say they've never seen that many accordions all in the same place.”

The band's concert benefitting Habitat for Humanity will be 7 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at Habitat for Humanity, 3242 E. 43rd St., and at the event.

The Yuma Accordion Band was born in 2004 as the idea of Ione Bard, a Yuma woman known for her love of all things Scandinavian.

The group currently boasts a dozen players, but that number varies year to year — and sometimes show to show. “We've been down to six accordions and as far up as 20, it just depends on how many snowbirds return to Yuma each year,” said Bergholm.

The accordion players are also joined these days by two musicians playing the tuba and banjo.

After this weekend, the band's next performance will be Feb. 18 during Scandinavian Days at the Yuma Civic Center.

This is the third benefit concert the Yuma Accordion Band has put together for Habitat. The musicians and nonprofit group got to know each other when the band started practicing at Habitat's office building.

For more information on the band, call 342-5183 or write to coreen3686@aol.com