One of the most popular things about the Norsk Høstfest is its Scandinavian music.

People travel from all over the country and parts of Canada to enjoy a good polka or waltz.

But Debbie Kuehn wondered...is there more to the accordion than meets the ear? She and photojournalist Perry Moll set out to find out...

(Debbie Kuehn, KX News) Sure a polka sounds good on an accordion, but we thought we'd put the accordion players out here at the Høstfest to the test this year. So we asked them to play some rock and roll for us this year. Our first song out...Hound Dog by Elvis Presley.

(Ely Rud, Aberdeen, SD) "You know you can play anything, but it's the rhythm section. You have to remember Hound Dog is mostly guitars, and they're electric not acoustic. So that's what makes that song, you know. I mean we can play it, but...let us play some swing. Something that we're used to."


I'm thinking of something a little bit tamer, maybe something like "Build Me Up Buttercup."


(Do you play rock music on your accordion?) (Andy Roskos, Grand Rapids, MN) "Not much. I need a keyboard for that."


(Debbie Kuehn, KX News) "OK, we're a little bit closer. Andy says he's got something that will put us over the top!"


(What do you enjoy about playing music?) (Harley Berg, Medicine Hat, Alberta) "It puts me in a good mood."

(Debbie Kuehn, KX News) "OK...paydirt! We were wandering around a bit and the Chimileski Fun Time Band says they play Elvis!"


(music)


(Debbie Kuehn, KX News) "OK, I stand corrected...you can play rock 'n' roll on the accordion. But I dare say it's better suited for polkas and waltzes. Debbie Kuehn, KX News. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list