Why Montmagny?

Picture yourself in Montmagny at the turn of the 20^th century. Night is falling and the streets are full of people of all ages heading out for an evening of dancing. Back then, local dance parties normally featured accordionists from different local families, like the Picards, the Messerviers and the Montminys. At the time, virtually every Montmagny family included at least one accordionist.

Black and white photograph of Montmagny. Wooden houses with steep pitched roofs line the streets of the village.

Montmagny at the turn of the 20th century

Perfect for playing quadrilles and jigs, the diatonic accordion has remained a regular fixture at parties, dances and traditional music performances in Quebec. It’s loud enough to play at even the most raucous celebrations. The instrument’s durability and affordability have helped ensure its popularity in the province.

Black and white photograph of a seven-man band posing in front of a sugar shack.

Band in Cap-Saint-Ignace, 1957

Montmagny’s high concentration of accordionists ensured that the tradition was passed down from generation to generation, firmly rooting it in local culture.

At the time, accordionists did not take formal lessons. They learned to play the “squeezebox” by observing friends and family members. Young accordionists would often quietly borrow an instrument and try to reproduce and imitate what they had seen and heard.

Given this strong musical tradition, Montmagny was the obvious location for an accordion festival.

Accordion Makers in Montmagny