If you would like to take an accordion lesson from Daddy Squeeze, but don’t get to Minnesota often, here’s the answer. You can get lessons lessons via Skype! A simple email or phone call to set up the time, and a PayPal deposit is all it takes. If you don’t have a Skype account, they are free, and easy to set up. Just go to http://www.skype.com to get started. It’s an easy, quick, and efficient way to learn the accordion!

Here’s a testimonial from one happy customer:

Dan, thanks for another fabulous lesson! It’s so cool to learn not only the songs and techniques, but the stories behind the music.  I think it really helps to understand where the music came from or why it’s played a certain way.  I’m really having fun with this and you’ve given me lots of great stuff to work on.

- Monte Schaffer

Purchase Skype Accordion Lessons Sold in 20 minute sessions

Here are two recent reviews of Dan’s latest CD “Daddy Squeeze Solo”

Sustaining a solo accordion record, even when also an accomplished blues singer, is not easy. But Dan Newton does a good job on “Daddy Squeeze Solo,” mixing traditional tunes with original numbers steeped in tradition, happily raiding the songbooks of everyone from David Bromberg to Spanky & Our Gang. The disc has a classic West Bank feel from the outset, with cool opener “Last Hot Day of the Summer” sounding like a rewrite of the Koerner, Ray & Glover favorite “Black Dog.” Newton celebrates the album’s release, ironically, with a show at a used record shop. (3 p.m. Sun., Hymie’s Vintage Records, 3820 E. Lake St., Mpls. Free.) Tom Surowicz, Minneapolis Satr Tribune 03/22/13

Dan Newton has released his first truly solo CD since 1993! Daddy Squeeze Solo is a collection of  11 original and traditional blues, jug band, rags and novelty tunes. All tracks are just Dan, his voice and his accordion, creating a fresh, new sound in Americana and roots music.

You can read an interview with Dan conducted by Dave Hoenack, owner of Hymie’s Vintage Records in Minneapolis here:

http://hymiesrecords.com/an-interview-with-dan-newton/

And here’s a quote from blues guitar queen Mary Flower about Daddy Squeeze Solo:

“Dan Newton is the king of variety on the accordion.  Finally he goes solo and we get to hear every nuance of his fingers on the buttons and keys. This guy  gives us some great foot-stomping tunes on his long overdue roots oriented project.” -Mary Flower2008 and 2012 Blues Music Award Nominee2000 and 2002 Finalist at National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship2011 Muddy Award Recipient from Cascade Blues Assn. for “Acoustic Guitar”

CAO is happy to announce La Zingara is now available! La Zingara is the ninth album by CAO, and is a collection of songs and tunes connected to the Gypsy lifestyle including French, Greek, Finnish, Colombian, Mexican, Cabo Verdean and American sources. Highlights include two stunning vocal performances by long time CAO collaborator Diane Jarvi and appearances by clarinetist Tony Balluff. You can get la Zingara by going to www.cafeaccordion.com, at cdbaby.com, itunes, and at any of Cafe Accordion Orchestra or Daddy Squeeze’s live shows.

2 NEW CDs IN JANUARY 2013

I’m happy to announce I’ll have 2 new CDs available in early 2013. Cafe Accordion Orchestra will be releasing our 9th album La Zingara, a collection of tunes reflecting various Gypsy lifestyles. We have the honor of featuring guest vocalist Diane Jarvi and clarinetist Tony Balluff on 4 tracks. The recording features great music from France, Greece, Mexico, Venezuela, Cabo Verde, Finland and the US.

I also have a new solo album called (get this for clever) Daddy Squeeze Solo. It’s just exactly that, too, 11 tracks of just accordion with vocal, featuring original and traditional blues, jug band, rags and novelty tunes. Both albums will be available from my web site, cdbaby, and iTunes soon!

2 Cafe Accordion Orchestra Concerts for the New Year

I want to tell you about 2 great shows for CAO, ending 2012 and kicking off 2013. On New Year’s Eve we have the honor of sharing the stage at the Sheldon Theater in Red Wing, MN with Monroe Crossing. They are the region’s top bluegrass outfit and sell out shows all over the central states.

On January 12, CAO returns to the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis for out 8th annual concert there. This year we will be celebrating the release of our new album La Zingara. We’ll have Diane Jarvi and Tony Balluff as special guests. Our 2012 show at the Cedar was a sell out so get your tickets soon! You can find ticket info for both these great shows on my calendar page.

2013 Left Coast Domination Tour

January brings Daddy Squeeze back to California for my 3rd annual Left Coast Domination Tour. Tour dates are set for January 24- February 2.  I have dates confirmed in Eureka, Healdsburg, Mendocino, San Francisco and Oakland. These are solo shows, mostly house concerts, all of which are listed on my calendar page. I still have some open dates to fill between Jan 28 and 31, so if you’re interested in hosting a house concert or hiring live music for a private event, send me an email!

I’d like to put out a great big thank you to everyone who helped make the Daddy Squeeze Northwest Foot-in-the-Door tour such great fun! That includes: Norma Jean Schwab, Bruce Reid, Nova, Dusty Strings, Seattle Folklore Society and Del Rey in Seattle.  Robin Elwood, Lindsay Street and Flip in Bellingham. Becky Chaney and the Carnation Tree Farm in Carnation, WA. Mary Flower, Tim duRoche and Abbie Weisenbloom in Portland. Kevin Carr, Josie Mendelssohn and Daniel Carr in Ashland. And special thanks to a number of my old pals from Nebraska, whom I had lost touch with and with whom I am now happily reunited. A huge thanks to all the audience members who support these concerts as well! Your hospitality and enthusiam will be long remembered.

You can find photos and videos from the tour on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/daddysqueezenewton

Visit the web page calendar for all the details on my fall foot-in-the-door tour to Washington and Oregon. Shows in Bellingham, Carnation, Seattle, WA, Ashland and Portland OR and workshops at Dusty Strings. It’s my first solo tour in the area, hope to make a lot of new friends as well as visiting some old pals!

I’m working on another west coast tour in January of 2013. Anyone in northern California who is interested in hosting a house concert or knows of an appropriate listening room feel free to contact me. So far I have dates in Hieldsburg (1/25), Mendocino (1/26) and possibilities in Santa Cruz, Oakland and Eureka. Keep an eye on the web site’s calendar page for updates.

I wanted to let you all know about one of my new favorites, a great web site and facebook page called Squeezebox Stories. You can fond them on the web  here http://squeezeboxstories.com/about/ or on facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/squeezeboxstories

This is a fun and informative site that shares great stories about accordion music in regional and ethnic contexts. Please check it out, like or friend them.

And please, feel free to share your accordion stories with me on this site! Email me your story, or post it on my wall at http://www.facebook.com/dan.newton.77

On the heels of the successful Left Coast Domination Tours I & II, we’re now booking a solo tour of the northwest this fall. So far, we have a tentative concert at the Roeder House in Bellingham, WA on Oct 4. There are confirmed gigs in Carnation, WA Oct 5 (venue tbd), the Seattle Folklore Society Oct 6, and workshops at Dusty Strings in Seattle, the afternoon of Oct 7. Also confirmed are house concerts in Ashland and Portland, OR on Oct 8 and 9. There are still available open dates between Sept 29 and Oct 3, so if you know someone who would like to host a house concert or dance during that time, let me know!