“The Big Squeeze” will be held Sunday, October 11 at the Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa, the weekend swap meet at the fairgrounds.

The two Louisiana natives will display their love and expertise of Cajun folk music, alternating between accordion and the rub-board and will be among more than 40 other accordionists and musicians, ranging in ages 8 to 91, showcasing a variety of music styles to demonstrate the squeeze box’s versatility and cross cultural appeal including Cajun, zydeco, folk, jazz, gypsy, French, German, tango, Russian, Tex-Mex, Latin, blues, rock and much more.

Fontenot’s 8 year old grandson John Fontenot, who will play the rub board with them, represents the youngest entertainer at the Festival.

While Fontenot, who is 75 and lives in Rosemead, has played the accordion for decades, Pappion only picked it up eight years ago. “He grew up playing this kind of music but even though the accordion was always around me, I never played it,” Pappion said. “My father would be playing the accordion in the living room and I’d be in my bedroom, listening to Motown.”

Pappion was a serious musician, however, studying music theory at Harbor College in Wilmington. “But I was mostly a singer,” he said. In fact, Pappion was one of four Harbor College students to sing at the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“But all the time I was studying music I knew that I had to choose something to follow, something that would give my music direction,” Pappion, who is married with two children, said. “So about eight years ago, I decided to take my music theory home, and I realized that what gives traditional Cajun Creole music its flavor is the accordion. That music was never written down or documented but handed down by ear. So I knew that in order to play the music of my culture, I had to play the accordion.”

Once he began playing, he realized a perfect complement to his style would be his cousin Joe.

“Joe is my anchor to the roots,” said Pappion. “He’s steeped in the old style and that’s why I hooked up with him. My sound is a little more contemporary, I’ve got a little more New Orleans to me, a bit more rhythm. But together, I think we really capture the sound we grew up with.”

That was proven a few years ago, when Fontenot and Pappion appeared at the Cajun Heritage Festival in Natchez, MS. While Fontenot, who is raising his grandson, journeys back to Cajun country a couple of times a year in order to check on a home he owns with his sister, this was the first time the transplanted Californians had performed together in the deep South.

“They were very proud of us,” said Pappion. “They received us well. We play the old-time stuff and they really appreciated it.”

The Fontenot and Pappion Old Creole Style Band will perform from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Festival. Prior to their show, Karen Redding of Long Beach, owner and teacher for Louisiana Dance LA, will teach free zydeco and Cajun dance lessons at 10 a.m. to get the audience prepared for their music.

The Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature four stages of accordion music and accordion based bands and orchestras. In addition there a will be section for specialty vendors in the Main Squeeze Stage area. Along with the Festival is the regular base of Market Place vendors, food operations and other attractions.

Though the talent is rich, the Accordion Festival will not put a squeeze on your wallet. All activities including entrance to the swap meet are included in the price of Market Place admission, which is $2 or FREE with a canned food item to help the Orange County Food Bank. Children 12 and under are free. A complete schedule for “The Big Squeeze” is available at the website www.ocmarketplace.com.

All attendees will have the opportunity to win a FREE Hohner Bravo 48 II accordion donated by Hohner USA. Free sign up to win the accordion, which is ideal for beginners, will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Big Squeeze information booth. The winner, who must be present to win, will be announced at 2:30 p.m.

In its 40th year the Orange County Market Place is held every weekend (except during the Orange County Fair) at the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information on these events may be obtained by visiting www.ocmarketplace.com or calling 949-723-6660.